Top 3 personal branding benefits I’ve gained on Linkedin

Building organic relationships, becoming a lead magnet, and taking control of my career are ways you can apply the lessons I learned to your career journey. In the following article, I’ll share my reflections, hoping they will spark a deeper understanding of personal branding and how it can propel you forward.

As a timid, shy, and naturally reserved person, I can share with you that being an introvert has its benefits, especially when it comes to building authentic relationships.

Yes, breaking out of your shell and making a first good impression can seem overwhelming at first. This requires time, rethinking, and finding what works best for you as an individual. We all have different levels of comfortability, and what works for me is connecting with people in the most natural way possible and not forcing anything. I am simply not that methodical in having a strategic agenda when attending networking events, for example. However, I believe first impressions only go so far, there are better ways to network with others, especially if you are not an extrovert.

I have learned that having an online presence where you can share your story builds an organic connection with others, both online and offline. By sharing my lived experience, others resonate with my first-generation college graduate experience, my passion for creativity, my marketing experience, and my commitment toward self-development and uplifting communities by telling stories that resonate with me. I realized my upbringing as a Mexican American helps others navigate their experiences.

Excite Credit Union (Dora Beyer and Team), Het Say (Owners of DuyAn Le and Hieu Le), Cultural Night Market (Brandon Antonio Quintanilla), and Ceja Creative Studio (Raul Ceja)

As a self-taught photographer, videographer, designer, and storyteller, I am applying all of my experiences to the projects I have with clients. Doing so is the distinguishing factor that makes me uniquely qualified and capable of adding value. The insights shared over the years online have helped others feel more comfortable sharing their journey, both online and offline. I believe personal branding transcends the intangible. I have encountered many folks whom I thought weren't listening online or seeing any of my posts, and to my surprise, I am continuously proven wrong. It's an incredible feeling to experience but I digress.

In this capacity now, I have arrived at a place where attending networking events and meeting others for the first time means I am no longer shy, timid, or reserved. I no longer carry with me the previous version of myself, but much rather see the opportunity fueled by curiosity. There is no greater feeling than authentically and genuinely connecting with others and seeing what’s possible.

Building relationships through personal branding is an essential professional opportunity that can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations. By putting yourself out there, you filter through the noise and attract people with whom you align.

This leads us to the second way you can benefit from personal branding, an opportunity magnet.

In business, your leads help you navigate and identify revenue. Chances are that you already know that acquiring a new client is always costly, but what if through personal branding you can establish relationships with qualified clients? By having a brand identity, your audience understands your value proposition, and you get to attract qualified opportunities.

A strong personal brand can help attract recruiters, projects, clients, experiences, networking events, and so much more.

The Martha Nino Foundation and Raul Ceja with students at UC Berkeley - Haas School of Business

Lastly, personal branding gives you power. By consistently showing up and articulating your values, passions, and goals, you can take control of your professional destiny. This comes with making strategic career moves and giving yourself leverage when negotiating. You can reflect on your impact and contributions to ask yourself: Am I being seen here? Do the people I collaborate with respect the creative process? Am I able to find a sense of fulfillment here?

I implore you to self-reflect and trust your intuition. As I navigate my career I’m finding with every new project I am a part of a renewed sense of energy that my lived experience is what propels me forward.

There are a total of 9 ways in which having a personal brand can help you.

1. Distinctive

2. Memorable

3. Expertise Recognition

4. Skills and Interest

5. Increase perceived value

6. Building relationships

7. Pursuing passions into professions,

8. Opportunity magnet, Control over your career

9. Increase visibility and fame

Foos in Medicine (Irvin Garcia Leal and Alexis Ivan Aleman) and Raul Ceja at the Rosales Sisters' Scholarship 4th Annual Gala