Many business owners keep their lives private and have no online visibility. They have their own perceptions behind staying away from social media. However, I would say building a strong personal brand as an entrepreneur is crucial if you would want to create a successful business and present yourself as a leader in your industry. Your personal brand image can differentiate you from other entrepreneurs, investors and partners. So, how do you create a personal brand that sets you apart and gives you the power to make an impact beyond your business?
Start By Creating A Dream
Going beyond simply selling a product or service, think about lifestyles and dreams. Entrepreneurs like Adam Neumann, the former CEO of WeWork, sold the idea of a coworking space as a place to create the life you want and be a part of a community. On the other hand, Elon Musk’s focus on space through SpaceX has been a successful selling point for his company. While having a dreamy vision can be effective, make sure it’s grounded in reality. Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for a meta-universe may still be unproven but he remains confident in the long-term investment for the project.
Embrace Your Strengths
Don’t be afraid to embrace the qualities that make you stand out from the crowd. These qualities can be used as your business card and provide you with advantages in negotiations and against competitors. For example, Elon Musk’s focus on breakthrough innovations and willingness to take on the impossible has established his personal brand as a market-moving force.
Also Read: New Graduate? 5 Tips To Step Into Entrepreneurship
Make Yourself Googleable
Your name should have related search results on the search engine ranking page. A successful and effective PR strategy can help you reflect your skills, occupation and other information on the search engine results when someone googles your name or brand. Depending on your goals, make sure the media portrays you in a positive light. A personal brand allows you to be “known” and viewed as a trusted individual, leading to more opportunities and investments.
Stay Committed And Be True to Yourself
Staying true to yourself and being able to speak your truth is the foundation of building a personal brand. While this may attract or scare people away, it’s better than trying to please everyone and becoming interesting to no one. Cristiano Ronaldo is a prime example of this approach, staying committed to his standards of excellence and never settling for less, despite criticism.
Also Read: Mark Cuban’s Advice For Young Entrepreneurs: Focus On What You Can Accomplish On Your Own Time
Focus On Building Your Own Reputation
It can be tempting to respond to criticism and try to ruin others’ reputation, but it’s important to focus on building your own. Instead of trying to bring others down, focus on establishing yourself as a trustworthy and successful entrepreneur. Like Thomas Edison, who believed in direct current, instead of trying to discredit Nikola Tesla’s work with alternating current, he continued to work on his own projects and establish his reputation.
Building a strong personal brand as an entrepreneur is about embracing your strengths, staying committed to your values, and focusing on creating a positive reputation for yourself. Your reputation can be your greatest asset, so make sure it reflects who you are and what your company represents.
