Welcome to the fifth and final installment of my series on personal branding. Today, we dive into the art of promoting your brand. 

How do you feel about “self-promotion?” If you’re like me, the idea of self-promotion can feel somewhat uncomfortable and disingenuous. None of us want to come across as arrogant.

Don’t worry, I would never advocate for anything that doesn’t align with your core values or authenticity. 

However, I’d like to invite you to step outside of your comfort zone. It may feel scary and uncomfortable initially, but if you work through it, you’ll learn new things and discover strategies that work well for you.

I’ve compiled a list of ways for you to promote yourself without that unpleasant “sleazy” feeling. Why not give some of these a try?

Introduce Yourself with Impact

When you introduce yourself at a meeting or networking event, consider incorporating your brand statement, or a condensed version of it. This approach is far more interesting than simply sharing your name, company, and title. For example, I have a colleague who introduces herself by saying, “Hi, I’m Susan, and I help people get promoted.”  Her introduction creates intrigue and encourages people to want to learn more about her.

Showcase Your Talents

What better way to promote your brand than to demonstrate it in action? There are many ways you can do this. Here are a few ideas:

• Speak up in meetings. Ask questions, contribute ideas, and actively engage rather than being a passive listener. If you’re introverted, prepare some questions in advance.
• Offer to give a presentation. If public speaking terrifies you, start with a brief talk in front of a small audience, such as giving a project update. Gradually work up to larger presentations, perhaps even speaking at an industry conference. 
• Join special project committees. This allows you to connect with new people, expand your network, and increase visibility outside your normal day-to-day responsibilities. Something as simple as volunteering to help plan the company picnic could get you noticed by higher-ups and differentiate you from the crowd.
• Teach others. Promote your brand by becoming the “go-to expert” in your field. You could mentor colleagues, volunteer for your company’s training department, or even explore teaching opportunities at a community college or university.

Be a Thought Leader

Share your ideas through various channels like blogs, social media, newsletters, or other public platforms. Whether you create your own content or contribute insights to content shared by others, it is essential to have a point of view and share it. Remember, the goal is to stand out!

Volunteer

One of my favorite strategies is volunteering in the community. This supports important causes while extending your visibility beyond your workplace. By engaging in community activities, you’ll meet new people, learn new things, and enrich your resume with experiences beyond your professional and educational background. My volunteer work was pivotal in setting me apart from other job candidates.

You may have noticed that none of my suggestions included “brag about yourself.” There are many ways you can promote your brand, get noticed, and achieve your goals. Tell me which one(s) you plan to try! 

Wishing you the best!

P.S. This is part 5 of a 5-part series on personal branding. Use these links to catch up on anything you missed!

• Personal Branding Part 1: Everything Sends a Message
• Personal Branding Part 2: Why Your Brand is Important
• Personal Branding Part 3: Identifying Your Goals and Audience
• Personal Branding Part 4: Creating Your Brand Statement
• Personal Branding Part 5: Promoting Your Brand (this post)