How to kick start your personal brand in 2023
In this blog post, you’ll learn three things you can immediately implement to kick-start your personal brand in 2023.
Photography
Photography is not just taking images so you can post them to social networks. Photos should be used to tell your stories. Have you ever heard the saying a picture can say more than a 1000 words? Your photos on your website and social channels need to tell a story about yourself.
If you are in the midst of starting your own brand or looking to attract more clients, photography should be your first item on the list.
You can book a professional photographer who takes photos of you and edits them, or you can do it yourself. I prefer the latter, and here's why. Number one, if you are camera shy and this is your first time taking photos, there's a good chance you'll feel uncomfortable. Now, not every photographer has the skills to make the subject feel at ease. Number two, if this is your first time taking photos for your website, you might not like those images within a couple of months because your business changed "creative" directions, and you need new photos.
For me, it's easy to be in front of the lens and take photos of myself. I've been blogging and Instagramming for the past 7+ years. My lovely Insta-husband Eric has been on this ride since the beginning. He knows my angles and understands the style I am going for. Even if you don't have an insta-husband, you must have someone in your life who understands you in and out.
Ask that person if they can take a few photos of you. If you don't have any photoshop experience, you can use apps like Snapseed or Facetune to polish up those images.
You might ask yourself, "How do I pose in those photos?" The answer is simpler than you think. Let's assume Vogue magazine visits you at your workspace. It could be your office, kitchen, garage, or wherever you get your work done. What would their creative director do to tell a story in each photo that showcases what you do?
If you are a fashion designer, you would probably have scissors in your hand and measure tape hanging around your neck while looking at fabric.
If you are a chef teaching people how to prepare meals, you will have produce in your hand surrounded by kitchen utensils.
As a fitness coach, someone would photograph you while working out to get those action shots. Create a few post-workout images as well.
Think about what items you use in your day-to-day to run your business. Utilize those items as props to tell a story.
Website + Social Channels
Your social media channels are your storefront. They are supposed to attract users to your store and check out your products. Your store is your website where you offer your products and the story behind your brand.
Every website should have the following three components:
Landing page explaining the problem you are solving and your offer.
An about me page where users can get to know you better.
A blog or FAQ section.
Choose a color scheme for your website. I recommend sticking with four colors plus black and white. Utilize the same colors when creating graphics or posts for social media. This way, your brand will look cohesive.
No need to spend thousands of dollars to create a website, websites like Squarespace or Wix make it easy to design a website within a few hours. Upload your photos and craft copy that tells a story of why you are the go-to person in the niche.
Once you are done with designing your website, claim your social media channels. By claiming, I am referring to open accounts on various networks (Facebook page, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.). Even if you are not planning on using a certain network, still create and claim your handle. You might want to use this network in the future, and you don't want someone else to take your business handle. Make sure your bio is optimized on each channel, describing who you are and how you can help.
Creating Content
Building your (personal) brand takes time and effort. Gary V. says to push out as much content as possible to all kinds of networks. While I agree with pushing out tons of content on different networks to attract users, it can become challenging, especially if you are a solopreneur.
Instead, focus on creating content for one long-form social channel (Youtube, podcast, or blog). Long-form content is content that is either a 20-minute YouTube video, a 30-min podcast, or a 500+ blog post.
Long-form content will allow you to break it into "snackable" pieces for social media. I call this repurposing content. I create an entire online course on how to create content more efficiently as a solopreneur. You can check it out here. You can also check out my YouTube video, where I talk about "How to repurpose content on social media."
In addition, I recommend focusing on building one social media network. Once you gain traction, you can expand to other networks. This will allow you to create content effectively and efficiently without burning out.