6 Steps to Reinvent Your Personal Brand
You’ve diligently focused on your personal brand for years — but what if you now want to reinvent yourself?Your personal brand is a combination of what people think of you and what you actually are.
We are meant to change and evolve. I for one am not in the same place I was in my first career. I have definitely changed. What’s the saying, with age come wisdom? Well, most of the time.
Here are 5 steps to reinvent your personal brand:
Acknowledge Where You Are Now. We are the results of our experiences. But, we do control our destiny. So if you aren’t where you want to be now, that’s ok. You can still get there.
What’s Your Destination? Start by writing a detailed description of where you want to go, and the knowledge and skills needed to get there. When you learn the skills you need you will gain the confidence necessary to start identifying (and sharing) yourself in your new identity.
Leverage Your Points of Difference. What makes you different from anyone else? That’s what people will remember, and you can use it to your advantage.
Develop a Your Narrative. It’s human nature to have many interests, to seek new experiences, and to want to develop new skills over the course of your life. It’s important to share how your past fits into your present.
Reintroduce Yourself. The vast majority of people, may not be paying much attention to you. That means their perceptions are probably a few years out of date — and it’s not their fault. It’s like going to a high school reunion. Many of your former classmates have an impression of who you are based on their interactions with you in high school. We all know, that’s very unlikely to still be an accurate perception. Therefore, you have to make a concerted effort to get the word out of what you and your personal brand represent.
Prove Your Worth. Here’s where the know, like, trust come into play. I might know you are a mortgage broker, but unless I see proof of your skills, I may hesitate to put my own reputation on the line by sending you referrals. That’s where blogs, podcasts, videos and other social media platforms come into play. It’s critical to let potential clients see what you’re about and understand your your approach before they make a large commitment.
I hope this was helpful! Please send me a message and let me know if any of this resonated with you.
If you want to learn more about personal branding, I invite you to check out my ebook OWN IT: A Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Your Personal Brand.
If you want to get your own quick headshot with fast turnaround - contact the studio now!
3 Ways to Kick Imposter Syndrome
What’s Imposter Syndrome? It is a core negative belief that you are inadequate and unworthy. This way of thinking can greatly damage your professional growth.
Because you fear being exposed as an impostor, you may do things to avoid embarrassment and humiliation. For example, you may procrastinate and never finish a project to avoid the shame of criticism.
It can also turn you into a to-do-list addict, which is just a trick to keep yourself feeling validated.
Overall, the fear generated by not believing in yourself can keep you playing small and hold you back from growing and advancing in your career.
Don’t worry… you can change this way of thinking! Here’s some helpful steps:
1. GO ON OFFENSE
One of the best professional and personal development skills you can develop is learning how to request and receive constructive feedback.
While getting random unsolicited advice can sometimes be scary, research shows when we proactively solicit feedback, we perceive it as being more helpful.
Look for opportunities to show your work to other people — whether with your team or with a trusted mastermind group of other entrepreneurs who support you.
2. SAY IT AND BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE
Those with Impostor Syndrome commonly undermine themselves by using minimizing language like:
“Oh, it’s no big deal”
“That was nothing”
“I was just lucky…”
By demeaning your accomplishments, you’re diminishing yourself.
3. WELCOME PRAISE
Stop pushing compliments away. Accepting compliments or accolades for your work is not egotistical, despite what your inner critic might be telling you.
The next time you’re given a compliment, internalize it as fact. Don’t judge yourself against what was said, or analyze it for deeper meaning.
Gracefully accept compliments and leave it at that. There’s no reason to launch into an explanation of how it was “nothing,” or it was just luck.
Want to learn more? Check out my new ebook OWN IT - A Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Your Personal Brand.
Personal Brand Action Plan
In my new e-book I give you a step-by-step Action Plan to help you develop your own personal brand. Every one is different. To have a valued personal brand, you don’t necessarily have to even be the owner of the company you work for. Your Personal Brand is how people see you - how you want to be seen and how you can ultimately become successful in what you do.
Personal Branding E-Book: OWN IT!
So excited! This labor of love is finished and launches March 1st for download! This PDF EBook is a step-by-step guide on how to develop your personal brand. I’m on IGTV and answering questions and would LOVE to hear from you!
Personal Brand Subscription for Service Based Entrepreneurs
The Personal Brand Photo Subscription is for service based entrepreneurs who are looking for new branded content throughout the year. Two or three sessions within 12-months and download 10 great photos each session. This perks of this subscription is to:
Provide variety: On your session day, you’ll be able to have unlimited outfits and we’ll visit 2 locations of your choice.
Exceed your goals: If you goals change frequently then your photos need to as well. Or if you have honed in on your goals, we will create relevant photos to communicate your businesses priorities.
Save money: Who doesn’t want to save money? Subscriptions give you the advantage of a lower per-session cost. A monthly payment plan is also available upon request.
A custom library: How nice will it be to have your own personal library of images you can use on your website, social media platform, presentations, etc.
This is the most economical way to work with me on personal brand photography in 2021, there are ONLY 8 SPOTS available and doors close Monday 2/15.
If you’d like to learn more, book a 15 minute call or contact me by filling out the form below.
Why it's Personal Branding GOLD when people say "I've heard of you."
You’re on a speed networking zoom call, you get put into a breakout room with someone you’ve never met before and they say…. “I’ve heard of you.” Well guest what? That means your personal brand has VALUE! Of course we’re hoping this is a positive thing, not that you’re known for the wrong reasons.
Word-of-mouth marketing has real capital in personal branding. It means your brand is working for you in the background on your behalf. It also the difference from cold-calling to having a personal referral from a trusted contact.
So what do you need to do for people to “hear about you” and recognize your personal brand?
Here are some tips:
1. Build your online profile on LinkedIn - Set up a profile that engages others, has a great professional headshot and make sure that you have a robust summary section with keywords related to your target audience. Engage your audience by writing frequent posts on your area of expertise.
2. Keep networking - Even during our new norm of Zoom Networking, try and connect with as many people as possible. Stay active on LinkedIn and other social media platforms where your clients hang out. Follow up afterwards with a phone call or even handwritten note.
3. Engage - Be sure to be active on social media with your contacts. Like, share and comment on the content they are posting. This will help raise your profile among your target audience, but it needs to be done on a daily basis. If you do it too randomly, people are more likely to forget about you.
4. Connect through your affiliations - Tap into your networks, even if it’s just the alumni association of your college or other schools you’ve attended. Share your news with their monthly or annual newsletters.
As you start applying these tips, you will probably find other ways to become more well known for what you do. Clients will be willing to pay a premium for your services and they will be more likely to know, like and trust you. By having personal brand familiarity is priceless.
Choosing a Professional Headshot Photographer
Have you been noticing that some of your peers and competition have killer headshots? Is the photo you are using to represent you not professional? Out of date? Or just doesn’t look like you in 2020?
Finding a professional headshot photographer doesn’t have to be a difficult task if you know what to look for. When you search online for ‘best headshot photographers near me,’ a TON of options will pop up. But, how do you know they are good and the right fit for you.
Below are my 5 things to keep in mind when choosing a professional headshot photographer-
Define Your Scope First
What are you planning to use your headshots for? An experienced branding photographer will know how to customize your session to give you headshots that match your professional, personality and style.
Check Out Their Previous Work
A professional photographer will have an extensive portfolio for you to look at. Go through their website and make sure that they are experienced with taking the kind of headshots you want.
If you are looking for a creative headshot taken at a specific location, but they have only included the studio work in their portfolio, they may not be the right fit for you.
Share your ideas. A good photographer will listen carefully and collaborate with you to ensure that they have understood.
Choose Someone Who Focuses On Headshots Only
You will find different types of photographers in the market, for example, family photographers, wedding photographers, etc. But, there are skills and experience a professional headshot photographer has to make you look great. Not everyone is a model and knows how to pose for a camera. You have to trust your photographer that they know how to make you look great.
Look for the photographer who focuses on headshots.
Read The Online Reviews Carefully
When picking a photographer, reviews and testimonials are important. Read the reviews to know what previous clients have said and know what you can expect from the photographer. While reading the reviews, focus on the comments about communication with the photographer before the shoot.
Communicate With Them Before Your Photoshoot
If the photographer is local, you could consult with them in-person or via Zoom. Meet with them to agree on the mood of the headshots. Discuss the details, like what to wear and the location of the shot. A professional photographer will listen to you and guide you with their experience.
Book a Mini Session for Your Kids and Family
SOLD OUT
We announced our Fall Mini Schedule to our newsletter subscribers first and I’m excited to say - thank you! We are almost sold out! Contact the studio to grab one of the remaining sessions left.
Brand Visibility and Why You Need It
The business world is crowded and complex. There are a million brands bombarding you with information, vying for your attention through email, social media and even TV commercials. Consumers are highly distracted with all of the noise. Customers are more educated on their buying options and more sophisticated in their decision-making process thanks to search engines like Google.
So how do you capture your client's attention in a noisy world?
It’s not enough to just advertise what your business does. If you want to build a stand-out brand, you must build a relationship with your customer through consistent brand visibility. This means showing up often and in a relevant way.
To win the hearts and minds of today’s modern consumer, storytelling and visibility are key. Hiding behind our websites, our offerings no longer works.
To take that sometimes-scary leap and boldly show up in our marketing you will become the trusted face your brand. When you open up and share the many layers of yourself with your audience you are building that know-like-trust factor.
Powerful brands have depth, meaning and story — and that starts with YOU!
Why does visibility matter so much?
You’ll Get Noticed. DUH! But seriously — your competition is fierce. Markets are saturated. And there are so many people doing the exact same thing as you. To rise above the noise, you need to be SEEN. The more visible you make yourself, the more you’ll be remembered.
Having photos of yourself on your website and on social media will help boost your brand awareness and build a connection with your audience. It demonstrates how you’re different from the rest, and will showcase your personality and vibe. These elements are essential for making you memorable (especially when it comes time for your audience to hire or refer!).
You’ll Develop Brand Depth. Using visual storytelling to add dimension to your brand and to develop a relationship with your audience creates brand depth.
When you share your message through video or photography, you can communicate your authentic story clearly. You’ll convey your purpose, your vision, and your values in a quick and engaging manner. Your audience will understand so much more about you than just the offerings you sell. By putting yourself and your story out into the world, you’ll create a brand with meaning that captures the heart of your consumer. It will inspire your audience, making them loyal fans.
Be a Leader. Research shows that the visibility of a brand creates perceptions of success. It strengthens your brand reputation. The more you share your expertise, the more the world will view you as an authority and professional. You will build credibility, trust and viewed as a leader.
Get out there and share your knowledge! Find speaking engagements, be a guest on a podcast and even write guest blog posts. These types of opportunities will create trust and differentiate you from the newbies and the hobbyists. Leaders don’t hide, they speak, teach, empower and support. By being the face of your brand, you can solidify this leadership status.
We can no longer rely on traditional marketing tools to build our brands. The goal is to develop strong consumer relationships by being transparent with your story and visible to your audience.
If you want to make an impact and build a breakthrough business, don’t miss the opportunity to become the FACE of your brand. It’s a critical element of success in today’s modern marketplace.
Ready to take your visibility to the next level? What if you scaled up your influence so much that you become the household name that comes to mind in your industry?
Fill out the form below and set up a Discovery Call - and let’s get you out there!