7 Mistakes Professionals Make While Building Their Brand

Today, in the hyper-competitive age, having a personal brand is no longer a luxury only reserved for stars or influencers. It's something you need. If you're fishing for that next career move at the office, stepping into the world of entrepreneurs, or simply wanting to be heard through the crowd of LinkedIn profiles, it's what will make you stand out.

But too many successful professionals unknowingly shoot themselves in the foot with visibility, credibility, and influence. What's the problem? Branding mistakes that cost them opportunities, contacts, and attention they deserve.

Google Trends also indicates that searching "how to build a personal brand" has grown 68% just in the last year alone. What does that inform us? Individuals desire to be seen, but the majority aren't even familiar with how to even do so in the first place.

Here are the 7 most frequent (and most expensive) blunders experts commit when constructing a personal brand and how you can steer clear of them with ease and confidence.

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1. Distinguishing Between a Resume and a Brand

A resume is a collection of what you have accomplished. A brand is a statement of who you are.

Most professionals simply follow the route of utilizing their LinkedIn profile and resume in attempting to make an impression. Nonetheless, in the real world, your brand ought to be anything but job titles and bullet points.

What to do instead: Infuse your voice, personality, and narrative into all your digital touchpoints. Make others feel your why your purpose, passion, and point of view. Take a page from Shoutstart: they don't simply post success stories; they allow professionals to create stories that resonate.

2. Copy-Pasting Thought Leadership

Sharing generic motivational quotes, paraphrased leadership advice, or buzzwords spewed forth by machines will win you likes but not allegiance.

True branding occurs when you believe in something. When you share something that others can take away. When you are brave enough to be yourself.

What to do instead: Share original thoughts, behind-the-scenes lessons, or even mistakes. These make you human, memorable, and trustworthy. As Shoutstart emphasizes, media exposure and authentic storytelling are more powerful than performative posts.

Important article: Top 12 Reasons Every Founder Needs a PR Strategy Before Fundraising

3. Inconsistency Across Platforms

Imagine seeing a confident, visionary leader on LinkedIn, but a half-complete, awkward Twitter profile. It creates doubt.

Brand inconsistency is brand invisibility.

What to do instead: Keep an eye on your web presence, making sure your tone, values, and imagery are consistent across your personal site, LinkedIn, podcasting, writing, and bios. Familiarity and trust builds consistency.

Forbes suggests that consistent personal branding can create up to 80% greater perceived credibility.

4. Playing It Too Safe

Playing safe is being professional, but it never makes a mark. Professionals do not want to be obnoxious with their words or defend unpopular causes because they do not want to be criticized.

But let's not forget, the opposite of being standout is not offensive it is forgettable.

What not to do instead: Have an opinion on something you're passionate about. Own your voice. As Christopher Rim wrote in Forbes, the best college applicants have an opinion. And so too with personal branding.

5. Delaying Starting Too Long

"I'll develop my brand when I get a senior position."

That's branding poison.

Your brand is not something you start. It is something you construct, brick by brick, in micro-moments: a thoughtful post, a best-of podcast, a thought-out press release, an award nomination.

What to do instead: Begin now. Leverage tools such as Shoutstart to construct visibility via human-curated PR, even as you manage the ladders. The earlier you begin, the more powerful your brand will be when finally the spotlight shines in your direction.

6. Reputation Management Ignorance

Fact: 70% of employers use social media to screen job applicants prior to employment, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.

Your brand is not what you do but what others think of you and what Google has to say.

What not to do instead: Monitor your online reputation. Set Google alerts for your name. Amass press mentions regarding yourself positively. Shoutstart equips professionals with the ability to make their reputation heard, even when they're not in the room.

Must read: How to Make Your Brand popular While You Work Full-Time

7. Trying To Do Everything Yourself

Developing a brand can be overwhelming. From LinkedIn writing to peddling podcasts and press, there's much weighing on your shoulders.

DIY branding, however, can lead to burnout or blurry messaging.

Instead, invest in platforms such as Shoutstart that have a niche for assisting driven professionals such as yourself in building and boosting your story. With the proper tools and guidance, your brand can transition from "okay" to "exceptional" in months, not decades.

Final Thoughts

Your professional brand is not a virtual portfolio it's your legacy in action. Steer clear of these 7 pitfalls and you'll create a brand that not only gets noticed, but respected.

You have the right to be seen, heard, and remembered. Begin creating your brand story today.

Ready to create a brand that opens doors?

Join Shoutstart and let your own narrative do the talking. From media coverage to industry awards, we bring you to life with strategy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. When do I begin to build my personal brand?

The ideal time was yesterday. The second ideal time is today. Begin where you are.

2. Do I need to create a personal brand if I am not present on all the platforms?

Yes. Choose networks where your viewers are most engaged and be consistent there.

3. I'm not yet successful with big things to boast about.

Honor your journey, your values, and your ideas. Your voice is louder than your title.

4. Is it the cost worth paying to hire a service like Shoutstart?

Yes. Professional assistance accelerates your exposure and places your brand in front of the right people's eyes and ears.

5. Is personal branding only for entrepreneurs?

No. Certainly not. A fantastic personal brand earns you job offers, promotions and speaking engagements, and partnerships.

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