The world of business can be quite intimidating, especially for first-timers. It’s no big surprise that it’s challenging for those who are just starting out to become really successful right out of the gate.
After all, they’re competing against tons of other entrepreneurs who just happened to get there first.
Naturally, these businesses need to set themselves apart from the competition. That’s why we have what we call personal branding — it’s essentially what makes you, well, you. It’s creating an image of yourself that you want others to see and think about when they look at you or hear your name. Take care of your personal brand, and people will be much more likely to trust you, or at the very least listen to what you have to say.
There are many effective — albeit costly — ways for a startup brand to make itself known to its audience. Marketing and advertising play a vital role in getting the word out about a new business; however, a business at the startup stage understandably won’t have enough funds to compete with their industry’s old-timers.
Fortunately, social media has levelled the playing field when it comes to marketing. Nowadays, whether you’re a small-scale startup or a large-scale enterprise, all you really need to have are a basic knowledge of what makes social media and the internet tick, a willingness to try a new method of marketing, and the patience to wait for long-term (and definitely significant) gains.
With a decent social media presence, you can build a pool of leads and partners, become well-known for your specific niche, and be known as a trusted figure in the community.
I’ve compiled some best practices for using social media to create a positive brand image for yourself, even during your startup phase:
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