The #1 Personal Branding Myth No One Is Talking About!

I’m going to let you in on a little secret, friend — there’s a super popular myth going around the industry when it comes to personal branding. I’ve seen too many people buy into this idea year-after-year and now it’s time for a little #realtalk.

If you don’t pay attention, it could have you spinning your wheels and seeing none of the results you deserve so let’s bust this personal branding myth and get you on the right track to creating a brand that delivers results, shall we?

THE MYTH

If I’m being totally honest, we have this misconception that if you build a fiercely authentic personal brand, then the clients will line up at your door ready to hand over the money. Sounds almost too good to be true, right?

Well, it is.

Instead, we have to be honest with ourselves and realize the brands that are just about one person don’t succeed. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again — if you build your brand around your story, your preferences, and your values alone then you unintentionally leave no space for your ideal client to meet you there.

#REALTALK – THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY

When you create a brand that is all about you, how can your ideal client envision themselves working alongside you or benefit from what you have to offer?

I’m sure you can relate to a brand that really drew you in with their personal story, but when they didn’t offer you a true connection or value, you lost interest. I know I’ve had this happen to me time and time again. In this busy life, there are so many people, brands and dogs craving our attention, but if there is no true value it’s easy to get lost in the noise.

Simply put, when you don’t leave room for your ideal client to join you in your own story, you’ve now created a personal brand that will lead to burnout and shouting to the masses.

Instead, if you create a personal brand that is about you, as the face of your brand and at the same time shares how your story fits into your ideal client’s journey, that’s when you truly create a successful authentic brand. Why? Because your ideal client can instantly see how your work fits into their own journey. And on top of that, they can see how your story, your values, or your personal experience can align with their story, their values, or their personal experiences, too.

LET’S DIG IN

Can you see how it’s not enough to build your brand solely around yourself? And can you also see why I’m so passionate about this topic?!

So let’s dig in and break the myth that you have to build your brand around your story, your preferences, and your values alone. And instead, help you see that you have to strategically examine how your personal brand can speak to your ideal client.

One of my favorite examples of building a personal brand that is as authentic as it is profitable is my boss lady friend, Emily Ley. Emily’s desire to find a planner that allowed her to simplify all the things on her plate brought her to create her own Simplified Planner! Now, she’s able to use that part of her own story and personal experience to inspire connection with fellow business owners, busy mommas, as well as women in all walks of life, who are looking for a planner that enables them to experience a similar definition of success.

Emily shared…

Her personal story: desire to simplify all the things on her plate

Her preferences: create a planner to write and organize

Her values: inspire connection with others who are looking for a similar definition of success

Emily’s ideal clients share…

Story: a desire to simplify life

Preferences: by organizing and planning out their schedule using Emily’s Simplified Planner

Values: to experience a similar definition of success

BUILDING AN AUTHENTIC PERSONAL BRAND

You see friends, there is a way to use your personal experience to connect on a deeper level with your ideal clients and build a personal brand that’s as authentic as it is profitable. You just have to strategically build a brand that authentically shares those values and allows room for your ideal client to share them alongside with you.

If you’re ready to build a personal brand that’s equal parts purposeful and profitable, then let’s chat about how we can work together!

I’m currently accepting new branding clients for early fall projects, and it would be a joy to craft a visual brand that reflects the heart of your life’s work. Get in touch here to schedule your complimentary consult call!