Want A Celebrity Type Brand? Here Are 8 Things That You’ll Need To Do At Some Point

Want A Celebrity Type Brand? Here Are 8 Things That You’ll Need To Do At Some Point

There is a lot said about what personal branding and what it isn’t.

The fact of the matter is that you don’t have a “personal brand.” You are a personal brand.

Each one of us has the ability to influence the perception of what people think of us, but can never neglect the fact that we can never be in complete control of that perception.

In other words, we can only put in the work so that we can make a meaningful impact in hopes that it will reflect positively on us.

But this is why personal branding is so important going into 2019 and years beyond that.

We live in a world where we are judged by the perception that we first give off online, then in person.

Everything you say, and do will be critiqued before you even step in front of someone. Making a great first impression online might not be ideal for a lot of people, but it is the reality.

With this being said, building a rock-solid — almost celebrity-like brand — is incredibly important for your career and future. Here are 8 things that you’ll eventually have to do if you want this to happen.

Figure out who you are and what you’re good at

There comes a pivotal time in everyone’s professional career when they asked themselves “What do I really want to do?” or “What am I really passionate about?” You might ask yourself these questions multiple times over and still not have a concrete answer, but that should never stop you from putting yourself and your story out there. Even if you don’t know what you really want in life or what you’re best at, try different things, talk about various topics, and see what sticks. It takes time to figure these things out, but it should never deter you from bringing people along on your journey or trying to recognize your talents.

Know your audience and why you’re helping them

Knowing who you serve and why you serve them are the two cornerstones of your personal brand. I always tell people that personal branding is much more about your audience than it is about you. Every time you put out something or create a product or service around your personal brand, you have to know who it’s for and why it’s going to solve their problems. If you dont know your audience then you’re wasting your time or even just shooting in the dark hoping to hit something. Take the time to know who you’re giving to and eventually your efforts will be multiplied over time.

Be vulnerable and authentic at all times

This is really number one because without an authentic personal brand, who’s going to trust you? Who you are online has to match who you are in person, through and through. Furthermore, you have to get really comfortable talking about what you’re uncomfortable about. Your insecurities, flaws, failures and secrets have to be somewhat revealed in order to draw people closer to you. Talking about things that I have been through and experienced in my book Lessons from the Game, was incredibly unnerving but it has helped me build deeper, more personal relationships with the people who I hope to have an impact on.

Put out great content at massive scale (for free)

I get a lot of comments (both in person and online) about the amount of content that I put out. Everything from blog posts (like this one) to podcasts and even a video from time to time, amazes people and prompts them to ask “how do you have time?” It’s really easy to answer. I make the time. When you’re trying to kick the door in on an industry and establish yourself as an industry-leader one day, then you have to make the time. You have to put yourself out there and let people know what you’re about. And I’m still not doing enough in my opinion. The truth is that we live in a highly distracted society therefore if you want to stand out then you have to drown people with content and value. Consistent quality content always wins over time.

Own your own platform

Yes, I know we have endless platforms and social media outlets that we can leverage to build our brands, but the thing is we don’t own any of that content once it’s up there. When you exclusively build your brand on a platform that you don’t own, you are at the mercy of that platform. Instagram can delete your profile whenever, Twitter can be shut down, and Facebook could leverage your information however they want to. When you have your own platform you control the content, and everything else that comes along with ownership. Having your own entity is a crucial step to building a personal brand because you're protecting your words, content, image and complete likeness.

Constantly look for networking opportunities

As much as I’m talking about building a brand online, it still means nothing if you can’t back it up in person. Face to face interactions and meetings still trump anything you do online because people can feel you, see you and get the real thing. Networking happens when you take online, offline and connect on a more meaningful level. It has to go deeper than business or transactions. True networking is transformational and leaves a lasting impact on both parties. Connecting with people on an emotional level is the foundation of what branding is.

Learn as much as you can

You can never know everything about everything or even everything about one thing. Seeking knowledge and being curious within itself can open many doors for you. With this being the case, this means you have to constantly learn about your industry or various topics to display your expertise. Learning can come in many different ways whether it’s from mentorship, books or practical experience. Think about it this way… The more you learn, the more you can teach and the more you can teach, the bigger the impact you’ll make and that will lead to more money, more opportunities and hopefully more fulfillment.

Be patient

Building a personal brand takes work, and time. A lot of work and a lot of time. Honestly, it’s a process that doesn’t end until you end. So if you want to be an established personal brand, you have no choice but to be in it for the long haul. Brands aren’t built overnight and you can look at any company or individual that has sustained long-term success. They didn’t do it with one piece of content or with one speech or even an instance. A sustainable brand happens when you combine years of doing these things together. Be patient and stay consistent. Results will come.

Put Your Needs In The Backseat

The one thing that you have to continuously keep in mind is that your needs don’t matter.

Whatever you want comes secondary to your audience and what they want.

You have to have the belief that your personal brand is not for you, it’s for your audience.

The strongest, most impactful brands give, give and give more.

They rarely, if ever, look to take from their audience. They just give so much value that their audience is almost guilted into giving back.

If you really want to create a celebrity-type brand, you have to look to build a genuine trust amongst your followers and once you do that, do whatever you can in your power to make them happy in perpetuity.

Malcolm Lemmons is a former professional athlete turned entrepreneur, author, and speaker. He is the founder of Players Point Agency and host of Players Point Podcast. He has been featured in the Huffington Post, TVOne, ABC & WJLA. To check out more from Malcolm, visit his website at www.malcolmlemmons.com or connect with him on Twitter & Instagram.