Our
next event will be at Indigo Blue on 9th November. The
topic will be 'Having established demand and support for our product what else
should we do to ensure commercial viability?" We hope to see you there!
According
to an
AVG study, 92% of children under the age of 2 already have some kind of digital
footprint. We all have personal brands these days – with the advent of social
media, we don’t have much of a choice if we want to stay online and connected –
what do you want yours to say about you and your business?
The
first step is to start thinking about yourself as a brand. Understand yourself
and what you’re trying to achieve; be strategic
about it. Big name brands such as Google and Coca Cola don’t just leap straight
into creating their personal brand; they plan and test before implementing changes.
Think
about how you want to be perceived. Are you serious and professional? Creative
and quirky? Or all of the above? Focus on how you want to be seen by others and
allow that to govern your decisions. What is your unique selling point? Take
time to consider your target market;
what will their best respond to? What will they trust? What will interest them?
The
second step is to audit your current
online presence. What do you post and how do you talk about it? Are you
comfortable with the ways in which you respond to other people’s posts? Check
out what other people say about you: do their opinions match the way you think
about yourself? If not, how can you change that?
Make
sure that your brand is instantly recognisable. Use the same fonts, colour
schemes and images everywhere. Develop a writing style and tone that’s your
own, and keep your messaging consistent.
Create business cards and get professional headshots taken.
When it
comes down to it, this is all about getting
yourself known. Let people know who you are and what you can do but keep that
image consistent and never make promises that you won’t be able to live up to.
Make sure that when you do make promises, you keep your word.
Ask Yourself These Questions
- Who
am I and who am I not?
- How
am I unique?
- What
do I want to be known for?
- What
will make me and my business stand out?
- How
do I communicate best with others?
Top Tips
1.
Authenticity is key. Be yourself and be truthful.
2. Be
nice or be quiet. It sounds harsh but it’s a good motto for life, not just
social media.
3.
Regular speaking engagements are a good way to develop your person to person
communication skills. They offer good opportunities to be seen and to be heard.
4.
Purchase your own domain name. It’s a small thing but it can make all the
difference.
5. Build
a narrative, tell stories and be clear about what separates you from the crowd.
6. Network.
7. Create
a visual brand that represents you.
8. Join
online groups and interact with others. At the end of the day, it’s how we treat
other people that defines us.
9. Learn
to use social media effectively.
10. Ask
questions.
Please comment below with your own thoughts about building personal brands online. What has and hasn't worked for you? We always love to hear from you!
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