Tag: personal branding

Leave Your Mark: Apply Personal Branding in Presentations

first impression

personal branding

planning

presentation guide

Rick Enrico Blog

SlideGenius

Dec 28, 2015

Attracting audience attention is one of the most difficult tasks in a presentation. It’s likely that they’ve already heard what you have to say from other speakers, and in different media. You might think your pitch is unique, but its general thought may be similar to what others have thought of before.

So how do you apply personal branding in presentations? And how do you make sure you look better than the competition? Setting yourself apart is important in making and leaving a good impression.

Don’t pass by unnoticed. Market yourself and your pitch in three ways:

Keep Your Friends Close, and Your Competition Closer

Studying your audience is a necessary prerequisite to effective communication. Aligning your own vision with your target market’s interests guarantees their attention. To do that, you’ll have to do a bit of research on your part and look up your audience’s preferences.

But getting people’s to stay tuned isn’t enough. Reel them further in and assure them that you’re the best by searching for your competitors as well. We don’t mean backbiting and sabotage, though. We’re talking about looking at premises similar to yours and seeing how you can spin it into something novel and unique. One way of achieving that is taking on the idea from a different angle than those already used before.

Influence & Co. CEO and co-founder, John Hall, cites ways on how to take a unique approach to your brand. These include looking at your company strengths, qualifications, and insight. Another is by looking at your competition’s weaknesses and framing it as your strength. These give you and your presentation a distinct image and a memorable characteristic.

Create a Relatable Narrative

Once you’re sure of your strategy, the next step is figuring out how to deliver your message. Among the most successful methods is framing your presentation in a narrative, preferably one your audience can relate to. People can follow the flow of your speech better when it has a beginning, middle, and end. Incorporating familiar tropes and images also keeps them interested.

However, remember that in relating a story, you have to apply the conversational tone. This establishes rapport and eases built up tension before and during a presentation. Avoid using too much jargon or foreign words, and explain each point thoroughly without talking down to your audience.

Talk to your audience as you would an esteemed friend. They’ll return the favor by responding in the same way.

Gain Believers through Quality

The final and best option to distinguish your presentation over everyone else’s is to be on top of your game. This is a foolproof technique to appear credible and relevant before, during, and after your presentation.

Make a good first impression by maintaining your confidence and composure. Come in prepared and ready to present. Acquaint yourself with the venue and the audience so you know how to set the mood. Don’t get lax with your exposition, though.

An audience will be impressed with consistency in how you handle yourself, especially when you encounter unexpected hurdles mid-speech. Keep your energy up until the end of your presentation. It’s also good to reserve some extra energy in case your audience has further clarifications for you.

No one wants to listen to a drained speaker. Project as much of your liveliness as you can to best engage your listeners.

Conclusion

People are always on the lookout for originality. It may seem tough when plenty of people have had the chance to make their mark. However, it’s not entirely impossible, either. You have to strategically organize your content to be different from your competitors’, converse with your audience, and improve the quality of your performance.

Distinguishing yourself from other presenters isn’t so hard when you know where to start. Strong personal branding also needs to be backed up by a professional PowerPoint presentation. Contact our SlideGenius experts today for a free quote!

References

“4 Ad Agency Secrets for Better Brand Building.” Women on Business. October 11, 2015. Accessed October 14, 2015. www.womenonbusiness.com/4-ad-agency-secrets-for-better-brand-building
Hall, John. “Setting Yourself Apart in a Competitive Industry.” Forbes. October 18, 2012. Accessed October 14, 2015. www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2012/10/18/setting-yourself-apart-in-a-competitive-industry

” by See-ming Lee on flickr.com

3 Reasons for Expanding Your Personal Brand in Presentations

personal brand

personal branding

presentation tips from marketing

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jun 15, 2015

Advertisers use brand marketing to make their products stand out from those of their competitors, building awareness among their consumers.

Branding plays a vital role in any company, helping business professionals achieve a memorable mark on their intended customers.

[sg-blog-modules module=one]

Defining “You” as a Brand

Selling yourself is the most important thing to do in a business pitch. Build a personal connection with your audience to make them feel involved in your presentation.

Since you’re aiming to keep them engaged throughout your presentation, projecting yourself in front of the crowd reinforces that you are the presenter, and you have something to offer them that others can’t.

More than your sales pitch, product and service offering, or brand strategies, how you market yourself still matters the most. Personal branding is what sets you apart from the competition.

While there are other benefits that you and your audience can get from branding yourself, here are some of the advantages you can gain:

Banks on Your Strengths

You can’t be deemed an expert without being knowledgeable about your topic. According to branding experts Nick Nanton and JW Dicks, public speaking is a great plus on establishing your brand as an expert in your specific field.

Once your audience perceives you as a professional, be careful not to lose that good impression.

At the same time, don’t try to change yourself drastically. Your personal brand needs to be true to your own actual strengths, not what you think your strengths should be. 

Being authentic and genuine will make prospects realize that you’re not afraid to show who you really are. It makes them understand that you, too, are human.

Makes You Memorable

Marketing communications expert Susan Payton suggests that the best way to show your expertise in your personal brand is to be yourself.

Building a credible relationship with your audience makes them trust you.

How you speak, deliver your message, and appeal to their emotions makes them see that you’re a speaker who’s worth listening to, and a speaker who’s worth remembering.

Once they feel that you value their needs more than yours, they’ll respect you.

Introduces You to New Opportunities

In any pitch, you’ll meet people who can be your potential partners or clients.

Your performance doesn’t end when you walk down from the podium.

After you’re done with your pitch, network with your audience.

You can get prospects who are willing and able to do business with you, increasing your chances of getting into other business presentations.

Summing It Up

Improving your personal brand heightens your expertise, credibility, and networking during your presentation, giving you a competitive edge.

Figure out what makes you unique from other speakers. This should include a thorough knowledge of your offering or industry in order to convince your audience that you are as professional as you present yourself.

After building a relationship with your audience to boost your credibility, make sure to reach out to them even after your presentation is over.

Maintain this connection, and you’re sure to make your mark and seal the deal with your clients now and in the future. To craft an effective PowerPoint presentation, let SlideGenius experts help you out!

[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“How to Make Your First Impression Count in the Business World.” SlideGenius, Inc. 2013. Accessed June 15, 2015.
Nanton, Nick and JW Dicks. “Personal Branding: Why You Need To Start Giving Speeches.” Fast Company. 2011. Accessed June 15, 2015.
Payton, Susan. “4 Easy Ways to Brand Yourself as an Industry Expert.” All Business. Accessed June 15, 2015.
“Presentation Tips: 5 Quick Steps to Audience Engagement.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 16, 2014. Accessed June 15, 2015.
“Why Is Branding Important?” Strategy New Media, Web Design & Marketing. Accessed June 15, 2015.

Highlight Your Personal Brand with Eye-Catching Visual Resumes

content marketing

personal branding

visual resumes

Aug 12, 2014

In today’s competitive job market, standing out requires more than just a traditional resume. A visually appealing resume can help you showcase your personal brand and capture the attention of potential employers. Here’s how to create an eye-catching visual resume using PowerPoint or other design tools to highlight your skills and experience.

1. Focus on Visual Hierarchy

Your resume needs to convey key information in a clear, organized format. By using visual hierarchy—strategically organizing content by importance—you can guide the reader’s eye to your most important qualifications.

Why It’s Important:

  • Enhances Readability: A well-organized resume helps potential employers quickly find relevant information.
  • Showcases Key Skills: Highlighting key sections of your resume ensures that the most important information stands out.

How to Do It:

  • Use larger fonts and bold text for section headings like Experience, Education, and Skills.
  • Keep the most important information near the top of your resume for easy access.

2. Incorporate Branding Elements

Your personal brand should be consistent across all of your professional materials. Include your logo, color scheme, and fonts that align with your personal website or portfolio to create a cohesive brand identity.

Why It’s Important:

  • Builds Personal Brand Recognition: Consistency across your resume and other professional materials reinforces your personal brand.
  • Adds Professionalism: Using custom branding elements helps your resume look polished and unique.

How to Do It:

  • Add your logo or initials at the top of the resume.
  • Use a color scheme that reflects your personal brand—whether it’s bold and creative or subtle and professional.

3. Use Infographics to Highlight Skills

Infographics can quickly and visually communicate your proficiency in various skills, making your resume more engaging and easier to understand at a glance.

Why It’s Important:

  • Makes Data Digestible: Infographics allow you to represent complex information, such as skills or accomplishments, in a visually appealing and easy-to-read format.
  • Shows Creativity: Using infographics demonstrates your design skills and creativity, especially if you’re applying for a creative role.

How to Do It:

  • Use bar charts or pie charts to showcase your proficiency in different skills, such as Communication, Technical Expertise, or Project Management.
  • Design simple visuals to illustrate milestones, such as years of experience or completed projects.

4. Add Visual Breaks for Clarity

A cluttered resume can overwhelm recruiters. Adding white space or visual breaks between sections can help make your resume more readable and organized.

Why It’s Important:

  • Enhances Readability: White space and visual breaks allow the eye to rest and make the content easier to process.
  • Improves Flow: Clear separation between sections creates a smooth reading experience, making it easier to scan.

How to Do It:

  • Ensure there’s sufficient white space between sections to keep the design clean.
  • Use lines or icons to visually separate sections without adding clutter.

5. Incorporate Icons and Visual Cues

Icons can be used to represent sections or important points, making your resume visually appealing while helping recruiters quickly identify relevant content.

Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies Navigation: Icons provide visual cues that guide the reader through your resume.
  • Increases Engagement: Adding small design elements like icons can keep the reader’s attention and make your resume more memorable.

How to Do It:

  • Use icons to represent sections like Experience, Education, Contact Information, and Skills.
  • Add subtle visual elements that align with the overall theme of your resume to reinforce your message.

Final Thoughts

A visual resume allows you to highlight your personal brand in a creative and professional way. By focusing on visual hierarchy, incorporating infographics, and maintaining consistency with your personal brand, you can make your resume stand out and leave a lasting impression on potential employers. Make sure your design complements, rather than overwhelms, the content, and remember that readability is key.