Ever thought of what Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, and other successful entrepreneurs all have in common? Their personal brand. They have been able to use the power of branding to build their businesses and remain relevant to date.
For business owners, building a personal brand has never been more important than it is today. A 2018 Career Builder survey reveals that 70% of employers use social media to interview candidates during the hiring process, and 43% of employers use social media to monitor current employees.
Creating your personal brand can be useful. However, there are some key principles to take into consideration when building one as an entrepreneur.
- Know Your Buyer
Crafting buyer personas helps you target the right people for your business. Personal branding expert, Julie Guest says “By identifying who has the urgent need for what you sell—and who holds the chequebook—you’ll be able to craft a personal brand that speaks to them deeply. Then, when a client says about your marketing, ‘I felt like you were talking directly to me,’ you know you’ve hit the right note. Ironically, building a personal brand isn’t so much about you, it’s really about how you help others solve their problems. Which is why they’ll be happy to pay you the big bucks.” Your brand should address the pain points of your buyers.
- Discover Your Key Message
Every brand has a unique value proposition. HubSpot says “64% of businesses have established value propositions.” A unique value proposition (UVP) identifies your selling point. This distinguishes you from the crowd. Using your UVP, you can craft a message for your personal brand.
- Value
The secret to mastering your personal brand is to show your customers you have the solutions to their most pressing problems. As Warren Buffett states, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” Attracting high-paying clients depends on how well you position your brand and deliver consistent value. Offer free marketing resources like ebooks, webinars, and case studies to provide answers to your customer’s queries.
- Create Your Brand’s Website
Branding Expert, Julie Guest, also highlights that a website is the best positioning tool to land those dream clients. If you are running a business without a website, you are preparing to go out of date soon. Invest in a website to reach a wider audience and market your business without actively engaging with prospects.
Conclusion
Owning a brand involves dedication. You have customers who need your product or service. The cheapest way to draw them in is through your brand. So, leverage on your brand.
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