Personal branding is a process of shaping your identity to promote it as a business or an individual. Its purpose is to publicize your vision, your mission, your core values, and your competitive attitude to reach out to an audience. Individuals need to advertise their distinct traits that set the tone for their identification and values that make them outshine others.

It is important to understand why you need to brand yourself.

• To stand out in the crowd: In this era, we all are running in a race, with everyone trying to push the other out of the track. If you are a brand, you are at an advantage of starting before others. That is what being a brand does to you. You become a highlight that is unique and remembered by all.

• Career opportunities: Personal branding gives you a trump card over other candidates that have applied for the same job. Your skills and talents are already acclaimed so you might be the easiest choice and you can add value to an organization due to your fame. Also, you can demand a position and salary of your choice.

• To take control of the narrative: When you have a clear vision of your motives, you can strategize the portrayal of your journey in a way to reach out to people and be embedded in their minds.  You can depict your story in a manner that resonates with people. Otherwise, the public will create their own ideas and perceptions about where your business stands.

If you want to be prominent in the sea of names and faces, there are certain boxes to tick.

• Recognize yourself: To develop a brand that’s personally and professionally accurate, you need to understand all facets of your personality. Enlist your strengths and weaknesses and select a specific area of expertise. You may evolve and grow in the coming years but initially, it is wise not to put your foot in every niche.
• Know your audience: The direction of your story depends on the kind of audience that you are aiming to impress. Your values must resonate with them. Thus, first, determine who you are trying to reach, then draft out the attributes you need to be known for
• Research your competitors: You need to stand out among all but you can never until you know the crowd and have an impression of what you are standing against. Learn about their motives and modify them for your own benefit. Also, learn from the other prominent brands about what attracts people to them and instill those ideas in your journey without extracting too much.
• Expand your circle: Networking is the easiest way to engage with the maximum number of people in a short span of time. Attend networking events and connect with people to get recognition on a large scale. Also, ask these people to recommend and endorse you in their professional circles.
• Online presence: Stay relevant by staying in touch with your audience and reminding them about your presence from time to time. A personal website where you can highlight your achievements and talents lets people understand you more.

Always remember to evolve with time and modify your persona according to your career demands but never let go of your personal essence that is the soul of your brand, that sets you apart and makes you shine.