Personal branding is the identity you create in which others perceive you and how you would be remembered.
How do you think a business gets recognized in a vast market? Do you think that just by putting up your business, you just have to rely on walk-in customers for you to reach your goal? If that is what’s going through your mind, think again. More than just showing people that you have a business in a particular location. The business industry is comprised of so many companies. Most of which offer the same products and services and have been operating for many years. They did not stay that long because they waited for people to pass by their stores.
Plan to get your company in the right position to make your ideal customers notice you. Deciding first and foremost how you will be perceived by your customers can make a huge difference. You need to consider strategies that other entrepreneurs have proven to be effective in building their personal brand identity.
What Does Personal Branding Do?
Those who may be new in the business may not have realized the necessity of creating a personal brand. However, they should consider that it is not just about the company in all the brands that we recognize today. It tells so much so about the founders behind them, as well.
Those who are not in favor of personal branding have one thing in mind: it is entirely a waste of time and money. But in reality, personal branding is the heart of any small business. Don’t you agree?
Suppose you have started your business for quite some time now. In that case, you should know that the business you started is not conducted solely based on what you provide. Still, it also has something to say about your character, credibility, integrity, and how you deal with people. Consumers don’t buy from businesses but buy from the people they like and trust.
The purchasing power of a consumer today is far different from what it was 10 or 20 years ago. People nowadays do not just solely purchase the things they need or want but also buy products that make them feel good about their purchase. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that entrepreneur presents themself to the consumers so that they can increase the chances of securing loyal customers.
In business, the products and services are what the consumers are looking for, while personal branding is why people would come to you over your competitors. Consumers want to have a reason to buy from you. That one reason is probably being able to provide excellent customer service. Consumers want to feel that they are being valued. It is the same as choosing the friends you would like to hand out often. Would you be hanging out with a person that does not make you feel good? I don’t think so.
The Structure of Personal Branding
As the business owner, you would want to create a structure that you would build your business around your target market. Without doing so, it is unlikely that business could succeed. I have always emphasized this to all my mentees and during all the talks that I have done. Some people think that making the business visible can easily make people come in. Remember that to start reaping success, you need to know who will be the people who will patronize your products and services. And with that, you need to ensure that what they get is more than they expect and would be coming back.
Before you can even start, you need to know who your competitors are and what they are doing. Doing this allows you to create your own ways to be different. Being different means looking for something that would make you stand out in the competitive industry. You need to be unique, which can either make or break you. Therefore, be watchful of your actions and decisions to gain the right position in the market. Novice entrepreneurs may want to be an expert on so many things simultaneously, thinking that it gives them the advantage to have it all. On the contrary, it is better to choose your niche and concentrate on it as you gain your market share, and then after some time, you may broaden what you can offer.
The power of social media can help build your personal brand.
Being social media savvy is an advantage. But, of course, there are professionals you can hire and help you spread the word about your business in the virtual world. First, you must know what kind of people will be interested in your business. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest have a huge following. However, the kind of business you have may not be “good” for all the social media platforms mentioned. Facebook may just be the appropriate channel to bring out the word if you are in the food business. If your business is about fashion and arts, the most likely platform best to showcase your products would be Instagram or Pinterest. If you offer some kind of service, the best social media platform would be Twitter and LinkedIn. So, it truly pays to recognize the power of each of the popular social media platforms to know which is the best one to help you in your business.
Planning the content of your branding is crucial. You need to use your creative mind on how you can excellently present your products and services that can easily entice people to check you out. Make sure that you create a list of the needs you want to address. Create very powerful content that emphasizes how you can be the best option in purchasing a particular product. Curate content that can help you gain brand awareness and keep you at the forefront.
Branding means you need to have the necessary resources to build it. Other means can help you make your brand, and that is through the help of influencers. They can endorse you through their own social media accounts like posting on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Or it is also quite common these days that businesses would invite bloggers to attend a “getting to know” party. Wherein the business owner/s introduce their company and their offerings. They give the bloggers some token in exchange for a blog or two. It is highly impossible to get the word out without shelling out some money.
You can also build your relationships by joining events or organizations wherein target customers are likely to visit. The important thing to do is to mingle with the right people and not waste your time dealing with the wrong ones.
Personal Branding Is Not A One-Time Deal
When you start developing your personal branding, you must know that there is never an end. It is a continuous process wherein you keep moving forward to improve and maintain customer engagement. Should you realize the power of social media platforms, I suggest you don’t overdo it. Being overexposed can also be a point against you. Make sure that you plan your posts and create content that would want your followers/customers to keep asking for more.
Be consistent. You wouldn’t want to disappear for some time and still hope that your followers are still there. If you cannot dedicate your time 100% to creating social media posts, ask for help from someone who knows how to get the job right.
Share with your followers your personal journey so that they may know you. You can’t always be seen as perfect because that would be hiding the truth. Your imperfections are what makes you, you. That invisible connection that you have with your followers and customers is what can make your personal brand successful.
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You may contact Armando “Butz” Bartolome for questions and more information.
By email: aob@gmb.ph
FB Page: Armando Bartolome
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franguru/
Website: https://www.gmb.ph
