Personal Branding is more than just your photo.
It’s not just a buzz word.
The term “branding” simply means how others perceive you and your business. Personal branding isn’t necessarily the same as business branding, although it certainly helps your business.
Personal branding is how you show up in the world, whether that’s writing a LinkedIn post or showing off photos on Facebook.
Everyone has a brand whether they know it or not. And when trying to build a one-person business or promote a book, personal branding is everything.
It’s not just about “being on social media” or having a logo.
Think of personal branding as a strategy — how do you want others to perceive you?
This doesn’t mean being fake or lying to your audience.
Personal Branding is more than your photo – Photo Credit: Ivory Mix*
I like to think of it as the best version of myself.
- What are your strengths?
- What do you do best?
- How do you help others?
Personal Brand Packaging
Consider your personal brand as a Hershey kiss.
On the outside is the packaging: colors, logo, fonts, and so forth. This is what people first see when they come to your website, so it’s important.
Your branding can result in someone “opening it up” for what’s inside.
Your personal brand includes experiences others have with you and how they feel about you and your books or writing.
Personal Branding Example
I recently moved from Minnesota to Wisconsin and it’s taken me a while to get accustomed to a smaller town.
I met this woman, Christine, by chance when my daughter was searching for jobs in the area. She used to run her own graphic design business, but now runs a beautiful flower farm on her 40 acres of land.
I had never heard of a flower farm before I met her. I’ve only ever purchased flowers from shops or the store.
I followed her on Facebook and started getting her emails as well. Not only did she sell beautiful flowers which she grew herself, but she sold raw honey. She hosted fun events on her land and you could pick your own flowers too. If you wanted to rent a kayak and relax on the water on her property, that was an option too.
One day, she posted about her outdoor flower stand on her property. You drive there, pick up the flowers or grab a jar of honey, and send her money via Venmo. (Side note: living in a small town has its perks. I could never imagine using the honor system when I lived in MN.)
I appreciated not having to stand and talk to someone (I’m busy, after all) and I could just get flowers when I was feeling a little down or just wanted some color to look at. And her flowers are absolutely gorgeous, which made me love her even more. You can tell she is dedicated and skilled at growing flowers.
She used cute stickers on the flower wrap, and the stand had her signage. Her brand colors, font, and imagery are just as beautiful as her flowers. Every interaction I’ve had with Christine has been positive and uplifting. Now, whenever I see a post from her or notice her logo somewhere in the wild, I smile.
She’s the perfect example of personal branding. Although she runs a business, her personality, and unique style are the reason she has built trust in our community.
My flowers from the flower stand
Your Audience
I know you’ve heard this a thousand times, but you are not for everyone.
There’s a special group of people that your content will resonate with.
Let’s use the flower farm again as an example. Christine uses imagery and her brand to attract mostly women, or possibly a spouse or teen that wants to buy flowers for their mom or teacher. She shows images of bridesmaids, women of all ages, and, of course, lots of beautiful flowers.
I think it’s safe to say her primary audience is not a male who likes to fish and hunt.
As an author, there is only one you. While your books or other services might not be the only ones out there, how you present your work, show your personality, and offer value are unique.
Because you only serve a niche group of people, you get to know what their problems are and can “target” them with offers that fix those problems.
Evaluating Your Brand
When thinking about your personal brand, here are some quick ways to evaluate your online presence and business personality:
- Core Values — These are values you would never waiver on, such as honesty, integrity, and generosity. Here’s an extensive list from James Clear that can help narrow down your brand: Core Values List: Over 50 Common Personal Values (jamesclear.com)
- Expertise & Skills — What do you do well? What areas are you skilled in?
- Talents — Do you have any talents such being artistic or musical? What could you include in your brand personality?
- Authentic Self — Who do others say you are? What qualities do they compliment you about? What areas do they say you need to work on? Try an assessment on 16 Personalities for some help.
- Your Legacy — You might not think this is part of your brand, but what do you want to leave behind? Personal branding isn’t just who you are, but also who you want to become. Think of the qualities that draw you to other people and evaluate if those are traits you want for yourself.
Why Personal Branding is Important
Personal branding is important because it helps people understand who you are, who you serve, and opens up opportunities for others to work with you. Taking the time to understand your brand and show that brand to your audience can help you grow your reach and increase visibility.
Not only that, but you build trust over time.
Showing up every day, offering your products and services that showcase your authentic self (your core values, skills, expertise, and talents) can drive home the message of trust.
Photo Credit: Ivory Mix*
Here are a few benefits of personal branding:
- Creates a recognizable and memorable presence
- Opens doors and new opportunities
- Nurtures connection and visibility
- Helps you take the next step in your journey
- Encourages business and financial growth
As an author, it’s important to use personal branding and think through how you want to best show up for your audience.
I’ll be posting more in this series, so stay tuned for my next post that offers tips on improving your online presence.
Read the next posts: 3 Sure Fire Ways to Secure Your Online Presence or Simple Ways to Define Your Personal Brand for Epic Results
*These links lead to free content, however, if you make a purchase from this website, I’ll make a small amount which doesn’t cost you extra.
Note: This post was originally published on Medium.
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