Why is Personal Branding so Important? 

You have a personal brand, whether you realise it or not. What comes up when you Google yourself? These are the first impressions that people will have of you. Is it any good? Is the information you post on LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media platforms consistent? If you have a date or a job interview, chances are someone will Google you to learn more about you. The question is whether you want to let your online reputation take on its own life or control the narrative. With the rise of social media and the gig economy, it is now more important than ever to embrace personal branding.

As Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, famously quoted, “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” The term “branding” used to be reserved for businesses, but with the advent of social sites and the gig economy, personal branding has become fundamental. 

A personal brand is what makes you stand out from the crowd, it’s essential to have a strong personal brand. A personal brand is the unique combination of skills and experiences that make you who you are. It’s what makes you unique and sets you apart from everyone else. By developing a personal brand, you’re giving yourself a competitive advantage.

Whether you’re an employee or an entrepreneur, developing your personal brand is more important than ever. One reason is that recruiters are increasingly using social media during the interview process. Personal branding is also advantageous from the standpoint of the employer. Employees should be encouraged to develop strong personal brands by their employers because it is good for business. Employees who are allowed to represent their company at conferences or events not only develop themselves but also provide more exposure for the organisation. Employees who are perceived as trustworthy thought leaders can help acquire new customers and retain existing ones. Personal branding is also important because the gig economy is not going away anytime soon.

Workers need to be able to clearly communicate who they are and what they do to stand out to prospective clients and employers. If you aren’t effectively managing your online reputation, then you run the risk of losing out on business.

Examples of personal branding masters

Creating a strong personal brand does not happen overnight. It is critical to be able to communicate your purpose and mission to your audience in an authentic manner. Here are some celebrities who have built incredible personal brands through hard work, consistency, and a long-term focus:

• Oprah Winfrey: Oprah is without a doubt the queen of personal branding. According to Forbes, she is constantly building equity in her brand, which has a net worth of $2.5 billion. Oprah has always stayed true to her core competency: inspiring millions of viewers to live their best lives by realising their full potential. She has inspired millions to be their best selves by being true to herself.
• Richard Branson: Richard Branson is without a doubt one of the most visible, successful, and well-known men on the planet. He has always remained true to his core values, which include adventure and risk-taking. By being himself, he has frequently done exactly what other business leaders have warned against, including outrageous publicity stunts such as dressing up as a flight attendant for a competing airline. His unconventional style and dedication to his passions have aided in the development of a strong personal brand. “Too many companies want their brands to reflect some idealised, perfected image of themselves. As a consequence, their brands acquire no texture, no character and no public trust.”

Whether you’re an employee or an entrepreneur within the hair, beauty or wellness industry, developing your personal brand is more important than ever. Branding allows clients to distinguish you from the competition in your industry. You may be a fantastic hairstylist, but there are hundreds of thousands of other talented stylists out there. Your brand communicates to others what distinguishes you, why they should trust you, and positions you as an authority figure in the industry. 

Perhaps you are an expert colourist, a master at cutting, a lash or brow expert, or you specialise in blonde hair. What do you provide clients that others do not? That is the question you should be asking yourself. Your years of industry experience are no longer as valuable as the results you can produce.

What kind of person do you want to be? What do you want to do or be remembered for? Finally, branding is a tool that can help you make a bigger impact on your career advancement. But, what does it take to build a successful personal brand as a hair, beauty or wellness professional?