Posted on by Markay Reeves

Few managers, executives, or professionals become true Impact Players who are considered talented performers who are at the top of their game. So, what sets them apart? It’s a combination of experience, cross-functional exposure, proven performance, visibility, and branding. In addition, they are usually early adopters of new ideas and technologies.

Here are a few steps you can take to begin defining your brand:

Step 1 – Decide how you want to be seen within your industry and to your peers. Are you aiming to be a thought leader, proven performer, a rising star, etc.? Or maybe even all of the above.

Step 2 – Build authority internally, or simply put “bloom where you’re planted.” This can mean things like taking on higher-profile projects, sharing your vision, thinking more strategically, and building consensus.

Step 3 – Next, become an industry thought leader. You can start small (or big).

  • Speak at events or present at conferences
  • Host a webinar
  • Launch a podcast or YouTube channel
  • Write for industry publications or open platforms like Medium
  • Answer questions on Quora and LinkedIn

Step 4 – Reinforce your brand.

Create your own blog. Publish on LinkedIn. Guest post on Industry Blogs. Contribute to trade publications. As an established authority in your field, organizations searching for executives will seek you out for pivotal leadership roles.

Step 5 – Amplify your brand through social media. Reserve your name as a domain name on all forms of social media Keep your brand consistent across all channels. Stay up to date with new channels as they develop.

Create a professional presence across all channels.

LinkedIn –

  1. Look at the profiles of those you admire or would like to emulate.
  2. Identify companies that would benefit from you the most.
  3. Add relevant keywords to your profile.
  4. Create a compelling summary.
  5. Highlight your achievements with action words.
  6. Join groups and engage with them.

Twitter –

  1. Use Twitter as a platform for your expertise.
  2. Answer questions.
  3. Contribute to conversations.
  4. Share relevant content.

Facebook –

  1. Keep it positive and professional or keep it locked down.
  2. Consider a separate professional profile or page.
  3. Curate and share content that fits your brand.
  4. Connect with others in your industry.
  5. Follow pages of target companies.
  6. Share links to your other content.

Instagram –

  1. Create a bio that communicates your brand.
  2. Include link(s) to personal website(s) or contact info.
  3. Follow pages of target accounts.
  4. Interact by liking and commenting on posts.
  5. Use relevant hashtags to be found by non-followers.

Whether your goal is to become one of your industries top Impact Players or simply to strengthen your personal brands, be sure to remain authentic and present your true self.  This, after all, is our biggest impact.