For a long time, personal branding was seen as something exclusive to those already well-known and established within their field. However, as we continue to live a higher proportion of our lives on social media, more people are beginning to see the value in having an influential personal brand.
Since 2020, networking, connecting, and building relationships has moved almost entirely online for most businesses, and most successful companies understand the importance of harnessing multiple channels to spread their message and stay memorable in the minds of their audience.
A strong personal brand does exactly this. Being able to tell your story through your own branding is a powerful marketing tool that can act as a great leveller even when your business is unknown.
Given how impactful your personal branding can be, it should be treated as an integral part of your business from the start. It requires active planning and consideration to successfully develop, and with this in mind, here are some key points you should consider when building your own brand.
Be honest and authentic
Conveying your true self should be central to your brand, and act as the keystone for all your other branding activities. Tesla haven’t spent a penny on marketing, and many of us know of the company through the hugely authentic online persona of CEO Elon Musk
Authenticity is the reason for personal brands being so wildly successful.
Define yourself
People will have some sort of perception of you whether or not you choose to actively build your brand, so why not take control of this perception? Developing an authentic brand means considering the aspects of your character that define how you want to be perceived by your audience.
Your experiences and observations, the struggles and challenges that have shaped you as a person ‘ all of these things will help you tell your story in a way that engages people and draws them to you. Likewise, defining your principles and values, both in and out of business, will enable you to present your human side and demonstrate your drives and passions beyond economic gain.
People ultimately buy from people they like, and a personal brand based on genuine values and your own unique story is what will create trust and loyalty in others.
Differentiate ‘ don’t emulate
It can be tempting to look at what already-established brands within your industry are doing, and simply copy them ‘ after all, they must be doing something right. There’s a great saying ‘ ‘Trying to imitate someone that you follow and admire, is a sure-fire way of never becoming someone that is followed and admired’.
Being aware of what others in your industry are doing to build their own brands is useful in one crucial way: giving you a better idea of how you are different. You are an expert at being you, and it is one area you cannot be outcompeted in, so use this to your advantage. They can copy everything about your business, except you.
Find your voice
Your social media channels are how you will broadcast your voice, so it is worth considering which platforms will best serve your message. Identifying who your audience are and which platforms are most relevant to them will help you do this.
Once you know which platforms to begin building your presence on, you must find a tone that works for you. Writing how you speak, steering clear of meaningless jargon, and adopting a consistent approach across all your social media channels will all help you in finding an authentic voice for your personal brand.
Hitting the right tone of voice will make it easier to develop and share content that not only showcases your experience and expertise, but it is genuinely helpful and insightful to your audience, building loyalty in your brand while demonstrating your credibility.
Conclusion
Truly making your business stand out requires not only a strong brand for the business, but a well-crafted brand for you as a leader, and the values you represent as an individual. Getting this right will make it easier than ever to connect and engage your audience, while building trust in you and your business.
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