How to Gain More Income, Influence and Impact Through
Building a Personal Brand
It used to be that if you had a logo and
a website you had a business brand. But today's consumers demand a lot more.
Branding for them is about the experience of being with you, the owner of that
business.
Today businesses have to look a lot
deeper when it comes to creating a personal brand that is in harmony with their
business brand.
When you have a strong personal brand,
you become a mini-celebrity in your field. With that strong brand comes clout
and credibility. People look up to you.
When people think of your industry,
you'll be the first one to come to mind. It also gives your offerings a higher
perceived value - suddenly you can charge what you are worth to clients who are
happy to pay.
If you want to build a dynamic and
effective personal brand that will help grow your business but don't know where
to start, let’s break it down...
7 Key Elements of a Personal Brand that
is Infused with Your Business Brand
1) Embracing Consistency
When prospects know what to expect of you
it creates a feeling of familiarity and trust. That's why consistency of
everything you do and how you present yourself is so important.
But many business owners go willy-nilly
with their brand, not paying attention to colours, fonts, graphics or style of
messaging that all makes up a personal and business brand. This can be
confusing for your audience. Your brand should be developed with consistency
and standards that reflect well on how you want your business to be perceived.
For instance, take colours – one way to
be consistent with your business brand on a personal level is to wear similar
colours to your visual brand. For many years, Mari Smith wore her signature
turquoise blue wherever she went, which was a match to her business brand. She
has since changed this strategy, but it was very effective in her brand
positioning while she was building her leadership presence.
Dana J. Smithers, one of our long-time
clients is another one who fully embraces her brand messaging by consistently
wearing only her business brand colours: Black, red and white. (Stay tuned for
an upcoming eTip where I interview her on this subject.)
Consistency is king when it comes to
branding. Aside from your personal appearance, other things you do also affect
your personal brand. For instance, if you say you provide a weekly newsletter,
you need to honour that commitment and make sure a newsletter goes out every
week. If you post twice a day on Facebook, keep up that frequency.
That kind of consistency will win over
the trust of your followers, which will make them more likely to make a
purchase when they are in need of your product or services.
2) Forming a Compelling Story
Your story is the single biggest
differentiator for your business. Make your story be a part of your personal
brand. (Read my story here http://evisionmedia.ca/us/susan-friesens-journey/ or
a fuller version on a book I’m a co-author of: Entrepreneurial Spirit Sauce.)
Hundreds of people may sell what you
have, but you are the only one who is exactly like you.
Your followers yearn to know who you are,
how you got to where you are at and why you love what you do. Think of it as
your Cinderella rags to riches story. It allows people to see how you came from
no-where, learned the lesson, and came out on top.
Connecting to your story gives followers
that feel good, heart-to-heart connection with you. Once you craft your story
you can add it on your about page, your bio, in presentations, your book, and
more!
3) Owning Authenticity
When you share from your heart you
inspire and connect with people on a deeper level.
Share the real you. Let them see your
values. Talk about what you stand for. Give them a peek behind the scenes so
they feel included.
4) Being Visible and Accessible
Out of sight means out of mind. There are
many ways you can showcase your personal brand by becoming more visible in
front of your target market. Here’s just a few ideas:
- Have a great, professional headshot. -
Post photos of you in action at work. - Leave your office and go to networking
meetings. - Get featured in the media. - Be a podcast or telesummit guest. -
Show photos of events you attend and the people you meet on Social Media. -
Hold webinars and Facebook Live Q&A sessions with your followers. - Follow
up and nurture your network through newsletters so you are unforgettable.
5) Creating a Value Proposition
This is such an important brand element
but sadly most businesses do not have a clear value proposition statement.
A value proposition is a clear
declaration that explains who you serve, how you serve them, and why your
solution is better.
A good one is clear, specific and easily
understood. When you can articulate this in a compelling way, it's a powerful
client attraction tool.
6) Defining a Focused Ideal Client
Many businesses aren't clear about their
ideal customer. They cast their net too wide when it comes to customers.
Once you clearly identify who is in your
tribe, it not only supercharges your marketing messages but also helps you
better understand how to present yourself in front of them in order to win them
over.
7) Showcasing Your Expertise
Personal branding also means being the
best and most knowledgeable at what you do. Don't just be a follower of other
top experts, instead lead the industry with your perspectives, findings and
views.
Create studies to publish new results.
Develop your own signature system. Craft terms that become the coined phrase
for the industry.
The more you differentiate yourself from
others in your industry the more you will become the go-to expert people will
be drawn to.
Want to Stand Out and Get Noticed?
At eVision Media we understand what it
takes to succeed online. We do more than help you look good online through a
business brand design; we go to the core of what makes you unique and
communicate it with a personal brand that defines you.
Find out more today about our website
design, branding, and online marketing services or talk to me about my
mentoring options where I’ll help you define your personal brand.
Source: https://www.amazines.com/Female_Entrepreneurs/article_detail.cfm/6245991?articleid=6245991
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