Imagine, for a moment, a saloon in the Wild West. It's a bunch of regulars, and a few out-of-towners, and things are all right. Then someone walks in through the bat wing doors.
Someone in a broad, flat-crowned hat, with silver spurs. The room goes quiet, and the whispers start.
He might be just a man, but people have heard tell of him. They know those low-slung guns, and that scar along his right hand. Before he even opens his mouth, everyone in the room is thinking about shaking his hand.
Just kidding, that's just what I have dreams about, but you get the idea.
That's personal branding in a nutshell.
A fancy word for your reputation, personal branding is all about the persona you have created for yourself and nowadays in 2017, it's also about how many followers you have and if they're engaged with your message or not.
People think you are more important, because you've already made your first impression before you even meet someone. And, while that is a helpful asset online, it's also incredibly useful for in-person networking.
That's because now people talking to you are already interested in you, and people who aren't interested in you, aren't wasting your time talking to you.
Here's how a Strong Personal Brand Helps You Network Better in Person
If you have a personal brand, it does a lot of the work for you when you're networking face-to-face.
Your personal legend can open doors, get you into events, and get you introduced to people you would never have met if you simply came as your regular self.
What does that look like online in 2017? Here's two examples:
1. I organize a meetup group called Startup SF, the Startup Grind conference reached out to me and saw handshakin.com and that I was all about entrepreneurs and offered me personal two free tickets and asked if I'd promote it to my meetup group. I'm no Gary Vaynerchuk, but this small feat counts as personal branding. I was perceived as a leader in the startup community based off first my meetup group, and then confirmed by my about page on handshakin.com.
2. Or, look at the company Interview Connections, and the questionnaire you have to fill out when you apply to be an 'expert guest' on podcasts that they pair you with. You won't get accepted without having previously invested in your personal brand.
Personal branding is changing as we enter the technology and social network era. Don't fall behind, otherwise you may only realize it when it's too late.
Not only that, but it helps you appear larger-than-life at times. People will seek you out, and if you come to them then people are more likely to listen. They're even more likely to keep your card, instead of throwing it in the garbage.
Additional ways to establish your personal brand:
- Your Public Appearance: Clothes make the man, and the way you dress as well as the way you act gives people a certain impression. If you make speeches, or attend events, you put your costume and your game face on. Be Bold.
- Your Record: The projects you've completed say a lot about you. If you comport yourself with professionalism, then word will get around in your circles. This is an important reason why most strong personal brands have a website. Learn about how we can launch your personal website here.
- Your Social Media Feeds: Everyone is on social media these days, and you can use it to cultivate your brand. Everything from the language and tone, to the posts you choose to draw attention to, can set your brand in stone. And you never know what network people are searching for you on. If you want to grow a following on Instagram or LinkedIn, check out how we can help you.
For more information on personal branding, and how it can help you in face-to-face networking situations, simply contact us today!
Originally posted at www.handshakin.com.
