Your digital image is everything these days. it is vital for your professional growth.
Therefore, it is important to take the time to curate and cultivate your personal brand so that it represents who you are in the best possible way.
You are reading: Best books on personal branding
Learning from professionals is key.
The thing is, only a few experts can really talk about how to constantly develop and improve your digital image. there are so many “experts” out there that it’s hard to determine who the real pros are.
That’s why we’ve done the work for you.
The following carefully researched books provide practical advice from top professionals on how to showcase your experience, skills and achievements and boost your personal brand.
dorie clark’s “reinvent yourself” is about aligning yourself with what you’re looking for professionally.
His book, “Reinventing Yourself: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future,” is written in a conversational tone and offers actionable information in a friendly way.
Clark intertwines interesting personal stories with interviews and examples from Al Gore, Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin and others.
If you want to think big about your career goals and want others to recognize the special contribution you can make, this is the book to read!
Great Feature: Appendix A: Your Professional Reinvention Self-Assessment
A great place to start or expand your network is LinkedIn. That’s where professionals take the brand to the next level.
Linkedin has a lot of great features that you may not know about. features that can greatly increase your chances of getting noticed.
The linkedin algorithm rewards those who have a complete profile. if you use all the features of the profile, you will be much more “searchable”.
A decent linkedin profile goes hand in hand with a well-written cover letter.
so — linkedin for personal branding: the ultimate guide gives you all the information on how to use all the bells and whistles that linkedin has to offer. and author sandra has long known how to deliver it.
long says his personal mantra is “be the friend first!”
You will get the feel of his affable nature in this book. With 30 years of B2B sales and leadership experience, Long is a seasoned LinkedIn and TEDX speaker.
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great features: online appendix that breaks down each chapter and offers action steps, and a companion reader resource website.
To learn how the brand is worth it, scroll down to the next best brand book.
If you like step-by-step information, then this book is for you.
The author, Karen Kang, is a world-renowned brand strategist. She is the CEO and founder of BrandingPays LLC, a corporate and personal branding company. She’s also notable: She was a director and partner at Regis McKenna Inc., the renowned marketing firm that launched the Apple brand.
kang thoroughly introduces each step and makes the reader feel like a great personal brand is achievable.
great feature: at the end of each chapter there is an “action list”.
In case you want more than “5 steps”, the following book has three more for you.
“here’s a simple question that can serve as a litmus test for you:” can i build a fire around what i’m sharing? with this, I mean, is there heat? Are you building something that is attractive and attractive to others? can you build a community around it? Are you someone others want to invite onto their stages, in front of their employees, or into their lives?”
the rather nice and metaphorical way in which author mike kim frames the question “do I have something of value to offer in my brand?” It is not like this? this personal connection theme is part of his own personal brand and comes across as authentic.
From her website, Kim says that one of her core philosophies is: “Marketing isn’t about closing a sale, it’s about opening a relationship.”
and that’s a central message in his book as well. you need to build strong relationships to get where you want to be. That’s the conclusion of the chapter titled “Partners: Relationships Are Spaceships.”
The book, just released in July 2021, has many relevant stories that bring its wise advice to life. the content is applicable to any business model. Just be careful: Kim doesn’t shy away from telling readers what they may need to adjust in their approach to reach their goals. this does not mean changing who you are and your values. Kim makes a point of staying authentic as her relationships grow.
Kim is an online educator, writer, and consultant to top thought leaders and personal brands. She has been featured in major media outlets as Entrepreneur, Inc. and huffpost.
Not only that, if you read the book and listen to the podcast, you’ll be well-equipped to build a world-class personal brand.
Great feature: Kim’s “brand your podcast.” listen to this podcast, ranked #1 on itunes for personal branding.
if you want to get to “influencer” status or just pump your personal brand on steroids, you better read the next book.
Laura Bull is a motivational bestselling author and brand strategist who specializes in transforming people into lasting, competitive business brands. In her book, “From Individual to Empire,” Bull focuses on how top influencers reached her level of notoriety and how to take her examples and apply them to her own brand strategy.
bull has worked with global brand superstars for decades. His unique style is the way he combines tried and true branding methods with psychology to help entrepreneurs showcase their authentic style to connect in a genuine way with the public.
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“the person is a product in himself, regardless of what he is selling.”
a quote from bull, who was one of the youngest executives in the history of sony music entertainment.
each part includes a few chapters packed with examples of famous brands and practical advice from experts.
Great feature: Free full access to downloads (password in the book).
she emphasizes the importance of the combination of product and narrative. and she explains that if one is great but the other is “meh”, it will only be successful in the short term.
Speaking of storytelling, if you want to perfect your own, the next book will give you all the tools you need to create a powerful message that will add value to your personal brand.
This book, from New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller, will give you the tools to create a “brand of history.” Miller does this by teaching you how to get people to listen using seven universal story points that all humans respond to.
miller applies the “7 elements of great storytelling to grow your business.” he puts emphasis on clarifying his message.
In case you’re not familiar, every classic story (think “Iliad” or “Star Wars”) follows a formula called “the hero’s journey.” This is what Miller uses in his book as a framework for business.
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The story you create is paramount to your success.
He drives home the message that we have to be 100% accurate with what is valuable to customers and target the right, most impactful message to engage them.
and donald miller certainly knows his stuff.
CEO of Business Simplified and founder of “The Mentoring Project”. Miller teaches business professionals what they need to build a business and increase personal value in the open market.
Great feature: Miller’s podcast on “business made simple.” Listen to the episodes to get insights from top experts on how to grow your personal brand and business. a great complement to the book “building a brand story”.
to conclude
Personal branding is essential today. The above books from personal branding experts will change the way you think about your “brand” and your future.
Not only that, they will inspire you to put yourself out there and create the image that aligns with your authentic self. a genuine brand will attract a loyal audience.
Global markets and social networks have made the professional sphere more connected, but much more competitive. focusing on your personal brand means you’ll have the complete package that can take you to the next level in your career.
The selected books expose all the necessary steps for a strategic personal brand. follow them and you’ll have a better chance of attracting the employers you want to notice you.
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