You may think that personal branding is something an Instagram influencer or a professional or corporate CEO worries about regularly, not a small business owner. Small business owners wear many hats. As a small business owner, it can be difficult to balance everything. You have to focus on marketing your products or services while also managing the day-to-day operations. It's easy to get caught up in all of this and lose sight of the one thing that is very important: yourself.
When it comes to personal branding, it can be a very powerful tool for building your small business. Personal branding is a key ingredient to any successful business. What does it mean and how can you use it? Personal branding is the process of actively shaping your public image, usually in order to create a more positive impression with your audience. It starts by knowing who you are and what makes you unique. You have a chance to become known as an expert or a thought leader in your particular field, which is a powerful position to be in. By doing this, you can build a brand that people can begin to trust, learn from, and eventually buy from.
Another great benefit about building a personal brand for your small business is that you are able to create more channels and spaces for your audience to discover you. I’ve personally worked with clients to help them build out websites solely based on their personal image, completely separate from their business. I’ve also helped clients with launching self-published books that were separate from what they were doing on a day-to-day basis. Building a personal brand allows you to create more content, utilize various channels and spaces for your audience to find you, and consume your personal expertise, aside from your regular business.
Lastly, building a personal brand can help you create networking opportunities. When you create meaningful words, you open up a playing field of networking opportunities to meet new people. Whether it’s connections you build on LinkedIn or followers that you gain on Instagram, in general, branding and becoming a thought leader in your professional industry will open up an array of opportunities for potential new hires, partners, connections, and much more. I’ve seen many former clients get invited to speak at several large speaking engagements that are related to their audience, you may even get invited to appear on another brands’ website or social media channels. the networking opportunities are endless.
So what does this all mean for you, the small business owner? It means personal branding can be a very powerful tool in your arsenal of tools to grow and build your small business. This article on personal branding tips will help you figure out some first steps to start building a personal brand effectively. If you're not sure how to get started on building your brand, I have some helpful tips on where to start. Contact me for more information, I’d love to work with you!