10 Personal Branding Tips

by Liz Jansen

Learn personal branding tips from the experts. Motorcycle manufacturers go to great lengths to establish, protect, and strengthen their images. This extends to how and where logos are shown, their corporate colors, the attributes of the people they hire, and the activities they support.

Merely being a rider brands you as an adventurer, a risk-taker, a fun-lover, and a free spirit—with a touch of rebelliousness. Your brand is how you’re defined, who you are—or, more accurately, the perception of who you are. And it’s one of your most valuable assets. Stay true to it! Here’s how, taking lessons from motorcycles.

1. Know it. A good salesperson knows the brand inside out. He or she can tell you about its strengths and features, why they are of benefit to you, and why one model may be more suitable than another. Know yourself that well—your strengths, interests, and areas for improvement.
2. Believe in it. To promote a brand, sales and marketing teams need to believe in what they’re promoting. Otherwise, their overtures come across as insincere. Believe in who you are, and be that person.
3. Show it off. Walk into any motorcycle showroom and you’ll see the bikes being displayed to show off their best attributes. It’s the best way to determine whether a brand or style is a good fit for you. Walk your Road with confidence in who you are. People and experiences come into your life based on the face you show to the world. It’s best to be authentic or you’ll all be disappointed.
4. Be visible. Successful organizations use a multifaceted approach to splash brands wherever their audience is, reaching out through personal interactions, social networking, and multimedia advertisements. As the children’s song advocates, don’t hide your light under a bushel. Let it shine!
5. Watch for trends. Manufacturers are continuously watching market trends. As demographics and interests change, they find new ways to deliver their brands’ messages. Whether you’re involved in business, volunteer activities, or personal hobbies, your viability depends on being able to change with the times and find new ways of reaching your audience.
6. Listen. Winning brands gather feedback through research, focus groups, and surveys to learn how they can be more effective. On your personal journey, there’s a tendency to get so wrapped up in the excitement of what you’re doing that you forget to check back to see if your message is reaching others. A minor adjustment may be all that’s standing in the way of being effective.
7. Make improvements. Listening without taking action is pointless. Once you know how you can be more effective, take the steps to do so. It strengthens you and what you represent.
8. Demonstrate its attributes. Motorcycle manufacturers offer demo rides for potential clients to see if the bikes they’re looking at are suitable. It’s a very effective way to convert potential customers. In your personal and professional life, beliefs and words without actions are empty. Demonstrate your brand through your behavior and interactions with others.
9. Provide pain relief. Organizations grow because they understand the needs of their customers and provide solutions to problems. You have a unique role and purpose here, but if you’re going to be effective, you have to package it in such a way that it provides the answers people are looking for.
10. Protect it. Stand up for who you are and what you believe in. Why wouldn’t you?

You’ve taken a lifetime to create your brand. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up for who you are. Just as one motorcycle is not going to appeal to everyone, your message is also not one size fits all. But when each of us follows our inner guidance, when all of our messages come together, profound change occurs.

Read more life tips in 75 Tips for Defining Your Brand  Free Download for a limited time.

photo credit: Jonas Hansel via photopin cc