You Are Your Brand
Updated: Jun 2, 2021
If you’ve learned anything from our most recent blog posts, you know that a strong brand identity is what makes people remember you. Your unique color palette, logo, typography, website design -- any visual element that represents your business has the power to catch the attention of potential clients.
But even with the strongest brand identity, people want to know who the real creator is behind the brand and business. At the end of the day, people buy people, not businesses. How do we do that? By getting people to buy you.
To be clear, you’re not really selling yourself, but rather what you bring to the table. What can you do for your audience that nobody else can? Why are you worthwhile to follow and learn from? People do business with those they trust, which means creating a genuine connection with your audience while providing valuable content should be a top-priority in growing your business.
Developing relationships with your audience and building the best online version of yourself begins with something as simple as standardizing your profiles. Be consistent across platforms with how you present yourself through your handles, profile and cover photos, and bios. Having the same username and profile photos on multiple platforms makes it easier for your audience to find and connect with you in the place they feel most comfortable.
A few tips for your profiles:
Never leave your profile photo blank-- make sure that you have a clear, recent photo of your face.
Avoid text in your cover photos.
Represent your business as authentically as possible (remember everything is public).
Keep bios short. After all, we are on social media.
Speak the social media language. A conversational tone is standard on most social media.
In your bios, include keywords that describe you professionally, but don’t be afraid to show your passions and include your website link!
Always keep up to date on your social media. Build time into your day to add to your profiles, creating a routine for yourself. Here are some recommendations on how often to post on each platform:
Facebook: at least once every other day
Twitter: at least three times per day
Instagram: one to two times per week, 3-5 stories per day
LinkedIn: once per week
Website: one or two blog posts per week
Keep in mind, this will vary based on who your audience is and where you see your highest engagement.
As much as people want to know the “real you,” your social media is a highlight reel. Remember to always think before you post. Try to always share something of value (relatable, industry-focused, community-based...content pillars, anyone?), and know where to draw the line when sharing details about your own life.
Your activity on any social media should reflect your industry brand while also giving the audience a taste of who you are as a person. Some choose to share personal opinions, hobbies and interests, political affiliation and religious beliefs, while others choose to be more selective with their personal information. Find a healthy balance between promoting or creating content that suits your comfort level and is tied to your professional pursuits.