for Social Media Marketing Success
Brand YOU!
The number one question I receive is “How do you brand yourself?” Our first stop on the road to brand YOU for social media marketing success is to brand yourself. Believe it or not, we all have an online presence. In fact, according to CNN 92 percent of US toddlers have an online presence by the age of two. If you have a social media account, you already have a brand online whether you have built it consciously or not. What message might you be communicating?
Similar to the way a GPS can be programmed to take you to your destination, knowing your “why,” strengths, vision, values and goals sets you on the right course for your personal brand strategy and communication plan.
Begin your branding campaign by assessing your personality and talents, so you can craft a brand message that resonates with both your abilities and passions with the needs and interests of your ideal customers.
Keep these tips in mind when branding yourself online so you can be sure you present a consistent message that supports your marketing efforts.
1. Determine Your “Why”
Personal branding starts with taking a look within and knowing yourself and what you have to offer that makes you unique. Secondly, it is important to really get clear on what image and message you want to create for yourself. Taking a look within means determining your “why.” What is the reason “why” you do what you love? Determining your “why” will set the blueprint for what you do in your business and life and the reason behind it. I had the honor of sharing my reason “why” I created one of my brands as a contributing author with 56 amazing women in a fantastic book "Smart Women Live Their Why," by Sheri McConnell.
The reason I began doing personal branding is because it was a perfect mix of my background in career counseling, career coaching, communication, image consulting and marketing. I have a passion and desire to help people discover their unique qualities and help them match their strengths, personality, mission, vision, values and goals with doing something they love and I do that through the awesome platform of social media. I enjoy using assessments to help others gauge their unique qualities. Personal branding and social media allow me to express my visual creativity. Consider what your work inspires out of you.
Defining your passions and your “why” will help you create a brand aligned with your core values. When you take your passions and use them to inject your messages with enthusiasm and emotion, readers will feel them as well. Tap into your enthusiasm for your niche. Your branding will then attract others aligned with your purpose.
2. Invest in Your Brand!
Image is everything and the way you present yourself certainly can have an impact in this social world either positive or negative. It is very important to present a professional image that represents your savvy style and brand. Details are important from your website image, your personal image, graphics, social media profiles and your bio. The same way a resume is the first impression of you to a potential employer, the same is true for your website or other marketing material that represent you. Take the time to invest in yourself through education, training, visually with your website, graphics and your message. People can tell right away if you have taken the time to invest in yourself and your brand. If you don't invest in you then who will?
3. Brand Your Name…What’s in a Name?
The next way to brand yourself is by branding your name.
No one is taking resumes or brochures at face value anymore. Everyone is researching contacts online from potential employers to future clients. Facebook has become the social yellow pages. Owning a website with your brand name in the domain will give you a platform from which you can broadcast the best information available about your brand. Although there may be others with the same name you are truly YOUnique!
Begin a search for your domain name. If yourname.com has already been taken, consider different versions of your name or try adding an occupational word to make your domain name more personal to you in particular. For example, a business coach named Paula Renee Daniels might try any of the following followed by dot com:
* paulardaniels
* pauladaniels
* pauladanielscoaching
* paulardanielsbusinesscoach
* meetpauladaniels
* thepauladaniels
It is better to obtain your domain name and not need it than need it later and not have it. See if your Social Savvy Domain is available!
4. Consider Your Target Market.
Who are you trying to reach? What value will you deliver? Your brand should seek to connect with ideal customers in your niche by framing your brand as best suited to provide the solutions they seek. Identify what problems they need solved. Keep their needs foremost in your mind when describing your offers and branding statements and choose language and examples most likely to resonate with them.
5. Understand How Others Perceive You.
Understanding how others perceive you will help you identify your strengths and better refine your value propositions. This will also help you flesh out your branding profile to better communicate to your audience.
It was through a Strengths Finder assessment, I discovered that my own top five strengths are Futuristic, Relator, Self-Assurance, Achiever and Focus. My top strength of “Futuristic” confirmed my knack for being able to create a vision for others and some great strategies around branding such as concept creation, taglines, sayings, niches and niche slices (niches within niches). Funny thing about it is although it seemed to come easy for me; I did not realize I had a knack for it until others began to approach me about it and tell me. That is why it is so important to pay attention to what others are sharing with you and what you are known for by your niche. Can you see the benefit of knowing your why, strengths and what makes you unique?
Two examples of brand development and concept creation came about with the development of Social Savvy Sarah and my other brand NICE – The National Institute for Career Empowerment which was created to empower others in their career advancement, transition or reinvention. These are two different but similar brands but each with memorable and unique elements.
In Closing…
Branding YOU is just the first stop. Once you have a clear understanding of your "why," strengths, vision, mission, values, goals, a domain name and social media strategy on which to build your platform, you will be ready to start growing your online presence and creating a consistent brand message across all channels. I look forward to working with you on your journey and helping you achieve social media success for your brand.
Need assistance with your Branding and Social Media Strategy? Find out how you are perceived by those around you. Get Your FREE Personal Branding Assessment and receive regular updates that will help you get started creating a brand aligned with your “why,” audience and core strengths. I would love to assist you with your personal brand image and social media strategy!
Join me next time on the Road to Brand You for Social Media Marketing Success!
NEXT…
Your Branded Blog/Vlog!
Supporting You One "Savvy Step" at a Time!
Share with me "What do you want to be known for?" I look forward to hearing from you!
Dr. Sarah David is the Founder of Social Savvy Sarah…A Personal Branding and Social Media Consultancy Providing Social Media Strategies to Build Your Brand and be Socially Savvy! She works with a World-Class Team to provide a "One-Stop Shop" whether you are a "Do-it-Yourselfers" or need "Done for You" services for all of your social media needs. From Fortune 500 corporations to institutions of higher education, entrepreneurs or professionals looking for career advancement, we will help you Build Your Brand and be Socially Savvy! To learn more sign up for her free exclusive personal branding and social media marketing updates at http://www.socialsavvysarah.com.
Sarah very interesting article. I inhaled it and learned so much thank you. I am about to read part #2 But I wanted to start here first so glad I did. Great Information!
Thanks Christy, I am happy you found it helpful!
I think it would be wise to get a twitter account in my name for branding sake, yes? I have an account, just without my real name.
I agree Suzanne, it will be good to have it in your name so people can always find you. You can always change your handle. Hope this helps!
Great article, Dr. Sarah! I sooooo agree with everything that you wrote. Love your graphics, as well. Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge, I will be sharing this on my social networks
My pleasure Susan and thanks so much for sharing your comments and sharing with your networks.