Build a personal brand people actually remember

Start with a conversational opening, then:

What do people actually remember about you?

Your audience probably doesn't remember your job title.

They remember:

• The way you explain things.

• The opinion you always come back to.

• The problem you seem to understand better than anyone else.

• The feeling people get when they interact with your brand.

Your personal brand is the association people make when they hear your name.

Then move into:

1. Decide what you want to be known for

You don't need to be known for everything you can do. In fact, trying to communicate everything usually makes your brand harder to understand.

Ask yourself:

• What do I want people to come to me for?

• What do I know better than most?

• What perspective do I have that others don't?

• What kind of opportunities do I want more of?

2. Build around a point of view

Expertise tells people you know something.

A point of view gives them a reason to remember you.

Talk about what you believe. Challenge ideas in your industry. Share the lessons you've learned the hard way.

3. Repeat without becoming repetitive

You don't need a completely new identity every week.

Choose a few ideas you want to own and keep coming back to them from different angles.

That's how recognition is built.

The takeaway

You don't need a louder brand.

You need a clearer one.