Here is common and costly misconception: So many people think BRANDING is about colors, logos, images and having the perfect website and yes that is all part of it but here is the thing. At its core, it’s about something much bigger.
To have a successful personal brand, you must ask yourself these 5 questions:
1. HOW DO YOU SHOW UP?
What are your VALUES, what do you STAND for?
What are your strengths and weaknesses and how do you measure up to the others in your field?
Chances are you’ll find yourself swimming in a sea with many others.
2. What is the VISION for your brand?
Why do you do what you do, what’s the driving force behind it and where are you taking this vision?
3.What is your BRAND IDENTITY?
In other words, how do you present yourself?
How do you position yourself in the marketplace?
Think of your brand having a personality.
If you were to describe it in adjectives, which ones would you use?
Here is an example:
We all like designer fashion, don’t we?
So how do you show up?
Are you prim and proper like Kate Spade or elegant and seductive like Gucci or maybe a bit more bohemian like Etro, or maybe your brand is sexy and sultry like Cavalli or you are more down to earth and colorful like Anthropologie… you see where I’m going with this?
4.Next, what is your SKILL SET?
That means how do you help people get RESULTS?
What is it that qualifies you above anybody else to do the work that you do?
This is essential because it will boost your confidence and above all people buy confidence, so stick with what you know you have already mastered and do exceptionally well. You can always expand on it as you acquire additional skills.
5. How is what you do DIFFERENT from everybody else out there?
In other words, what is it that makes you UNIQUE and sets yourself apart from the sea of others doing the same thing.
You see part of having a successful brand is tapping into your UNIQUENESS and bringing that into your visual presentation and into your message.
And here is where AUTHENTICITY comes in. Don’t be afraid to show us who you really are.
Who is the person behind the brand, what is she all about?
Your people want to know that you are human and not just a photo-shopped version of a picture perfect life.
Part of this is weaving your own story into your message.
This is how your audience will connect with you EMOTIONALLY and that is hands down the biggest game changer for the success of your personal brand. NOBODY has your story, so use it as a point of differentiation.
These questions must be answered way BEFORE you start thinking of colors, logos, images for your website because they are going to INFORM what exactly you want to create and ensure that every single marketing material you put out there in the world is ON BRAND.
This is where your overall BRANDING STRATEGY comes in. You want to come across in a way that your audience knows it’s YOU every single time you put yourself out there.
I teach my clients to NOT spend any money on a website or fancy photos BEFORE they have their branding strategy locked and loaded and know exactly what it is they want to create, no second guessing
This is what makes a personal brand successful.
Simona Ksoll is a brand marketing strategist and mentor for small business owners and people who want to bring their big inner vision to life. Follow her on Facebook and LinkedIn and join her private Facebook Community.