Personal branding is a combination of your personality, skills and experience presented in a unique way that tells your story.
According to Gary Donald (2019), a business card was the only personal brand people had before the invention of the internet.
However, to be influential in the modern world, you need to create a strong personal brand to stand out from other people in your field and show off your skills, knowledge and experience.
A solid personal brand will help you build trust and connect with your target audience.
Social Media is one of the most budget-friendly methods of digital marketing that can be used to enhance the visibility of your Personal Brand. You can gain recognition, develop your brand and build a customer or fan base through Social Media. Most importantly, you can reach your target market by creating the right image. Another brilliant thing about Social Media is that you can receive feedback from your audience, which can help you learn about their interests and preferences.
Social Media has a good return on engagement, and it's worth the time you invest in it. If you have a website, Social Media can also significantly improve your Inbound Marketing.
Ideally, you should use all the major Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn) to promote your brand. However, if you don't have enough time to maintain five different platforms, you might be thinking about using just two or three. Start by answering the four questions below.
LinkedIn is the best platform for B2B brands. You can share news and information about your brand, connect with other businesses and professionals in your field and establish your authority in your sector.
If you are a B2C brand, you will be choosing from Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. Many people assume that Facebook is the best platform for their brand, as it has the most users. However, according to Statista's year-on-year Social Media audience growth, Facebook's growth has slowed down significantly compared to other social media. Instagram has experienced the fastest growth between 2021 and 2022, followed by Pinterest. Instagram also has a much higher organic engagement rate, so if you will be posting photos and short videos, it's a great platform for you. If you plan to post visual content and want to direct the visitors to your website, Pinterest might be perfect for you. However, if you mostly plan to post very short written content or polls, Twitter might suit you better.
Different Social Media attract different genders and ages. According to Statista, both genders use Instagram almost equally, while Facebook is slightly more popular amongst men. However, Pinterest is significantly favoured by women, while Twitter is a lot more popular amongst men. Instagram has the youngest audience, while a more mature audience prefers Pinterest.
The most crucial factor to consider when choosing Social Media Platforms is your Industry. Some of the most popular Industries on Facebook are Media and Entertainment, Sport, and Food and Drinks. The most profitable Industry on Instagram is Travel, followed by Beauty and Fashion, as outlined in a recent Article on Sellfy. Pinterest users regularly turn to the platform when searching for ideas and inspiration for their Arts and Hobbies projects. Twitter's users frequently tweet about Media and Sports, as reported by Rival IQ's 2022 Social Media Industry Benchmark Report.
You might be tempted to post only brief tweets on Twitter or single, enhanced pictures on Instagram. However, creating the same type of content can make your audience bored, preventing you from achieving your goals. Therefore, it is best to post diverse content on all your Social Media accounts. This might include picture carousels, short videos, infographics and blog posts. By varying your posts, you will learn what kind of content most appeals to your audience.
Posting some background information about yourself will help your followers have a higher trust in your personal brand because they will feel they know you. This also applies to public figures which fans and followers have never met in real life. As stated by Gary Donald in his book, Social Media Marketing Plan How To, 2019, clear evidence of this is seen during the elections. Many voters don't take the time to research the candidates' views on issues that matter to them. Instead, they might vote for a recognised person. Unsurprisingly, candidates with strong personalities succeed in politics irrespective of their political views. There's no doubt that Donal Trump has built a powerful personal brand, making it easier for people to trust him and cast their votes in his favour.
Start by using a well-lit photo of yourself on your Social Media profiles. After that, try introducing yourself with a short video, letting people know who you are, what you do, and your hobbies and interests. If you don't like speaking on camera, post pictures of yourself in your favourite location, with your pet, doing your favourite activity, preparing your favourite food, etc.
Whatever your goals are, educating your audience is one of the best means to help you achieve them. When you provide useful advice and relevant information, people will see you as an authority, making them more likely to become your loyal customers or fans. You can educate your followers by posting helpful content directly on your Social Media accounts or directing them to educational resources such as webinars and online courses.
Try posting short how-to videos, step-by-step picture tutorials, graphs and charts, etc.
Before and after pictures work for many different industries as they have a high engagement. If you are a painter decorator, try posting a picture of a room before and after you paint it. If you are a hairdresser, show pictures of your client's hair before and after the haircut of hairstyling. Or, if you are a personal trainer or a fitness coach and have helped a client lose weight, ask them if they could let you have pictures of before and after their transformation.
Communication with your audience will increase engagement and attract new people to your Social Media accounts. Responding to your followers' comments and replying to questions makes people feel like you care, and it could also lead to new fans or customers. Don't be afraid to ask questions and post polls. It will help you to understand your target audience better.
Joe Wicks, also known as The Body Coach, is the most recognisable health and fitness personality in Britain. Ten years ago, he was a little known personal trainer, but by working hard and building a powerful Personal Brand, he became a household name and one of the most followed public figures in the UK.
Joe Wicks posts a wide range of content on his Social Media accounts, including photos, carousels and videos.
These include healthy recipes, Inspiring Stories, and before and after pictures of his followers who successfully used his Fitness App to lose weight.
One of his recent videos tells the story behind his success, from his humble beginning as a personal trainer, to becoming an inspiration for millions of people who want to lead a healthier lifestyle and lose weight.
His Social Media accounts also feature his books and special offers for his fitness app subscription.