New marketing: personal branding

Shine!

What is personal branding and how does it impact marketing for a solo business? Here are the answers...

I’ve recently noticed an increase in marketing articles, seminars and books on the topic of personal branding. Perhaps that's because this is one of the areas I speak and consult on.

Unsurprisingly, I have a keen interest in it. I believe it is integral to the success of any company no matter what size.

So what is personal branding?

I believe personal branding is really personal public relations. Public relations is “relationships” with your “public” and it’s about how you or your business is seen and how the way you interact with people affects your reputation.

After all, business and companies are based on people. People make products for people. People sell to and serve other people and people work with people and for people.

As a soloist you are the public face. You represent what that business stands for.

If we want to succeed, we need to be in personal alignment with what our business represents. Not everyone loves their work – but boy does it help if our personal aims, vision and values are in alignment with what that business represents.

Why not share with your suppliers and customers your business' values and vision?

According to Kevin Roberts CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi who has written a book on branding called Lovemarks, says:

“To me, it's all about spirit, not about values. Lovemarks go beyond the relationships to a loving relationship. If you're not in love with your business, why should your employees or customers be? If you want to create a lovemark, you've got to be passionately in love with your own business. And if you haven't fallen in love, don't expect your employees or your customers to fall in love,”

Therefore personal branding is more than just your image and the outer package that you present to the world, although appearance and packaging does plays a major part in representing yourself and your company in a positive light. Personal branding is the emotional connections between the service or product and the customer.

A number of Managing Directors of companies in Australia have recognised the power of personal branding in building a strong company. They have established a memorable face behind the company to add a personal perspective to their business. Examples include Julia Ross (Julia Ross Recruitment) Sonia Amoroso (Skin Doctors), Sarina Russo (Sarina Russo Group), John McGrath (McGrath Real Estate) John Symond (Aussie Home Loans) and of course Robert Gerrish (Flying Solo). These people are inextricably linked with their companies and are very clear about the image they project.

They are examples of where personality of the company shines through the CEO. Or perhaps in a soloist’s case COE (Chief of Everything).

Building a strong personal brand has the added bonus of building further recognition and media exposure. These people are known and used by the media as spokespeople in their area of expertise and as commentators on business issues. They are sought after as keynote speakers, television personalities and are invited to participate in numerous high profile and industry events. Through this personal public relations strategy, the exposure they receive is more credible than advertising.

Are you in love with your company and how are you working towards establishing a strong personal brand?

Sue Currie is a business educator and speaker on personal branding through image and media. Sue’s strategies help boost your public profile and increase profits by enhancing your professional image and building brand visibility.

3 comments | Add your own

This is an eye-opener. I've always had a vision of a business that I would like to create but - after reading the above passage:
::: If you want to create a lovemark, you've got to be passionately in love with your own business. ::::
It makes so much sense, I was wondering how am I going to get my employees to love the company they will work for? If I love my company & my brand, then that means I will be loving my employees, customers, suppliers, everyone basically, all passionately, and once I give it, it too will come back. It has to come back - it's true love.
Thanks! Serkan from Sydney
This is something that I have found to be absolutely true. I gave up a business I was not in love with, and started another one that I am completely in love with. The change in my outlook, the customer feedback, and the profits are amazing. Christina from Hobart
Good read- especially the CEO acronym! Chief of everything! Everyday that goes by I say "I'd rather be doing my business than anything in the whole wide world".... even if it puts me out of geographical reach of my three daughters. I love my business! I'm 55, new at it and not even in consolidation phase and "retirement" is not in my vocab. New lease on life.I don't mind if I run my business till the very end!!! Marianne from Broken Hill

3 comments | Add your own

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