Personal branding is all the rage at the moment, but what actually is it, and what's in it for business owners?

Personal branding for business owners

You probably put a lot of effort into and emphasis on your business branding, but what about your personal brand? Business owners and their personal brands go hand-in-hand. As one of the key players in a business, especially smaller ones, owners can do a lot to shape the way their business is seen.  

 And whether you intend for it to or not, your personal brand exists. If you want to be in control of what you're known for and the future of your business, strong personal branding is extremely important, no matter what industry you are in.

What's in it for me? 

Reputation is one of the things a business owner influences... A solid reputation opens your business up to so many more opportunities because people want to work with you, for you, or have you work for them. Personal branding can be immensely helpful in building your reputation, whether it be positioning yourself as an industry leader or bringing more personality to your business.  

Building your personal brand is all about showcasing who you are, what you're about and helping you to connect with others – a great way to make you and your business stand out from the rest. 

How do I build my personal brand?!  

I saw a quote this morning talking about brand identity "We want our style to reflect who we truly are inside. That includes our values, goals, interests, behaviour and personality." I thought this perfectly explains what we try to capture when creating the physical branding like a logo and brand colours but also in the content we help build. Because people want to know you. 

What's your why? 

What do you stand for, what makes you unique? Consider things like your values, strengths, and goals.  

Pick your niche & market?  

You need to speak to a specific audience, don't try to be a jack-of-all-trades, hone in on the areas in which you are particularly knowledgeable and passionate about. It could be the business side of things, leadership, or the hands-on part of the job. 

Build your brand identity 

This is where the help of a professional comes in handy. You want to present a cohesive brand through visuals like imagery and graphic design as well as your voice. What you say and how you say it are just as important.

How do I gain a loyal following for my personal brand? 

The question on everyone's mind. From experience, there are two key things that make a huge difference when it comes to successful personal branding…

Offer your audience value 

Share something that educates, entertains or inspires your audience. For example a story about your personal experience on a topic, people want to know about you. Be sure to include clear takeaways that keep them coming back for more.  

You've got to give something to get something in return 

Engage with others in your industry, respond to comments, leave comments, and utilise stories. Having a network of other professionals, existing and potential clients will come in very handy when growing your business. Relationships are the fuel for personal branding success. 

Personal branding isn't something that happens overnight, but the results speak for themselves. If you're looking for assistance in building your personal brand, talk to us marketing@sidekit.nz.