We live in a world where knowing what you know is not enough. Everyone knows something. But being able to position and promote yourself to audiences who will find you relevant and compelling is all that matters.
Thanks to the internet for making this easier. The online space is all you need to start showcasing your talents and skills and attract people who will find you valuable and might want to work with you.
So, what is the best online platform for you to build your personal brand? Is it Instagram? YouTube?
But before we find out, let’s first see what a personal brand really means.
Modesta Mahiga Mbughuni, Management Consultant and Executive Coach who has built her brand for over a decade now define personal branding ‘as a deliberate, ongoing process to create a specific image or impression in the mind of others’. She also has a full personal branding course on YouTube you can go and watch.
The idea of personal branding is like this; If five people who know you were asked about what do they think about you, what would they say? Would they say the same thing you would say about yourself?
Your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room.
Jeff Bezos
Personal branding is all about how you successfully make people start thinking of you the way you want them to.
LinkedIn may be a good start
LinkedIn is a hugely underutilized platform in Tanzania. Yet a powerful place for building personal brands and connecting with top decision-makers, supporters, and people who will help you with information you need in a particular industry.
LinkedIn is where top decision-makers in companies you admire to work for are hanging out. If you can engage with them, you may be in a good position to be noticed.
To succeed on LinkedIn, you need to have a compelling profile. From having a presentable profile picture, job titles, listing relevant skills, and work experiences you’ll be in a good position to attract people to view your profile. And don’t forget to engage because LinkedIn isn’t just like any other social media channels, LinkedIn is people. Interact by liking and commenting on posts that are related to you.
But that is not to say other online platforms are not useful. If you are a fashion photographer or singer, YouTube and Instagram might be good for you. You can also launch your own blog and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Starting a blog has helped me establish myself as a digital marketing specialist and attract visitors to my agency’s website.
Online platforms like social media are no longer a passing trend. They are powerful tools to connect you to a global marketplace where you can find buyers of your service or product.
Useful links
- Creating Your Personal Brand, a Linkedin Learning course
- Become a Powerful Personal Brand
- The 5 Facets of Being Unstoppable
