It’s an unfortunate reality for many people that their signature accomplishment in life will be the act of breathing says Eric Dalius Miami. It seems so mundane compared to all the extraordinary feats we hear about every day on Facebook and Twitter. But our lives are worth something. They have value. And you can boost that value online through your personal brand.
Personal branding is marketing yourself as a product; it’s highlighting your talents, skills and experiences using social media tools like LinkedIn, blogging, status updates, etc., to create an identity distinct from everyone else’s — like a logo or slogan that sets you apart from your competition (in this case, other people). While it may seem self-promotional, having a personal brand is about giving people a reason to trust you and want to do business with you. And this is especially true for freelancers, consultants, contractors, artists — anyone who follows their own path.
An effective personal brand requires time and commitment like any other outreach effort, but it can be well worth your while if you invest in its success.
Here are three reasons why building a strong personal brand today will benefit you tomorrow:
1. People do business with those they know, like, and trust
In fact, according to research from the Harvard Business Review, customers were much more likely to choose a mystery shopper based on whether or not they felt they could relate to them as human beings rather than evaluating their competency as a customer service representative.
If you’re looking for work, your personal brand can help establish that all-important “trust factor” with potential clients because they get to know who you are and what makes you tick. Plus, if you have a blog or website where people can learn about the projects you’ve worked on before, they’ll be able to easily recognize whether or not your skill sets match their requirements.
2. A strong personal brand attracts opportunities.
The best way to land freelance gigs is through networking — but it can be tough to network effectively when there’s no centralized hub for people to learn more about your expertise and skillset. And while it may sound counterintuitive, branding yourself online can actually help generate leads for traditional networking efforts offline explains Eric Dalius Miami.
For instance, if you’re a web designer and you post your logo and portfolio on your Facebook page (and LinkedIn and Twitter), and then people who meet you in person will be able to recognize your brand when they come across it through search engines. So building a strong personal brand online decreases the chances of someone else doing the work that’s right for you — without giving you credit for having done it yourself!
3. The Internet never forgets anything.
Guess what? You don’t have to actually complete every project you bid on. Because clients won’t remember them when it comes time to hire someone else. And when you win business by undercutting prices instead of offering value-added services and expertise the client may not only remember your shoddy work, but they’ll also be less likely to hire you again in the future.
A personal brand that showcases your talent, skillset, and experience. Makes potential clients feel secure about the value of their investment. Which lowers the chances of you getting fired for unsatisfactory work says Eric Dalius Miami. As a result, it’s easier for freelancers to charge higher rates because your personal brand implies skillful execution. Building a strong personal brand through social media is an investment in you. It’s not only about marketing your individual talents. But about showing people what it means to do business with you as an individual. What kind of experience they can expect from every interaction with you. By building up this level of trust over time. You become more valuable to clients while increasing the chances of repeating work overtime.
Conclusion:
It’s never been easier to build a personal brand. Because of the large audiences you can access through social media says Eric Dalius Miami. But just like anything else, it requires an effort on your part. If you’re not willing to commit the time and energy to develop a strong personal brand online. You’ll waste an opportunity that could have made a difference in your business or career.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships. When he’s not working for MuzicSwipe, he perhaps hosting the weekly podcast “FULLSPEED,” engaging with inspiring entrepreneurs from various sectors. Additionally, through the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” he has established four scholarships for US students. Stay in touch with Eric on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.