I stopped downtown on Friday to talk with my friends at Keloland Living about social media (one of my favorite topics). This segment had a bit of a twist from my normal focus as we discussed building a PERSONAL brand.
Is there a difference between Personal and Business?
Quite honestly, most of the same rules apply when talking about tips and strategies for building a personal brand versus a business one. The main difference is the lens that you apply and how you can interact.
Let me explain. One of the best ways to get people to see you as an “expert” in a field is to share your thoughts and experiences on that subject. Like I discussed on this segment, online groups (or forums) are a great way to do this. Most of the time, you will be doing this as YOU, not your business (most places you can only join a group from a personal profile, not a page). You become the expert. You build the trust. Then, when people want to know more or hire you, they’ll look you up. Your profile should be tied to your business, but even if you end up changing jobs or industries, that intellectual property will still lie in you. You can continue to be a resource for people, regardless of your title or occupation. This of course, creates the separation between personal and business.
What you need to know…
Here is a break down of a few things that I find important.
The first two are discussed in the clip (which is shared at the end), so I’m skipping over those.
It may be personal, but it’s not about you.
Point 3 is a tough one because it involves doing work that isn’t ME-focused. Looking at what I want is easy.
What would I want to know | What do I want to share | What do I have to sell
These are great ways to get your creative mind working, especially if you’re building an following that is like you. But the camera needs to be switched from selfie mode – you need to look at your audience.
For example. Do you sell makeup and can apply it well? First, congrats because that is not my strength. 😉Don’t post about how your products are just the best with picture after picture of your favorite mascara or the latest release. Instead, create videos showing people how to do it. And honestly, don’t even mention the products in the videos. Give your people something without making them feel sold to. You can link to a post or site where they can find those products, or perhaps even share them in the comments “for those who might wonder,” but don’t make it feel pushy. Give value without expecting anything in return.
Money, Money, Money (or really, get a small kickback for your efforts)
That thought flows right into the fourth point – monetization. Think of how many times you’ve used a product for the first time and thought – WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!?! And then you proceed to tell everyone about it, how it’s amazing, and where to get it.
Thanks to the internet, you can do that and earn money! 😱Take a visit to Google and you can find many ways to link to products to earn a little cash back. Depending on your following, you could try out affiliate marketing. I bet you’ve clicked on a link for someone’s Amazon Associates product. (If it took you to Amazon and you bought it, they probably got a kickback from it if they’re doing it right). The best thing is that it doesn’t cost your followers anything to support you in this manner if it’s a product they want to buy.
One of my favorite mommy bloggers, Jenn from Life as a Rambling Redhead, is doing a great job at this. Head over to her IG or FB and check our her stories. She’s always sharing what she is talking about so her peeps can score the same deals. She also checks off all the boxes about being REAL!
In the end, because you’re doing a personal brand, it’s never going to be completely perfect because you’re always a work in progress. Embrace that you will change as you grow and learn, shift your focus as needed, and just get started!
You can watch a replay of my segment here: