If you run a business, you have a personal brand. More than ever people want to know the face behind the brand. We want to know what what they stand for and the kind of person they are.
And where branding (in the simplest form a hot iron on a sheep backside) has been around for centuries, the rise of the personal brand has exploded due to social media and the rising numbers of solo entrepreneurs.
Your personal brand will help you elevate your status, it’s a conscious effort to get in front of people and influence them to like you and buy your stuff. Ultimately so you can have a bigger impact.
Life is short. Why wouldn’t you want to have a bigger impact?
Personal branding is all about you standing out in a crowded market place. Thanks to technology, the world is a smaller place, and now that pretty much all businesses are online due to the pandemic, there are a lot of opportunities out there, but also a lot of competition.
So how can you stand out?
So how can you mould your personal brand? And what elements do you want to be thinking about when you’re creating your personal brand?
What’s unique about you?
Your Story
What’s different about you? Where you do you come from? What’s your golden nuggets? What excites you?
Your Strengths
What skills do you have? What do you love to do? What are you passionate about? What experience do you have?
Your Values
What’s important to you? How do you want to live your life? What are your non-negotiables?
Spend some time mapping out your answers to these questions. Really explore who you are and what makes you special. We are all special! And we all have something unique to offer.
And then spend some time thinking about who you want to influence?
Companies
What companies would you love to work or collaborate with? What companies get you excited?
People
Who are your ideal customers, who buy your stuff? And what people would you love to connect with?
Platforms
Where can you find and get in front of these companies and people? With the advent of social media you can get in contact with people you admire (as long as they are alive) and connect with them. Ask them if they’d like a virtual cup of tea. And you can find your customers, pretty much everyone is online these days somewhere, even my nan. So if my nan is your target customer you’ll want to go and find her on Facebook!
Now I want you to think about what you want to be known for?
What shapes what you do, what gets you excited, what makes you stand out? What drives you…
· The environment
· Mental health
· Travel
· Health
· Diversity & inclusion
· Seeing the beauty in everything
This is aside from your products and services – this is the why behind why you do what you do. What makes you tick?
And here are some key rules to using your personal brand:
· Be genuine and authentic
· Tell a good story
· Be consistent
· Be positive
· Be friendly
· Feel the fear and do it anyway!
And finally think about how inspires you? Pick 3 reasons why this person inspires you. What is it about them and their personal brand that gets you excited? What can you learn from them?
Are you feeling a little stuck with your business and your brand? Do you feel like you could stand out more? Would you like to get in front of more of the right people? Find out how we can work together to build your clarity and your confidence to get you out there building a happier more profitable business!
