Latest / The Confident Entrepreneur With Jennifer Ann Johnson / Crafting Your Legacy: The Power of Personal Branding
Transcript
- 0:37Jennifer Johnson: Today, we're tackling a topic that's become increasingly crucial in our digital age, and that's personal branding.
- 0:42Jennifer Johnson: Whether you're an entrepreneur, a job seeker or simply looking to make your mark in your industry, personal branding is a tool that you can't afford to ignore.
- 0:51Jennifer Johnson: So let's explore why it matters and how you can harness its power.
- 0:56Jennifer Johnson: So, before we start, we have to talk about what personal branding is, and it's simply put.
- 1:02Jennifer Johnson: It's your personal brand.
- 1:04Jennifer Johnson: It's the unique combination of skills, experiences and personality that you want the world to see.
- 1:10Jennifer Johnson: It's the telling of your story and it's the impression that you leave your audience.
- 1:15Jennifer Johnson: Think of it as your reputation.
- 1:17Jennifer Johnson: It's what people say about you when you're not in the room.
- 1:21Jennifer Johnson: It's the reason that someone would choose to work with you, would hire you or would buy from you.
- 1:26Jennifer Johnson: It's not about creating false images.
- 1:29Jennifer Johnson: It's about strategically and authentically presenting the best version of yourself to your target audience, and why it matters.
- 1:38Jennifer Johnson: So now we know what it is, now we need to talk about why it matters.
- 1:42Jennifer Johnson: Well, it matters because in today's interconnected world, your personal brand can be your most valuable asset.
- 1:49Jennifer Johnson: It helps you stand out from the crowd.
- 1:51Jennifer Johnson: We know that there's so many people who may do what you do.
- 1:55Jennifer Johnson: A strong personal brand helps you differentiate yourself.
- 1:59Jennifer Johnson: It showcases what makes you unique.
- 2:00Jennifer Johnson: It showcases what makes you unique.
- 2:01Jennifer Johnson: It showcases what makes you valuable.
- 2:03Jennifer Johnson: Then it can also build trust and credibility.
- 2:06Jennifer Johnson: When you consistently present yourself in a professional and authentic manner, you build trust with your audience, and that trust is the foundation for any successful business relationship that you may have.
- 2:19Jennifer Johnson: It also creates opportunities.
- 2:21Jennifer Johnson: A well-crafted personal brand can open doors for you because it attracts like-minded people, potential clients.
- 2:29Jennifer Johnson: You know whether they're clients or they're career prospects, whatever they may be.
- 2:34Jennifer Johnson: Maybe they're a vendor, but it creates that like-minded net that you can cast.
- 2:41Jennifer Johnson: Then it helps you control the narrative In this age of all the information you can find online.
- 2:48Jennifer Johnson: Information about you is out there, whether you like it or not.
- 2:50Jennifer Johnson: Personal branding allows you to take control of that narrative and shape how you're perceived, and then it can increase your market value.
- 2:59Jennifer Johnson: Strong personal brands command premium prices.
- 3:03Jennifer Johnson: Whether you're selling a product or service, or maybe it's your skill, maybe you're a coach, a robust personal brand can really boost your market value.
- 3:15Jennifer Johnson: So what are some keys to having a strong personal brand?
- 3:19Jennifer Johnson: I'm going to break it down into some elements here.
- 3:22Jennifer Johnson: Authenticity your brand should really reflect who you really are, because authenticity resonates with people and it builds genuine connections.
- 3:31Jennifer Johnson: You can typically see those people.
- 3:34Jennifer Johnson: We all know them.
- 3:34Jennifer Johnson: We've seen them online.
- 3:36Jennifer Johnson: You know whether or not that's really them or they, I say, called it in, which means that they had somebody write something for them and they're just basically reading it.
- 6:11Jennifer Johnson: You can a lot of times see through that Consistency Ensuring that your messages, your visual elements and your behavior are consistent across every single thing that you do.
- 6:24Jennifer Johnson: That means you don't show up different on Facebook than you would on Instagram or TikTok or perhaps a podcast or in an interview or face-to-face.
- 6:33Jennifer Johnson: It means that you are going to be the same person no matter where someone sees you.
- 6:39Jennifer Johnson: And expertise Showcasing your knowledge and skills, is very important.
- 6:45Jennifer Johnson: Become known as that go-to person.
- 6:49Jennifer Johnson: That's important because when people think, oh, I've got this issue, I've got this problem, oh, I know the exact person to go to.
- 6:58Jennifer Johnson: That's important because you need to become known, liked and trusted in your area of expertise.
- 7:07Jennifer Johnson: Then, value proposition Clearly communicate what unique value it is that you bring to the table, not what your neighbor, not what your competitor, but you.
- 7:16Jennifer Johnson: What problems can you solve?
- 7:18Jennifer Johnson: How do you make life better for your audience.
- 7:22Jennifer Johnson: It's not all about you and what you've been on this and you've been on this and you've done this.
- 7:28Jennifer Johnson: It's what can you do for your audience.
- 7:31Jennifer Johnson: That's what's gonna really matter.
- 7:34Jennifer Johnson: And visibility actively manage your online presence.
- 7:37Jennifer Johnson: Get on social media, create content, participate there's one thing of posting something online but don't post and ghost.
- 7:46Jennifer Johnson: Make sure that you are interacting with your audience.
- 7:49Jennifer Johnson: And then networking that kind of goes hand in hand.
- 7:52Jennifer Johnson: Build and nurture those relationships, because your network can significantly amplify your personal brand.
- 7:57Jennifer Johnson: So practical steps.
- 8:00Jennifer Johnson: We're going to get practical here for a second.
- 8:03Jennifer Johnson: Here are some steps that you can take to start building your personal brand today.
- 8:06Jennifer Johnson: First and foremost is define your goals, the why.
- 8:09Jennifer Johnson: What do you want to achieve with your personal brand?
- 8:12Jennifer Johnson: Be clear and be honest about what your objectives are.
- 8:16Jennifer Johnson: Then identify who your target audience is.
- 8:20Jennifer Johnson: Who is it that you actually want to talk to?
- 8:21Jennifer Johnson: Who do you want to reach and understand where they are at.
- 8:24Jennifer Johnson: Where can you find them?
- 8:25Jennifer Johnson: Identify who your target audience is.
- 8:25Jennifer Johnson: Who is it that you actually want to talk to?
- 8:26Jennifer Johnson: Who do you want to reach and understand where they are at.
- 8:28Jennifer Johnson: Where can you find them, and that will help you tailor your message a little bit better.
- 8:31Jennifer Johnson: Then you need to craft your story, develop a compelling narrative about who you are, what you do and why you do it.
- 8:38Jennifer Johnson: People genuinely want to know that and if that resonates with them, that's going to make them want to work with you or buy from you.
- 8:48Jennifer Johnson: Then, choosing your platform you don't have to be on every single platform there is out there, but choose what works for you.
- 8:55Jennifer Johnson: Maybe it's just Facebook, maybe it's Facebook and another one.
- 8:58Jennifer Johnson: Whatever it is, choose those platforms and stick with it.
- 9:02Jennifer Johnson: Then create and curate, share valuable content that showcases what you can do and make sure that it resonates with them.
- 9:09Jennifer Johnson: I always go by the 80-20 rule 80% giving them value, value, value and 20% of selling what you actually do.
- 9:21Jennifer Johnson: And then engage in network, participate in those discussions.
- 9:25Jennifer Johnson: Like I said, don't post in ghost, but participate not just in physical events but also online, making sure that you're building relationships.
- 9:36Jennifer Johnson: And then seeking feedback.
- 9:37Jennifer Johnson: Ask for feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors to really help refine your brand, because we can only see kind of what's in front of us sometimes and other people see something different, so it would be very helpful to get someone else's opinion as to what they see when they see your brand.
- 9:53Jennifer Johnson: Remember building a strong personal brand is a journey, it's not a destination.
- 9:59Jennifer Johnson: It requires consistent effort and authenticity.
- 10:03Jennifer Johnson: Destination it requires consistent effort and authenticity, but the rewards are increased opportunities, stronger professional relationships and a clearer sense of purpose, and that's all well worth it.
- 10:12Jennifer Johnson: So, as we wrap up, I want to encourage you to take some time to reflect on your personal brand.
- 10:18Jennifer Johnson: What story are you telling the world and how can you amplify your unique value?