Want to know your biggest asset in the online space? You! Here’s the thing about branding yourself, people like to follow people. People are interested in other people and their lives. It’s relatable, it builds strong connections, it inspires and motivates us as consumers.

At the end of the day, as harsh as it sounds there are probably a ton of people out there doing what you’re doing. But (pardon my cheesiness) the one thing you can guarantee your competitors don’t have is you.

With Social Media, things change and evolve so stinking quick. What was in and useful 5 years ago is totally different now. Okay let’s be real, what was useful last year or probably last month even. So many occupations have emerged almost out of nowhere in the past few years and I think it’s not premature to say we’re going to see a ton more change.

When you brand yourself you have the freedom to evolve with things as they come and go. Branding yourself and building an audience that is more than loyal to your business but loyal to you is such an advantage.

When things change or your interests morphe your audience will follow you.  Branding is the experience that you provide your audience with. Visuals are definitely part of it but it’s not even close to everything. Branding includes your tone of voice, the “vibe” you give. So let’s jump into how you can brand yourself. I also am giving you a free Brand Yourself Worksheet so keep an eye out for that.

Why Are You Doing This?

Trust me I am not the person who enjoys writing out my feelings. But at the root of your brand stands, well you. Why are you doing this? What’s your vision or mission?

This doesn’t have to be some profound story, if it is that’s totally fine. But take a second, what drives you? Here’s the thing, building a brand is hard work and you need passion behind you. Your mission, what you stand for, and what you do has to be clear to your audience and to yourself.

For me, I need to create. Ever since I was a kid I was obsessed with art and using my imagination. I know that whatever I do it will revolve around this. I’m multi-passionate but at the root of it all is creativity. 

Define Your Target Audience

I’m sure you’ve heard it before if you try to appeal to everyone you end up appealing to no one. And it’s true. I know some people don’t like the word but when you are authentic and are100% “you”, you’re probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Although this might sound devastating, trust me, that’s actually a really good thing.

You don’t want fair-weather followers you want dedicated followers. People who will follow you and want to consume your content no matter what you do. So think about who it is that you’re trying to reach. Get specific guys.

Some people like to create an actual person in their mind to really hone down on the details. If that helps you go for it. But take some time and think about it because this really affects your approach, the way you look, the way you talk, and the content you create. 

What Makes You Stand Out?

Here’s the good news we’re all good at something. Go on take a second and pimp yourself out in your mind. Write it down actually. Even the most “irrelevant” things you might come up with, take a second to think about how they might be creatively used to help build your brand.

Maybe it’s your obsession with a hobby, your sense of humor, your educational background. At the end of the day, we are all unique. No one is like you so no one can create what you create and put a spin on things the way you can.

Believe me, it can get overwhelming to see so much content already exists out there but don’t try to be like anyone else. Take some time and think of how you’ll be different and use your uniqueness to build an amazing brand.

Do Your Research

This is just due diligence. It’s a good idea to not go into things blind. There’s so much information out there that you can use to your advantage. One of my favorite ways to do research and educate myself is with podcasts because I’m consuming it passively meaning I can be walking my dogs, cleaning the house, getting ready in the morning, whatever really and still be learning.

I keep a notebook by me to jot anything down that I need to. You also want to do research on social media marketing, your competition, your field. You need to market yourself and understand the best ways to do that.

There is honestly so much that goes into how you brand yourself so to help you out and get you started I created a worksheet to help you plan and execute.