As a former recruiter, I can tell you that job security isn’t a thing. As a business owner, I can tell you clients aren’t a sure thing either. However, one thing that can help you stack the odds in your favor is having a solid personal brand.
There are several reasons why business owners should consider having their own personal brand. They range from having more referrals to multiple streams of income. Here are my top reasons for building a solid personal brand based on my experience.
A personal brand allows you to experiment.
One of the reasons I chose to go the personal brand route many years ago was because I wanted options. For example, financial writing is great for now, but what if I want to pursue more business consulting? By having a brand under my own name, it gives me more wiggle room.
Software can’t replace your brain.
One complaint I hear often is how software is taking over contractors. Someone even told me there is software out there that can replace writers.
While this may be true, I know that software can’t replace my brain. Someone hires me based on my knowledge, not just my skill. Because I have a solid personal brand that expresses this, people are willing to pay. I even get hired for gigs based on the fact of who I am and the following I’ve built.
People pay those they like, know and trust.
It’s commonly known that people will hire individuals they like, know and trust. This is true in business and it was true when I worked as a recruiter.
By building a solid personal brand, you can create that trust without actually having to have conversations. For example, I often have sales consultations with individuals who have been following my work for years. They feel like they know me. Because of this, they trust me and are willing to pay me.
You can create multiple streams of income.
When you build a personal brand under your own name, it’s easy to create multiple streams of income. For example, I make money as a writer, consultant, and influencer (spokesperson). It’s also easier for me to make money with affiliate marketing because people trust my recommendations. And finally, I can make money with info-products like digital courses based on my knowledge.
I want to take a moment to talk specifically about influencer work because I get asked about it a lot. If you want to get hired for this kind of work, you need a brand. Period. Brands are literally hiring individuals based on the trust they have with their audiences. The best way to build that trust is to create a personal brand.
You get paid to be yourself.
I’m going to end this with what I feel is the top reason for building a personal brand. I often joke that I get paid to be myself, but it’s not really a joke. Additionally, I get paid to do things I genuinely love. And finally, I get paid to have fun. In essence, I consider myself pretty abundant because of this.
There is no better feeling in the world than knowing that you can fully be yourself in your career – and make a handsome amount of money doing it.
