When you first start a business, it’s easy to only focus on achieving great results for your clients. However, this often means you may let aspects, such as your brand, fall by the wayside. Potential customers need to feel connected with you in order to reach out for the first time, as well as recommend you to others.
This is where your personal branding comes in, and below are some common mistakes you should avoid.
Mistake 1: Hiding behind your logo or slogan. You need to show people who you are – be the face of your brand. In an age where consumers are bombarded with advertising, entrepreneurs need to give people a reason to trust them. Make an impact by having a professional photographer, specializing in personal branding, create various images of you. Depending on your business, these can be shots of you in action, speaking, headshots or casual portraits, working with your hands/products/customers - anything that gives a sense of who you are, where you work, and even a sprinkling of your personal life. Let people know what your business does, but also incorporate how your business may bring people together, help the community, or help other businesses.
Mistake 2: Not building your network. Continue making connections and nurturing your relationships with customers, so they can spread the word about you. The internet makes it easy to avoid face to face interactions, but they’re vital for creating genuine, long lasting connections.
Mistake 3: Not sharing your story. People need to feel like they can relate to you and trust you. So, be willing to share your story - both the successes and the struggles. Storytelling is a powerful marketing tool and one that can be used in a multitude of ways on different platforms. When people relate to your story, they’re more likely to come back and spread the word about your business.
Mistake 4: Being inconsistent. Your brand needs to be prominent and consistent. Be where your audience is, and make sure they’re hearing from you on a regular basis. Push out consistent content that benefits your customers, even if they aren’t spending money with you at that moment, and keep them wanting more. Consistency builds trust, which is crucial to the success of any business, and gives you the chance to reach customers before your competitors.
Mistake 5: Not growing your online presence. It’s no secret that we live in a world of technology and instant gratification. Customers can find almost any information they want within a matter of minutes. It’s important for you to create a digital footprint that will ensure more people are finding you online, more often. Understand the platforms you're using, look for key opportunities, and take advantage of all the features.
Take a few hours every week to schedule social media and marketing content that reflects what you want people to know about your brand, useful content and tips, and interesting images. Review your personal brand each year, and make changes as necessary to keep it fresh. Keep up to date with our blog to learn more about Personal Branding!
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