5 Steps to Start Building Your Brand Today!

You’ve got your awesome business plan and things are in motion. Now, you want to build your brand. That’s why you’ve clicked on this title! You’re just not sure how to get started.  Whether you’re looking to build your personal brand or that of a business, there are some things that stay the same. You want to connect and make sure that people know your brand. We’ve put together a set of 5 tips, and starting points to get you moving today. 

 

Make Sure You’re Visible

 

You can’t just hide behind your computer screen and hope working away will build the brand all on its own.  That work is important, but so is being visible. If no one knows your name, how are they going to spread the word? You need to be visible. The more visible you are, the stronger your brand is. 

 

Some things you can do include: 

• Going to industry conferences to network and socialize.
• Set up a webinar where you answer people’s questions about your core topic, live and in-person.
• Make your social media pages public. Accept incoming messages.
• Set some time aside one day a week to interact with your followers on social media. Even one day a month would work.

 

Let People Look Behind the Curtain

 

Do you remember the line “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain?” That is essentially what companies do all the time on social media. They want to be faceless, nameless and only focus on marketing. Here’s the thing, though, social media is social! It’s meant to connect people and let them get to know each other. Rather than focusing solely on your marketing, let people see the real you. Some ideas include:  

 

• Talk about the last movie you saw in theaters.
• Show a shot of your office the way it really looks.
• What are your hobbies or interests?  Share them!
• Have quality headshots so that people know who they’re talking to. This way they can link a face and name to the brand. When people can put a face to a brand they remember it far better.

Know Your Industry

 

This one should be obvious, but it can be overlooked. You need to be an expert on your industry. You want people to trust what you have to say, and think of you as an industry leader. When you reach that point, it raises your personal brand even higher. The goal is to become the source of breaking news and expertise, whether for media or your followers. A few things to keep your eyes on include: 

 

• Trends – If trends are developing, you want to know about it, so that you can tell your followers.
• Breaking News – One thing people hate is to be the last to know. Whatever your industry is, this matters. You want to always stay on top of what’s going on.
• Your Competition – If they’re developing something new, or making commentary on different events, you want to know about so you can respond in kind. You don’t need to always do so, but you do need to be aware of what they’re doing because it does affect you.

 

Overachieve and Overdeliver

 

Most people do networking, and business in general, the wrong way. They focus entirely on what other people can do for them, rather than the other way around. If you go up to someone you’ve never met and ask them to watch your house while you go off to Bali, are they likely to do it? No! Why? Because they don’t know you, and they don’t owe you anything. 

 

The same goes for business. When you’re networking, you want to connect with people that you can offer something of value to. Whether it’s a matter of “hey your latest product launch is wonderful, but this button doesn’t work” or “I love your article, but you missed this…” you need to contribute. Anything you offer to do, do it and then some. You want them to think highly of you because building connections both in and out of your industry will only help you in the long run. 

 

Just like any other relationship, it takes time and commitment to bring it to fruition. 

 

Develop Your Contact List

 

Building off our last tip, for every contact you make, keep note of them. As your brand grows, your contact list will too, and making connections within that list benefits everyone involved. By being the nexus that helps connect people, you build your own brand further. Even just sending along an email to introduce someone to an idea, without expecting anything in return, can help your relationships grow further. 

 

Some items to keep listed: 

• Who the person is.
• How you connected.
• Where you connected. Potential opportunities.
• How you can help them.

 

Your personal brand is one of the most important things you have. If you guard it and nourish it, the benefits you can reap will outlast your lifetime. If you’re ready to make a visual impact with your brand through beautiful, professional headshots, contact us today!