A big speaking and training focus area of mine is that of assisting individuals, whether employed by another company or self-employed, to build their own personal branding.
Within this work, I refer back regularly to how my own Giraffe Brand started in 2009 and how it has blossomed since.
PERSONAL BRAND TIP 1
My first tip on the journey towards curating a stand-out personal brand is to identify your unique qualities & own them proudly. I didn’t know the amazing gift that journalist Craig Jacobs was giving me when he referred to me and my sister, Monique, as “the giraffe sisters” in the SUNDAY TIMES.
Today , this nickname has grown into a lucrative cottage industry – the Giraffe Brand Academy – and I weave it into everything I do in the quest to show my clients how they can set about making their personal brands stand tall above others in the markeplace, in just the same way a giraffe (“indlulamthi” in Xhosa) towers above the other animals in the African savannah.
PERSONAL BRAND TIP 2
Tip number two for effective personal branding is to identify the personal values you most want to shine through in your work. Often, these values were instilled in you by your parents and family – which is certainly the case with me. My father reminded me early in my media career that “just because you’re on TV doesn’t make you better than anyone else”; while my mother advised me to be authentic, saying “Just be true to yourself.”
This tip is, in fact, at the very crux of personal branding in that your authentic behaviour in person and on social media is what will allow your target audience to believe in you, and to feel secure in what you are offering to market. It also comes down to ethics –caring for animals and the environment, for example. I have been inspired to incorporate the support of a giraffe sanctuary in my work and was delighted when the staff recently named a female giraffe after me.
PERSONAL BRAND TIP 3
And my third and last tip is to take your time to curate a message that summarises what you do and stand for – that elevator pitch. List the words and phrases that describe what you spend your time on, and include what is different and exciting about your particular background. My words, for example, would be “Liezel, giraffe, towering above; standing tall, marketing qualifications, passionate about helping entrepreneurs, personal branding coach, entrepreneurial trainer, friendly, genuine, global emcee, speaker, presenter, being fit aids productivity, sport endurance give you the edge in the workplace”.
Then elaborate these words and phrases to create a profile that is fit for purpose across your website and all your other social media platforms.
For more on how to build your personal brand in the marketplace, or to have this topic covered in a corporate training session, do not hesitate to get in touch with me HERE.
