Branding yourself / Mira Koivumäki-Lindholm

Branding yourself
Branding yourself is important at nowadays job market. More and more companies are seeking for good employers via LinkedIn. 
It seems to me that branding yourself is important. 
Is it necessary? Not yet, at least in Finland, I think. You can still find a job just using job application and your CV.

I found this interesting article (very American, to me honest) which tells you how to create a powerful personal brand. I comment my opinions based on this article.

Sell Yourself: 14 Steps to Creating a Powerful Personal Brand

http://www.salary.com/sell-yourself-14-steps-to-creating-a-powerful-personal-brand/
“One of the best ways to articulate your skills, experience, knowledge, and overall worth in today's competitive job market is to create a personal brand that helps you stand out in the crowd. This article explores 14 steps to creating a successful personal brand.”
How to do it?
Step 1: Determine your unique value proposition

“Spend some time thinking about what makes you different than your peers -- your strengths, your passions, and your goals. If you left your job today, what would your company and colleagues miss? Know who you are, as well as who you are not.”

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I think this is very good advice. In any job interview you need to tell your weaknesses but most important your strengths! This isn't easy – especially for Finns, so it's good to analyze what kind of person I am and also what kind of employer I am. 
When I started my study leave I had worked at the same company for 8 years and it was very hard to say was I important to my company or not. But it was very encouraging to see that they really missed me when I was gone. 
I tried to make notes for my duties and ways to handle my job, but still when others needed to take care of my tasks it wasn't so easy for them.
I think everybody should take study leaves or other breaks from work time to time – it is very instructive.
Step 2: Find out how others see you
"Ask trusted colleagues, co-workers, and friends for four or five adjectives they would use to describe you. What are you good at? What are your strengths? In which areas do they view you as "irreplaceable?"
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I tried this advice and got these opinions:
- Mira is a faithful and reliable employee.  
- Mira concentrates and devotes on assigned tasks carefully.  
- Mira does her job smoothly and quickly.  
- As a colleague Mira is a cheerful, fun and social.”
How encouraging! :)
Of course by 8 years experience you'll find easier ways to do your job, you know your tasks but especially: you know EVERYBODY – your colleagues, subcontractors, clients and so on – and that makes everything so much easier. You don't have to start from the scratch.
Step 3: Identify your goals

“Where would you like to be in six months? One year? Five years? Ten years? Defining your goals is necessary to crafting a message that helps you reach them.”

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This advice I find also very good. I have heard that when you dream of something you also take steps to get what you dream of, and finally you can see yourself living in your dream, your dreams have gone true.

If you set goals that are specific and if you set the target that is realistic – you will get it.
Aphorism says:
“By choosing our path, we choose our destination.”
Step 4: Identify your target audience

“Just like Starbucks knows that their target audience is coffee drinkers, you need to define to whom you want to send your message. This will not only help you hone your message, it will help you deliver it to the right places.”

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Well, yeah – true. For example if I wanna start a blog I need to start by thinking who would read it.

Step 5: Reorganize your priorities

“You're probably used to putting yourself behind your company, co-workers, and clients. You still want to be loyal to these groups, but be loyal to yourself, first.”

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This is so true! I have always been too humble. 

I don't want to bring myself up – sometimes it's good but sometimes you just need to take the credit of your good job. How could your superior find you irreplaceable if you don't let your strengths to see?

Step 6: Pay attention to the details

“Everything you do ultimately contributes to your personal brand. Once your brand has been defined, make sure that the little things -- the way you dress, your body language, how you behave with co-workers, the emails you write -- are consistent with your brand message.”

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Once again, of course true - for example - if you are at job interview.

At daily job I don't know how much time do you have to control everything? A little bit unrealistic? 
Step 7: Update your resume

“Go through your resume to determine it gels with your brand. Ensure that your resume accurately defines who you are, and is in line with both your short-term and long-term goals.”

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True. It is important (for example) that your LinkedIn profile is updated. It gives a poor impression of you, if your data is very outdated.

Step 8: Become a social networker

“Set up accounts at social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Ask those in your target audience to subscribe to your pages, and update on a daily basis. Make sure your updates are germane to your branding message.”

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Hmmm... a little American way...

Yes, it's important to be active at social media and via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn you can find interesting job opportunities, but to “ask my target audience to subscribe my pages”, I think this is little too much.

Step 9: Build your own website

"Your website should highlight your professional accomplishments, your skills and knowledge, what you stand for, and your overall value. Make it primarily about you, not your company or clients."

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If I am a politician or wannabe-politician, then OK, but if I'm just one Mira from Turku – I don't think so. :)
Step 10: Blog

“Platforms like WordPress and Joomla make it easier than ever to promote yourself to your target audience. Commit to posting a couple of times a week on topics that your audience will find interesting and educational, but that also highlight your unique skills and experience.”

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True – you can write a blog of your interests, your hobbies, your studies – and that's what we practice now!
Step 11: Get published

“Write a book, contribute to industry publications, or simply update the content on your own website. Being published is an ideal way to promote yourself as an expert in your field.”

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Good advice – but a little overwhelming for me..

Step 12: Go offline

“Be sure to promote your brand in person, too. Join and participate in industry groups, give talks at conferences, or offer to spearhead a large project that highlights your unique talents.”

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When you have reached a high enough position, you usually get to give speeches at conferences – but at my position, this is not an issue yet.

In any case, live performance is what matters most. You can tell everybody how important person you are on-line, but face to face encounters are most valuable.

Step 13: Tend to your marketing network

“Be sure to keep co-workers, colleagues, clients, and friends updated about what you are doing. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool, and what the people in your network say about you will ultimately have an effect on your brand.”

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On LinkedIn's Skills & Endorsements is based on the idea what people in your network say about you. You should keep LinkedIn up to date!

Step 14: Review your brand (and how you portray it) frequently

“Are you portraying your brand in a way that's concise and easily understood? Is your brand message consistent among all platforms? A regular review will ensure your message remains clear.”

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A good summary! Clear, simple message is important at all communication.

It is worth to re-write your CV time to time.