Personal branding, the process or the conscious and intentional effort to create and influence public perception of a person, seems wrong during a pandemic. It seems a bit self-centered, right? I mean COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on our country. Over 200,000 lives have been lost, businesses have closed permanently, and the economy has tanked.
Yet, I believe now, during– the pandemic– is an optimal time to build your personal brand.
Here’s why.
Small businesses are up leveling during COVID-19
While 8 in 10 small business owners have reported that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their business in a recent survey small business owners say they have used the time to build their business, with 76% saying they have upskilled in areas such as SEO, social media and data analytics (Source: Tech.co).
As an entrepreneur you should positioning yourself for future growth and elevating your personal brand is part of that.
An online presence is more important now than ever before
Due to the shutdown and stay at home orders people are spending more time online. According to a survey of U.S. social media users, 29.7 percent of respondents were using social media 1-2 hours additional hours per day (Source: Statista). With this increase in time on social media, this means an increased opportunity for people to discover your personal brand. The only issue is that there is a lot of people and brands online so competition for attention is at an all time high as well.
So what should you do to build up your personal brand?
1. Leverage LinkedIn
Of the social media channels, LinkedIn is thee personal branding platform. The audience on Linkedin is there for professional growth and networking. They’re not playing games and sharing pictures of what they had for lunch. LinkedIn has grown substantially and has great features that allow you to build your credibility. This is the platform to showcase your expertise. Share informative post updates, upload videos and connect with people. Most importantly be the real you. Keeping it real goes a long way to scaling your brand.
2. Share your story
People are always intrigued by a great story. What’s yours? How did you get to the point you are now in your professional life? Were you able to overcome something? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of? Share that story on your website, online, during a virtual event that you host, etc.
3. Create content
During the pandemic is the perfect time to create content. You can even do it in batches. Your content doesn’t have to be a perfectly produced and directed video, but it does have to deliver value. Your target audience should have a-ha moments when consuming your content. Amplify the value by including research/stats. The more people see your content, the more they see you as an expert in your field. You want to be top of mind during the pandemic and beyond!