Seven MUST KNOWS Part 5 – Cultivate Personal Branding & Develop Relationships

What Is Personal Branding?

Before I jump right into what personal branding is and how to cultivate it. I thought it might be necessary to define what a brand is, and what brand management is. A brand is the identity, name, emblem, logo, catchphrase or slogan that communicates the fundamental nature and representation of a company, product or service. Brand management is the function related to the marketing methods utilized on a specific brand or brands. As it relates to personal branding, and based on the above definitions, one can say personal branding is the related functions and techniques of identifying, communicating and effectively marketing the brand “you”. When marketed effectively, personal branding can be an extremely efficient solution for acquiring new clientele, in addition to building and developing relationships.

So Let’s Dig Deeper Into Personal Branding.

This phrase “personal branding” refers to the method of formulating an interest and insight of a person’s persona, accomplishments, works, attributes or interest. This method of formulation is a strategic design and foundation of actionable marketing steps that positively depicts your brand “You” and a way to personally communicate your brand.

When people purchase products or services online, there can be a real mystery as to who they are purchasing from. For some customers, this may not be an issue or concern – and that’s OK. But I believe, in most cases, we want to know who we are purchasing from. We instinctively shy away from the anonymous seller and prefer to deal with sellers that we recognize. And with that, lies a great opportunity for your personal branding – People generally purchase from sellers who they recognize and trust. This is why large companies like Apple, Nike and Amazon spend and allocate an enormous amount of money and resources to continually gain the trust of customers, in addition to marketing and cultivating their brands. Or better put, they create trust and maintain “brand recognition”.

How Can Personal Branding Help You?

Doing business online, especially as an online entrepreneur, pretty much infers personal branding as a requirement. If you are an online entrepreneur and you do not, or have not, done any type of personal branding, then you are putting yourself at a huge disadvantage. Those online entrepreneurs who utilize personal branding techniques and strategies necessary to grow and cultivate their brands will rise above the crowds and set themselves apart from the rest. I can’t stress enough the importance of personal branding and letting your potential customers know who you are, and what your interest are. By doing so, you are implanting the presence of your persona and what you and your business represents.

Begin to utilize marketing techniques and methods such as blogging, article writing, and video marketing in your personal branding. Always be sure to provide valuable usable content about you, your business and your interest to your potential customers. This will allow your potential customers to get to know and trust you – it will also attract those potential customers who have similar interest as you do. Also it is so important to have a subscription system in place to capture their details such as name, telephone number and email should they decide they want additional information from you. See Seven Must Knows Part 4.

Your subscription system also needs to have a sound reliable auto-responder. Your auto-responder is your communication hub (your personal branding voice) that allows you to be in constant direct contact via email with those who subscribe to your subscription list. It is also the tool that will assist you in building your online relationship with your subscribers.

Use Personal Branding To Develop Relationships

As you begin to grow your customer subscriber base, you must become a brand that your customers can trust and depend on. Be transparent in your communications in that you put the interest of your customers first and foremost. This means don’t sell and pitch, and pitch and sell – you will turn your subscribers off and they will eventually opt to leave your list. Your personal branding of the brand “YOU” suffers when this happens. Your content should be gear towards the needs, desires and wants of both you and your subscribers. It is OK to communicate fear and unfulfilled hopes – these are common areas that can and have impacted many of us and thus motivate us as well. Utilize your own experiences to paint a picture of some of your setbacks and how you overcame them.

If you are honest and transparent with your personal branding to your subscribers, it will not only build a strong relationship with them, but it will also propel you into being a successful recognized brand online.

Live Your Dream,