Personal branding is different from other types of branding. Instead of becoming known for a particular product, you are promoting yourself and the services you offer. Here are some tried and proven ways to become a well-known, reputable expert in your community in the field of your choice.

Narrow Your Field of Expertise

Narrowing your field of expertise makes it possible for those who need exactly what you have to offer to find you easily. You can have two or three specific fields of expertise but don't spread yourself too thin. You don't want to seen as a “jack of all trades, master of none.”

Here are some tips for narrowing your field of expertise:

  • Think about what you are really good at. An experienced writer, for instance, may be good at writing certain types of content (i.e. blog posts, eBooks, white papers, press releases, etc.) or good at covering specific topics.
  • Consider what you want to be best known for. What type of work do you enjoy doing the most? What type of work is most profitable for you? Make sure that people connect you with the types of jobs you love doing, not the ones that you only do sometimes when you really need the money.
  • Consider supply and demand in your area. Is there a shortage of experts in a particular field and can you fill this shortage? Perhaps there are few or no consultants in your area specializing in helping people change careers. Maybe there is a demand for business consultants who can speak a second language.

Connect with People Online

You need to connect with people if you want to become well known in your local area. Do this online via a personal blog and social media websites such as Facebook, Google +, Twitter and LinkedIn. You should strive to not only provide great content to your readers but also encourage them to ask questions and leave comments. Be sure to answer any input you get from your readers as doing so shows them that you care about them and are interested in working with them to meet their needs.

Connect with People Offline

Another important aspect of personal branding is connecting with people offline. You can do this by attending industry-related conferences and expos. Talk to people, leave your business card and/or a brochure and explain what you do and how you can help them. Get names and contact information from people who are interested in what you have to offer and stay in touch.

Another good way to connect with people is to provide your services to volunteer organizations. A freelance event manager, for instance, can offer to organize or manage a charitable event at a local church or school. A freelance attorney can offer pro bono services from time to time to people who need legal help but cannot afford to pay the fees. Doing volunteer work can put you in touch with other industry professionals and help you gain additional experience in your field of expertise.

Get Published

If you really want to stand out from the crowd, publish your own book. It isn't very hard to do now that the eBook publishing business is booming and you can put your eBook up for sale on Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and other well-known websites with a click of the mouse.

Another good way to get published is to sign up for HARO. HARO, which stands for Help A Reporter Out, is a website used by journalists who need sources for stories that will be published in books, magazines, newspapers or online. Sign up to become a source and help out with any request you can. Having your name published by a major news outlet will show that you are an expert in your field and boost your name recognition tremendously.

Set Personal Branding Goals

Set short and long term personal branding goals and give yourself a deadline for reaching them. Be realistic but at the same time don't limit yourself by failing to consider new opportunities.

Successfully branding yourself is not an overnight process. It will take time to become a trusted expert in your community no matter what industry you work in. However, professional help can enable you to become a well-known expert faster than would have otherwise been possible. Brandgy specializes in website design, content marketing, branding and other services that can enable you to reach your target audience efficiently and effectively. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you build a successful personal brand both now and in the future.