We're talking about you being you! After all you've created your business it may as well be in whatever shape and form you want it to be, to suit you and the things you love rather than suiting what you think people want.
Being you in your business is going to be a lot less of a strain than constantly trying to be something you feel you should be. And as we're all online now more than ever, building your personal brand is more important than ever.
But what does building your authentic brand really mean? And how can we get across our 'meness' in our businesses?
One place to start is to think about what you want to be known for?
Do you want to be
An expert in your field?
A trusted source of information?
Interesting, topical and engaging?
Essentially we all should be striving to be these things. You can you pick some themes and topics that you want people to associate with you? What are you the expert on? What can you share?
One of the reasons we go on social media is to learn something - so what can you teach your audience? How can you inspire them to want to find out more about your products and services? You want to build and demonstrate your expertise.
What is your brand personality?
Your customers need to be able to know, like and trust you before they'll part with their hard earned cash. So how can you get across your brand personality?
Think about brand like John Lewis, Apple and Sport Direct. What personalities do you associate with these brands?
What personalities do you want associated with you? Your brand is essentially only as good as what people are saying behind their backs! What do you want them to be saying?
A good brand has personality, emotions and behaviours. It makes you humanized and identifiable.
Think about the 3 key values you want associated with you and your business. How do these 3 values get translated across your website copy, your tweets your email newsletter? This will help you create your 'voice'. So that you are recognisable, distinctive and consistent.
What is your offer and why is it different from the competition?
Stand out from the competition
All this will help you stand out from the competition. Why be just another web designer in your home town, or another business coach, or another print maker. You want people to buy from you, to want to be part of your story, to become your raving fans.
Being the same as everyone else just won't cut it these days.
What is your why?
And finally the icing on the cake.
There are 2 whys that we need to communicate when we run a business - to help us stand out from the competition and to help our ideal paying customers work out if we are them right fit for them!
After all as Simon Sinek said 'people don't buy what you do, they by why you do it'.
So what are you 2 why's?
The first is why you started your business in the first place? What was your motivation for becoming an entrepreneur? What story can you tell with the world, that will help them understand your reasons for wanting to choose this life for yourself.
Did you start because you were fed up with the 9-5? Because you wanted to create a career that could fit around you, rather than you fit around it? This will make you relatable - people can get behind that, feel connected to you.
The second why, is probably one of the most important things for you to consider. Why do you do the particular thing that you do? What change are you hoping to see in the world? Why are you driven to keep on doing what you do?
Are you a florist who wants to spread love through the world? Are you a make-up artist who wants people to feel amazing on their wedding day? Are you a coach who wants to support people to get the career of their dreams?
Here are mine!
I started my business because I just couldn't see how a employer would be flexible enough to give me the time I wanted with my daughter.
I run my business to support other entrepreneurial woman create financially sustainable businesses so that they can support whatever lifestyle they want. To become independent and free.
What are your whys?
P.s the live this week was answering a questions from you guys on how to get across who you are as a brand and to the right people - you can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/debbiedooodah/videos/370035733793593/
