If your mind went ‘there’, we should be friends, I’m talking about selling your personal brand. As a business owner, you are essentially selling yourself as the center of your brand. With everything being online for everyone to see, you need to make sure that the image you want to portray is accurate.
Selling yourself is not easy, I’ve gathered a few tips for you to get you started.
Let your personality shine
People buy from people, not your logo. Let your personality shine through your photos. The more people can feel the authentic you through the image, the more they connect with you. A great portrait photographer will take the time to get to know you, so they can capture your personality.
Be relatable
The more you can be related to, the better for your social media growth. This is also how you attract the right clientele. If you are a tired mom trying to juggle business and family life, you will get support from other tired moms. If you retired from corporate life to start your own business, and share the struggles that come with that, you will attract those that have done the same. If you are an animal lover, you will attract other animal lovers. Being relatable is not only to gain more audience but also to get a better connection to your audience. People buy from those that they feel a connection with.
Build Credibility and Trust
Strong personal brands build credibility and trust upon first impressions. We are quick to judge and the image you portray online will be either the reason people will follow you or scroll past you. A professional portrait that stands out is priceless when it comes to building up trust.
What does your brand stand for?
A strong personal brand that stands for what is important to them creates connection, credibility, trust, and value. When we feel like we know the person behind the business, we are more likely to shop locally and support small businesses. More importantly, if we like the business owner, we will recommend them to everyone we know.
Become an authority in your space
This is easier said than done. The best way to build your authority is to get published, be a guest on podcasts, guest write for other pages, keep up to date with your own online presence by giving value to others. Constant selling puts people off, they will on the other hand look to you when you give them something of value. As an example, I know very little when it comes to make-up. Instead of going to Sephora and shopping blindly, I look towards experts I trust on social media. I find what they recommend and make a purchasing decision based on that. When there are too many options, we need someone we trust to guide us.
Network
This one will be difficult to hear if you are an introvert. It is essential to create opportunities to meet new people that either share your ideal client or are your ideal clients. This means going to networking events, shaking hands, and building up real-life connections. Then once done, you continue those connections through Linked-in or other social media platforms. Make sure they remember you by coming up with great content paired with professional photos of you. That way they remember your face.
Bottom Line
As much as it sucks, we are judged by our appearance. I’m not talking about your actual looks, but how professionally you conduct yourself through the online space. Having a variety of great professional portrait photos taken by a personal branding photographer makes it easier for you to come up with quality content for your social media, and to be seen as an authority within your space.
It’s time to invest in yourself and get a professional portrait session done. Mariah is an expert in body language and micro-expressions which shines through her photography. The studio is conveniently located in the Wash Park area in Denver, Colorado. It’s well ventilated and meticulously cleaned between each client. We would love to talk about how to level up your personal brand.