Apple picking with the kids. Fun girls nights out with perfectly poured cocktails. Pretty flowers from a significant other. Dinner parties. Home renovation updates. The list goes on and on. What is this a list of? Why it’s the highlight reel of a social media news feed of course. Minus one very big element. Products and Services. For sale. Between those adorable back to school photos and halloween costumes any social user will find their friends, family, acquaintances, influencers and brands offering must have products and services. Why? Because social media represents the greatest opportunity to connect, engage and sell with people without having to own retail space or go door to door to do so. Social media allows people to build and grow businesses online with little overhead and investment. We see people who are absolutely CRUSHING it online with their businesses. And others who simply are not.
What is it about those people who have built tremendous success in their online business? What is it that have they done differently? Well, there are multiple reasons one might be super successful but the one I want to focus on today is personal branding.
What is a personal brand?
By definition personal branding is the practice of marketing yourself and your career as your brand.
A strong personal brand is an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to marketing your business online. The right brand can help people get to know you, like you and trust you. Developing the KNOW, LIKE, TRUST factor with your followers is the key to converting your followers to actual customers! Fostering that connection with you customers allows you to become an influencer and go from one-off sales to repeat customers, built in brand ambassadors and a fantastic referral program all in one. Essentially, a strong personal brand will help you grow your business and your bank account!
Why do I need a personal brand?
A strong personal brand will be the point of differentiation between you and others who are working to grow their online business.
Your personal brand presents an opportunity for you to STAND OUT, celebrate the unique beauty that is you and position yourself to friends, family, acquaintances and even perfect strangers as a leader, expert and influencer in your industry.
How do I create a personal brand?
The truth is, we all already have a personal brand. Its just a matter of knowing how to actually market your brand and bring it to life in a way that resonates with people and makes them care about what you have to say. Some of the most important tips when building a personal brand online are:
#1. Be authentic. This is one of the MOST important rules of creating a personal brand and I can not stress it enough. You must talk about your business and relevant topics using your own voice and tone. Don’t try to recreate someone else’s vibe because you see that they are having success. What will make you successful is your own uniqueness. Be YOU and OWN it!
#2. Know your audience and speak directly to them. Trying to create a brand that will please everyone is a sure fire way to fail. Instead, I want you to think about who your ideal customer is. Get very specific about what that person looks like in your mind. Create a target audience profile and curate content that will connect and engage them with your brand. That connection and engagement is the catalyst for creating the KNOW, LIKE, TRUST factor.
#3. Focus on sharing, not selling. One of the best tips I can give you for building a brand and a following online is to not focus strictly on selling your product. Rather, focus on sharing. What do I mean? Talk about things other then selling your products. If you are in the fashion boutique business, share content and information around fashion related topics. Think trends, getting ready in 5 mins, looking great on a budget etc.
#4.Create a solution to a problem. A great tip for building a strong personal brand is to position yourself as someone who can solve a problem or fill a need your customer has. If you sell kitchen products, then you can help someone who is a novice in the kitchen look like a pro. BUT as you think about the problem, don’t just offer your products as the solution – remember tip #3! Think about other content and ways you can help your ideal customer and have your posts be purposeful, way more than you are promotional.
#5.Don’t be afraid to sparkle! My last tip is all about mindset. I have experienced first hand how changing your mindset can change your life. I didn’t always believe in myself and I didn’t always live my life with intention. I think for a long time I was very much just winging it! Once I figured out that the biggest thing that was holding me back was, well me, my life changed. I encourage you to start each day by setting your intentions for the day and listing what you are grateful for in your life. You will begin to sparkle in a way you never have before. And lets be honest, people are drawn to things that sparkle. So the brighter you shine, the more people are going to want to be around you, follow you, and listen to you. Your brand will grow and so will your business!
Do you want to build a personal brand? You can download my latest FREE workbook to help you build your personal brand today! This 20 page workbook provides helpful tips and exercises for you to do to create a personal brand that works. Get it today and start building the KNOW, LIKE, TRUST factor and watch your business grow! Feel free to email me if you have any questions, I’m happy to help!
I want my brand workbook!
And remember, you’re not fully dressed until you sparkle!
