Personal branding. No doubt you keep hearing the term, and chances are, like so many others you’re dismissing it as something that doesn’t apply to you.
Wrong!
If you have an online presence – a website or social media profiles, what you post, the language and images you use all create your personal brand. It’s how your audience perceive you, whether you like it or not.
And to some, that can be a terrifying reality!
Like all things in life, it’s easier to get your personal branding right at the outset than spending your time on reinvention. But where do you start? Here’s some pointers in the right direction that will help you bring your very own personal brand to life.
Know Your Audience
Hang on, what’s that got to do with MY personal brand? As it happens, an awful lot! Who are you trying to reach? If your personal brand is linked to your business, what is your client demographic? Most importantly, what problems can you solve for your audience, and how? Making life easier for your tribe will have them onside and waving your flag – basically, doing the hard work for you!
You Are Your Business
It’s a fact that people buy from people, so being visible will help to build your business and your brand faster than hiding behind a screen of anonymity. Would the Virgin empire have been as successful if Richard Branson had hidden away from the world? Love him or hate him, Richard Branson IS the Virgin brand – and he does it so very well.
The Basics
Whatever you do, be consistent. Give your website and social media platforms a thorough deep dive.
Do they look in sync with each other?
Are your bios using the same language?
Do your links to other sites work?
Is your contact info up to date?
You must ensure that you’re consistent at all times or you will only serve to confuse your audience when they try to find and connect with you.
Let’s Talk Imagery
Aaaah yes, that old chestnut – and this is where you can come into your own and really begin to shine.
Firstly, let’s get this out there: nobody likes having a camera thrust in their face and getting barked at by a photographer. You too? You’re not alone!
Relax.
A personal branding shoot can be a fun few hours where we bring your personal brand to life. We’ll work together to make sure everything falls into place – it’s not simply a case of booking a date and agreeing to meet somewhere with a camera.
First of all, we’ll have a discovery call to discover (as the name suggests) what you want to achieve. We can talk locations, style, tone of voice (yes, even photographs have a tone of voice) and even what you’ll wear for the shoot.
A personal branding shoot goes beyond headshot photography. It’s your opportunity to create images that can be used in a multitude of ways – not just uploaded to your LinkedIn profile for the next 5 years. With several changes of clothing and a couple of locations (usually in close proximity) you’ll have a bank of images that you can use for PR, social media, marketing, the press … the possibilities are endless.
When it comes to locations, maybe consider portraying the environment around you. There are some stunning places in Birmingham, for example, which will immediately connect with your audience who are familiar with the city. Don’t stress about being seen during your shoot – after a while you’ll forget about feeling exposed as you begin to relax and enjoy the experience.
Trust me, I’ve done one or two personal branding shoots in my time!
Keep It Going
Once you’ve created your personal brand you’ll need to keep up the momentum as your brand grows. Forget the idea of broadcasting to your audience: you need to engage with them. Regularly. It will always be a ‘work in progress’ but the harder you work at it, the more successful it’ll be. Just ask Richard Branson!
Ready To Talk?
Book a discovery call with me today and let’s get your personal branding shoot planned. It’ll be epic!
