I LOVE helping my clients enhance their brand through education and, of course, professional headshots and imagery. Branding is not only about getting your target market to select you over the competition, but about getting your prospects to see you as the sole provider of a solution to their problem or need. Branding is about how you make your clients feel (and not just when things are hunky-dory, but when issues arise as well).
As promised, here are my top 5 secrets for branding your business:
1. Pinpoint Your Target Market
When it comes to identifying your target market, you simply need to think about your favorite clients or projects. Then, identify patterns among them. These common threads are your potential target market. There’s no science to this. But the more specific you can be, the better. It has to be specific enough that somebody in that market would see it and say, “That’s exactly me! She’s speaking to me.” Don’t say your target market is “women.” If I saw something for women, I wouldn’t react to that. Half the country is women! Instead, say “women, 25-40, who do yoga during their lunch hour.” But demographics like gender and age are just one potential area of focus. Industry, size of business, motivations, and life experiences also work. The point is, you should have an answer to the question of “who’s your favorite client and project?” Chances are, they’re also your target market.
2. Brand Personality
Everyone’s got a personality, whether you work at it or not. Your brand is no different. If you do nothing about your brand and it’s boring, then that’s your brand’s personality – boring. But if you consciously identify your brand personality and lean into it, that’s a different story. I’m not telling you to come up with a faux personality and try to become that person. It has to be authentic to you. Don’t force yourself into something that’s not natural for you. This will certainly spell disaster. You are your brand.
3. Show the Real You on Social Media
Your clients and prospective clients want to connect with you. They want to feel like they know you. Consumers love to see the other side – what you do on weekends, where you eat, what your hobbies and interests are. This makes you appear more human, which attracts more people to you. Business 101 – people want to do business with people who they know, like, and trust – right? You do not have to share your life’s story on social media, but be strategic about what you do share and how you want to connect with people.
4. Understand Your Industry Inside and Out
Your business is only as good as the people running it, yourself included. It’s important that you understand your industry inside and out – common sense. But, this also means staying up to date on latest trends, breaking news, and your competition. When you do this, it helps to position yourself as a leader/expert in your industry, elevating your personal brand to a higher level.
5. Give Back
Aside from feeling good and giving you personal satisfaction, giving back can help you build your personal brand. Whether it’s donating money to a charity or volunteering your time to a cause that’s important to you, this type of deed can benefit your personal brand. You can highlight your charitable deeds on your website and even issue press releases to attract positive attention. People remember selfless acts.
*Bonus Tip
Get Professional headshots created. Professional headshots enhance brand recognition while building credibility. The way you represent yourself visually is often the first impression that prospective clients use to determine the value of your brand. Conveying a feeling of trust through your visual presence communicates quality, confidence, and knowledge which in turn leads to more qualified clients, stronger client relationships, and increased client satisfaction.
I hope these tips help you to enhance your brand. Please let me know when you would like to book your professional headshots and/or branding session. I look forward to getting to know you and helping you in any way possible, especially with your branding and visual presence.
