Small enterprises rarely focus on having an outstanding brand. They often treat it as extravagancy an unnecessary expense. They mistakenly assume that it requires expensive agency and or a TV ad to get started. But brand is something more than a logo, colours and ads. It’s reputation and opinion about the business in the minds of clients. That is why it is even more important for small businesses than big ones.
Brand is the heart of your business
It is something which clients gather around, something which attracts and allows to grow. Many businesses – especially tertiary ones – are built on the basis of personal brand of the person who is behind the whole endeavour, the person who pushes it forward.
There are 5 easy steps to build your personal brand
1.) Identify what you are good at, the best at, what you know and what you easily do. Find your area of expertise, something unusual, niche. Specialize yourself – are you a coach? Be a coach for mothers with children. Do you build web sites? Concentrate on the pages for lawyers or greengrocer’s. Differentiate yourself!
2.) Show that you’re good. It’s time to tell the world who rules in the area of your expertise. Create a blog, write on LinkedIn, chip in on conferences and meetings. Become the first address, point of contact for people searching for help in your area of expertise.
3.) Be available. Be active on Facebook, Google+, Twitter. Be consistent in your approach toward building your brand (various social media, e.g. Facebook vs. Twitter, have different designation and culture. Adjusting the language to the recipient is okay but you have to be consistent in what you do and what you deal with.
4.) Conduct workshops, meetings, show yourself in media. Build your portfolio, share the experience you’ve gained during projects, talk about solutions.
5.) Meet people, build relations, maintain tie. It’s not only the source of spreading information about you but also the source of inspiration to develop.
Good luck!
Damian
