Branding is not just for your product! Personal branding includes any content that shines a light on your person. This may include both online and print sources, from your social media accounts to articles in which you are referenced. Much like the brand of an organization, your brand should be carefully cultivated over time to ensure it’s presenting the best version of yourself.
One of the most important goals of a sales enablement program is to equip sales reps with the resources they need to lead successful interactions with buyers. As a sales rep, your brand is an important part of your overall sales enablement strategy because it impacts your ability to build relationships with clients. Robust personal branding can make it easier to generate leads and follow up with them, taking your prospecting to the next level. Take on the client’s point of view. You would be much more likely to respond to someone with a well-established, professional media presence than to a stranger. Strong personal brands signal that you are dependable, capable, and knowledgeable and are prepared to advise clients on how to tackle current issues with the most cutting-edge solutions. In short, good personal branding matters because it generates trust in your abilities as a sales rep.
How can you work on your branding?
Be consistent
Creating a respectable personal brand takes time. To nourish your brand, create a habit of regularly posting content that is in line with your and your organization’s values. When sharing content, ask yourself how the information you are publishing fits into your greater narrative. Consistency is key, so stay coherent! Confusing your following with contradictory messaging can be harmful to your brand in the long run. To enhance your visibility, utilize a unified communication format across channels that clients can quickly identify as your signature style.
Be original
Personal branding can serve as an invaluable tool for distinguishing yourself from the competition. It not only allows you to showcase your expertise in the industry but also to differentiate your perspective from that of other qualified salespersons. But it’s hard to stand out from the crowd when your content resembles that of most other accounts in your field. It’s, therefore, important to take an original approach to personal branding and steer clear of run-of-the-mill ideas, cookie-cutter profiles, and overdone sales tactics.
To determine what makes you unique as a seller, don’t be shy about asking for help. Consult your friends and colleagues on what they find most enthralling about you. Do your social media accounts and web search results reflect these special talents or sought-after skills? If not, think about how to tailor your accounts to showcase your value-added best and winning personal characteristics. By creating and curating content that is honest, credible, and innovative, you can come across as a thought leader clients would be enthusiastic about conversing with.
Be confident
Poor interactions can harm your reputation as a reliable sales rep, so make sure your brand is not being jeopardized by anxiety or awkward silences during real sales conversations. To help you sound more confident and professional on calls, try adopting a conversation intelligence tool. One tool you will have to try is an AI-powered sales software called Attention. Not only does Attention provide live feedback during real sales conversations, but it also empowers you with the specific information you need to impress clients during calls using voice-activated sales battle cards.
Be selective
A word of caution, especially for those just starting on their personal branding and sales journey. Your online persona allows clients to get to know who you are and what your value-add is before you even say a word to each other. So make sure your social media activity is enhancing your reputation rather than tarnishing it. Be selective about what you choose to share, and certainly don’t go around trash-talking competitors. You don’t want to just “be yourself” – you’ll want to be your best professional self. If you’re unsure about how something might come across, ask a more senior peer on your team for advice.
Stay connected
Work on making symbiotic connections and building the right audience for your goals and ambitions. Having an engaged audience that regularly interacts with your posts is far more valuable than having a large but lifeless bot following. Also, keep in mind that staying connected is not just about outreach; it’s also about being easy to contact. Make your online presence more accessible using SEO tools and keep your accounts open to the public to maximize your chances of being found by your target clients.
Keep a growth-oriented mindset.
When it comes to your particular personal brand, don’t be afraid to change things up! As you continue to grow and develop as a sales rep, your brand should continue to evolve alongside you. Seek out additional training opportunities to expand your skillset and deepen your sales reflexes. Measure your performance over time using Attention to track areas of progress and have a clear idea of where room for growth is still possible. Revisit your personal branding goals and approach from time to time to ensure they are still aligned with your organization’s overall sales enablement strategy as well as in tune with the changing needs of your client base.
Examples of Content that can be used for Personal Branding?
Here are some effective content examples to enhance your personal branding:
- Professional Bio: Craft a concise, engaging bio highlighting your expertise, passions, and achievements.
- Portfolio Showcase: Develop an online portfolio featuring your best work, projects, or accomplishments.
- Thought Leadership Content: Share articles, blog posts, or videos expressing your insights on industry trends and challenges.
- Testimonials and Recommendations: Display positive testimonials or recommendations from colleagues, clients, or collaborators.
- Social Media Presence: Maintain an active and professional presence on platforms relevant to your field.
- Skills Infographic: Create an infographic illustrating your key skills, making it easy for others to understand your strengths.
- Video Introductions: Craft short, engaging videos introducing yourself and your professional journey.
- Public Speaking Engagements: Share highlights from any public speaking events, emphasizing your expertise.
Remember, consistency is key. Regularly update and curate your content to reflect your evolving skills and accomplishments, reinforcing a compelling personal brand that resonates with your audience.
Finally, ask for feedback from your network and team to make sure your brand is still working for you. Sometimes, the way we perceive ourselves is very different from how we come across. With a bit of self-awareness and discipline, you can achieve the personal branding you need to reach your sales goals.
