Investing in your own personal brand
So, what is branding and why is it so important?
Put simply, branding is way more than just a graphic design or logo. When it comes to your brand it is solely based on your customer’s/ audience’s experience with you. All including your website, logo, social media platforms, even down to the way you respond to emails or answer the phone. It is the way your customers experience is with you throughout everything.
IT IS THE WAY YOUR AUDIENCE PERCIEVES YOU.
It is important to always remember that your brand represents you and your promise to your customers. If you are committed to your brand it puts you in a position to be the expert and a leader in your chosen industry.
When you are in control of your brand it gives you the opportunity to control what type of audience you want to attract and how much you want to succeed. Knowing your audience is crucial when it comes to marketing. It does not matter how much you know your brand, the key point in this is you need to understand and target the right people.
YOU are a person with a career, and you need to build your brand today to ensure YOUR career soars.
So, you may ask why should I build a brand identity?
Although you may have a business which is exceeding and selling like hotcakes, investing in your own brand identity should be at the forefront of your mind as it is a long-term investment which will benefit you in the long run.
Customers absolutely love brands, if you choose down the social media route there is a likelihood that your brand can be searched, interacted and viewed with. Using something small like an Instagram hashtag. It is psychologically proven that apart from the quality, brands do in fact strike and emotional chord and people will strongly identify them on a personal level.
Opening social media profiles such as, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn is a form of investing in your own brand! This will unlock the opportunity of showcasing to the world your brand.
A lot of successful companies conduct branding research which will help them identify buyer personas. This way it is easier to minimise and reach out to the correct audience who are interested in their services.
It is crucial to understand that a strong brand will generate referrals. People love to tell others about the brands they like. If your brand is strong, it will add a lot of value to your organisation well beyond your physical assets.
Here are 9 strategic ways to invest in your brand and strategy.
- Define your unique value proposition
- Make your story clear
- Get to know your audience
- Be consistent
- Humanise your brand
- Know your context
- Start with your ‘why?’
- Invest in digital marketing
- LEAD.
Your time, focus and money should be at a premium when it comes to investing in your brand.