At nearly every self-introduction session for a new class, teachers asks students to talk about what kind of PR they would like to practice in the future. Answers are usually very diverse. When you excitedly talk about an area of PR you’re interested in, have you ever wondered not only how you’re going to get there, but how you’re going to be a good PR practitioner in that field? While it’s important to think about how you’re going to get those things, maybe you should start with branding yourself.
1. Find out who you are
When a brand’s image and the messages it conveys are consistent, it is easier for its audience to remember and distinguish it from other brands. This applies to people as well. So find out who you are: your personality (introverted/extroverted, humorous/serious, stubborn/easygoing, etc…), your strengths (public speaking, computer skills, graphic design, logical thinking, etc…), your hobbies, whether you’re a foodie and interest in fashion, etc…) These are the traits that differentiate you from others.
2. Reinforce y
our identity
Once you identify your characteristics, reinforce them so that they convey the messages that belong to you alone and tell other people who exactly you are. For example, you can wear clothes that show your taste of fashion, which determines your style. If you are good at graphic design, go volunteer/work for organizations, projects or professors to showcase your skill so that you have a reputation of being a great designer. We all know reputation is what people talk about in PR.
3. Make a presence
This could be either online or offline. For example, you can build your own website to showcase your work or hobbies. Just remember to ALWAYS be active on any media platform that you are familiar with. It could be a public social media platform where everybody sees, or a relatively private one where you share your experiences with a certain group of people.
These are just some of my ideas and I know that everyone could be a master in personal branding. Be unique and start branding yourself today!