Use Public Speaking to Build Your Personal Brand
Ed Darling
4 min read
What you’ll learn:
- The real meaning of a personal brand.
- Tips and strategies to build your personal brand.
- How public speaking plays into personal branding.
- Balancing employment with creating your brand.
Want to become “known, liked, and trusted” in your industry?
The go-to person for what you do?
Having a personal brand might sound cliché. But without one, you’re at a huge disadvantage compared to people who are busy getting themselves out there.
So, what if there was a way to fast-track your personal brand, and connect with people at scale?
In this inaugural episode of Charisma Talks, I got to speak with Danielle Clark, a branding expert, about exactly this.
Watch above, or read the essential takeaways below.
Understanding Personal Branding
1. The Essence of Personal Brand: Danielle explains that a personal brand is essentially what people think and say about you when you’re not in the room. It’s the set of beliefs, feelings, and associations that come to mind when your name is mentioned. For example, if someone associates “public speaking” with Ed, it indicates that his personal branding efforts are effective.
2. The Importance of Consistency: To build a strong personal brand, consistency is crucial. Whether it’s through social media posts, podcasts, or public speaking, consistently putting out content related to your niche helps solidify the associations you want people to have with you.
Building a Personal Brand: Strategies and Tips
1. Decide What You Want to Be Known For: The first step in building a personal brand is deciding what you want to be known for. This clarity will guide all your branding efforts. Danielle emphasizes the importance of focusing on a specific area and consistently communicating about it.
2. Utilize Multiple Platforms: Different platforms can help amplify your personal brand. LinkedIn is particularly effective for professional branding, while Twitter, networking events, and even personal hobbies can contribute to a well-rounded personal image. The key is to be visible across various channels to increase recognition and credibility.
3. Integrate Personal Interests: Incorporating personal interests and aspects of your life can make your brand more relatable and authentic. For instance, Danielle mentions her love for field hockey and red wine, which adds depth to her professional persona. This helps in forming genuine connections with your audience.
The Role of Public Speaking in Personal Branding
1. Public Speaking Enhances Visibility: Public speaking is a powerful tool for personal branding. It allows you to communicate your message to a larger audience, thereby increasing your visibility and the reach of your brand.
2. Overcoming Nervousness: Danielle and Ed discuss the common fear of public speaking. Despite having extensive experience as a lecturer, Danielle admits to still feeling nervous before speaking engagements. She encourages embracing this nervousness as a sign that you care about delivering a good performance.
3. Practical Experience: Danielle shares her recent experiences of speaking at events like the Birmingham Design Festival and appearing on podcasts. These opportunities not only enhance her visibility but also reinforce her brand as a thought leader in branding.
Balancing Employment and Personal Branding
1. Aligning with Your Employer: Danielle advises that if there’s no conflict of interest, building a personal brand while being employed can be beneficial. It can make you a valuable advocate for your employer while also establishing your own professional identity.
2. Communicating with Your Employer: Open communication with your employer about your personal branding efforts can prevent misunderstandings and highlight the mutual benefits of your increased visibility.
Final Thoughts on Speaking & Branding
Building a personal brand is an ongoing process that involves consistently sharing your expertise, story, and insights… simple, but not always easy!
Public speaking plays a crucial role in this, as it allows you to communicate clearly, reach a wider audience, and establish yourself as a thought leader.
Whether that’s sharing your story on stage to 5000 people, or sharing a video online, there’s always somewhere to begin. Nerves are always to be expected. Noone starts out feeling 100% confident. But if you want to build a personal brand, facing the fear is part of the process.
On a personal note, I’ve found so much benefit from building my own (very modest!) personal brand. It helps people to find me, to understand what I do, and to have trust in my services – all things that have helped my business immensely.
It’s also something I help many of my clients with – so if that’s something you’re interested in, feel free to drop me an email or book in a call.
To your speaking (and personal branding!) success,
Ed