It's Time for You to Invest in Your Personal Brand

The most successful companies in the world all had humble beginnings before they became the trusted household brands we know today. A brand is a chance to tell customers a story. Branding is not just the logo design, font, or the products sold. It’s all these things and much more. It’s the total customer experience that is provided. A brand is a feeling that a business evokes in customers—it’s what makes a business unique … and successful!

Branding strategy is a key element of any startup company business plan. Ultimately, they won’t be successful without it. So, why don’t we put the same level of importance on “branding” when we are building the business plan for our career and personal growth? We should, and here are some thoughts on how you can start today.

 ? It will take time …

?Company brands are not built overnight, neither will your personal brand. Be deliberate, patient, and consistent. Building a brand for a small company usually takes anywhere from 2 – 5 years.

 ?? Invest in you …

Building a successful brand isn’t cheap. You must invest in it. As a general estimate, it is recommended that new companies spend around 20-25% of their revenue on marketing costs. Your time is your revenue, so look to spend 25% of your time on intentional actions, experiences, and reflection to shape your personal brand.

 ?? What makes a good personal brand?

It is unique to you and depends on the beliefs you want others to hold about you, but here are some top business branding statistics that can help you reflect on your own personal brand.

• Authenticity is important for brands - 86 percent of consumers say that authenticity is a key factor when deciding what brands they like and support
• Consumers buy based on trust - 81 percent of consumers said that they need to be able to trust the brand to buy from them
• First impressions matter for your brand - It takes 1/10th of a second to form a first impression of someone.
• Consistency counts - consistent presentation of a brand has seen to increase revenue by 33 percent.
• Customer Service matters - 73 percent of consumers cite customer experience as an important factor in their purchasing decisions

 ? Get started today …

Here are 4 simple steps companies use for branding that we can use too:

1. Define how you want to be perceived
2. Organize your business based on this promise
3. Communicate your promise
4. Be consistent

#3 is very important for your personal brand. You should tell your Leader, peers, and friends what you want your personal brand to be so that they can give you feedback on your progress.

?? Feedback = ?? GROWTH = ?? Actually achieving your personal brand

For example, here is what I aspire to for my personal brand. (Now, you all now have permission to give me feedback on it ANYTIME). ??

• I deliver results and you can trust me to do what I say I will do
• You can come to me for help with ANYTHING – if I don’t know how to help, I will find someone who can
• I inspire a culture people want to be a part of
• I am an encourager with a contagious positive attitude
• I am a role model for a growth mindset

Being deliberate about your personal brand is the single best thing you can do for your growth. It will significantly influence the opportunities that present themselves as your “customers” are seeking the right “product” for their needs.

What’s your personal brand? I would love to hear it!