Personal branding is the process of creating and promoting your own unique brand. Is personal branding important for any brand? Well, it's most recommended for small business owners who are the main voice behind their brand. This kind of branding, which serves as the basis of your personal brand company online, can be applied throughout many different channels, such as social media, blogging, speaking engagements, and more.

The goal of personal branding is to establish and create an authentic brand image that attracts customers or clients to you and your business.

It's important to remember that personal branding is not about ego or self-promotion. It's about building trust and credibility with your target audience authentically so that they will want to do business with you.

Why is a strong personal brand important?

In today's day and age, we are bombarded with marketing messages from all sides. Whether we're scrolling through our social media feeds, watching TV, or listening to the radio, we are constantly being marketed to.

Because of this, it's become more challenging for small business owners to break through the noise and reach their target audiences. This is where personal branding comes in.

By creating a strong personal brand, you can cut through the fuzz and reach your ideal audience more effectively by being authentically yourself. Plus, personal branding can help you start building trust and credibility with your target audience, which is essential for any business.

Essentially, there are many benefits of personal branding, but some of the most important ones are:

Increased name recognition:

You will increase your name recognition and brand visibility. This can lead to more visibility and discoverability for your business.

Improved credibility:

Build trust and credibility with potential customers and clients by using your brand consistently.

Increased career opportunities:

Open up new career opportunities that make your business more visible, such as speaking engagements, consulting work, and more.

Improved client base:

Attract new clients who are interested in what you have to offer and who feel aligned with your unique methods and philosophies.

So how do you build your personal brand the right way? Let's start from the beginning: your personal brand strategy.

12 tips for a successful personal brand

Now that we've answered the question, "What is personal branding and why is it so important?", let's dive into the proper next step.

Here are 12 tips to help you create an authentic personal brand that will boost your online presence and increase your sales:

#1: Speak your truth

Your personal brand begins with a deep understanding of who you are. One of the most important aspects of branding is authenticity. You need to be true to yourself and your core values in order to build a strong brand, this should be part of your business strategy.

People love knowing founders' stories they can relate to. Share yours in an authentic way. This helps you connect with your audience on a deeper level and build trust.

#2: Be consistent

It's important to be consistent with your brand across all channels. This means using the same name, logo, colors, etc., on your website, social media accounts, business cards, and anything that's your brand.

Consistency is key and will help you create a memorable brand that people feel familiar with. Make sure all your sales and marketing collateral are branded appropriately and then use your brand system over and over again.

#3: To "social media" or not?

Social media platforms are a great place to generate brand awareness if you feel it aligns with your brand. Otherwise, there are plenty of other ways to promote your business: networking events, masterclasses, workshops, etc.

Regardless of where you'll be promoting yourself, don't forget to make your social media posts or designs consistent and on-brand as well!

#4: Develop a brand website

In today's highly digital world, having your own website is a great primary destination for your personal brand. Be sure to include important information about yourself, your business, and your services on your website. You can also use your website to drive traffic to your other channels, such as social media or a blog.

#5: Be intentionally relevant

Is your personal brand relevant to your audience and the social media platforms you use? Be sure to research your ideal client and create branded content that they will find valuable. Being relevant also helps your audience stay focused and not be distracted or put off by random information that does not add value. The more specific, the better!

#6: Be responsive

This doesn't mean to be "on" all the time (especially if you're using social network).

I believe boundaries are important as a small business owner but as people reach out and interact with you online or offline, make sure you're communicating in alignment with your brand blueprint. The experience of a person connecting with you should feel as familiar as the interaction with your brand and website.

This seamless experience will help you build trust and credibility with your audience in the long term.

#7: Be generous

The online space is filled with marketing tactics intended for manipulation. Yuk! What if we were a little more human instead?

One way to stand out from the competition is by being generous with your content. Provide value to your audience without expecting anything in return as you're creating content. This will help you build a strong personal brand that is trusted and respected (and that people absolutely love and enjoy too!).

#8: Be patient

Building a successful brand takes time. Be patient and don't give up if you don't see results immediately. They say that Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is building a personal brand!

#9: Seek feedback

Do some market research! Ask your existing audience for their honest feedback about your brand. What do they think you’re good at? What do they think you could improve? Use this feedback to make adjustments and even to inspire how to serve them.

#10: Keep it professional

Remember that everything you post online is permanent, so it’s important to keep your brand professional. Although it's always good to share snippets of your personal life, remember that your personal branding should always reflect what you want your professional life to look like.

#11: Have fun

Remember, building an authentic personal brand should be enjoyable! If it feels like a chore, something needs to change. Find ways to infuse your personality into your personal brand and have fun with it! Hire a brand designer to help you figure out how to express yourself in an authentic and creative way.

#12: Create your intentional personal branding strategy

A personal branding strategy is the very first step you should take. It's a blueprint for how your brand looks, feels and presents itself to the world. It includes everything from your values and the way it communicates to your visual brand identity style.

By taking the time to develop your personal brand strategy, you'll be able to create a consistent and cohesive vision and personal identity that helps you reach your big business goals.

Here are 5 important steps in creating an effective personal brand strategy:

• Define your brand: what are your values? What do you want people to feel when they see your brand for the first time?

• Define your target audience: before you can start promoting your personal brand, you need to define your preferred audience. Who are you trying to reach? Once you've answered this question, you can start creating a brand that resonates with them.

• Create a personal brand statement: a short sentence boilerplate that sums up who you are and what you do. It should be memorable and easy to understand.

• Develop an authentic visual identity: this includes creating a logo, choosing colors and fonts, and developing other visuals that represent who you are in alignment with you and your business.

• Be consistent with your brand: use the same colors, fonts, and visuals in all of your marketing materials and website design, and always communicate in a way that aligns with your new brand. This will help people recognize and remember you and your services.

Extra Credit: Mulling over introducing additional brands under your personal name? Consider using sub brands to keep things tidy and boost your credibility. Want the inside scoop? Tap here to unravel the magic of sub brands.

Develop a strategic visual identity for your personal brand

It's time to figure out a well defined, powerful personal brand: knowing what your logo looks like, selecting colors and fonts, brand voice and creating content and other visuals that represent your personal brand.

Watch the video below to get started on designing the perfect personal brand logo for your business! 

And remember, you don't have to do this alone! If you're not sure where to start, you can hire a professional designer (like me!) to help you create a cohesive brand blueprint for your personal brand.

What a personal brand is not

Just like so many things in the world of branding and marketing, personal branding has its fair share of misconceptions.

So, before you get caught up in any sticky situation, here are a few things a personal brand is not:

• It's not about being perfect

  Personal branding is about being real and showing your human side. This means that you don't need to have everything figured out or be perfect in order to build a successful personal brand.

• It's not about self-promotion

  Personal branding is not about bragging or constantly trying to sell yourself. Instead, it's about sharing your story and connecting with others in a way that is heart-centered and genuine.

• It's not about competition

  Personal branding is not about trying to outdo or one-up your competitors. It's about being the best version of yourself and sharing your unique story with the world.

• It's not about following the trends

  Personal branding is about staying true to yourself and your values. This means that you don't need to follow every trend or jump on every new social media platform. Instead, focus on being authentic and consistent with your personal brand.

Some examples of successful personal brands

Oprah Winfrey

Winfrey is a media mogul, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. She's best known for her daytime talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran for 25 years.

How she did it: Winfrey has built a personal brand that is all about helping people live their best lives. Her visual identity is soft and colorful, which reflects her personal brand promise of hope and inspiration.

Tim Ferriss

Ferriss is the author of The New York Times bestseller, The Four-Hour Work Week. He's also a podcaster, investor, and public speaker.

How he did it: Ferriss has built a personal brand that is all about helping people live a better life by working less and enjoying more. His visual identity is strong and consistent, and he uses social media effectively to share his message with the world. His brand design is modern and minimalist, which reflects his personal brand promise of simplicity.

Tony Robbins

Robbins is a world-renowned life coach, author, and philanthropist. He's helped millions of people transform their lives through his books, seminars, and personal coaching.

How he did it: Robbins has built a personal brand that is all about helping people achieve their dreams. His visual identity is strong, which reflects his personal brand promise of strength and power.

Deepak Chopra

Chopra is a world-renowned author, speaker, and alternative medicine advocate. He's written over 80 books on subjects like spirituality, mind-body healing, and personal transformation.

How he did it: Chopra has built a personal brand that is all about helping people improve their overall well-being. His visual identity is spiritual and calming, which reflects his personal brand promise of peace and balance.

Marie Forleo

Forleo is the founder of MarieForleo.com, a website that helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses. She's also a best-selling author, podcaster, and public speaker.

How she did it: Marie has built a personal brand around her mission to help people "create a life they love." Her visual identity is fun and outgoing, which matches her personality perfectly. Her brand design is personal, warm, and inviting.

These are just a few examples of personal brand that are well-recognized around the globe. As you can see, these outstanding personal brands have something in common: they're all authorities in their respective fields.

But another common ground their personal brand reflects who they are. So, above all, make sure to be authentic and true to yourself. If you do that, you'll be well on your way to success!

Now it's your turn!

Let's make this your year. Start working on your personal brand today! These tips will help you get started and set you up for success this year and beyond.

Remember, a personal brand serves your business and helps you to create a long-lasting image and reputation for yourself. One that will support you in becoming one of the industry thought leaders, help you stand out from the competition and attract more clients. Because I know that your heart-centered small business deserves success.

If you're looking for personal brand consultants or a personal brand strategist for entrepreneurs, feel free to get in touch or explore more inside Get Your Brand Together. 

Rooting for you,

Verô