Your personal brand approach say's a lot about the valYOUâ„¢ of the content that's shared. It's a matter of how you value yourself as a leader and how you value your business as a provider.
In the business world, value is tied to price and cost of products and services. That's why it angers me so when folx are told to market themselves as if they are the commodity. Even as a freelancer, your services are for sell, not you. If you've built a reputation that puts your services in demand, then all the better.
But let's flip the script for a moment. I often hear folx say, "Well that's not what it means to me" so I want to challenge you to think of the valYOUâ„¢ add to branding and marketing that happens when you endorse your business instead of yourself.
Because I'm a transparent person I know I have a tendency to talk too much. I've shared things about my father being a pimp, me being promiscuous due to insecurities and fear of confrontation. Talking to much doesn't bother me in my personal life because my husband will tell me to "Take the horn out cha mouth baby." But in business it can be a problem with my personal brand.
ValYOUâ„¢ is about being selfish enough to establish boundaries between your personal life and your personal brand because very few folx are worthy or deserve to know the whole story.
Learning when, what, and how to share with an audience is challenging in this digital era. Especially when you don't know where your personal brand ends and your personal life begins. Most personal branding experts tell you to just be yourself. Others tell you to be vulnerable. Then they tell you to keep it professional. It's like a walking a tightrope across a lake of bullshit.
Take a step back and check out your personal brand approach
How you come at your audience sets the stage for how you expect your personal brand to be received. It also gives you some idea of the type of audience you expect to attract. If you have to explain in the comments what you mean, then your personal brand is talking to much because your copy, content, and/or communication are off in some way.
 It's a matter of self-awareness as a Brand Leader. Whether your first impression is in written content, spoken word, or visual media, significantly influences bias of your overall brand architecture.
Tone and Style: A casual, friendly tone will hit different than a formal, authoritative one. Factor in generational differences and you may be barking up the wrong tree.
Content Focus: Sharing personal stories can foster connection, but overly sharing might alienate potential buyers.
Younique Selfish Propositionâ„¢: Clearly articulating your younique perspective and role in the industry or marketplace adds valYOUâ„¢ and credibility to the business brand.
By carefully considering your approach to your audience, you can ensure that your personal brand is perceived in the way you intend. It's about striking the right balance between authenticity, professionalism, and effective communication.
Consider the interdependence of your personal and business brand
The line between personal and business branding has becoming increasingly blurred because folx think personal branding is personal. When you think you're speaking for yourself, you're actually speaking for anyone who works for you or hired you. Every word you utter, every post you share, and every opinion you share has personal and professional implications for you and the horse you rode in on.
Why does this happen?
Association: When you're associated with a brand, organization, or even a particular role, your words and actions reflect on all of them. People naturally connect the dots and judge all.
Ripple Effect: Your words and actions can have a far-reaching impact. A single social media post or a casual comment can spread like gossip, potentially tearing up everyone's playground.
Trust and Credibility: Your personal brand directly influences the credibility and trustworthiness of your business. Being suspect connects the dots and damages the other..
When you factor in the interdependence of personal and business branding, you can strategically talk as much as you want and still live your life. If you decide you don't give a fuck because your personal brand is authentic, then at least you know where you stand.
Recognize the leadership and boldness of personal branding
Contrary to what you've been told, personal branding is about leadership, not self-promotion and authenticity. This means being bold enough to take risk as a Brand Leader. You're not afraid to share your opinions and ideas about the industry or marketplace, even if they're controversial. But be genYOUineâ„¢ when you do. Not because folx can spot a fake ass, but because you don't want to be a fake ass.
What does it look like?
Boldness: This isn't about arrogance or ego. It's about having the courage to be first. The first to open your mouth, the first to go against the norm, and the first to take a bullet.
Risk-taking: Stepping outside the comfort zone of industry standards. You're ready to embrace uncertainty and learn from your mistakes.
Visionary Thinking: Instead of waiting to see what happens, you envision it, then make it happen by making strategic moves. That thinking can inspire others and set trends instead of follow.
Being a bold leader takes courage, not cockiness. You didn't become the Founder of a business to play follow the leader. There are folx waiting to follow you.
In the end, talk is cheap if you can't back it up. Having a personal brand that's about self-promotion and personal shit is cheap talk. It lends nothing to the business. It's not bold and it leads nowhere. And just because the price is high, doesn't mean the valYOUâ„¢ is there.
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How do you know you're using the right approach?
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