3 Personal Branding Tips You'll Wish You Knew Sooner
Okay, I have to tell you a secret. If you know me at all, you know I’m passionate about the importance of a good website. But the truth is,
Without a strong, clear personal brand, a website means nothing.
You can’t have a strong website without having a strong brand. It’s the foundation that your entire business strategy rests upon. Over the years, I’ve learned a thing or two about creating a solid brand, and I wanted to compile some of the best personal branding tips I’ve learned to help you build a strong foundation that will sparkle and stand out.
Tip #1: Understand Your Know, Feel, and Do
Your brand is not about you. Okay, now read that again. Yes, your brand should be a reflection of who you are and your values, absolutely, but your brand is so much more than a place to talk about yourself.
Everything about your brand should be cultivated to support and serve your ideal audience.
When creating visual brand elements, you MUST be crystal clear on both who you are trying to serve and the impact you want to have on them. Ask yourself the following questions.
What do you want your audience to know after visiting your website?
Education is an important part of any business. It’s your job to help your audience understand why they need your product or service in their life, so educate them on the gaps that you can fill. I know you are the expert on what you offer, so don’t be afraid to show it!
How do you want them to feel?
You need to appeal to logic when selling to your audience, but appealing to their human emotions is even more critical. (And it’s also the fun part).This is where infusing your personality and story comes in to create emotional appeal and a connection with your audience. The more connected they feel to you on a human level, the more trust is built and the more likely they are to buy. So do what you do best and be your authentic self!
Last but not least, what do you want them to do?
What action are you wanting to push your audience members to take? If it’s not clear to you, I promise it will not be clear to them, so make sure you know exactly what you want to inspire them to do.
When you know the answers to these questions, you have the foundation of a compelling, clear brand.
Tip #2: Build Your Unique Brand Voice
As a website designer, I am all about brand visuals, but the visual elements of a brand are only one piece of the puzzle. The key to creating the messaging clarity you are looking for is developing a brand voice that is unique to you. Your brand voice is the tone of all the copy that you create for your business. Think of it as the voice you use to speak to your audience. Do you want to come across as warm and comforting? Or do you want to give your readers more tough love? Being intentional about the way you talk to your audience is a critical part of creating a strong brand presence.
If this is something you struggle with, it’s a great idea to invest in a copywriter who can see the vision for your brand and help you create some of those important pieces for your website. At the end of the day, you want your audience to actually hear what you have to say, and the more developed your brand voice is, the more open they will be to your message.
Tip #3: Use Your Brand to Tell Your Story
From your color palette, to your font choices, to your website design, every part of your brand is a representation of who you are. It should be unique to you and reflect your core values. Your story is a crucial element of your personal branding, and a website is a great tool to help you tell it. First, choose the element of your story that you want to focus on to build a connection to your audience. Then keep that part of your image consistent across all your branding.
Is your story one of gaining confidence in overcoming impostor syndrome? Take some confident photos of yourself looking like a goddess and make these your brand staples. Do you struggle with anxiety and want to help others by creating a safe, calming space through your brand? Choose colors and images that make you feel relaxed and comfortable and your audience will respond. There are so many creative ways to incorporate your flair into your brand and tell your unique story. Remember to trust your gut when it comes to these creative choices. Authenticity is key, and your ideal audience will respond the very best to you being yourself. Don’t be afraid to be you!
I hope these personal branding tips left you feeling inspired to gain the crystal clarity you’ve been searching for. Still feeling uncertain about your brand identity? Click the link below to have a chat with me about aligning your values and purpose to create a power packed personal brand.
Hi! I’m Jannan
I’m Jannan Poppen. I help purpose-driven businesses bring their vision to life through brand and web design so they can create the impact and income they desire.