Knowing the Difference Between Your Personal and Business Brand

Branding is a key component to achieving success. Your brand consists of the experience that your services, expertise and core values that drive the work you do and your relationships with others.

Brands are not just company names and logos. They are also created by the personal interactions you have with clients, colleagues, and other industry professionals.

But many small businesses fail to develop brands that represent the value they provide. Knowing the difference between your personal and business brands gives you better results in your marketing and networking efforts.

Your personal brand is a combination of five elements: 

1. your core strengths, 

2. your work style, 

3. your articulated passion, 

4. your personal mission statement (12 words or less that informs the work you do) and, 

5. your value propositions (what people can hire you to do). Who you are at the core and the passion(s) that drive what compels you to do excellent work.

A business brand is attached to a business entity.

More than just a name for your company, a business brand is an identity built around the business. A persona created to help inform what you want customers to think about your business and the experience clients can expect from you – and everyone who works there. Example: Bishops Cut & Color - originated out of Portland. MINORITY OWNED & WOMEN / LGBT LED AND STAFFED.

The benefit with this is that the brand is fixed on the business. It is your company that the client hires… which can decrease the expectation of having your personal attention 24/7. 

But the basics still hold true:

• A personal brand is about you. personal branding is all about becoming and being seen as the best version of yourself.

• A business brand is about your business.

The difference is that when you are your business, branding your business starts with you. Because the business brand will always be a reflection of you and what you are known for.

Do You Need Both a Personal Brand and a Business Brand?

The short answer is yes.

The 5 Most Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make When It Comes To Their Personal Style

A excerpt from this article:

Let’s get real. You are no Mark Zuckerberg. Hoodies and t-shirts aren’t going to get you to land that big client or get you noticed by the Angel Investors.

We would all like to believe that how we look and how we dress doesn’t impact the level of personal or professional success we receive in life. And though we would like to believe such a thing, we also know how fundamentally wrong we are.

Studies after studies show that your outward appearance directly affects your ability to influence others and create income producing relationships.

“Your personal brand isn’t just a reflection of you. It is a reflection of how you see the world, yourself, and your work.” Craig says “ Plus people don’t realize that your style is just as much of a branding tool as it is a mindset tool for your ultimate success.”

This is so true! I have met hundreds of entrepreneurs and I’m always suprised when I meet someone who doesn’t put any effort into their outward appearance. This should also be true in the case of your headshot portraits. Don’t just look great in photos - carry that into your day-to-day life.

So here are the 5 most common mistakes entrepreneurs make when it comes to their personal style:

1. Not dressing the part. I don’t mean wearing gym clothes if you’re a personal trainer. I mean, we get it you’re a personal trainer, but look like the BOSS of personal trainers - dress like an authority in your industry. (Men this means, wear pants - not shorts. And women, leave the athletic clothing for the gym.)

2. Being too busy to maintain basic personal grooming. If you don’t have time to get a hair cut (ladies - having your roots touched up,) nails kept clean then what does that say about you putting the effort and time for your clients?

3. Complaining about how BUSY they are. Seriously? Too busy? That’s like saying, I have too much money in my bank account. NEXT!

4. Acting cheap. If you meet for a coffee meeting, buy COFFEE. Don’t walk in with your own coffee cup because you’re saving money.

5. Speak clearly. Ask questions. Don’t spend all your time talking about yourself. Smile! Be friendly and remember to make your potential client feel special.

Connect Your Story to Your Brand - Announcing the Annual Subscription | Headshot Photographer

When you tell your story through images, clients will GET you, your BRAND, and your WHY. The Annual Subscription will create a catalog of images that you can use DAILY for MONTHS so that you'll always have the perfect photo to engage your audience. As a result you'll get countless hours back that you might have spent scouring stock photography or creating boring text images on Canva. Imagine, you spending time focusing on your company and doing what you love best.

Your business and your brand should be evolving on a regular basis. The Annual Subscription removes all the stress of refreshing your image library. With a session planned for each quarter, you can ensure your images are always fresh and will give you lots of great content to share and increase the visibility of your brand.

If you've seen some of our client case studies posted on this blog as well as here you can get a sense of some of the variety we will be able to capture at multiple sessions.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES:

• Detailed pre-session consultation
• Brand strategy questionnaire
• Yearly booking in advance ( 1 per quarter, 4 per year)
• 3 vignettes/stories & 25+ images per session
• Unlimited commercial usage license
• 4 sessions year
• Preferred booking
• Locked-in pricing for the life of your subscription
• Monthly, quarterly or pay-in-full discount payments

Ready to elevate your brand to the next level? Fill out the form below and we will get in touch with you shortly!