Tune in to the full episode below to hear more from me on my personal experience with integrating personal branding into my design business, and why I think you should make it a priority in your design career.
Having spent the last year dabbling in personal branding and witnessing its importance in today’s marketing landscape, I’m thrilled to share my insights with you.
Whether you’re a designer, a business owner, or a multifaceted entrepreneur, personal branding can help you connect authentically with your clients, expand your opportunities, and allow your brand to grow alongside you.
Let’s dive in to why personal branding matters and my top tips for integrating it into your design career.
Why Personal Branding Matters
Why is personal branding crucial for your design studio or creative business? People buy from people. While your portfolio is important, clients also want to know who they are entrusting with their brand. They need to feel connected and trust you. If your goal is to work with more aligned clients and possibly increase your prices, being open about who you are and what you bring to the table is essential.
Tips to Integrate Personal Branding into Your Design Career
Understand the Emotional Connection
We are emotional buyers. Especially if you’re a millennial or younger, the emotional connection to a brand is important. Values, beliefs, and personal touches play a huge role in making a buying decision. Sharing facets of your personal life can help create this connection.
Your Brand Should Evolve With You
As a multifaceted entrepreneur, your interests and passions will evolve over time, and so should your brand. Bringing personality and personal experiences into your business allows for smooth transitions when you pivot or expand.
Start by Sharing Your Interests
Don’t feel like you need to share every detail of your personal life. Start small by sharing interests that resonate with your clientele. For instance, if you’re passionate about productivity while balancing motherhood, share insights on how you manage both.
Craft Your Big Vision
Reflect on where you want to be in three to five years. Knowing your long-term goals can guide your personal branding strategy. For me, I wanted to be 50% passive in my business through courses and education, which helped shape my current approach.
Define What You Want to Be Known For
Determine your differentiator. What legacy do you want to leave? For example, my goal is to help people build businesses around their dream lives, infusing both life and business coaching.
Align Your Content
Understand that not every post needs to tie directly to your design work. Mixing in posts about your personal life can humanize your brand. However, be strategic to maintain coherence.
Experiment and Adapt
Put yourself out there and see what resonates with your audience. Don’t shy away from experimenting. Use metrics and feedback to refine your personal branding approach.
Highlight Strong Personal Statements
Share personal achievements and lessons that align with your brand’s values. Doing so can attract opportunities like collaborations, podcasts, or speaking engagements.
If you need help structuring your vision and goals, check out my free course – Goals by Design. It will guide you in creating a custom growth map, aligning yearly, quarterly, and weekly goals with your big vision.
Bringing personal branding into your design career is a game-changer. It allows you to connect more deeply with clients, open up new opportunities, and ensure your brand evolves with you. Don’t be afraid to experiment, share personal stories, and find what resonates most with your audience. At the end of the day, it’s your brand, and you have the autonomy to shape it in any way that aligns with your dream life and business.
