Personal Branding is an important part of any business owner’s marketing strategy. But how do you create a unique identity that will set you apart from other businesses in your industry?

What is a Personal Brand?

A personal brand isn’t that different from a corporate brand. Your personal brand clearly describes who you are, what values you hold dear and how you express the things you stand for and believe in. Your personal brand is your unique identity and lets people and companies know why they should work with you. In short, your personal brand is your story.

How to Define Your Brand

Start by asking yourself some questions. What makes you different than everyone else in your field? How would you describe your company culture? What sets you apart from your competitors? Once you’ve answered these questions, you are ready to start building your personal brand.

As you begin to build your personal brand, give some thought to where you want to end up in the future. Personal branding is about more than where you are now—it’s about where you want to go and what you would like to be known for. Consider how your strengths can translate into additional niches and offerings.

Personal branding how you tell that story. Today, that story is mainly told online.

Build an Online Presence.

If you’re looking to build your personal brand online, it is good to put some effort in to establishing yourself as an authority in your field.

• Make sure you have a website with a clear mission statement.

• Write articles for other websites and blogs.

• Use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram to share your expertise.

Develop a Social Media Strategy.

Once you’ve established yourself as an expert in your field, it’s time to start building your personal brand. Start by developing a social media strategy. Identify where your target market hangs out online and how you can connect with them.

Think of social media as an aspect of your business that you develop by putting in effort. Choose a time of day to spend about a half hour of targeted engagement. Don’t look at dog videos (unless you are running a business for dog owners). Find the spaces your future customers hang out, and show up offering them useful information and participation. Don’t be there just to sell things, be there to share your wisdom and personality.

Ask thoughtful questions, and give thoughtful responses. Be someone who people get curious about, rather than a salesman always trying to get them to spend their money.

Start Building Relationships.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow you to build relationships with your customers and prospects. They also give you a chance to establish trust. If you’re able to do both, you’ll be well on your way to establishing a strong personal brand.

Spend time actually connecting with the people you want to work with, and the businesses you want to network with, on social media. Don’t just “follow” and “like” their posts, but interact through comments and DM’s (direct messaging). Let people know you are really interested in what they have to say, the same way you would build relationships in person.

Do the same thing in the real world. Go to events and places where your people hang out, and be active in those communities. Your personal brand isn’t just about you—it’s also about the people you want to reach.

Use Personal Branding Photography to tell your story.

Remember that personal branding is about storytelling. If you want your story to grab people’s attention online, the use of high quality content is key.

As a Personal Branding Photographer, I can help you define your brand in images (and video!). It starts with a consultation session, where we will talk about your business and how it is branded already (if it is—we can also start from scratch and develop it together). We will plan photo shoots that include things you would expect — product shots, headshots, things that are business related. We will also plan lifestyle photo shoots that show you as a person, working on your computer, enjoying your hobbies, visiting local hot spots, and whatever helps your audience connect with you as human.

I hope some of this information is useful to you. If you are interested in finding out more, I offer free 15 minute consultations to determine if Personal Branding Photography is for you.