Brand Yourself to Enhance Your Image in Networking Circles

You will meet many people while you network. It can be challenging not only for you to remember others but for others to remember you. You need to make yourself stand out in a positive way. You may get lost in the crowd if you dont take this seriously.

Be creative and try several ideas. Some will work better than others. Make sure you put in the appropriate amount of time to work on your image. You want to come across as a professional who cares about the ways others perceive you.

Focus on branding yourself rather than your company. If people think highly of you, they will think highly of your organization. As you move from company to company, you want people to remember you more than they remember your company.

Personalize Your Communication

Use a personal e-mail address that will serve as a permanent e-mail. One solution is to buy your own domain name for your last name or a combination of your first and last names. You can have this e-mail forwarded to whatever e-mail system you are using at work.

As an alternative, use an e-mail address created by services such as Yahoo! or Hotmail. Whatever e-mail you decide to use, make sure its easy for people to remember and make sure its professional.

By using a personal e-mail address, people will always be able to contact you no matter where you work. It can be difficult to let people know every time you change jobs.

Take it a step further and create a personal Web site using your own domain name. Not only should you brand yourself on this site with your qualifications and skills but also offer some valuable content. Try to make your site a resource for others in your industry or those who have a similar interest to you.

Create personalized note cards with your name (and e-mail address if you want to reinforce how to contact you). A stationary store can create these for you. This could include matching envelopes with your address.

These cards can be used to send handwritten notes to people for a number of reasons (such as a thank you for a job interview or business lead). You can also use these cards as a follow up after meeting someone at a networking event.

Personalized note cards will make you stand out because most people send e-mails or form letters. By taking the time to handwrite a note, it will show that you have made an effort to write a meaningful message.

Become a Subject Expert

Another great way for people to remember you is if you become a subject expert.

By showing your expertise on a certain topic, you will become a resource for others. When people start coming to you for resources and advice, you will know that you have done a good job of branding yourself. If people dont think highly of you, they wont use you as a resource or refer others to you.

One way to brand yourself as a subject expert is to create a Web site, which provides resources about your subject of interest. You need to let people know about this site by telling them when you meet them, handing out special business cards or mentioning it in some of the local list servs.

Your own electronic newsletter also helps. Your e-newsletter should focus on providing valuable content such as industry resources, articles, events and links. Try to personalize the newsletter by including original content such as tips, advice and articles.

Whenever you meet people, ask them if they want to be signed up for your newsletter. At the same time, make sure to have a sign-up box on your site so people can sign themselves up. Send out the newsletter regularly (either weekly, biweekly or monthly).

You want people to remember you. Stay in front of them.

Write regular articles for a local publication to show that you have expertise about a certain topic. Because it may take some time for a publication to accept your articles, be persistent and convince them that youre an expert. Tell them about your expertise and what you have already done (such as your Web site and newsletter).

Produce your own events to share your knowledge with people.

It doesnt matter what type of event you hold so long as you provide some value to attendees.

Final Thought

Its important that you pay attention to your personal image when you are networking.

Your firms image is important, too, but you need to make people remember you for the long term. Take the time and effort to develop your own brand. Because youre the first point of contact for people when you meet them, make sure to make yourself memorable.

Jason Jacobsohn is a seasoned networker who believes in relationship building as a key component to business success. He enjoys helping others succeed by making introductions, planning events, and sharing resources. In addition, Jacobsohn enthusiastically shares resources with his network through his e-mail newsletter, Network Your Way to Success, and http://www.jacobsohn.com, a comprehensive business and networking resources Web site. Further, he shares an additional perspective through his blog at http://www.networkinginsight.com

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