So many times people go through their day and never think about a personal brand. I am sure that small business owners(brick and mortar, direct sales, crafts/hobbies, e-commerce…) think about it often but wonder too if it is really important.
Well I have been in direct sales for 7 years and a small business owner with an ETSY shop for 13 years and all the while I ponder and think about my brand all the time.
What is a brand? It is what links the company to the customer, what the customer recognizes and says YES that is________ shop/business.
When we think of corporate brands it doesn’t take us long if I were to put a photo or color or tag line for us to connect the dots. “Just do it!” what would I be referring to? Nike brand, “I’m loving it!” yep that would be McDonald’s when you see a purple bell you automatically think…. Taco Bell. A green circle with a woman in the center is Starbucks and so on we could go on all day but you get the idea
To a company a brand is very important it is their fingerprint in the world it is their identity.
So when individuals join direct sales companies why wouldnt they just adopt the companies brand why would they need their own?
Imagine if you will, you have joined a direct sales business and you have done just that adopted the companies branding their colors, their font everything is about the company for which you represent(not such a bad thing either)
You are with the company for quite a while and never really find great success, want to know why, you are fading into the background of the thousands of other reps out there.
A personal brand will help you to stand apart from everyone else will help you to be recognized apart from the company you represent.
So your email is directly affiliated with the company, your social media is directly related to the company, your website everything is directly related to the company you represent, and one day you grow bored with the company and decide to move on to a new adventure… but wait everything thing you have your entire virtual identity is wrapped up in this company. What if the company closes the same thing everything you have is wrapped up in this company and now what you have to start all over!
If you develop a personal brand you wont have to worry about blending in with everyone else or being tied to something which may be very temporary.
It has taken years to get my brand to where it is now but I can honestly say that now people recognize “redefine your closet” Oh yea she is the girl who sells shape-wear and intimate apparel has a blog and also sells jewelry! I am able to blog, represent two completely different companies and still have my own brand!
I encourage anyone in business even direct sales to do the same develop your own branding your own logo. It is important to not copy off others to really develop your own unique branding and logo.
There are numerous articles out there to help you to do that and I am sure I will have a future post that will walk you through the steps to develop your brand.
But for now just know that it is important and begin your research and data collection to see what best fits you personally and professionally!