Do you ever wonder how people are able to turn themselves into something that can be branded in a professional, credible manner? We live in an age where companies aren’t the only ones able to brand, people have now begun to brand themselves for success. That’s why I’ve researched some tips for people wanting to get a head start on personalizing their brand.

Just like any professional brand, starting your own branding efforts forces you to take into consideration who you are. What are your core values, skills, and beliefs? Figuring out how to show these elements off in a consistent manner will help to grow your presence- both digitally and within the professional world. Ultimately, personal branding helps to set you apart and puts you in front of your competitors in terms of value for the future.

Here are 5 steps to get you started on your way to personal branding-

1. Figure out who you are, and who you aren’t.

Branding begins with some introspection. Self-reflect, take some time to write out your skills and strengths. What are some words people would use to describe you? What are some words you would never hear as a description for yourself? Don’t discourage skills you have that may not fit the general consensus of “crucial” or “important”.

Remember, don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Social butterfly or reserved and focused, either way you bring skills to the table that others lack, so once you figure yourself out, get to work on making those skills stand out more.

2. Identify your target audience and know your “why”.

It’s important that you have a general idea of who you’re communicating with so when your message is put out there its broadcasted to the right people and heard loud and clear. For example, this blog is shared on my social media which consists of my age group and some of my parent’s demographic. If I were to suddenly switch my blog to a newspaper or magazine form, I would be limiting my reach and preaching to the wrong people since it’s rare that someone my own age that shares interest in my topics would be buying a newspaper to read it.

Another part of identifying your target audience is knowing your brand's “why”. If you aren’t clear and consistent about the messages you’re putting out than those receiving it will be just as confused. Start by asking yourself, “What’s the purpose, why am I here, and how can I make sure my business promises fulfill that purpose?”.

3. Apply the 3 C’s of branding.

Whether you’re choosing to a media influencer on Instagram, create your own blog or anything else under the sun- the biggest piece of advice anyone could tell you is following the 3 C’s of branding. Clarity, consistency, constancy. Determine where you want to fit in (industry or niche) and then remain as visible to your target audience as possible. This means having content that is clear, avoiding ambiguous language, and being direct with your message as well.

Consistency and constancy are also an important part- anyone can start an account on social media but keeping it up for more than just the first few posts can be a challenge. Set a schedule for yourself, give yourself due dates and take time to think out what your next piece of content will be. This will not only help you push out relevant, exciting posts but make you more credible as the months go on and you continue to work towards your goals.

4. Get feedback and don't be afraid of the criticism.

The sincerest way to measure your brand is knowing the reputation others hold of you in their minds and hearts. Ask people you trust, the people you know best- whether it be at home, work, or anywhere- and see what they have to say about your efforts. Take notice to how people introduce you to others, let them be a critic of your work. Not sure if you should post something- do a test run and send it out to some trusty friends before exposing it to the entire world.

I recall having a few spelling errors on one of my first posts and my mom correcting me. Of course, I was at first offended she wouldn’t just focus on the bigger picture that I had just wrote my first blog post and was excited but later I realized that this alone was a huge help in making my post more credible and professional. Taking into account suggestions and criticism can be scary -and sometimes harsh- but in the long run this will only help you grow and become the best version of yourself you can be.

5. Keep at it, keep at it, keep at it.

You probably wonder how others around you or online have reached their success. I can promise you that although it may seem like it just happened overnight for them, it didn’t. I remember one of my professors in college telling our class that if you truly want to be successful in something you need to work at it for more than 3 years. Yes, it can be discouraging to see that you aren’t getting likes, shares, or more follows for the first few years but after you’ve established that you’re consistent and to be taken seriously you and your personal brand will gain traction and take off.

Evaluate your work, keep updating and progressing with your personal brand. Keep building it up, growing it more- you may be surprised how far you’ve come and how far you can still go.

A little overwhelmed after reading that? Well here's my one and only piece of advice to you-

Stop being so afraid. Instead of thinking "I wish I could do that", just DO IT! Or instead of thinking "I wish I had thought of that", find a way to make it better and make it your own. Whatever it is, work at it with all the passion you have. You'd be surprised to see the inspiration you can render from those who believe in you. Authenticity is at the heart of success.