Say so long and âau revoirâ to the elevator pitch and welcome the personal branding statement. Itâs part of the AOL to Gmail, Boomer to Millennial, desk top to mobile shift.
âWhat do you doâ
By far the question we are asked, and will be asked, the most on a daily basis when out meeting new people and expanding our networks. Itâs the ultimate opportunity to make a first impression and peak someones interest.
Itâs the branding question whose answer most people struggle to articulate into one succinct, clear sentence that we remember.
The answer to âwhat do you doâ is much more than talking about products and services. The elevator pitch was fine when the product was out front. Now we are fronting our products and services more.
Creating our branding statement is the most important personal marketing activity we all need to get right.
Coming Up with the Right Personal Branding Statement is a âProcess of Refinementâ
Itâs the sum total of where we are and what we are doing now, plus all the experiences and knowledge we bring from what we have done, driven by our personality, charisma and energy. Our charisma is what makes us stand out.
We change and the world changes and that changes our answer over time. Things work, then they donât work. Circumstances force us to change. Trends lead us to change. Regardless of change, articulating our core values, who we are and what we believe in shouldnât. Â
If you keep up with these things, you will always have what you need to update and deliver your âwhat do you doâ question:
- Be in your zone and sweet spot so youâre authentic and not forced.
- Make sure your visual marketing and messaging is relevant and fresh.
- Be consistent and purposeful with your networking and content marketing.
The reason we remember is because the person, their value, message and how it is consistently delivered strikes a chord with us.
One of the best resources for personal branding is Millennial Branding expert Dan Schawbel, and his Personal Branding Blog. Having a fully developed Linked In profile is also a must.  Here are some great examples of brand statements that work because they grab our attention.
Are you a Sales Whiz, a Career Catalyst a Turnaround Ace
What do you do in one clear, succinct and engaging sentence
Career Branding Catalyst: I help plug in and power up personal branding for small business, entrepreneurs and professional consultants through networking, social media and content marketing so they stand out, get noticed and are remembered better.
Is your personal branding statement ready
What Do You Do Photo via Shutterstock