Tom Peters, the American writer known for his excellence in business management once said that we are the CEOs of our own companies called “Me Inc.” He also mentioned that in today’s competitive business world, our most important job is to be the best marketer for the brand called “You”. And that statement in itself defines the importance of personal branding for entrepreneurs and small business owners. In this article, we will discuss its importance even further and also discuss effective ways of turning your name into a business asset.
What Exactly Is Personal Branding?
Personal branding basically refers to the process of establishing a unique entrepreneurial identity. This entrepreneurial identity will help you stand out in the sea of people doing a similar job to you. Personal brand is often confused with self-promotion. However, the two concepts are entirely different. Self-promotion refers to publicizing oneself in a forceful way. On the other hand, a personal brand is a simple reflection of one’s own personality and unique value proposition. Apart from these two Personal branding has 5 main attributes that make up the concept. These attributes include our name, our image, our branding statement, our offerings, as well as our audience.
Why is Personal Branding So Important For Entrepreneurs And Small Business Owners?
Entrepreneurs, especially those who have recently started a small business, usually have a lot to deal with. Often venturing as solopreneurs they have to handle responsibilities like financing, business expansion, new product creation, and more. In such a situation, entrepreneurs often wonder if building a personal brand is that important. The simple answer to that question is an absolute yes! A well-established personal brand will help you.
- Grow a significant audience. Personal brands have the potential to create a field for your product launch. It will help you propagate the idea your product is based on before its launch. This will help you have thousands of buyers already waiting for the product.
- Provides you with business validation. Small businesses often take time to gain the trust of the consumer. A well-established personal brand with a loyal audience will help you gain trust in your business as well.
5 Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs And Small Business Owners
Personal branding can be a major task, especially for small business owners who have so much on their plates already. However, Building a personal brand is vital and absolutely essential as well. The following is a set of 5 tips that entrepreneurs and small business owners can follow to turn their names into assets for their businesses.
Personal Branding Tip 1: Define Identity
Personal brands are nothing but a reflection of who you are and what you stand for. Hence, the very first tip for building a strong personal brand is defining your identity. Make sure your audience knows your vision, your personality, and strengths that ultimately align with your business. It is important for you to have a clear-cut definition of what you wish to be known for. This will help you filter your target audience better and establish a base for your business.
Personal Branding Tip 2: Consistent Online Presence
In today’s digital age, the best way to propagate your business ideas is through social media. Hence, it is absolutely necessary for entrepreneurs to have a consistent online presence. According to the reports, 92% of consumers trust influencers better than brand commercials. Who can explain your own business ideas and brand vision better than you? Online presence will not only help you gain an audience for your business but also earn their trust by being your own voice. Remember, consistency is the key. Social media algorithms only support you when you are consistent with your content creation.
Personal Branding Tip 3: Share Your Journey
People support you more when they relate to you more. Therefore, it is important for you to share your journey and the struggles you face on a daily basis. For example, if you are a woman operating a business in a male-dominated field, share your experiences. This will help you gain an audience that appreciates your journey and struggles. You can use the emotional sentiments of the audience to your advantage and help your business gain more insights.
Personal Branding Tip 4: Engagement With The Audience
Just having a social media presence and simply posting content won’t help you connect with the audience. For that, you will have to engage with the audience as well. Interactions with the audience will help them understand you and your vision better. These interactions can include simple replies of appreciation to the comments on your social media or holding events that highlight your profile both online and offline. You can ask for feedback on your products or initiate conversations online. This will help make the audience feel seen and included and establish a sense of community.
Personal Branding Tip 5: Network Building And Collaborations
Another important thing that new entrepreneurs and small business owners must do is build a strong network. Attending grand business events and interacting with the big names in your industry will help you gain experience. You will also have to collaborate with popular influencers online. This will help you gain recognition and earn an audience for your business.
Conclusion
Personal Branding is one of the most important concepts for new business owners to understand and embrace. Rather than depending on commercials and advertisements, you can turn your own name into an asset for your business. The advertising campaigns may or may not resonate with your target audience. A well-established personal brand is what will ensure that your consumers understand your vision and goals well.
