AutoTextDate pubname JOBS TIP of the week Use a tag line to tell your story Robin Fisher Roffer, author of “Make a Name for Yourself,” writes on Monster.com: “A coach I know who consults by phone – primarily helping six-figure earners work their way even further up the corporate ladder – goes by this tag line: ‘A coach for successful people to help them be even more successful.’ ... A tag line’s shorthand helps other people remember a key point about you. ... And it works for entrepreneurs and employees alike.” { #TWEETME me ALL ABOUT ME 100% me message me E M me AutoPageNo s me ’ t i , o l Hel } CHECK ME OUT Make a mark Learn how to brand – or rebrand yourself – with these tips By Melissa Erickson More Content Now W ith jobs and business so competitive, the best way to stand out is to create your personal brand. What is it and why is it important? “Personal branding isn’t anything new, and its origins date back to when we first had celebrities,” said Boston resident Dan Schawbel, managing partner of Millennial Branding, a Generation-Y research and consulting firm, and author of “Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success.” “Notable celebrities like Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan are some of the most famous instances of those who have stood for something, commanded attention and lent their name to products that have sold millions of dollars,” he said. Schawbel used his experience branding himself on social media to write “Me 2.0,” a guide on how professionals can do the same. “In today’s world, I realized that what social media did was level the playing field and allow anyone, regardless of location and age, to build their own tangible brand online with no money, just effort,” he said. “You can stand for something, have values and a mission statement and build a following just like any corporate brand. All it takes is creativity, effort and patience, because brands aren’t created overnight.” Market yourself A personal brand is all about what you’re known for. “What makes you different and better than most people? Don’t just be a marketer or a personal finance expert, because there are thousands of them. Instead, be more specific with how you position yourself by taking a niche. Be the top Twitter marketer for small businesses in the restaurant industry. The more niche you go, the easier it will be for you to stand out and start getting opportunities,” Schawbel said. Once you have a clear proposition and direction, put as much energy as you can to ensure that you remain relevant by publishing content via social media related to your niche. People have to see that you’re constantly reading, interpreting and reiterating your expertise, Schawbel said. Create your brand In “Me 2.0,” Schawbel breaks personal branding down into a four-step process: 1. Discover: Figure out who you are and what you want to do in life, while focusing on your strengths, passions and goals. Select a niche topic to master. 2. Create: Create a “personal branding toolkit,” which are the materials you will use to sell yourself to employers or customers. Traditional ways include a business card, professional portfolio, resume, cover letter and references document. Non-traditional ways include a video resume, LinkedIn profile, blog, Twitter and your existence on the various other social networks. 3. Communicate: After you’ve created your brand, it is only natural that you want people to see what you’ve done. Depending on your audience (hiring manager, teacher, clients), you may want to tweak your materials accordingly. Communication consists of guest posting on blogs, writing articles for magazines, becoming your own PR person to pitch to the media, attending networking events and speaking. 4. Maintain: As you grow, the brand people see has to grow at the same time. Every new job, award, press article and client victory should be added to your toolkit. Also, you should ensure that you maintain a positive reputation online and offline. Ally DAVIS illustration, more content now Half page ad me me me me me follow me Me! call me ME This is me
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