028 - Why creatives still need a personal brand in 2021
By the time she was done with me, I was frustrated, defeated, and angry. I was offering my first weekend workshop in New Orleans, which was a considerably larger investment than my typical afternoon workshops.
One potential customer, we’ll call her Cathy, called to learn more about it. And for the next hour or so, she gave me every reason why she would not want to buy from me.
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She told me I was not worth the price. She told me I was risky. She told me that she could do better. And of course, after all that, she hung up. I never heard from her again.
As I think back to that time frame and incident, it makes me think of one of the big mistakes we make as entrepreneurs — we work on building a business but not a brand. A business says you are technically and legally ready to sell a product. The brand gives customers a reason to choose you.
Now as we emerge the pandemic, there is even greater reason to build a business with a personal brand.
Five reasons why
You become more visible online. As your ideal customers search for what you offer, you are more likely to show up.
Your online relationships will flourish. As people come back to your website and social media more frequently, you have more opportunities to interact and build enduring relationships.
Your credibility will grow. Your personal brand allows you to demonstrate your competencies and where you excel. That builds your credibility.
You’ll build confidence. It helps you learn what you do well, what your audience wants from you, and how you can deliver what they want.
You Control Your Brand Image. How will people describe you to others? You can help define that.
