For writers, consultants, coaches and speakers personal branding is a must if they want to make any money in their businesses. I know that the reason I’ve been able to build a successful business, work with high-quality clients and have different sources of income present themselves to me is because I took the time to build a personal brand online.
Unfortunately, personal branding can be very overwhelming for the beginning business owner. With new social media channels popping up every day and the need to get clear on your marketing, beginning business owners may feel like they will never figure everything out.
While it may seem like a tall order, figuring out your personal brand is actually easier than most people think. However, you will have to commit time – and sometimes money – to really figure it out. Here are some of the ways to make the process of branding yourself less overwhelming.
Start small.
While social media is important when you build a personal brand online, you don’t need to try and figure out all social media channels at the same time. In fact, trying to do it all at once is a sure-fire way to get overwhelmed and fail. Instead, you’ll want to focus on one social media channel at a time.
When it comes to building a personal brand online it’s really about layering things in. For example, you may want to start off with a blog and website so that you can experiment with different things before committing to any names or handles on social media.
Get clear on how your brand gives value.
A big piece of personal branding – and the piece that brings it all together – is the value factor. At the end of the day building a personal brand is about you bringing value into the world.
For example, I’ve built a brand around finance and business. This is why people come to me. Because they know I can give them value with any issues they may be experiencing in that part of their lives
Consider asking yourself some of the following questions to get the creative juices flowing:
- What market does my personal brand speak to?
- Where is my market struggling and how can I help them overcome it?
Once you can answer these questions all the aspects of building a personal brand online – from messaging to which social media channels to use – becomes a whole lot easier. If you’re having trouble answering these questions, you may want to consider hiring a coach or consultant who can help you figure out your brand’s value.
Put a little personality into it.
When it comes to building a personal brand online, people are craving personal connection with the brands they are considering working with. That’s why building a personal brand online is all about building a brand around you.
While this may seem like a given, you’d be surprised at how many business owners resist building a personal brand around themselves. Often times they feel like it’s rude to talk about themselves because that’s what society has told us. Or, they are afraid of how people will perceive them if they put more personality into their brand.
The reality is that if you want to build a brand successfully, you’ll need to put some of your own personality in it. This is what makes you unique and sets you apart. If you don’t tap into it then you’ll just sound like everyone else. The good news is this is literally as easy as just being yourself.
Final Thoughts
Trying to build a personal brand online is a lot of work, but it’s a necessity if you want to become successful in what you do. By following these tips, you can tackle the overwhelm that may come with building your own brand.
