Discover Your Brand Brilliance in 4 Steps
Feature by Mallika Malhotra
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind when you’re a solopreneur. We find ourselves stuck in the busy doing all of the things on our own, and not always taking a step back to look at the big picture.
Yet the secret to building a strong brand is having a solid sense of self, understanding your strengths and owning your power. Finding time to ask the important brand questions to gain clarity on your brand story is vital.
The more you dive in and discover what sets you apart, the better you’ll be able to communicate your uniqueness and build meaningful relationships with your audience. When you know your authentic story inside and out, you can avoid being a copycat or creating a brand that’s boring and bland. You also kick imposter syndrome to the curb and gain confidence in your value.
If you’re ready to take your brand to the next level, it’s time to discover the qualities that make you shine brighter than the rest! The good news is you already have everything you need inside of you. You just have to make an active effort to discover, create, and build your best brand.
Follow these four steps to discover a brilliant brand that is crystal clear to your audience and makes you feel confident to share it with the world. I want to give you the tools to define your strengths and ignite your passions.
Step 1 : Identify Your Strengths
Let’s start by gathering your skills and abilities. These are the things that you’ve learned throughout your life whether you paid for it or not. List out your training, degrees, and credentials from past and present.
What are you trained in? What do you do better than the rest?
What previous work experience do you have that can leverage into your current business?
What do people compliment you about that you do exceptionally well?
What comes naturally to you?
TO DO : Make your list and revel in all the experience you have accumulated. Then circle 1-3 talents you can leverage in your current business.
Now take it a step further — brainstorm how you can add these skills to your brand narrative. Is there an opportunity to highlight these strengths in your bio?
Step Two : Define Your Values
Sit down and think about your core philosophies and beliefs — the ideas that shape every aspect of your business. They serve as your GPS that guides your brand story, business actions, behaviors, and choices.When expressed to your audience, these values will be the spark that attracts them to you. People like to buy from people who inspire them, so your values can be the key to that connection.
What does your brand stand for?
What is most important to you in life and business?
What do you believe in? What do you NOT believe in?
What are you putting a stake in the ground for when it comes to your business?
TO DO : Take a piece of paper and create two columns that read “I believe” and “I don’t believe”.
Do a brain dump for 15 minutes and write down all the things that come to mind.
Then, find a way to creatively share your values. Can you create an Instagram story sharing 3 things you believe in and 3 things that you don’t?
Step Three : Communicate Your Passions
It’s time to consider the things that get you excited and those things you have strong opinions about. Personal or professional topics that you love to learn and speak about. If you have a unique point of view, embrace it! Don’t apologize for your beliefs or your stance on certain topics as long as you are being genuine. You don’t have to appeal to everyone. Remember, brands that are polarizing are often the most memorable! When do you feel most alive and most creative?
What topics fire you up?
What do you hate or want to change about your industry?
What themes light you up and fill your heart with happiness?
What are you constantly searching online or reading about?
TO DO : Think hard about what makes you FEEL something when it comes to your business. What pushes you, drives you, upsets you, fires you up? Can you take a stance on something controversial?
Time to step out and share your thoughts! Create an Instagram post sharing your strong opinion. You can start the caption with, “Agree or disagree? I am passionate about….”
Step Four : Showcase Your Personality
Your vibe attracts your tribe. This is your authentic character and style that builds an emotional connection with your audience. Think about the feelings you want to demonstrate when it comes to your business. Remember people often buy based on emotion and their heart, so your personality can be a deciding factor.
What emotions do people feel when interacting with your brand?
What kind of impression do you make?
What do your customers love about you?
How do you make people feel when they interact with you?
TO DO : Brainstorm five descriptive words that you would use to describe yourself and your brand. Now ask a few friends, clients, and peers for their top adjectives. Was there any overlap? What stands out?
With these descriptive words in mind, visit your website and see if those words are expressed through the look and feel of your site. Yes or no?
After you’ve answered all the questions in each step, look at your responses as a starting point to developing your brand message. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make 100% sense to you right now. Branding is an ongoing process, never one and done.
Just by following the steps above, you’ll gain insight into your story. Use this intel to develop a brand narrative that feels authentic and prevents you from looking like another clone in your industry. You are on your way to build a brand with soul, story and depth.
About the Author:
Mallika Malhotra is The Brand CEO, an award-winning branding expert, confidence-stirring mentor, dynamic speaker, and author. For years, she worked in corporate advertising on big brands like L’Oreal, Oil of Olay, and Hidden Valley Ranch. Now she helps women entrepreneurs master their message, stand out in their crowded market, and develop brands that are magnetic, memorable and money-making. She’s on a mission to empower women to unleash their potential so they can achieve leadership and success. Learn more about her at www.instagram.com/mallikamalhotra.co.
All images taken by https://www.marissaelisecampbell.com.