Many people think that personal branding is only associated with sports stars, celebrities, and popular figures, but the reality is that you are already a brand, whether you know it or not . What you need to do is be aware of it and make it work in your best interest. In our world today, how we are perceived influences the results we achieve. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Now more than ever, it makes a lot of sense to invest in your personal brand and reap the rewards. The concept of branding seems vague to most people who often think of it as the way a product or company is perceived, but branding goes beyond perception. Some even consider it interchangeable with terms like impression, goodwill or reputation, but branding is much more. A look at the definition of brand contained in the Merriam Webster dictionary is still not enough. He defines it as a category of products that are all made by a particular company and all have a particular name. If we do not have an in-depth knowledge of the two basic concepts on which brands are built, we will not be able to fully grasp the concept of personal branding. These concepts are image and reputation; they are quite different even though they look similar on the surface. As an individual, your image is the perception others have of you or how they see or regard you. On the other hand, your reputation as an individual is what people know about you based on their experiences with you. Image is what people see from afar, as opposed to reputation which is what they experience when they come into contact with you. Reputation comes from an individual's first- or second-hand knowledge. You may be perceived as an easy-going and friendly other person and when the person interacts with you, they may find this to be true. In this case, your reputation matches your image and helps improve your brand. Personal branding is a delicate blend of an individual's image and reputation, whether favorable or not, and influences how others relate to that individual. An ideal situation is when an individual has both a positive image and a positive reputation. When one or both of them are negative, your personal brand needs to be corrected and realigned with your personal and career goals. In addition to being positive or negative, your personal brand is also unique but may have similarities to that of others. The current president of the United States is known, among other attributes he possesses, to be controversial and provocative, this is his personal brand. As an individual, you should stand out and be known for something. What comes to mind when you think of Richard Branson? Initiative, courage, simplicity, this is his personal brand. Whether you are a popular figure or not, you are a brand. Your personal brand is what people feel (image) and know (reputation) about you. Two main types of resources are needed to build a great personal brand: offline and online resources. In the past, only the former was considered an input to your personal branding, but the digital age we live and work in has made the latter more relevant than ever. Typical offline assets include: –Physical appearance: Always look good. People often say “dress the way you want to be addressed.” Business card: Your business card says a lot about who you are. Invest in a well-designed, high-quality business card. Curriculum Vitae: Your CV speaks for you in your absence, do everything you can to make itimpressive and attractive. Personal network: Your contacts and connections can distinguish you from others with similar skills or expertise. Published Works – In addition to being an author, being a columnist or article writer in a newspaper or magazine adds to your personal brand. Individual Achievements: Your awards, recognition and achievements will do a lot of good for your personal brand. Do your best to ensure that these six critical aspects of your personal brand are well taken care of and this would require a lot of effort on your part, but it would be worth it at the end of the day The most common online resources include: Keep in mind: This is just a example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayDigital Community: Represent your followers, contacts, friends, profiles and social media influencers. In fact, the size of your social media following or friendship reflects the strength of your personal brand. Social media posts and tweets made by sports and entertainment celebrities with a lot of clout are reportedly worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Personal blogs: Having a personal website can help you share useful things and interact with people on the Internet. Such blogs could eventually be converted into money-making ventures. A typical blog has no geographic boundaries and can extend your influence beyond your local audience. It is no longer surprising that some popular blogs are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Digital content: there are various means to reach people and communicate your message: images, audio and video, articles, books, podcasts, videocasts, etc. Take a look at some creative industries like entertainment and public speaking and you'll find people who have launched their careers using digital content posted on social media. Sometimes it may be necessary to invest funds in the development of offline and online resources and such investments are usually worth it, especially in the long term. Corporate and personal brands are so powerful today that they often have greater value than material or physical assets. In recent times, relatively new e-commerce and social networking sites are worth many times the value of brick-and-mortar organizations that have been around for decades. It seems unfair but it's the reality now. It's not enough to build a great personal brand without enjoying the benefits that come with it. This implies that we need to translate our personal brands into assets; an asset is anything that adds value or generates revenue or other beneficial benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to: –A better income or salary if you have a paying job and even getting the job in the first place. It can also make your promotion in the workplace easier. Bigger and better contracts and clients if you run a business. Your personal brand may allow you to charge higher commissions or fees than your competitors. Growing personal network of like-minded people both inside and outside your profession. Ultimately, your network will also contribute to your personal brand. If you want to build a great personal brand, roll up your sleeves and get to work. The journey begins now. You are a personal brand, let that fact sink into your consciousness. When this happens, you will take deliberate steps to improve rather than damage your personal brand. Works Cited Aaker, J. (1997). Dimensions of brand personality. Journal of Marketing Research, 34(3), 347-356.Chaffey, D. & Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2019). Digital marketing. Pearson Education Limited.Goudreau, J. (2019). Personal branding: what it is and what it is for Forbes., 43(5),.