Who Personal Branding is FOR

In my last post I took a deep dive into WHAT personal branding IS, so now let’s talk about who it’s FOR.

When you hear the phrase “personal branding,” you might immediately associate it with an individual. Like the branding of a PERSON. And you’d be partially correct, because this IS the process by which solopreneurs such as coaches, instructors, bloggers and influencers all brand themselves.

However… personal branding isn’t JUST for the individual. Because whether you’ve got just two or two-thousand employees, your business can benefit from it, too!

Because instead of simply viewing “personal branding” as if it’s the branding of an individual person, it can also be seen as branding that happens on a personal level. And the EASIEST (and possibly most EFFECTIVE way to do this):

Businesses can easily incorporate Personal Branding by focusing on MORE than just their end product/service.

Your business is about soooo much MORE than just the product you sell or the service you provide. It’s about every single touchpoint along the way, so why not bring those things into play to get your audience feeling GOOD about who you are and what you have to offer?

And let’s face it… no one wants to hear a business say “buy this, buy this, BUY THIS!” over and over. So when you can tap into OTHER areas at which your business excels and stands apart, they'll: (1) keep your audience’s attention far longer than you would have otherwise; and (2) be priming them to be READY to buy from you.

Here are just a few ways that businesses can incorporate personal branding into their marketing:

• Share photos + bios of the people behind the business. Yes, you can start at the top with the owners + CEOs, etc., but why not show off others? For example, if you’re a restaurant, you can show off your head chef, the kitchen crew, the hostess and waiters, and even your customers! Because they ALL make up a part of what you do.

• Share some behind-the-scenes details. Because people loooove to get first looks and inside scoops, to feel a part of it all.

• Show off what you do differently than your competitors.

• HELP, don’t sell. Instead of saying “buy this” over and over again, show off your expertise at what you do, by offering tips, solutions, or inspiration. This can be done on your website and in your blogs, newsletters, social media, and more.

• Think about the entire client experience from start to finish, and find small ways to connect more along the way. Whether that’s a handwritten note tucked into the product you send their way, or a detailed email with info on how to best prep for your service… showing a small bit of special attention goes a long way to gaining long-time clients/customers.

• Showcase your client experience, all the special touchpoints along the way, and how what you offer solves your clients’/customers’ problems (or is exactly what they WANT).

• Tell more of your business’s STORY, in a way that your clients/customers will actually care about and want to be a part of.

• Show off your client/customer testimonials.

• Have images of your target market sprinkled throughout what you do, so your target audience can easily recognize themselves in what you do.

In a nutshell, personal branding can be used effectively for individual entrepreneurs (such as the blogger, coach, author, educator, photographer, graphic designer or other service provider), as well as businesses (including a restaurant, brick-and-mortar or online store, brand with product(s) to sell, wellness centers, real estate team, and almost any other business with more than one employee).

Want to learn more? Check out how personal branding PHOTOGRAPHY can help showcase your business or personal brand to its best.

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