Entrepreneur and Influencer – How to Establish Your Personal Brand
Almost 5.1 million new businesses were started in 2022, according to the US Census Bureau. A slow job market spurred by the global pandemic led to many people leaving their careers during the Great Resignation and becoming entrepreneurs.
As an entrepreneur, building a personal brand is just as important as building your business. Your personal brand represents who you are and what you stand for, and it can help you establish credibility, authority, and trust in your industry.
In fact, personal branding is becoming increasingly important as consumers are more likely to purchase from people they know and trust. And the proliferation of social media has both brands and influencers grinding the same platforms, often for the attention and engagement of the same audiences.
Because of this, entrepreneurs can learn a lot about personal branding from influencers, who have built a following and established a brand around their personality, interests, and expertise. Influencer marketing is a $21.1 billion industry. While entrepreneurs and influencers may differ in their goals and approach, they both understand the importance of building a personal brand to achieve success.
So, how can you build your own personal brand like an influencer?
1. Define Your Personal Brand
First, define your unique value proposition by identifying your strengths, skills, and experiences. Consider your target audience and their needs. What makes you different from others in your industry?
If you already have a known company brand, it’s still important to define yourself individually for the public. For example, if you're a life coach, your unique value proposition might be that you specialize in helping women entrepreneurs overcome imposter syndrome. As a fractional CMO, you can share your first-hand experiences with clients (without giving specifics that violate an NDA, of course).
2. Create Your Brand Identity
Next, choose a tagline and messaging that align with your unique value proposition. Create a consistent visual identity by designing a logo, color palette, and selecting fonts that reflect your brand. This template will be referenced throughout all platforms.
Build an online presence by creating a website, social media profiles, and professional profiles on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. Also, be sure to make your presence known on lesser-known competitors to the main social media sites, like Fishbowl and Bluesky. This will ensure you have a consistent voice anywhere the people are.
3. Develop Your Brand Voice
Choose a tone of voice that aligns with your brand personality and be consistent with it. Develop a content strategy that aligns with your brand messaging and target audience, and create valuable and engaging content to build your reputation and credibility.
For example, if you're a fashion blogger, your content strategy might include creating fashion tutorials, product reviews, and outfit inspiration posts. While some content must be spur-of-the-moment to stay in the zeitgeist, it’s still important to build a solid foundation from which you can adapt anything to your unique voice.
4. Promote Your Brand
Once you have your brand solidified, it’s time to promote it. Develop a networking strategy to connect with your target audience and industry peers, and utilize social media to promote your brand and engage with your audience. Participate in industry events and conferences to build your network and increase your visibility.
For example, my business partner and I have been attending Web3 and NFT conferences throughout the first half of this year to network and stay connected with what’s happening in the community. While there, we sometimes give a presentation, sometimes promote an event, and sometimes get a booth. Each has its own benefit in promoting both ourselves and the agency.
5. Protect Your Brand
The final thing you need to do is ensure you continuously protect your personal brand. Monitor your online presence and reputation, respond to any negative feedback or reviews in a professional manner, and take legal action if necessary to protect your brand from infringement or misuse.
Typically, it’s not worth responding to trolls, and it’s ok to make liberal use of block and reporting features if conversations are getting ugly online. However, you should respond authentically and transparently whenever approached with criticism or questions. Use brand protection tools and resources to help you stay on top of any potential issues that may arise.
Creating Your Personal Brand
The significance of personal branding cannot be overstated in today's competitive landscape, especially for entrepreneurs. Establishing a strong personal brand helps individuals differentiate ourselves, showcase our unique skills, and build credibility. In an increasingly interconnected world, entrepreneurs need to leverage personal branding to connect with your target audience and cultivate a loyal following.
In addition to being savvy business owners, contemporary entrepreneurs must also embrace the role of influencers. By sharing your expertise, insights, and experiences, you can inspire and engage your audience while promoting your brand.
As influencers, entrepreneurs can build trust and authority, fostering relationships that ultimately drive business growth and success. Don’t wait to get started.
