Personal branding is when you market yourself to promote your career or business as a brand.
Your brand is the image people think of when they hear about something you created or something you support.
So, why is personal branding important?
Do you want to attract more clients and boost revenue?
It is vital to have a personal brand for businessmen and women who are just starting out, or who want to expand their businesses.
There are several benefits to creating a personal or online brand for yourself; this article will highlight the benefits of personal branding.
Why is Personal Branding Important?
Have you ever read an article that stomps all over your personal beliefs? Personal branding allows you to be yourself. It is a way to express your true beliefs without fear and simply be you. It allows you to surround yourself with people who have the same belief and boosts your confidence.
Trustworthiness
You want your customers to trust you. Build credibility for yourself and your business through personal branding.
If your customers trust you to do what you promise, that will boost your brand and benefit your bottom line.
We’ve all watched the news, we know how easily a brand can fall into disarray when the consumer public becomes aware that they have been misled or deceived.
How does one who is building their brand avoid this catastrophe?
The answer is a concept that has been taught to you from the earlier days of your life to this day. Be authentic!
According to Roger Delves, Professor of Leadership Practice at Ashridge University, “A powerful personal brand has to be authentic, be based on your talents, your values and the way you serve other people.
This will help people to be clear about who you are, both in person and online and through the opinions of people whom they trust.”
This starts with a concerted grassroots effort.
Expert Advice
Become an expert in your field, and display your talents. Use your personal brand to promote your unique talents.
Do not try to be the best at everything; chose something you excel at and use your life experiences, work experiences, and talent to become knowledgeable in that specific area.
Use your personal brand to promote that area of expertise.
Loyal Audience
Your personal brand will not attract everyone. You do not want to have millions of followers with only five loyal customers.
Creating a brand will help attract the right people to your business and create a loyal following of customers.
It will attract like-minded people who share your business beliefs, and who can help you determine if the business endeavor is right for you, or if it goes against your beliefs.
Know Your Target Audience
Are you that friend who others come to for advice when their car won’t start, their oblivious boyfriend forgot their anniversary (even though Facebook reminded them), or when they need to file their income taxes?
If that is you, know that these friends, acquaintances, and family members come to you because they believe you can help solve their problem.
This is the same concept that should be (and for an effective brand, is) implemented as part of an effective brand recognition strategy. Be that solution, and witness the growth.
Color Your Brand
Choose relevant color schemes and pictures that people can easily associate with your brand. For example, when you see the giant yellow “M” you think instantly of McDonald’s.
When you hear “just do it,” you think of the Nike brand. These are examples of personal branding that these huge corporations took advantage of to launch their businesses to the next level.
Create a logo that is personal to your business and use it everywhere.
Gain Value
Creating and promoting your personal brand will make your services more valuable. If you are known as the best service in town, then you can charge more for your service because you are going to be in higher demand.
In addition, having a reputable brand will lead to more networking opportunities. You will be able to connect with others who can help make your services or products better and keep your reputation as being the best.
Simply the Best
A successful personal brand makes your company the only solution to your customer’s problem. Use consumer reviews and testimonials given by loyal customers to boost your personal brand. They will help bring in more customers and lead to more jobs.
Personal Branding: It’s Easy As it Looks
Have you ever seen the Logo Game?
If you haven’t, the premise is simple: identify each logo as it appears for points.
The set of logos are nearly universally recognizable, and though this may initially appear to be some form of luck or a fate that is only bestowed upon the fortunate; it is, in reality, the result of an effective brand building.
If you are like many talented minds, you have surely hit a few roadblocks while brainstorming or enacting your brand building plan.
These roadblocks don’t need to be the end of your road, get back on track with these 4 invaluable tips.
Behold and Utilize Social Media
It’s no secret by this point, you can build a successful brand through the power of social networking.
Social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram have created the opportunity for the average Joe to promote ideas, content, products, and brands to the rest of the world without an immense advertising budget.
A reputable service utilizes this premise with measurable accuracy and quantifiable results.
Gain Value
Have you ever tried “googling” yourself?
If you do show up at the top of the page, do you like the results? Or do you feel that you have been underrepresented?
The most effective brand strategies for the digital era incorporate this type of presence, even brands that you wouldn’t typically expect. For the upstart, this isn’t optional, it is vital!
Enhance Your Personal Branding
Personal branding is a vital form of marketing that, when used correctly, can help launch your business to the next level.
Hopefully, you have been able to answer the question: why is personal branding important?
Creating your personal brand will help give your company a solid reputation as the best option available, allow you to express your personal beliefs, connect you to other professionals, and make your services more valuable because they are in higher demand.
