we often get asked about the difference between a personal brand and a professional brand.
the answer is - the way you present yourself at both home and work/business all contribute to your 'personal' brand. this is the way we like to think of your personal brand here at minmaerke (one authentic approach with strategy specific to elements of your situation). to a large degree the legitimate presentation of your authentic self is the determinant of the similarity between portrayals in each arena.
however the professional brand component falls under your greater personal brand as a professional business tool. it is how you create and deliver your commercial presence. so how and why is this a different approach to just being authentic and having a generic personal brand strategy?
the professional brand usually incorporates a more detailed communication of your accomplishments and qualifications. the intent is also usually to leverage it for professional or commercial gain. in that respect it doesn't have to be boring or compliant but is fast becoming a more common tool for recruitment and assessment in commercial settings.
there are times when you may within your professional brand strategy prefer to present selected aspects of your authentic self. some values, some interests and some outlooks are just not relevant in the commercial environment. some may be. for example, it may be appropriate to include environmentally conscious values, but it may not be of value to present your personal dietary preferences. remember - the goal is to simplify and reduce noise, so sampling a smaller selection of your wider authentic values in the business context may help your alignment in that space.
whilst some content should probably be separated between work and personal forums what we are seeing now on the back of the 'influencer rise' is a distinct convergence of information shared between personal and commercial platforms. important here that the use of content and values in each genre is on the basis of relevance, and not in seeking viral responses. it is certainly possible to overshare in the professional setting, so a complimentary approach should be harnessed for the combination of your personal and professional brands.
