By: Aubry Hawks, Account Executive
When you think of Nike, what comes to your mind? For me, it’s words and images of professional athletes like Michael Jordan, outstanding performance, community leaders, quality, strength and Nike’s trademark “swoosh.” These are the things that are engraved in my subconscious. You might ask yourself, “how did they establish such a prestigious image?” Well, it all started with a team of marketers, public relations experts, advertisers and countless campaigns.
It took Nike years to establish a brand, but after successful brand campaigns and marketing tactics, they have achieved “branding nirvana”. Branding is essential if you’re a corporation, non-profit or even a mom-and-pop shop. But what about you? Have you branded yourself?
Just like Nike uses passions, attributes and strengths for branding and recognition, you need to use personal branding to stand out and create an image for yourself. It’s important to send a clear message that separates you from person A and person B.
With my graduation date quickly approaching (78 days, 12 hours, 45 minutes and 34 seconds to be exact), the weight of the real world is pressing down on me. Starting May 4, I will have four years of a college education under my belt and a fresh piece of paper in hand. But, will I have established a unique brand for myself, setting me apart from other entry-level job applicants?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior account manager, a recent college graduate or a CEO; knowing how to market yourself can help you become a better professional. So, what is your brand?
If you’re unsure, chances are your co-workers, friends and family, already have a perceived image of your brand-good/bad or indifferent. Regardless of where you’re at now, here are four tips to either help you create a personal brand for yourself or to revamp the way people already see you.
Discover who you are: If you asked your neighbor or coworker to write down three adjectives to describe you, what would they say? If his/her response was a “partier, slacker and grumpy,” you need to revamp your personal brand. Your personal brand is how people perceive you. At work, people might think you’re studious and dedicated, but your Facebook, Twitter or Google+ accounts might portray you in a way that is not as respectable. What you wear, how you talk, your values and what you put on the Internet greatly affects your brand. It’s important to be consistent with the material you put online. Maybe you have established a personal brand for yourself that is less than par, or maybe you think it’s too late to start. Think again. With the proper steps, you can alter the way people view you. Showcasing all of your aspirations, values and characteristics in a positive way is the key to your professional success.
First impressions matter: Whether you’re like me-an almost college graduate-looking for a job, or a senior account manager, personal branding is a necessity. Once you decide how you want to perceived, and after you complete “soul searching 101,” your next step is to create a first impression. We all have bad days or days where we aren’t quite our cheery-selves, but even running into a stranger and being polite, professional and courteous can make your career. I just recently heard a Good Samaritan story about a woman who found a cell phone after a baseball game and returned it to the owner. She could have ignored the opportunity, but she went the extra mile, and it literally paid off for her. The owner of the phone ended up interviewing her and she works for his company today.
Write about you: Just like how Nike’s brand is visible, you need to be as well. A great way to stand out is to create a blog. Create a strategic blog that will showcase your successes and responsibilities and your potential to current or future employers in a positive way. The first step to creating a blog is deciding who your intended audience is and what type of material you will discuss. If you’re in the PR world, you might want to create a blog about recent successful PR campaigns or about articles related to the industry. Blogging will also showcase your writing abilities.
Use social media: With the many social media platforms, it’s hard to maintain consistency. Maybe you’re a social media guru and have mastered every platform, or maybe you just created your first Twitter account and are not sure what your voice is yet. No matter the case, it’s important to be selective and choose the best social media platform for you. The “about section” is a prime opportunity to showcase your personal brand which helps people identify about who you are. You can use Twitter to follow people related to your industry. Do more than just follow them: retweet what they say-ask questions and stay engaged. On Facebook, follow companies and share their material on your page if the information is relevant to your image.
Remember that all of your interactions-face-to-face and online-will stay with your image forever. Sometimes we forget what people say, but thanks to new social media platforms, all of your statuses, tweets and posts are permanent. Just like how Nike has cultivated its trademark “swoosh”, what will your “swoosh” be?