Word Of Caution:

You don’t want to do this with any dark forces or people asking you to sign your name in blood (bad joke). Selling your soul in this instance is your ability to sell who you really are. Simply, it’s your chance to be authentic. Many people will make their first biggest mistake in starting their personal brand, by portraying themselves as a person they are not. In the real world we call this person a “B.S er” or a “Liar”. Sure it can work great in the short run, but in the long term you end up showing people who you really are, and wind up blowing your cover.

My number #1 tip for selling your personal brand is highlighting your best qualities, and I don’t mean the qualities you think people would like to see. Take it back to basics, ask yourself what am I good at? or what do I love to do? The thin line between lying and having confidence sometimes means marketing yourself as the person you want to be, but might not be as of yet. None the less, the “fake it until you make it” strategy does more then often work out well. Sell your brand with the character traits you want to embody and not with lies or achievements you’ve never accomplished.

Acceptable:

You might feel shy, but you’re are marketing yourself as a confident individual. In this case you are faking it until you make it

Unacceptable:

You tell everyone you meet you have run successful marketing campaigns for fortune 500 companies, but you haven’t had a real job since leaving college and you currently live at your moms house. In this case you are faking it until you get caught, and you will.

Lying is never acceptable. (Sorry if I had to go moms on you).  Keep it honest, stay humble, and be appreciative at all times. Your authenticity is what sells your brand, everything else comes second.