Personal Branding: Stand Out and Succeed from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Brands

Your instructors, Cheri Alexander and Marcus Collins, introduce themselves and share with you an overview of the course. During this introductory week, you will be exposed to essential concepts related to branding. These include understanding the definition and historical context of brand, exploring brand effects, and gaining insights into the frameworks that can be employed for brand analysis. To fully comprehend personal branding, the instructors will initially build your knowledge around product branding to give you a baseline understanding of key branding concepts.

Week 2: People as Brands

In Week 2, Cheri and Marcus delve into how we can relate product brands to personal brands. To better understand how great brands have clear values and authenticity, you will explore a series of mini case studies of people who have left an impact on the world. You will then practice analyzing personal brands with the RED Framework, which you learned about at the end of Week 1 of the course. By going through the process of brand analysis, you will start identifying key traits that constitute a strong and authentic brand.

Week 3: You as a Brand

In Week 3, you will be guided through two reflection activities (a Core Values Sort and a Reflected Best Self analysis). In the Core Values Sort, you will discover which of your values are most important to you and incorporate those values into your own personal brand. In the Reflected Best Self analysis, you will reach out to those close to you and gain insights into how they perceive you when you are at your best. By hearing the perspectives of others, you will pinpoint characteristics that you have that are foundational to your authentic brand. Note that this module may take longer than a week to complete.

Week 4: Reinventing & Retuning

In Week 4, we will bring all of the concepts that you have learned throughout the course in two final activities: designing your brand logo and creating your brand story. Now that you have an understanding of your core values and characteristics from Week 3, you will be able to design a visual representation of your personal brand and craft a brand story about what makes you stand out from a crowd.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundational understanding of personal branding principles and practices

Leverages real-world case studies to illustrate effective personal branding strategies

Taught by world-class faculty from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business

Suitable for individuals at any stage of their career seeking to enhance their personal brand

Guides participants through practical activities to develop their brand identity and messaging

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Personal Branding: Stand Out and Succeed with these activities:

Review Core Values

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Review and reflect on your personal values to prepare for the branding exercises in the course.

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Identify 5-10 values that are important to you.
Prioritize your values in order of importance.

Brand Audit of Personal Profiles

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Analyze your existing personal brand presence on social media platforms to identify areas for improvement.

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Choose a social media platform to focus on.
Review your profile, posts, and interactions.
Identify strengths and weaknesses in your personal branding.

Elevator Pitch Script

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Develop a brief and impactful elevator pitch that effectively conveys your personal brand and value proposition.

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Brainstorm key messages about your skills, experience, and goals.
Organize your thoughts into a clear and concise script.
Practice delivering your pitch in front of a mirror or with a friend.

Five other activities

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Personal Brand Feedback Group

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Join a small group of peers to provide and receive feedback on your personal brand strategies and materials.

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Find a group of individuals with similar goals or interests.
Share your personal branding materials and ideas with the group.
Provide constructive feedback and suggestions to others.

Volunteer in a Field Related to Your Brand

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Volunteer your time to an organization or cause that aligns with your personal brand and values.

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Identify an organization that matches your interests and brand.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Commit to a regular volunteer schedule and fulfill your responsibilities.

Networking and Personal Branding Event

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Attend an event focused on networking and personal branding to connect with professionals and learn from industry experts.

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Research and find a relevant event.
Prepare your personal branding materials and elevator pitch.
Attend the event and actively engage with attendees.

Brand Logo Design

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Create a visually appealing logo that represents your personal brand and resonates with your target audience.

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Sketch out different logo concepts.
Choose a design and refine it using design software.
Get feedback on your logo from friends, family, or a professional designer.

Personal Branding Challenge

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Participate in a competition that challenges you to develop and refine your personal brand in a creative and impactful way.

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Find a suitable challenge or competition.
Develop a compelling personal brand concept and strategy.
Create a portfolio or presentation to showcase your work.

Career center

Learners who complete Personal Branding: Stand Out and Succeed will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Brand Manager

As a Brand Manager, your role is to develop and execute marketing campaigns that build and maintain a strong brand identity for your company or clients. Taking this course will help you gain a deep understanding of branding principles and strategies, which will be invaluable in your efforts to create and manage successful brand campaigns.

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Marketing Manager

As a Marketing Manager, you are responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies that drive growth for your organization. This course will provide you with a solid foundation in branding, which will be essential for creating and executing effective marketing campaigns.

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Public relations manager

As a Public Relations Manager, your job is to manage your organization's reputation and build relationships with the media. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to create and implement successful public relations campaigns.

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Social Media Manager

As a Social Media Manager, you are responsible for developing and executing social media strategies that engage your target audience and build your brand. This course will provide you with a strong understanding of branding principles, which will be essential for creating and managing successful social media campaigns.

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Content Marketing Manager

As a Content Marketing Manager, you are responsible for creating and distributing content that attracts and engages your target audience. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to create high-quality content that builds your brand and drives traffic to your website.

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Advertising Manager

As an Advertising Manager, you are responsible for planning and executing advertising campaigns that reach your target audience and achieve your marketing goals. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to create and manage successful advertising campaigns.

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Brand Strategist

As a Brand Strategist, you are responsible for developing and implementing brand strategies that help your clients build and maintain a strong brand identity. Taking this course will provide you with a deep understanding of branding principles and strategies, which will be invaluable in your efforts to create and manage successful brand strategies.

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Entrepreneur

As an Entrepreneur, you are responsible for starting and running your own business. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to create a strong personal brand that will help you attract customers and build a successful business.

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Freelance Writer

As a Freelance Writer, you are responsible for creating written content for a variety of clients. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to create high-quality written content that builds your personal brand and attracts clients.

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Public Speaker

As a Public Speaker, you are responsible for delivering speeches and presentations to a variety of audiences. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to create and deliver effective presentations that build your personal brand and attract clients.

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Consultant

As a Consultant, you are responsible for providing advice and guidance to clients on a variety of topics. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to build a strong personal brand that will help you attract clients and build a successful consulting business.

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Career Coach

As a Career Coach, you are responsible for helping clients develop their careers and achieve their professional goals. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to build a strong personal brand that will help you attract clients and build a successful career coaching business.

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Life Coach

As a Life Coach, you are responsible for helping clients improve their lives and achieve their personal goals. Taking this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to build a strong personal brand that will help you attract clients and build a successful life coaching business.

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Teacher

As a Teacher, you are responsible for educating students and helping them reach their academic goals. Taking this course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to create and deliver effective lessons that build your personal brand and inspire your students.

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Nonprofit Executive Director

As a Nonprofit Executive Director, you are responsible for leading and managing a nonprofit organization. Taking this course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to build a strong personal brand that will help you attract donors and build a successful nonprofit organization.

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