Whenever I do anything in my local startup community, people know about it. This isn’t because I’m particularly good at getting the word out: it’s because a lot of the work has already been done for me because people know who I am and what events I organize.

1. How to Take Your
Personal Brand to the
Next Level
Whenever I do anything in my local startup community, people know about it. This isn’t because I’m particularly good at
getting the word out: it’s because a lot of the work has already been done for me because people know who I am and what
events I organize.

2. Lead initiatives related to your
brand.
Your brand doesn’t mean anything if all you do
is talk about it. People respect you when it’s
your actions that are doing the talking. If you
want to be known for what your personal brand
represents, you should always constantly seek
to lead initiatives related to what you want to be
known for.

3. Have awesome side projects.
Nothing helps build your profile than an array of
cool projects you’re associated with. Taking the
time to demonstrate your passion for what you
espouse is a must for people who want to have
superstar personal branding. Write a book,
build a website, throw together a really cool
video: do something that sets your brand afire
with the proof that you can do amazing things.

4. Be a resource.
Reach out to people, and offer to help with their
problems. When others reach out to you, make
it a priority to get back to them, and help them
achieve their goals with any expertise you
might have. Branding, when you think about it,
is really just a collective perception of who you
are. By sitting down face-to-face with
individuals looking for help, you become an
influencer.

5. Be a resource.
Now that you’ve done all of this, make sure it
counts! Google yourself, and see if your efforts
are being noticed. If they’re not, try to make
sure that you have the tools needed to capture
and spread your personal brand: refine your
LinkedIn profile. Claim an about.me page to
showcase what you’re doing. Take slide decks
from old presentations, and make sure they’re
on Slideshare.

6. Be a resource.
Everybody has a personal brand. What makes
a personal brand different is its’ attachment to
distinctive excellence. You should do things
with a different angle if you want to stand out
from the crowd. Is everybody hosting TED talks
in your area? Host a new take on thought-provoking
talks: maybe do a cocktail series, or
have a blind-date like set up where there’s a
main speaker.