When creating your brand, it’s imperative that you think about everything from your logo to colour scheme to the tag line. You also have to have a memorable brand name, strong message, support system, and all of the necessary legalities, like getting trademarked, in place. But, that’s only the beginning of your branding process. To help you complete creating your awesome brand, give these nine tips a spin as well.
1. How do people see you?
The interesting thing about your personal brand is it’s never what you say it is, it’s actually what everyone else says it is. Therefore, the first place to begin in the building and growth of your brand is to know what people think of you.
2. Build your online platform.
Build your own online platform such as a blog or website that you own, then amplify your content and engage with your audience on social networks. Use LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter or even Pinterest and Instagram. You have options. Find what social network resonates with you.”
Here are a couple of pointers to keep in mind when creating your brand;
- Be authentic.
- Have a unique voice.
- Build an email list.
- Have a memorable design.
- Create a memorable slogan that expresses your mission and purpose
- Empower your customers
- Also don’t forget to harness the power of content marketing, guest blogging and networking.
3. Weave your brand into everything you do.
Personal branding should be a large part of everything you do. It should be weaved into your life. It shouldn’t just be in the clothes you wear but in your every action with friends and business colleagues. Your brand should show in how you blog online. If you try to be someone you’re not, it will show.
4. Be consistent.
As a customer, think about the brands that you are most loyal to. Chances are that they’ve earned your trust because they are dependable. For example, Dropbox includes its signature hand drawn blue box logo on all of its messaging. All of your communications and marketing assets should tell your brand’s story.
5. Don’t try to please everyone.
You’re never going to please everyone, so don’t try to be everything to everyone. Learn to be the best brand possible to specific set of users. Don’t be afraid to be yourself – even if that means saying the things that no one else will. Remember, you’re not in business to please everyone. You’re in business to grow a business, not please everyone.
7. Produce value.
You should be producing value with whatever you do. You don’t have to be Apple to have an amazing product. Even lower end products like Ikea produce a lot of value to their customers.
When thinking about the value that you can add, ask questions like;
- What sets your product, service and company apart from your competitors?
- What value do you provide and how does that value differ from that provided by your competitors?
- How do these benefits tap into your customer’s emotions?
- Is what I’m producing for my customer produce enough value for the price I’m charging?
- Is my brand in sync with how I’m marketing myself?
8. Associate yourself with strong brands.
“Your personal brand is strengthened or weakened by your connection to other brands,” said Shama Hyder is Founder and CEO of Marketing Zen. “Find and leverage strong brands which can elevate your own personal brand.” You can begin by looking at the three C’s: company, college, colleagues.
9. Get sneaky with brand-building awareness.
Finally, you can start spreading brand awareness by using some outside-of-the-box techniques like;
- Setting up a referral program.
- Creating an infographic.
- Offering freemium content.
- Partnering with local businesses.
- Wrapping your car with ads.
- Giving away swag.
- Running a social media contest.
- Hosting a podcast.
- Setting up PPC ads and a remarketing campaign.
If you need any help with brand creation then contact us today!