Simply put, your personal brand may be one of the most important tools available to you as a professional broker. Your brand should be a clear message which shows others exactly who you are, what you have to offer and what makes you unique from the rest of the experts in the industry. It takes time and work to develop a strong personal brand – education, credentials, experiences all contribute to the creation of a strong personal brand. Needless to say, as a speaker in your industry, it is essential for you to keep your brand current and transparent for others. So how exactly does one accomplish this? The following are some points you should consider when gathering thoughts on your speech and tying in your personal brand.

• Show your uniqueness

What makes you different in this industry from other brokers? Do you offer the best plans available? Have you been known to give your groups the best rates around? Whatever your niche may be, capitalize on it. Talk about how you’ve become an expert in this area and how it’s helped you get to where you are today.

• Get a second opinion

Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses? You may be really good at a particular job or task that you have no idea of. Or perhaps you think you’re good at something, but others see you as exceptional. Ask others what they think your strengths and weaknesses are and see if they match the items you set for yourself. Once you gather a comprehensive list, take a look at those strengths and share them with your peers – many times these exercises turn out to be great stories for your speaking sessions.

• Know your audience

There are an assortment of speaking sessions within the industry for people from all different backgrounds and with unique needs. Make sure you know exactly who you will be presenting to as you prepare your speech. Ask yourself questions such as, “What information do they need to know about insurance?”, “What stage(s) of their lives are they in/what are their daily struggles – and how can I simplify them?”, and “What are the key takeaways I want them to have after my presentation?” All of these are good places to start when trying to create a speech that will blow your audience out of the water.

• Details matter

Besides the actual content of your speech and its delivery, you need to be conscious of the other minute details that make a huge difference. Everything – from your attire, to your grooming, to your body language – affects your speech. Your presentation is supposed to be informative, but at the end of the day, the whole thing is a reflection of you. Make sure you are portraying yourself as you would want to be remembered.

• Network, network, network!

Chances are, people are going to have questions and/or want to talk to you before and after your speech – so take advantage! You’re being looked up to as an expert in this field/topic, which is great exposure. Stick around to meet the people who are interested in what you have to say. Meeting people in the industry can only increase your knowledge and reputation within the business. It only takes meeting one person to make huge leaps in your profession. Who knows? Today you may be speaking to a crowd of 20 and tomorrow you may be in front of a mass of 200. Keep doing what you’re doing.

• Take inventory on a regular basis

Are you staying committed to your original purpose and goals? Is your brand easy to understand? Are you being consistent and transparent in your speech delivery? These are all questions you should be asking yourself on a constant basis. A strong personal brand is one that stands out, is easily recognizable by others and leaves a lasting impression. If you’re successful in these areas, you’re ahead of the game.

If you haven’t already tried exploring what your personal brand is, now is the time to start! Take our tips into consideration when developing your brand – they are sure to help you stay on track in order to develop a powerful speech!