The blockchain industry is evolving at breakneck speed. To achieve new career goals and aspirations, it's critical for you to evolve as a well-recognized professional as well.
In our two previous articles in this series about boosting your blockchain career, we first talked about getting additional certifications and then we talked about networking to make essential connections.
In this final article in the series, you will gain an understanding of your personal brand: what it is, why you need to focus on it and how to go about creating a personal brand.
Building a personal brand, even if it's just in the context of your current workplace, increases the visibility of your skills and abilities, giving you a competitive advantage while helping to further your professional goals. Here is how to create a personal brand that will help boost your career in blockchain.
Who are you?
Start building a personal brand defining who you are as a professional. This includes building an understanding of what makes you unique, what makes you stand out from others, what special contributions you can offer, with whom you love to work and why employers should be interested in hiring you for positions related to blockchain technology.
Define your niche
Identify what sets you apart from other blockchain experts and highlight these differences. Build your brand around what makes you unique.
Consider your skills, knowledge and experience, and how you can use them to offer exceptional value to your audience. It could be anything from experience in coding or cryptology to financial analysis and market research.
This type of singular focus is how you can become the go-to expert in a particular area. It also helps build your reputation as an expert in that field, which ultimately helps to further your career options.
Create an online presence
Once you have identified and defined your niche, the next step is to actually create a presence in that field.
Consistently produce quality content
A content strategy is an essential step in creating an online presence. Build a website or online portfolio that showcases your work and expertise. This includes creating content—such as blog posts, videos, articles and content in online forums — that showcases your expertise and knowledge.
In addition, consider starting and building an email list as a way to expand your network. When you have more published content to share, you can let people on your list know, and they may be more likely to share that content with others. Be sure to give away your best advice in everything you write or post.
Very often when people hear this for the first time they wonder, "Why would I give away all my best advice?" You'll find that when you give away your most valuable information, people come looking for you. In addition to showcasing your skills, such generosity is a key part of how you stand out from the crowd.
People often think they are looking for information. Thanks to your shared expertise, what they discover when they meet you is they really want you.
Use social media
Create profiles on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram to connect with others in your industry and share your insights. This increases your network of contacts in the blockchain industry.
Leverage your social media platforms to engage in meaningful conversations and make connections with people who share the same interests as you, both inside and outside the blockchain industry.
Maintain a consistent brand and voice
Use consistent branding across all your online profiles, website and other materials to establish a strong brand image. This includes using a consistent color scheme, font and tone of voice.
Network and collaborate
Attend industry events, join professional organizations and collaborate with people in your industry to expand your reach and build relationships with others in your field.
Get involved in blockchain-related events and conferences to network with potential customers and employers. Showcase your skills and expertise by speaking at these events or participating in panel discussions.
Establish credibility
Demonstrate that you are a reliable, knowledgeable and experienced professional within the blockchain industry. Make sure to highlight any certifications or accomplishments that showcase your credentials and help you stand out from the crowd.
Publish blogs about projects or initiatives related to blockchain technology, showcase awards or certifications on social media platforms and consider applying for awards related to blockchain technology within your organization or field of study. These actions will give potential employers great insight into the kind of talent they could bring onto their team by hiring you for their blockchain positions.
Other ways to establish your credibility as an expert include writing for industry publications, teaching related courses or workshops, and participating in research projects.
Stay current
The blockchain industry is constantly evolving and it's important for you to stay current on the latest trends and advancements if you want to remain competitive.
Make sure to read industry publications and follow key influencers on social media. Invest in courses or self-study materials to stay ahead of the curve and keep your skills sharp.
Be a blockchain thought leader
Once you’ve established yourself as a knowledgeable and experienced professional in the blockchain industry, it’s time to start thinking about how to use your expertise to become a thought leader.
Consider creative ways to share your knowledge with others — such as through webinars, courses, books or other materials — and use your platform to promote the industry and help others learn more about blockchain technology.
Connect with the right people
Network with professionals in the blockchain industry and build relationships with potential partners, investors and customers. A strong network of contacts will help you stay informed on the latest developments in the industry and give you access to opportunities that may not be available to everyone else.
Reach out to other blockchain professionals for advice. Ask them questions about their experiences in the industry and take advantage of their insights.
Also, build your network in other professional organizations. Look for opportunities to collaborate on projects that involve blockchain technology, such as developing applications or products. This will help you broaden your network and gain exposure beyond the blockchain world.
Takeaways
Create a personal brand to solidify your career opportunities in blockchain.
To develop your personal brand, leverage your unique skills and expertise to define your niche within the blockchain industry, create a presence online, consistently produce quality content, use social media platforms to engage in meaningful conversations, maintain a consistent brand image and network and collaborate with potential customers and employers.
With consistent effort and quality content, you can establish yourself as an authority and find even greater success in your blockchain career.
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