Last month we published an article titled One Critical Key to Success on establishing your business brand.

We wrote that branding is critical to all product categories and businesses as well as to you personally, as an individual.

Having a personal brand helps you stand out professionally. We promised to write about this process next.

This article will lay out the key ingredients in building your personal brand.

    

1. Define your sphere of expertise or sphere of influence.  This is your personal niche. You should strive to be able to say with conviction, “I am a (fill-in the blank)”, such as “I am an entrepreneur and DJ.” “I am a designer and visionary.” “I am an entrepreneur and brand builder.”

“I am a beauty marketer and color expert.” “I am a designer and luxury specialist.” You should then elaborate such as “I am an entrepreneur and DJ. I specialize in the Generation Y lifestyle including street fashion and music.”

My own niche is “I am a market researcher, writer and brand specialist.” I go on to say  “ I specialize in beauty, fashion, lifestyle and hospitality.”

      

2. Be an expert. Know yourself and your brand. Believe in what you do. Whether it is as a designer, musician, comedian or environmentalist. Speak articulately about yourself and your business. Tell your story.

   

3. Always dress to reflect your niche. If you are a designer wear your brand and only those of the designers you aspire to be or who are your inspiration. Designers who do this well are Ralph Lauren, Betsey Johnson, Tom Ford and many others. Make sure that all you do reflect your brand.

   

4. Have a purpose and a vision of your future. Know where you want to go, how you want to live and what you want to accomplish. Who you want to be on all levels: professionally and personally. For example, if being fit is very important to you incorporate a healthy lifestyle into your life and work toward achieving your goal. If being a parent is very important, make sure you make this happen in your life.

   

5. Build a lifestyle that supports your vision. If you desire to be a fashion designer, create a personal space that is conducive to developing your craft, a space that not just promotes activity and passions but provides an environment that allows you to renew and refresh yourself for the hard work that needs to be accomplished to ensure your future. Additionally, if you desire a wide circle of friends, make time to make new friends and to be with the friends you have. Lifestyle is a 360-degree experience.

Personal branding tells the world what you are all about. Not only does it support your business goals, but supports your personal goals as well. Personal branding should not be an effort. It should reflect your true essence and help you build a more meaningful life on all levels.

Our next installment will discuss other tips on creating a personal brand.

This article was written by Judy Galloway who is the Managing Partner of G-group Marketing in New York City and a founder of www.newbrandu.com. Judy also teaches at the Fashion Institute of Technology and NYU-SCPS. She loves hearing from readers and is happy to answer questions. She can be reached at 212.873.1122 and Judy@g-groupmarketing.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .©