Don't Make these Personal Branding Mistakes - LAUNCH STRONG!

These are the top Personal Branding Mistakes you want to avoid. Whether you are building your personal brand from scratch or expanding your influence, these are for you. This video also gives tips on how to improve your efforts so you can grow online and attract more clients, sales, and opportunities. 

VIDEO SECTIONS

00:00 - Introduction
00:25 - Inconsistent Brand Message
01:32 - Inconsistent Brand Image
3:10 - Ignorant to Audience
5:57 - Doing Everything Yourself
7:07 - Ignoring Analytics
8:40 - Solving the Problems

Mistake #1: Inconsistent Branding

This occurs when you present yourself in multiple different ways, making it difficult for others to connect with a specific aspect of you or understand your unique purpose. It’s essential to clarify your messaging, vision, and the reasons behind what you do.

To address this, take the time to define your story and the message or purpose you wish to convey consistently. It's important for your audience to understand why you matter to them. Are you here to make them laugh, teach them something, or solve a problem? We need to know why we should subscribe and what sets you apart.

Without a clear brand mission, vision, and purpose, people are likely to scroll past you.

Mistake #2: Inconsistent Brand Image

There's still inconsistency in branding, particularly visually. You may have a clear message and understand why you're showing up, but if your visual representation varies, it can create a disconnect with your message.

Consider some of the biggest brands in the world; they are very consistent in how they present themselves. Take McDonald's, for example. Everyone knows McDonald's worldwide. Imagine driving up to a McDonald's and seeing blue arches instead of yellow—it's likely you wouldn't recognize it as McDonald's because of that signature golden arch.

The same principle applies to your brand. If you're frequently changing colors and visuals, people won't associate those changes with you. The key is to show up consistently. This consistency builds relationships, not just on an emotional level but also on an unconscious level. Think of it as a stamp—repeated exposure in a consistent manner reinforces brand recognition.

The more people see you presenting yourself in a certain way, the more likely they will remember your brand name. When they eventually seek a solution or product, you want to be top of mind. By making a lasting impression over time in a consistent manner, you'll ensure that they remember you.

Mistake #3: Being Ignorant to Your Audience's Desires

This should have been established in your branding regarding your message and target audience, but it’s crucial to keep them in mind at all times. It’s not about what you want to tell people; it’s about what they need to hear. Once they enter your world, you can share more of what you want, but to engage someone, you must understand their psychological state, what they’re looking for, their personality, and what attracts them.

Create content that addresses those aspects first. As they come into your world—whether they subscribe or join your mailing list—you then provide what they need. Initially, give them what they want, and once they’re in, deliver what they truly need.

For example, I often work with life coaches who say their audience is women needing to focus on their health. They want to share insights about spirituality and mindset for healing. The issue is that most people, when dealing with a problem, don’t automatically seek the spiritual root cause. They may take vitamins, seek pills, or visit doctors, often looking for external solutions.

Life coaches who are self-aware and recognize that root causes are usually emotional and spiritual may delve into overly spiritual or esoteric topics that don't resonate with their audience. This disconnect leaves their audience confused or uninterested.

To address this, you should speak to where they currently are. Acknowledge that the vitamins they’re taking may not be effective or explain why their current solutions aren’t working. By first recognizing their position, you can then capture their interest and guide them toward deeper transformations that you can offer. Always pay attention to your audience and know them well.

Mistake #4: Doing Everything Yourself

Number four is about handling tasks on your own that you shouldn’t. For instance, if you know design isn’t your strength, don’t attempt to build your own website—especially without getting feedback. If you're a service professional looking to charge, say, $200 an hour, or if you're offering programs priced at $2,000 to $10,000, your marketing, design, and branding need to accurately reflect that value. Otherwise, it can be a tough sell, as potential clients may perceive you as amateur or unprofessional, often without even realizing it.

Avoid doing things you know you don't excel at. If website building or design isn't your forte, hire someone who can. And if writing isn’t your strong suit, don’t just rely on AI tools like ChatGPT. While they’re helpful, it’s vital to get a second opinion from someone skilled in those areas to support you.

Mistake #5: Ignoring Analytics

One of the biggest mistakes is failing to monitor your brand and looking at your analytics. This is huge! I find that most businesses don't look at their analytics; they're not assessing how their content is being received. Whatever platform you're using—be it Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn—there’s a way to review how your content is performing.

Are you keeping track of your mailing list? How many people are opening your emails? If you're not doing these things, reach out so we can help you set everything up to effectively market yourself. If you're already marketing and not checking the feedback or monitoring the response to your branding, it’s like speaking into an empty chamber. You’re communicating but not really interacting to see how people are receiving your message.

I love analytics; I love data. It guides your next move! You might have sketched out a plan for a year, three months, or six months, but how do you know what to do after implementing something? How do you know if what you did worked? You have to measure that, and it will inform your next steps so you can continue to improve over time.

Get the Help You Need!

We’re here to help with branding, messaging, and the overall look. We can assist with your website and marketing, taking effective steps forward. If you need support in any of these areas, just reach out!