Personal Branding Mistakes Every Entrepreneur Should Avoid

When you’re a professional, you’re always building your personal brand, whether it’s in a meeting at the office or on social media. You simply can’t afford to ignore your personal brand, not if you’re serious about excelling in your career.

Unfortunately, budding entrepreneurs still face a number of challenges in the workplace that can often put a damper on their personal branding efforts.

To ensure you keep your brand strong, here are a few common mistakes to avoid.

– Not talking about your passions. Many entrepreneur don’t share their passions and interests, both online and offline, for fear of looking unprofessional. Before someone hires you, they want to know that you’re the right cultural fit for their organization. This is often just as important as your skills. Your passions and hobbies tell a story about your values and what makes you tick as a person. Don’t be afraid to SHARE WHO YOU ARE with prospective clients!

– Downplaying your achievements. You deserve to celebrate every one of your achievements. You should always be your biggest supporter and cheerleader. Had a good experience at a client meeting? Share it with your online network. Have some thoughts about certain developments in your industry? Speak up. Make your pride and presence known.

– Having an outdated profile. When last did you update your resume or any of your online profiles? Is all of your information still relevant? Even your headshot should be current if you want potential customers and employers to take you seriously. Regularly updating all your profiles will also make it easier for you to track your progress as a professional.

– Not having an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is an integral part of any entrepreneurs personal brand. What is it that makes you unique and why should people do business with you? An ideal elevator pitch isn’t long – it gives someone just enough information to want to ask you further questions.

Making your personal brand a priority is one of the best things you can do for your career as an entrepreneur and despite how overwhelming it all may be, TODAY is the best time to start! Even a small baby step will move the needle in the right direction of your future goals coming into fruition.

Jamie Salima Love is a FingerLakes, NY and Boston MA based Headshot and Personal Branding Photographer extraordinaire. She has helped thousands of small businesses, brands, and entrepreneurs over her 20 yr career by creating updated photo libraries with stellar imagery. She is available for a multitude of services, whether you’re looking to work with her to simply update your Headshots, or to create an extensive Personal Branding Photography strategy and library with all the bells and whistles she’s got you covered.