5: What is Personal Branding?

Personal Branding is about your reputation and how you are perceived by others.

Building a Personal Brand from Scratch is about your body of work and publicly stating what you bring to the table in any given situation.

What are your goals, and how does that put you into context. These things can't be ignored. When you are trying to build your personal brand, what we really mean is that you are building a digital footprint as well as a real-world reputation for the work, values and relationships you have.

Personal Branding has a marketing problem in the minds of many people. It's mistaken for self-aggrandizement and being shallow or vain. It doesn't have to be related to any of those things. In the simplest terms it comes down to presenting yourself well, being thoughtful in your communication and establishing your values.

It is important to know that a personal brand is not created overnight. It takes time to form a reputation and shape your brand. It is is also important to understand the importance of consistency. The way you want to portray yourself and your brand should be consistent through online and offline channels. To start, define your area of expertise ( skill sets, industry, type of work, etc.) and begin building your personal brand.