Personal Branding Guide
Darren Kaltved, M.Ed.
Associate Director – Career Services
Defining Your Personal/Professional Brand
What is a personal and/or professional brand?
Why create a personal and/or professional brand?
Know Yourself & Company
Values:
Strengths:
Passions:
Attributes:
Other:
Discovering Your Brand
Circle the words that best describe your professional strengths.
Intelligent Well-Spoken Resourceful
Quick Learner Motivating Analytic
Influencer Competitive Multi-Tasker
Good Listener Efficient Leader
Honest Critical Thinker Energetic
Political Assertive Strategic
Creative Efficient Connector
Teacher Passionate Inspiring
Deliberate Patient Professional
Trustworthy Respectful Fun
Bold Strong Presenter Ambitious
Risk-Taker Driven Thorough
Curious Cautious Prepared
Conservative Engaging Sharp
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Developing Your Brand
This worksheet is designed to help you create the first draft of your brand statement, an essential personal marketing tool.
1. List relevant companies, volunteerism, recognition, awards or certifications that distinguish you
2. List relevant projects and work experiences and their results
3. Complete the statement, “I really enjoy working in…” (list industries, team characteristics, etc.)
4. Complete the statement, “I have focused in/on…” (list key skills, capabilities, and strengths)
5. I am interested in (benchmarking, increasing expertise, expanding network, etc.)
Visioning your brand
What is really BIG and IMPORTANT this year? In the next 2-5 years?
What do I really WANT this year? In the next 2-5 years?
What is my VISION for the future (5-10 years)?
Who can support me?
What do I want to be remembered for?
Where do I want to be in my work life in five years?
When I look at my entire life, what part do I want my career to play?
In what type of environment do I want to work?
What type of people do I want to work with?
What daily activities do I see myself doing?
What experiences do I want to have?
In what other ways will I be developing personally and professionally?
What kind of impact do I want to have with my career?
Promoting Your Brand
Know Your Purpose
What are you trying to achieve? This will help determine your tool.
Know your Audience
What is your niche? Are you targeting professionals, colleagues, potential customers, friends, family, etc?
Off-Line Branding
Networking, Business Cards, Promotions or other visibility, etc.
On-Line Branding
What are other people saying about you and/or your company?
· Google Yourself – www.google.com
· Google Grader – www.brand-yourself.com/features/google
· Social Mention – www.socialmention.com
· Online Identity Calculator - www.onlineidcalculator.com
Blogs
· Blogs: Wordpress, TypePad, Technorati
· Domain: Hover.com, Godaddy.com
Social Media
· Complete your profiles (i.e. Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, etc.)
· Grow your contacts
· YouTube
Other
· Write a book
· Presentations
· www.ca.linkedin.com/in/chriskulbaba1
· www.linkedin.com/in/elisabethsanderspark
· www.linkedin.com/in/williamarruda