Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ve probably heard at least a passing mention about the concept of “personal brand.” From super famous people to average joes, everyone knows that having your own personal brand is something that sets you apart from others. Personal brands are more than just logos and marketing materials. They are deeper than that. A personal brand is an individual who represents yourself in such a way that it reveals who you are as a person and what kind of person you are. It’s not just about looking great; it’s also about making yourself stand out from the crowd so others will come to know and recognize you instead of a faceless mass. So, how do you make yourself stand out in your business or life? Here are 5 steps to help make yourself look unique: 

Define your personal brand.

First things first: you must define your personal brand. This is the image that represents you to the world and helps you stand out from the crowd. There are a few ways to go about this. You can think of your personal brand as your signature. If you have a logo that represents you, your personal brand is that logo photo-shopped onto a daily basis. You can also think of your personal brand as your voice. If you prefer to speak in certain phrases or use certain language when interacting with others, that too will come across as your personal brand. If you aren’t sure where to start when defining your personal brand, there are some great online resources. Start with this online guide to creating a personal brand. From there, take it from there. 

Speak your authentic voice.

As someone who’s built a career around marketing myself, one of the hardest things for me to do is adopt an “authentic” voice when speaking to others. After all, I’ve been told that having a “friendly voice” is one of the most attractive qualities you can have as an individual. This is especially true when communicating with customers, prospects, and potential investors. I don’t know about you, but when I’m communicating with someone in person, I almost always adopt a “serious” or “businesslike” tone when talking to them. This is something that I believe comes across as cool and calm when I’m talking to customers and prospects, but can come across as rude or even threatening when communicating with coworkers, friends, or family members. 

Be who you are.

When someone first meets me, they’re likely going to ask me who I am. While it’s perfectly fine to say that you want to hear about my business, my first impression is on these people when they ask me who I am. If you’re not all about who you are, I can almost guarantee that you’ll end up on the losing end of a lot of phone calls, emails, and conversations with people if you keep trying to prove yourself to everyone before they know who you are. If you don’t want to be known as the guy who owns a bunch of Bitcoin wallet addresses, then start letting people into your world by speaking with your own voice and using your own terms. If you prefer to use the term “we” instead of “I,” that’s fine too. 

Keep doing what you’re good at.

One of the easiest ways to make yourself stand out in your business or life is by picking a few things that you’re good at, and doing them well. It doesn’t matter if it’s something simple or complex, just pick one thing that you’re good at, and do it well. Like your personal brand, this is your unique selling point. When people see you doing this thing well, they will naturally begin to notice you instead of a faceless mass of other people. I know this can sound like a cliche, but it’s true. 

Find your purpose.

You’ve probably already heard this one, but I’m going to say it anyway: find your purpose. All of the “ego-less” things we talk about in marketing and business are plain old common sense when it comes to purpose. Once you find your purpose, everything else will fall into place. If you’re not finding your purpose in life, you’re probably doing something wrong. Your purpose is what drives you. It’s what pops into your head when you think of happiness. It’s what drives your career. It’s what makes your heart happy. Your purpose is what you came here to find out about, so find it. 

Conclusion

The concept of personal branding has been around for a while, but it’s still relevant in today’s society. The way that you represent yourself to the world is crucial to your success. You can’t just be a good employee; you have to shine on the outside, too. Your personal brand is what people see when they look at you. It’s what your coworkers and customers see, and how you make them feel. The things that you do well, and the way that you present yourself, will make or break you in this industry, and in your career. The only way to make yourself stand out in this industry is to choose a few things that you’re good at, and do them well.