Personal brandinghas grown in popularity in recent years, and with that growth has come an increase in errors. Which raises the question, how can you build a personal brand while avoiding the most common pitfalls? Let us have a look at that question.

What is Personal Branding?

What Is Personal Branding?

The process of developing your public persona for your target audience is referred to as personal branding. It entails conveying your values, beliefs, goals, and purpose with care and accuracy.

Consider the public image of some of the most well-known businesses. Nike, for example, has created a brand around athletes, high-performance items, and assisting people who want to live active lifestyles.

You'll see instances of those branding aspects as well as everything Nike, from advertisements in publications and on television to social mediaaccounts.

That is precisely the strategy you must follow while developing a personal brand. You may not place advertisements in periodicals or make television commercials, but you must consider how your personal brand is represented while communicating with your audience online.

12 Biggest Personal Branding Mistakes You Must Avoid

Many internet marketers, businesses, and bloggers do not prioritize personal branding. They assume that knowing social media marketingand advertising their businessis all that is required to be successful.

That couldn't be further from the truth. Personal branding is an important aspect of running a successful internet business. We will go through 17 errors that 95 percent of entrepreneurs make so that you can avoid them.

Now, let's get to the personal branding blunders you should avoid at all costs. Are you prepared? Okay, here we go…

You Haven't Defined Your Goal

First, consider what you want to be recognized for - or recruited for. In a time when employees are scarce, it feels good to brag about your diverse skill set.

After all, you never know if someone will hire you because you're an expert in video editing or blogging - or because you can bake a fantastic rum cake.

Schawbel advises.

Not sure where to direct your attention? Examine your professional highlights to find the common connection. Perhaps you excel in front of a crowd and want to market yourself as a charming emcee for weddings or other special events.

Perhaps you've always been extremely organized and want to expand your side business of wedding planning. Perhaps you have a talent for predicting the future interior design trends and can build a following on Pinterest.

The problem with the internet is that there is a lot of noise. Decide who you want to be first, and then begin self-promotion. The proper changes will begin to find you as soon as you are able to describe your specialization, both online and in-person, and demonstrate your experience and aptitude for it.

Thinking It Doesn't Apply To You

Whether you're a high school senior, a c-suite executive, or anywhere in between, personal branding may help you advance your career.

Personal branding is all about promoting and differentiating oneself – and displaying that online. It is about taking charge of your online store in order to attain your objectives.

If you are a senior in high school, your aim may be to get admittance to competitive institutions. If you are a college student, you must demonstrate your abilities in order to obtain an internship or summer employment. If you are a c-suite executive, you may be wanting to expand your firm, gain more clients, or transition into a new field entirely.

Whatever path you take, your internet presence may either assist or hinder you. Don't make the mistake of believing that personal branding does not apply to you.

You're Not Sharing The Correct Information

You've erected a tent on LinkedIn and done your homework on Twitter, but you don't feel like you're gaining traction. So, are you doing any of these branding blunders?

• Overpromoting: Not every status update should boast about the VIP you sat next to or the new job you landed. The "rule of thirds" is an effective social media approach. In other words, a portion of your postings should be about you, the human being, a portion should be about you sharing fascinating information from a third party, and the other third is OK to be devoted to marketing your "brand."
• Underpromoting: Good for you: You're one of the few people who understand that not everyone finds what you eat for lunch every day intriguing. Just be careful, since if you don't boast a bit online due to modesty, shyness, or privacy concerns, you may be holding yourself back.
• Carelessness: This is a big no-no on the internet, but don't be that person who posts anything - from photos of yourself in a too-revealing swimsuit to off-color jokey discussions with your BFFs.

What is the sweet spot in social media? A combination of professional successes and personal interests, with a dash of your brilliant personality—all without getting into the awkward territory of TMI.

When in doubt, go with share value. Share links to fascinating articles you've found online, share fantastic possibilities, or direct others to useful resources. Friends and followers will soon recognize you as someone who is always willing to help.

Pretending To Be Someone Or Something You're Not

When we initially start dating someone new, we typically strive to present the best version of ourselves. Perhaps our flats are a little cleaner than usual.

Or maybe our occupations have suddenly become more intriguing and spectacular than they were the week before.

In modest doses, this approach can assist you in capturing someone's attention and forging a deeper relationship. If taken too far, you risk becoming someone you are not just to keep a relationship going.

Consider personal branding to be similar to dating. You offer yourself the best opportunity of attracting the attention of universities, employers, and new clients if you deliberately present your good side online.

But if you go too far, it might backfire. Nobody wants to date, hire, or work with a liar. Authenticity is essential in both relationships and personal branding. Don't make the mistake of posing as someone you're not.

You Don't Have A Website

Because it will dominate the results of a Google search for your name, your website - ideally at yourfullname.com - is where you can best manage your message. Consider your website to be a picture of what you excel in.

There is no need for a plethora of bells and whistles. At the absolute least, your website should have a beautiful photo of you and samples of your work, as well as a personal mission statement or bio that emphasizes your experience thus far and the type of work you aspire to accomplish.

You may also utilize your website to blog about what you're currently working on or interested in. However, only include a blogging option if you intend to utilize it. “Your online presence has to be consistent,” Schawbel adds. So, if you're not going to handle a blog on a daily or weekly basis, don't add one.

Waiting For Something Bad To Happen

Brushing your teeth twice a day, every day is recommended by dentists. Can you imagine what would happen if you didn't clean your teeth till they were brown and funky? You'd most likely develop gum disease, suffer from excruciating tooth pains, and your smile would be less than stellar.

When you reach this point, it's typically too late to turn things around. At the very least, there is a significant amount of terrain to cover.

Brushing your teeth on a regular basis is a lot more efficient approach to keep your smile and oral hygiene in good shape.

Personal branding operates in a similar manner. It is more difficult to regain control of your online store when there is anything negative to cope with.

Many people only understand the importance of their internet presence when they have an issue. But that's a common blunder. When done in advance, personal branding maybe even more successful and less of a hassle. A little more effort today can make life a lot simpler later.

You're Hiding Behind Your Computer Screen

Don't forget to be your own brand's in-person ambassador. It's difficult to overestimate the importance of seeing individuals in person.

It leads to stronger bonds, greater teamwork, and faster progress toward your goals. So keep your business card close at hand and put yourself out there, a lot.

Make plans to meet for coffee, cocktails, hikes, movies, or dinners with individuals in your profession. Attend industry gatherings and parties. Each one-on-one interaction will have a greater impact on your brand than any Facebook discussion or Twitter conversation.

Not Asking The Difficult Questions First

Would you ever sit down to promote a business if you didn't know what the product was? Obviously not.

The same may be said for personal branding. Before you publish a blog article or send out your first tweet, you should ask several essential questions.

And the rationale is straightforward. It may not be a pleasant or simple process, but determining what makes you “you” is a vital first step in making your brand realistic and approachable – and getting in front of the people who matter most.

People that skip this stage and go straight to packaging are the ones who wind up with forced brands that they can't relate to and abandon after a week.

Personal branding takes a significant amount of effort, with an emphasis on website design, content marketing, and social media engagement.

With all of that online activity, it would be irresponsible not to identify your distinct value proposition or target audience. Otherwise, you're merely circling the drain.

Ignoring Others In The Process Of Brand Discovery

External counsel from friends, family or a professional branding agency is critical when developing a personal brand. After all, you're not establishing a brand to impress yourself, but to wow others. It's also tough to perceive oneself properly from your own point of view.

Talking about your brand with someone else might help you get some distance from the narrative you already have in your brain. We pay psychotherapists and marital counselors – as well as branding agencies – for their advice and viewpoint for the same reason.

And the ramifications of a branding blunder are rather frightening. You can go with a "wonderful concept" only to discover later that it is very insulting to a subset of your audience. A little fresh air may go a long way.

You've Let Your Profiles Go Stale

We understand. You got distracted, life became hectic, and you haven't been putting in any effort to maintain your e-appearances.

However, the next potential client who looks over your web presence is wondering why you haven't updated your blog in nearly a year or posted on Twitter since early June.

Have you passed away? Have you changed jobs? Have you given up a regular job for a year-long round-the-world trip?

If you've fallen behind on your rigorous e-upkeep, it's not too late to get back on track. Write a vibrant blog on the wonderful things that have occurred since your previous post (it does not need to be too explanatory or apologetic).

However, take in mind that yours may not be the brand that is always upgrading. In such a scenario, it's OK. Just be aware that if you leave your accounts and profiles unattended, inactive, and un-updated for an extended period of time, you may lose work.

Daily activity is the best standard, but aim for weekly check-ins at the very least when things become hectic. Schawbel warns, "If your name isn't out there, someone else's will be."

Underestimating Time To Develop A Great Brand

Having a website and a few social media platforms isn't enough to build and sustain a successful personal brand.

It's about consistently giving actual value to people. It's all about standing out from the crowd and making yourself distinctive for the individuals you want to impress and interact with the most.

That is not a simple task, especially in today's loud digital environment. On average, it takes five to seven impressions for someone to remember a brand, so picture how much work you'll have to put in to keep getting in front of the appropriate individuals again and over.

And along the same lines...

Ignoring Influencers

It is typically a waste of time to publish information without performing any outreach. Consider a new company owner who opens a store on a quiet street. He has an excellent product but does little to attract new customers. He switches on the lights and sits in his swivel chair, swiveling about in anticipation of visitors.

Of course, no one shows up. Personal branding works in a similar way: if you don't try to make yourself noticed by the people that matter, you won't achieve the reach you want.

Influencersare the most effective method to do this. They might be colleagues and family members from your current network, old pals from your past, or complete strangers in your business who are eager to cooperate. Find these influencers first, so you can receive the traffic and engagement you want.

What Kills A Brand?

The financial contribution of the brand: The total financial contribution of the brand in the company's brand portfolio is one of the most prevalent reasons that corporations decide to eliminate brands. Building, cultivating, and keeping a brand over a long period of time may be incredibly costly.

What Is Bad Branding?

A "poor brand" is one that does not resonate with consumers for one reason or another. The values may be weak or absent, and the messaging may be disjointed. The design might be unattractive and "make no sense."... Because of their beliefs and/or mission, people desire to be associated with these businesses.

Why Is A Personal Brand Important?

A personal brand is the one-of-a-kind mix of talents and experiences that define you. It is how you exhibit yourself to the rest of the world. Personal branding that is effective will set you apart from the competition and help you to develop trust with prospective clients and employers.