The Power of Personal Branding

If I show you a photo of Oprah or Cristiano Ronaldo even if you don’t know their names, you’ll probably recognize them. Not just because one of them is an athlete, but because beyond their talents they have created a well-known Personal Brand.  

Have you ever googled your name? Did you like what you saw, or did you find photos of people who don’t represent you? Personal Branding is unique skills, experience, and personality traits that represent you and what you want the rest of the world to see. It’s how you tell your personal story, influence the public perception of your expertise in your industry, improve your credibility, and differentiate yourself from the crowd.   

At this point, you may be asking yourself, why would I want to build my personal brand if I’m an online teacher? I’m not an influencer, I’m not a big company, I’m just me… a single mom that teaches English online while taking care of my kids, an online teacher backpacking around the world looking for ways to have an income while pursuing my dream, or a schoolteacher who teaches online for a secondary income. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t matter what your situation is; your personal brand can be vital for both your professional and personal growth.  

  

1. Put yourself out there  

  

We are living in the digital era, which means that anyone who wants to be someone is either on WeChat, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, or even Facebook. So, if you want to grow, and build your reputation and credibility then you must put yourself out there by building your brand on social media. As teachers, you have the voice, the knowledge, and the position to create a positive impact in the lives of your students. Now it’s time to share that knowledge.   

Each platform offers different resources and users share their content in different ways using those resources. In this sense, according to your message and your target audience, you can determine which platform is the best fit for you. But, before losing your head thinking about all the different social media channels think about whether you like to be on camera, if you are better at giving speeches or if you prefer writing your thoughts. After having had that moment of self-reflection, understanding what you are best at, and having researched the aim of the different platforms, it’s time to pick the social media platform that suits you best.    

  

2. Share valuable content   

  

Let’s imagine that you are good at styling your hair, and you want to inspire others with your hairstyle. If you are building your brand, you can achieve this through video tutorials, articles, streaming sessions, photos, graphics, or whatever feels more natural to you. You can also pay for adverts or build your reputation organically by telling people how to style their hair. There’s no right or wrong way of doing this as the important thing is that you have a clear message that adds value to people’s lives.   

Some teachers share bite-sized language points, others share teaching or learning tips, the use of the language in real life, and so much more. The important thing for you is that you start sharing what you can do as a teacher. The goal is to create something special that conveys a valuable message.   

Don’t be shy and tell us your story! Share your voice with your community, your knowledge, your personality, and your experience. In this case, your teaching experience.   

  

3. Be authentic   

  

You found your voice, the proper channel, and your story — now it is time to add that uniqueness that only you have. Keeping a clear and consistent message for your target audience will make it easier to create content around your brand and those things that define you. As a teacher you have your niche, now find a niche within your niche. The best personal brands are very specific. Make it easier for people to remember you by narrowing down your brand message. But hey! Do not forget your creative side and be authentic, bring something to the mix that makes the experience stand out from the rest. Even if you are shy, if you don’t have a big wardrobe, or the latest camera to record your videos, people will stick with you if they find that they can relate to your message.   

Ultimately, creating or budling your brand will help you in your career, will increase your circle of influence, and will enable you to make a bigger impact. You can use your brand to highlight your knowledge and teaching skills. Do not just shout about your brand on social media channels, create a story around it that your audience can engage with. Remember to always be yourself; everyone has their own quirks.   

 

Learn more about EF Teach Online here.