When you think of branding, you think about businesses and how they work to make a mark in society. But what about you and what people in society think about you? For some people, that may not be important, but for entrepreneurs in business, it is such an important and critical part of building their business and in turn, their personal brand.
I spend a lot of time on my personal branding and branding for my business. I try to keep everything consistent and positive because that is how I want to be known. Personal branding means that you have a specific look going for you and you send a message to your followers which resonates with what you stand for. It takes you to another level and leaves a positive impact on your business.
Social media can assist you in creating an online presence and an effective personal brand. A strong online presence helps you connect to people and builds a relationship over time. The way you carry yourself online can either build trust or leave a bad taste in the eyes of your followers.
One of the first things you should do is write a short bio about you and let people know who you are. You can do this in numerous ways. The "about you" section on any social media profile should be completely filled out. Use Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and any other platforms you are working with to inform people about you and your business. Never leave this part of your profile empty! Be sure to include who you are, what type of business you are associated with, your contact information, your website link if you have one, any publications you have been a part of, and anything that would enable the reader into learning more about you.
How people see you online and your personal brand depends a lot on what the of information you put out on social media. Do you want to be known as the person who has political rants about daily news? Or would you rather be the person people feel comfortable with on a personal level that they would be more than delighted to do business with? I choose the latter. As discussed in my previous branding posts, I keep my personal life off social media and I stick to posting positive and motivating items. The type of media you share on your social platforms relates to you as an individual and you as a business. Choose wisely!
Being consistent with what you post and how frequently is an important aspect of building and growing your personal brand. Once you have set up your social media platforms, ensure that each platform is consistent with the others interns of logos, photos and contact info. You want your audience to know that the same person on Twitter is also the same person on Pinterest.
So many entrepreneurs have a full time job while trying to build on their business on a part time basis. If this is the way you are planning to expand on your business, be sure that your profiles show what you are truly passionate about. Don't post about a job you don't want to be affiliated with. Keep consistent and promote what you believe in. Once you are ready to take on your business full time, you have already gained the trust of your audience and can easily transition into your career as an entrepreneur.
Do you have your social media platforms set up? Do they link to one another?
Branding yourself can be so simple, yet people tend to make it complicated. By effectively using social media, you can voice yourself and your business in a professional style. By using social media, you can control your image online and configure the way others view your profile. The best way to make sure you are sending out the message you want, is by creating an effective and consistent online brand, and using social media is the easiest way to achieve that.
With Love, Nikki