By Claire Sakaoka

Whether you're starting a new business, want to establish yourself as an industry influencer, or need to stand out when applying for a new job, personal branding is everything. 

Without a solid personal brand, especially online, you can end up fading into the background while stronger personal brands take the limelight. 

In such a busy, crowded digital world, personal branding can help you differentiate yourself, communicate your value, attract ideal clients, land your dream job, and, ultimately, sell more of your time or services. 

But how do you develop a successful personal brand? What questions do you need to ask yourself? What steps can you take?

In this guide to personal branding, we're going to focus on one of the most essential parts of developing a truly authentic personal brand: discovering your superpower. 

So, if you want to know how to build a personal brand by uncovering your superpower, just keep reading!

First, what is a personal brand? 

We always find it helpful to define exactly what a personal brand is, as personal branding isn't the same as a corporate brand, nor does it exist simply because you have a personal website.

A well-defined personal brand is the unique combination of skills, experiences, and qualities that make you who you are and how others perceive you.

Your personal brand encompasses your reputation, image, and message you communicate to your audience. 

You'll use your brand to promote yourself in the job market or business world or build a following in areas such as blogging, social media, or public speaking.

As good ol' Jeff Bezos once said: "Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room."

Why is an effective personal brand important?

According to Deloitte, reputation damage is a number one concern for business executives across the world. And in this new era of "cancel culture," we can see why. A strong personal brand helps you to prevent and fix reputation damage by controlling how others perceive you.

Here are some other reasons why personal branding is so crucial.

Career advancement

A well-designed personal brand can help you stand out in a crowded job market and increase your chances of getting hired or promoted.

Business growth

A personal brand can help you attract new customers and grow your business if you're an entrepreneur or small business owner.

Trust & Credibility

A standout personal brand can help establish you as an expert in your field and increase your credibility with potential customers, clients, or employers.

What is a personal branding statement?

An essential component of your personal brand will be your personal branding statement. This statement is a little like a tagline describing what you do, how it helps people, and what makes you "you."

A good branding statement can serve as your professional branding foundation with every action you take, supporting it -- everything you say verbally or written, whether in-person or online, needs to lend credibility to this statement. 

This personal branding statement will help you shape your broader personal branding strategy and will take center stage across your LinkedIn profile, the about page on your website, and presentations/engagements. 

So, how do you create this personal branding statement? It's all about uncovering your superpower. 

How to create your personal branding statement in 5 easy steps

Creating a personal branding statement involves identifying your unique superpower or the specific skills and experiences that set you apart from others in your field. 

In other words, you need to know who you are and what you have to offer that others do not. So, think long and hard about your career and what you are passionate about. 

Where do you find joy? What unique value do you bring to the table? How do you help others? Actively enter a space of self-reflection as you follow the steps below.

#1 Identify your target audience

Who do you want to reach with your personal brand, and what are their pain points? Knowing who you're targeting will help you tailor your message to their needs and interests.

#2 Define your superpower

What differentiates you from other people, and why is that important? Is it your processes, communication style, or unique approach, for example? This is your superpower.

#3 Write a draft statement

Combine the information from steps 1 and 2 into a short, concise statement that communicates your unique value proposition. 

It can look something like "I am a [who you are] helping [target audience] to [overcome problem] by [unique services you offer]."

For example, "I am a data-first marketer helping small business owners avoid burnout and increase their online revenue through effective digital marketing strategies."

#4 Refine and test

Show your statement to a few people in your target audience and get feedback. Use their feedback to refine your personal branding statement and ensure it resonates with the people you want to reach.

#5 Use it consistently

Once you have a final statement, use it consistently in your CV, online profiles, blogs, and any other professional communications.

Want to know your superpower? Take our personal branding quiz!

We hope you understand what a personal brand is, how to build a personal brand statement, and why this is so important. If you need help to get your personal brand off the ground, why not let our branding experts take over? 

At engage5w, we tell your story through customized branding solutions. We're here to help you shape your brand identity online, find your voice, and maintain a solid reputation with content, brand building, and training solutions tailored to your needs. 

Why not take our short interactive quiz to discover your superpower and get started on your personal branding statement today? Or, get in touch with our brand builders and begin your journey towards a bigger, better brand.