Building a “Brand” for Business has moved on from large Companies with multi million dollar budgets through to the “Solopreneurs” – the new Hastag in Social Media.
A Solopreneur is a business owner who works and runs his or her business alone and is fast becoming a powerful and growing force in today’s career landscape. Basically – being the master of your own destiny!
A significant part of this challenge is to build and become a recognizable “Personal Brand” – and stand out from the masses in this fast-paced Social Media Economy. And if that’s not hard enough – we have to get perfect strangers to ‘know, like and trust’ us enough from the outset to engage with us. But first we need to INTRIGUE them!
Visual Communication with your target audience is the key and a great place to start is with eye-catching, relatable, WOW-factor imagery to carry over onto all of your social media platforms, website, press and marketing collateral.
It needs to be consistent, relatable and authentic – reflecting your personality. Are you gregarious and sociable? Do you have a Signature colour that you always wear? Do you work in an office or have a Laptop lifestyle? Are you “The Boss!“?
When I am commissioned by a new Client to shoot their Personal Branding or Business Branding Photography, they often have no idea how to start. So to get things moving, I always ask them a series of questions so I can better understand their needs – who they are and what message they need to get across to their specific target audience.
Here are my 5 Top Tips to consider when you are building your Brand –
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Your Signature Look
Are you recognized for a certain way that you dress or have a distinct style with accessories e.g. scarves or shoes that we can emphasize, a particular colour perhaps that is linked with your logo and website? Are you known for your sharp suits and colourful ties? Or is your style ‘eclectic’ and quirky? Your ‘Look’ is a reflection of your personality and first and memorable impressions last.
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Bring your Personality
Oscar Wilde famously said “Be yourself; everyone else is taken”… Boring old headshots just won’t do anymore – we need to inject some character and life into your imagery so that people can see that you are approachable, authentic and trustworthy. Knowledge of Body Language is extremely important and more to the point, having a Photographer who can direct you into a cracking Power Pose without looking awkward PLUS look like you are ‘living the dream’ or ‘mean Business’.
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Consistency is Key
Just like you would dress in your Signature Look to a Presentation or a Networking Event, someone may photograph you there and use it on Social Media. The Photography that you use across all social media platforms, your website and marketing collateral needs to be recognizable to ensure that you are building your ‘Brand Awareness’. For example – If your “Brand’ is colourful, light and fun, don’t start wearing all black and have more ‘moody’ portraits. Other areas that require consistency are typography, logos, colour schemes, style of writing, behaviours – generally all things that are being ‘presented’ and viewed by the Public.
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Do you Relate?
Like attracts like as they say, so what do your Clients like to do or from your Market Research, what do your ideal Clients relate to? Coffee meetings, technology, walking the dog, champagne lifestyle – whatever it is, photography around these concepts to have in your stock library cache is vital to keep it fresh and real so that the people you are trying to communicate with understand where you are coming from and your purpose
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Professional Photographer Vs Someone with a Smart Phone
‘Selfies’ certainly don’t cut it in the Professional arena, particularly when you are aiming for a more lucrative Client base. But – you probably already know this!
The point being, if you are bad with Maths and time poor – you won’t be doing your own Book Keeping and Accounting. You’ll outsource that and leave it to the Professionals. It’s just the same in the Creative fields – with Professionals, who have gained Qualifications, trained for years and honed their Craft plus they will be able to develop clever concepts to get your message across to your Target Market in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible!
I’m launching my exciting NEW Personal Branding Packages for 2018!
Book either the “The True Professional” or “Ultimate Brand Session” in the month of February – and I will take $100 off the session price.
So get in touch – info@leahdesborough.com
No more excuses – now is the time for a “Brand” new you. 2018 – Bring it on!
