Strong Female Leaders

Building Your Personal Brand at Work: 10 Tips That Will Help You Stand Out

In order to present yourself in the best light possible, building your personal brand correctly is essential, especially at work. If you want to enhance your reputation as a leader and show that you are an expert in a particular area, it is vital to highlight your unique traits and the benefits that you bring to the workplace.

Sounds simple, but to master the art of personal branding, you need tools and constant practice to continually fine tune your PR. Today, we offer 10 tips that will help with building your personal brand at work. They are simple, effective, and if done right, will get you far in your career, and life.

1. Be Yourself

Authenticity is attractive and draws people to you. If something works for you and makes you unique, it will highlight your individual abilities and specialties. When you try to create a personal brand, do not be afraid to stand out from the crowd. Let your true self shine. Many women are uncomfortable showcasing their personal traits. When you offer something that is hard to find, you will have no troubles advancing in the workplace. However, you must not exaggerate your skills.

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2. Identify Your Target Audience

After you determine the characteristics that make you special, it is time to identify the audience that will benefit from what you have to offer. It is best to link your brand to your current industry, but it is important to target a particular niche. For instance, if you work for a shoe company, you may wish to cater to shoes for plus-sized women. If there is not a place for you in your existing company, you may wish to branch off on your own.

3. Start a Blog

Blogging is a smart way to build a personal brand. In fact, you probably follow a number of influencers already. A blog is a great tool to get your voice out in the world. As more and more people become familiar with what you have to offer, you will be more respected at work. Although blogging will require time and effort, creating a blog will be quite rewarding. If you don't have the time to start from scratch, you can always begin by writing guest posts on top blogs that are within your niche. This will help you build an audience.

Blogging is also an excellent way to increase followers on other social media sites, including LinkedIn and Twitter. This will help you increase sales for your products and services. For instance, if you sell items to new moms, you can begin blogging on sites that discuss motherhood issues. Once you establish a following, you can create your own blog or direct your audience to your other social media platforms. There, you can introduce new products or create an online store for things that you already sell.

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4. Keep Your Word

Being known as a reliable worker is essential in any office environment. People want to work with a trusted individual who sticks to his or her word. When you make a commitment to finish a project by a certain deadline, follow through with your promises. When people trust you, it speaks volumes for your work ethic. It will do great things when you are trying to establish your brand and climb your company's ladder.

5. Presentation is Everything

Although you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, most people value a good personal appearance. The way that you dress has an impact on the way that you are viewed. If you work in the financial sector, it is important that you dress for success. You wouldn't expect the president of you company to arrive for a meeting in jeans. When you act the part that you are trying to present to your clients and fellow coworkers, you will build your brand without effort.

6. Seek Out Opportunities

Even though you may have a set role in your company, don't be afraid to seek out opportunities that are beyond your traditional job description. For example, if you are usually the person who is in charge of crunching numbers, try to get involved with a more creative project. This will help you learn all facets of your business and create a versatile identity. It is smart to think about where you envision yourself in five years. Then, you can choose activities that will help you brand yourself correctly so that you achieve your goals.

7. Hone Your Communication Skills

To be perceived well, you must be able to speak articulately and to interact with others. Although everyone tends to get a bit rushed when reading or responding to emails, this is an area where you can establish your brand in a positive way. Take a few seconds to display a bit of warmth. Make sure that you answer with a clear and focused message. This demonstrates respectfulness. When you interact with people face-to-face, make sure to make eye contact and to maintain good posture. This shows that you are interested in your conversation.

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8. Gather Feedback

You probably have a lot of characteristics that you would like others to use when they describe you and your work abilities. The best way to see if these characteristics show through to others is by asking colleagues to explain what they feel during interactions with you. If you are getting the feedback that you want, you know that you are branding yourself in the correct way. It is essential to have a grasp on how other people, especially your fellow workers, perceive you so that your personal brand emerges in a positive manner. If you are seeking a leadership position, you must develop a strong personal brand that creates an impact.

9. Consider Your Network

While building a personal brand, you must pay attention to the people who are in your network. These individuals are part of your brand. Don't be afraid to widen your circles and to surround yourself with people who share common interests and experiences. However, it is important to treat everyone with respect. It is frowned upon to solely use others as rungs up a social ladder. Consider using social media as a means to connect with people all over the world. This can enhance your brand in a major way.

10. Promote Your Brand Offline

Social media is a wonderful platform that will help to establish your brand image. However, when you are trying to advance at work, it is vital to promote your brand in person as well. For instance, offer to lead a project that showcases your unique talents or participate in an industry group. This will get you interacting with various employees and will boost your efforts to build your brand within your work environment.

Parting Words

Building your personal brand at work is essential, especially when you are trying to snag a promotion or land your dream job. We understand the challenges that face women in the workplace. Following the above tips may help you to define who you are and where you are headed.