???? The topic of personal branding usually gets someone ???? excited, or they roll their ???? eyes. I think the eye rollers don’t get it and if they did, they’d realize that every day they’re embodying their personal brand. It’s really your way of being which is why we need to put time and energy into crafting what our personal brand message is and how we come off so that others don’t control our story.
Whether you like it or not, YOU ARE your personal brand. You may not think you are, but everything you say and do is part of building your personal brand. (How many times can I say, “personal brand” and then turn it into a game?)
Did you know personal branding was introduced 26 years ago?
It was introduced to the world by Tom Peters in Fast Company magazine’s Aug/Sept 1997 cover story and then 6 years later, LinkedIn launched.
It was the first big milestone in moving personal brands and professional relationships online. I love what he said:
“What makes You different? Start right now: as of this moment you’re going to think of yourself differently! You’re not an “employee” of General Motors, you’re not a “staffer” at General Mills, you’re not a “worker” at General Electric or a “human resource” at General Dynamics (ooops, it’s gone!). Forget the Generals! You don’t “belong to” any company for life, and your chief affiliation isn’t to any particular “function.” You’re not defined by your job title and you’re not confined by your job description. Starting today you are a brand.”
The concept of personal branding exploded and now we’re experiencing the next major shift in personal branding. 2023 isn’t about being associated with a brand or some title, it’s about being authentic, becoming a creator and being“extra human” in the virtual world.
The more technology we learn about and utilize, the more humancentric people want to see businesses and the people who work for those businesses to be.
We’re ushering in the human era of personal branding, and there’s 3 main trends to keep in mind.
Refresher: What is your personal brand?
When you think of your personal brand you might think of your reputation. I’m sure that what others think about you or say about you comes to mind. While this is a piece of your personal brand, it’s not the entire puzzle.
Your personal brand is not just how others see you, but also how you see yourself.
Your personal brand is you, your story, and your legacy. It is about being authentic, transparent, and consistently presenting yourself in a way that aligns with your values and goals.
“Your personal brand is much more intentional. It is how you want people to see you. Whereas reputation is about credibility, your personal brand is about visibility and the values that you outwardly represent.” – Best Selling New York Times Author, Harrison Monarth
3 Personal Branding Trends to Make Your Brand More Human
Trend 1: Bring your Personality to LinkedIn
Have you noticed more people are posting personal content? Family trips, family milestone moments, community wins, volunteer wins, heartwarming stories, leadership learnings and SELFIES! Yes, it is OKAY to post a selfie on LinkedIn (but please don’t be half-naked).
In 2023, expect much more personality on LinkedIn with the integration of personal posts and work posts.
The work you do and the real-life you live are one in the same, and people want to see the human beings behind the business, whether you work for someone else or yourself.
For instance, I love sharing about my dad and me. This is us on our father-daughter trip to Colorado to celebrate my dad’s 70th last year. We went to Denver, a Rockies game, the Buffalo Bill Museum, and Estes Park. This is what life is about! Be extra human. #famiLEE
Trend 2: Thought Leadership, NOT fake news
How many times have you scrolled through a social media platform and landed on a handful of things that really benefited you? We are bombarded with information, graphics, buzzwords, videos, and more, and let’s be honest, a lot of it is junk.
What will stand out? QUALITY content that is evidence and experience based. Your thoughts are your communication investment. Are you getting little to no return on your investment or are you getting a big return on your investment? We want big returns which means we need to lean into accurate, research-backed and evidence-based content. People are tired of fake news and people, so if you’re posting leverage your unique experiences and background to create content. Also, site people and resources you leverage. Give credit where credit is due, and don’t steal other people’s content!
Want a little tip? Talk about things you have credibility and experience in. Don’t talk about topics you don’t know well and if you do, make it clear that this is your personal opinion and not research-based.
Also, make your thought leadership read the way the Disney intro song feels every time you start a Disney movie. Be the “when you wish upon a star” of your own personal branding and showcase your unique expertise and background. Give credit where credit is due. People are yearning for trust in people and brands so please show us the way!
You have 875 million people on LinkedIn to share your thought leadership with you can stand out and cut through the noise.
Trend 3: Everyone is a Content Creator
Gary Henderson, Founder of DigitalMarketing.org once said, “A content creator is someone who creates appealing and awe-inspiring content for the viewers. The content they create can be educational or can simply be catchy enough to entertain and grab the attention of any visitor or passerby who wasn’t previously interested in your brand. But after looking at the content, they developed a certain interest and visited your webpage or your social media handles.”
What you really need to stand out, however, is a go-getter attitude that’s ready to put yourself out there! inspires you to constantly innovate. You don’t need to break the mold, but you do need have to an online presence to maintain a growing career in 2023 and beyond.
Don’t wait to start putting yourself out there. You never know when you may lose a job, client or get the spur to start a side hustle! stay up with the times. Trends allow you to not only appear fresh and relevant but expand your audience rapidly.
Don’t try to please everyone. Good content creators aren’t there to appeal to the masses. They speak directly to a certain group of people about whatever they’re passionate about AND about their expertise. Simply engaging with thought leaders and resharing is a start to putting yourself out there. And make sure you aren’t just trying to get everyone to like you online. Be there for the people who you want to engage with, and they’ll be more likely to engage with you.
You may not think you’re a content creator, but you are. It’s like saying, “I’m active on LinkedIn, and I post and comment, but it’s not content and I’m not a creator.” Umm, what? Yes, you are my friend!
Personal branding is just as much about your own self-discovery as it is about gathering input from what others have to say about or to you. We’ve been told repeatedly, do not read the comments. I say, “READ THEM!” Read the comments and gain nuggets of gold to put into your personal branding “pot.”
Don’t just read the comments but respond to them.
Engage and build a loyal following and nurture relationships simply by responding to each comment, even the negative ones. You don’t have to respond in a way that fuels the fire, but responding shows your human side.
Focus on the humancentric in our tech-centric world.
Be deliberate about building your personal brand in 2023 by being a little extra human, and keep the 3 trends top of mind this year.
Need help with creating your personal branding and all that it entails?
If you’re thinking, wow Rachel, this isn’t so easy, don’t worry we at StandOut Authority are here to help. We support our famiLEE in developing their personal brands, content, and LinkedIn strategy inside our Standout Authority community. If you’re interested in checking it out, join here.
And please don’t miss my amazing LIVE interview event this Friday with Maya Grossman.
Did you know that on average only 9% of people get promoted?! Woah.
She’s a CEO who coaches high achievers to make quantum leaps in their careers and earn high 6 figures, Best-Selling Author of her book ‘Invaluable’, 2x VP of Marketing, Former Google & Microsoft Team member, and Top LinkedIn Influencer in 2022. If you want to be one of the few who level up this year join us to learn:
• What it takes to get promoted (hint: not working more hours)
• The top mistakes that are holding you back and how to fix them.
• The Mindset shift required to get promoted fast and often.
Mark your calendars and set your notifications to join us Friday, February 3rd, 2023, at 10 am CST!
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