Whether you own a business, are thinking of starting one, or you are running a division or business unit within a large corporation, apply the following guidelines for reputation and personal brand building.
One of the easiest and simplest steps is to prepare social media posts that reflect your values, highlight your skills, and define how you want to be seen. You can influence what others think of you and how they view you based on your self-promotion. This in turn helps create your reputation and reinforces your brand. A positive and trusted brand which is promoted by others is more powerful than anything you can write or say about yourself.
Endorsements and referrals, be they personal or virtual, are the fuel that turbo charge and sustain your growth and generate business and profit. Think about what you can do to benefit from this powerful, and FREE, positive word of mouth advertising.
7 Essential Reputation Builders
- Do more than is expected.
- Provide what is required and then some. It doesn’t always have to be tangible. Great ideas and new information are extremely valuable – share yours! (You may read and follow people that others don’t or aren’t aware of so share it.)
- Deliver on your promises.
- If your clients ask for something, do it and make it memorable. Entrepreneurs have a lot on their minds. Get an assistant if you can afford it, use an electronic task management system or in the simplest form, make a to-do list so you keep your commitments. Keep your word!
- Help others succeed. Pay It Forward
- Develop an attitude of helping others. It can relate directly to your clients’ business; however, it can also be expanded to their family or colleagues if appropriate. The adage of “it is better to give than receive” is noteworthy and powerful. (A personal note on this. My experience is that when I give without any expectation of reciprocation, I benefit from contentment which is priceless. I have also learned that no good deed is left unrepaid in some form or fashion. I may not get material goods; however I have received countless “paybacks” at the most random times and in the most unique ways.)
- Be consistent.
- Show your best qualities and skills with everyone you meet or interact with. If you are pleasant and engaging in one setting and a jerk in another your reputation will suffer. Consistency is the best way to quickly build your reputation.
- Make others look good.
- “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This is a good starting point for building relationships and getting business. Have you ever been thrown under the bus by someone? How did you treat that person moving forward? What about the ones that pulled you away from the curb so you wouldn’t get hit. You remember and value them and seek to return the favour.
- Be likeable.
- This may sound simple, but it is one of the greatest assets an entrepreneur has. Being likeable relates directly to your manners, attitude, and even appearance. Do you look and come across as someone that is approachable and positive? Smile, develop a good handshake and be personable.
- Act with integrity.
- This is the foundation of success for every entrepreneur, leader, manager, and human being. Keep selfishness, greed, and envy out of the picture. I’ve lived by the axiom “if I wouldn’t buy it myself, I won’t sell it”. This attitude has served me extremely well as an entrepreneur. In the short-term it may have cost me some business but in the long run it gained me loyal clients and endorsements and support from many.
You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do. Henry Ford
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