Ok, ok , so I’m sure you know how important it is to create a strong brand that resonates with your audience. But what part do you and your personal brand have to play? I get asked this a lot. Your personal brand is the unique combination of your skills, experience, values, and personality that sets you apart. As competition grows, it’s more important than ever to be authentically you.
Why personal branding matters
This won’t be new to you that I’m saying this if you’ve been following me for a while. But personal branding is not just a buzzword; it’s an essential element of your overall business thinking (or brand strategy).
Think about a memorable brand you love to buy from. Why do you love it? That pull of emotion, or just a few words that resonate, means you are much more likely to buy from a brand that you feel connected to.
But why do I keep harping on about it? Because really it’s all about creating a deeper connection with your people. Turning followers into fans. Keeping you front of mind and best of all, recommending you when the time comes.
Let’s be clear that personal branding isn’t just about promoting yourself. It’s about understanding and communicating what makes you unique, and how that can benefit your clients. When you’re authentic and transparent about your values and personality, you’ll attract like-minded customers who appreciate what you have to offer.
How to Build Your Personal Brand
So, how do you build a strong personal brand? It starts with understanding yourself and what you bring to the table. It’s why the brand creation process always starts with work on your values, mission and vision; the foundation to build on.
It’s also important to consider your skills, experience, and personality traits, and what the benefit of those, in your own unique combination, will bring to your clients. It’ll also help you talk the talk, not just walk the walk. On that note…
Think about how you want to communicate your personal brand to your audience. This includes your visual branding (such as your logo, website design and social media graphics) as well as your messaging and tone of voice. That boring-old-word consistency comes into play here, but it’s essential for your audience to easily recognise and connect with you.
Final Thoughts
That sounds like a lot right? Please don’t finish reading this thinking that you have to have it all figured out before you make your first step into branding, it’s not about being perfect, or getting it right the first time. Crafting a business takes time and something you can enjoy the process of, without a sense of dread and overwhelm.
Be assured, all brands make changes, grow and evolve, even well-established ones. I’ve seen it time and time again working for brands like Figleaves, Hobbs and Panache, big brands are no different from small businesses in this way.The most important thing? If you are true to yourself and your values, then you’ll find like-minded people who want to work with you (and you’ll want to work with). So, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your branding; everyone loves a nosey behind the scenes to get to know you. Or you could tell relatable stories that really resonate emotionally. And don’t forget to and choose a brand style YOU LOVE and represents you and what you stand for.
