6 Tips For Building Your Brand

#1 Voice

We all know that it’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.

The way you present your ideas to your audience, whether online, in a sales pitch, or at a job interview, is important. You need to find the voice that best aligns with and supports your brand.

For example, let’s say you were a public speaking coach. If you spoke nervously and without confidence, would anyone be inclined to hire you? Probably not.

Finding your voice isn’t as simple as only talking about what you do, either. It’s about taking the time to figure out what sets you apart, what your values are, and what value you bring to the people you interact with — and then making sure what you say always supports that message.

Be mindful of what platforms you use to voice your ideas, too. They can say as much or more about you than the words you use. For example, would you trust a professional who was on LinkedIn more than one who was on MySpace? I rest my case.

#2 Identity

Thanks to the internet, we can carefully curate what other people see of us.

When building your brand in a digital era, that extra layer of control can be both a blessing and a curse. Because, if we don’t maintain a consistent identity, then we water down the strong image of ourselves that we want others to see.

And likewise, if you don’t take time to build an image online, people won’t be able to see you at all.

Deciding on an online brand identity starts, again, with figuring out what you’re all about. Then, you need to translate that into the digital branding elements that you show to others.

Things like your fonts, your colour schemes, your layout choices — these are items which can reflect who you are. Are you an IT professional? Perhaps you want a modern, minimalist feel. Or maybe you’re starting a business offering SCUBA classes? Then maybe you want calming blues, and a certain picture of a SCUBA diver to appear next to your business name.

Once you settle on these branding decisions, you need to lay them down on paper with an official style guide. This will make it easier for you to follow your own rules as you build your brand online, and for others who may work for you.

#3 Website

Get your own website.

Nowadays, anyone who you ask to invest in you — customers, business partners, or employers — are going to look you up online.

And nothing gives you more control over what they see about you online than a custom website.

While social media platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook can certainly give people a glimpse of you, it’s always through the lens of how those platforms restrict content. On a personal website, you can put any type of content and use any structure that you believe is best for you and you alone.

Plus, it looks way more professional.

#4 Other Platforms

Ok, ok. I know I just said that a personal website is the best platform to show off your brand. But it’s not the only one, and there’s no reason to cut yourself short.

You need to take advantage of as many other platforms as you can to expand your brand.

There’s Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and…oh, I don’t know…HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of other platforms out there! Don’t bottleneck yourself by only using one.

Your brand will be more memorable if people see it everywhere they go. And the best part? Most of the platforms you’ll want to use are completely free.

Just make sure your profiles and presence on each of them lines up with your branding style guide, and supports your overall message.

#5 Share

It’s not enough to simply set up shop online and expect success to start rolling in. You need to stay active.

This means creating and sharing content on your multiple platforms. In fact, this is the essence of how your brand should appear to others: a consistent and ongoing part of their lives.

You don’t have to break your back to create engaging content, either. In fact, there is a current trend on many social media platforms that supports raw, unfiltered content.

Being honest and transparent about your life, your work, your aspirations, and your struggles, often outperforms content that’s perfectly airbrushed and manicured.

So don’t be scared to share — just get out there and keep your brand fresh in people’s minds with new fresh content whenever you can!

#6 Partner

In business, you’ve probably been told you need to find your “niche”; a unique space that no one else occupies.

Well I’ve got some Earth-shattering news for you:

There are no empty niches left.

There is no empty vacuum in any aspect of human life that you could possibly be completely alone in. But it’s not a bad thing!

It means that no matter what category you fall under, there are people you can partner with! Building relationships with experts, professionals, and people who’ve been through what you’re currently going through is how you grow. Not by carving out more space to be alone in.

If you find people with overlapping interests and partner with them, you will appear more credible, and you will tap into their existing audiences and networks.

ACCESSIBILITY