Creating a personal brand and working towards its success has been a successful practice for Founders,Entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals.
Creating an identity for yourself with your unique skills that differentiates you from your competitors is called Personal Branding.
Importance of building your personal brand
Why do you trust branded products more than unbranded products?
Simple.You believe that branded products are of high quality.They are owned by a professional business person so the quality will not be compromised.Also if you face problems with the product, the refund or replacement will be handled professionally and conveniently.
There is always a feeling of insecurity with respect to quality,durability and warranty when you buy unbranded products.
A personal brand is important to build:-
- Trust & Credibility
- Loyalty
- Opportunities
- New customers
- Visibility both online and offline
- Revenue and Profit
So it is very important for every one who wants to advance in their career to build a personal brand.Often when creating a personal brand you tend to make many common mistakes.
In this blog,we are going to discuss the common mistakes committed and how to overcome them.
Mistake 1: Inconsistent Messaging
Sharing mixed messages and not having a brand identity can confuse the audience.
For Example: If you are a fitness trainer posting content on weight loss and suddenly you start promoting health supplements,this will confuse the audience.
How to overcome it?
Be consistent in your messages and content.Identify the core value of your brand and create content consistently.
Mistake 2: Lack of Authenticity
Trying to be someone else just to create a positive impression.
For Example: You are a CEO who wants to create a personal brand by story telling.You share other’s experiences as yours just to gain the attraction of your audience.You make up sympathetic stories about your past and how you overcame challenges to become successful.This means you are faking your personality and being someone else.
How to overcome it?
Show your true self and share your genuine life experience and success.
Mistake 3: Not Defining Your Target Audience
Don’t create content for too many audiences.
For Example: You are a graphic designer who creates graphics for Social media,wedding invitations and branding.Although you can do graphics for a variety of businesses,it is unclear as to who you serve best.
How to overcome it?
Identify your niche and create content to that particular audience so that your content resonates well with them and you get more visibility.
Mistake 4: Ignoring online presence
Not being active on online platforms.
For Example: You are a digital marketer who has an outdated linkedin profile and does not engage with peers or post anything online.You will not be noticed by potential clients and business owners who require your services.
How to overcome it?
Update your Linkedin profile regularly.Post content frequently and engage with your peers and potential clients.
Mistake 5: Over Promotion
Too much of anything is good for nothing.Sharing about yourself is good but you can also share valuable content that will be helpful to others.
For Example: A brand posting content related to their services and USPs and not addressing how their USPs help in solving the pain points of the audience.
How to overcome it?
Post valuable tips,guides,provide e-books or conduct webinars to share your experience of how you made your client successful and how you achieved a target say 50% increase in sales or so.
Mistake 6: Ignoring the Power of Visuals
Neglecting the profile photo,logos and other creatives that are posted.
For Example: A professional with a less visible or low quality photo or banner on linkedin and inconsistent branding on Social media platform will confuse the audience and be considered as unprofessional or unpolished by potential clients.
How to overcome it?
Use high quality visuals for logos and brand creatives and use consistent colours,tone and brand message on all platforms so that it appears professional and has a clear visibility on online platforms.
Mistake 7: Being Reactive Instead of Proactive
Waiting for clients to contact and not building the brand proactively.
For Example: A Freelancer should not wait for someone to contact him/her about work. He/She should post regularly about expertise,insights and tips to grow a client’s business.
How to overcome it?
Take initiative in creating content,engage with others and look for opportunities and collaboration.
Conclusion:
A personal brand cannot be created in one day.It requires consistent effort.By avoiding the above common mistakes you can build a strong Personal Brand.
Led by a Harvard Alumnus, Eclatmax provides the best personal branding training programs for corporate companies and professionals.We help you create a strong personal brand that creates an impact through value and connection.
Do you want to know more about our corporate training programs and bootcamps? Contact us today!