Self-promotion is the activities, time and resources you devote to networking, promoting your work, and “getting your name out.” Professional and personal success often depends on persuading others to recognize your value. Self-promotion is essential when you apply for jobs, ask for promotions or vie for leadership positions. These days, you must develop your brand and be comfortable marketing it. The art of self-promotion is about building your brand genuinely. Here is how you do it.

How to Self-Promote Yourself and Build Your Brand

Your brand is who you are as a professional and what qualities make you unique. Consider the following steps to brand yourself:

• Discover What Makes You Unique. Identify your strengths, skills, talents and goals to begin self-promotion. These are the things that you do well and are passionate about. During challenges, your passion can motivate and inspire you.
• Research Peers. As you go about branding yourself, it is helpful to research peers within your field. You can learn how they brand themselves and decide which elements might benefit you. Research can also help you to discover what makes you valuable.
• Establish Your Voice. To distinguish your brand, establish a unique voice for your product or service. What qualities do you possess that make you distinctive from competitors? Highlighting what you can do better is the foundation for a personal brand.
• Find Your Niche Audience. You must know your target audience, those you will market yourself to. It is easier to create a branding strategy when you know who your audience is and what you can do to meet the needs of your audience.
• Build a Reputation. Building an audience and establishing a reputation is about convincing people interested in your brand that your skills are valid and that you have the experience to support your reputation. Identify online platforms where you can find customers. Publicize your brand through social medial posts. Make it easy for people to learn about and contact you.
• Create a Website. With a website and blog posts, you can make it easy for people to learn more about you and what makes your services unique. Be sure to include the following pages: Home, about me, resume, past work and contact.
• Network. Search for relevant people and brands to collaborate with. It can help you access elements of their brand.
• Analyze the competition. Study your competition to identify growth opportunities. The best method depends on your area of expertise. You can do this through online research.
• Get feedback. Ask friends, family, and industry contacts for feedback on your branding. Use the feedback to alter your marketing strategies and fine-tune your brand.

Building your brand through self-promotion is an effective tool if you want to advance in your career or pursue a new job. Building your brand is challenging, but it will get you noticed for what you bring to the table. If you want to pursue a new job, the professional team at Exact Staff can help you find a position to utilize your unique skills and advance your career.