Personal Branding

Personal Branding Tips

A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.

Jeff Bezos

Personal branding: How to build a successful brand

“The keys to brand success are self-definition, transparency, authenticity and accountability.” Simon Mainwaring 

Developing a personal brand is becoming essential to growing opportunities and being competitive in the marketplace. Understanding who you are and what you provide to who is critical for future success. When you’re trying to find work or are an entrepreneur, there’s certain base standards or expectations that need to be met before you even get off the start line.

Zesty Shane Personal Brand

This Zesty Shane website has been developed to show you my personality, expertise, skills and authenticity. Zesty is about how I bring something special to you and your business. No one in the world has created their brand as ‘Zesty’…I wanted to create a personal brand that was easy, memorable and the zestyshane.com was available. This website and my business reputation is about positioning myself as real and unique. This is ultimately about you feeling comfortable enough to consider working with me in some business capacity…or making a recommendation if you see and opportunity in your world.

World-building

Personal branding means it what you’re known for. Think of branding as world-building where you’re trying to build and convey your image, profile, ideas and experience. Where you’re the go to person in your industry or sector. If someone needs something you’re known for X. The aim is to craft something that expresses a message of who you are and what you want to influence. Whether its business, entertainment or other areas, you need to find focus on what makes you, you.

The best way to build a personal brand is to stay true to yourself, highlighting what identifies you is the key. Make it unique and make it stable and consistent. The rest that comes with branding are just packages to make you look professional, but your identity has to stay true to who you really are as a person. It helps you to mark your career reputation and stand out from the crowd.

Depending on your objectives a number of people have come to understand the power of social media and because of this, many are using the platform to create prominent personal brands. However, a personal brand is built on relationships, so if you know who you’re talking to you don’t need to be known by everyone…just your target market.

Personal branding is basically how an individual markets themselves to others. It is also the conscious and intentional effort to create and influence public perception of an individual by positioning them as an authority in their industry and elevating their credibility.

“It’s important to build a personal brand because it’s the only thing you’re going to have. Your reputation online and in the new business world is pretty much the game, so you’ve got to be a good person. You can’t hide anything, and more importantly, you’ve got to be out there at some level.” Gary Vaynerchuk 

 

Maintain transparency and authenticity

Transparency and authenticity in personal branding is crucial. Be real to your services, promises and maintain integrity. Keep clear communication with your clients and audience in order to avoid any doubt.

Know your marketplace

It is really important in making your marketing effective and helps in attracting clients. You need to understand the psychographic and demographic profile of your target audience or particularly a client you are pitching. This includes interests, pain points or desires of an individual or group. On the other side, demographic profile means study of income, location, age group and flow of demands in a region/community/state. This altogether creates an understanding of your ideal client or marketplace. It will help you to know about the gaps between your marketing or business strategy.

Promote your expertise confidently

To grab the attention of potential clients, and your audience, you must know and show your expertise in both online and offline spaces. You should promote your skills and experiences like no one else can provide those services better than you. Show them a glimpse of your best work and present your testimonials to give them a look at how you have earned the appreciation.

Trading your time for money is outdated

If you know your calibre then it is necessary to learn the art of trading your time, creativity and services for worthy clients. Learn profitable marketing skills and entice the clients who actually appreciate your work and pay for your value without a question. Basically, let your time and efforts be the part of something that you really deserve.

Build reach over online platforms and maintain relationships

Use the potential of all social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others in your circle of influence. Harness the opportunities from these platforms by developing a strong and reliable bond with target users and influencers. You can do some beneficial collaborations with influencers which will help your online business grow due to large audience reach. Your online presence defines your ideas, aim, vision and brand, so be there prepared!

Invest in content creation

It is an interesting thing that attracts the eyes, attracts the mind as well as the heart. Your product and services should be presentable in front of clients and customers both current and future. This is a fact that “things will be sold, when they are bold.” It simply means your website, brochure, videos, photos, visual communications etc. must look unique. It will help you stand out in a crowded market. Invest in creating high quality content so that your audience respects you by the way you are conveying things.

Develop a CEO presence

In business then you must have confidence, great communication skills and a strong negotiation quality. This whole trait will help you in developing a CEO presence. This is a practical and widely known fact that high-end clients are attracted to fellow leaders and entrepreneurs who confidently carry the aura of CEO presence. When you have the CEO kind of personality and vibe, you will be able to exude different energy. Quality clients and customers in general, will notice what your body language and words are putting out. Many clients especially want to do business with successful entrepreneurs, so remember this “don’t fake it, until you make it” and go ahead to learn and develop the skill of developing leadership/CEO presence.

With the use of above mentioned strategies, you can help yourself develop relationships with the goal to create business in future.

“Your personal brand is a promise to your clients… a promise of quality, consistency, competency, and reliability.” Jason Hartman

Zesty Projects that create success