HOW TO PUT THE YOU INTO YOUR BRAND

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Hello you! With this blog I want to speak to you all about living your brand and giving it the you factor. You’re the driving force behind it and you have to embody it because ultimately your brand is you. You will always be right in the middle of everything, whether that’s ups, downs, little wins or big wins. It’s all on you, which I’ve got to say is one of the most challenging, but amazingly rewarding things about being an entrepreneur.

But it’s crucial to remember that your branding, your logos and your website need to work for you, not the other way around. This is your passion, so you need to maintain that love and energy for what you’re doing. If you do, you’ll smash all those goals in no time and create a brand that’s as unique as you are.

FIND YOURSELF

So, the million-dollar question is, how do you find the you your brand needs? Well, let me try and help you with that. You need to start by finding your message. What is your niche? And why are people going to come to you rather than someone else?

And this is where the know, like, trust, factor really comes into its own. What sets most brands apart, especially if the product or service is similar, is the connection that brand has with its audience. It’s something that people are craving more than ever in the modern, digital world, and it’s an advantage that all of us, as entrepreneurs, have over big, faceless corporations. You can put your heart and soul into everything and be the sole point of contact for your ideal client. How? By using every touchpoint like Instagram stories, Instagram TV and Facebook Live to create a genuine, emotional connection.

So how does that work? Take a look at some of the most successful people in business, and you’ll see that they have a huge connection with their audience. They share their story, some through books or TV, others through PR or on their packaging, but whatever tools they use they automatically connect with potential clients.

Humanising yourself makes you seem like a real, genuine person, rather than someone who is just trying to sell a product and make a profit. By real and genuine I mean someone your ideal client can imagine themselves being friends with, and that is powerful. Not only that, your story could really help or inspire someone, because you never know who’s out there listening, watching, or even reading.

My top tip would be to always be yourself and channel your story, wherever it started, to inspire your brand and create those relationships with your ideal client. Combine that with an amazing idea, which solves people’s pain points and you’ll not only have a brand that people buy into, but more importantly one that people buy from.

I’VE BEEN RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE

Those of you who know me know I am all about being authentic, not that overused buzzword, but just that I am always going to be 100% honest and I am no different when I speak to you or speak to people I know well. Normally at this part of a blog someone would make up a story as an example where by there is a fictional character, but not here.

That’s not what my brand’s about. No chance. Why? Because as I always tell my potential clients and followers, and as the sub-heading suggests, I’ve been right where they are, where you are, and my story is right at the heart of everything I do. So, I want to share it, no holds barred, and show you how I used the challenges I’ve faced to design a life I love.

I didn’t have the easiest upbringing and childhood. My dad wasn’t the nicest chap. In fact, that’s a bit of an understatement really, but I’ve always been a firm believer on what happens when you are younger you can choose to take either way. I chose to use it to make me stronger.

I was the only one in my family to go to University and when I graduated, I started my life as a 9 to 5 gal (although when do we ever really do a 9 to 5). Between the age of 21 and 25, I was made redundant four times. I was never in a job for year. It was tough, scrambling around for money and not knowing how we would keep the roof over our heads, but I always picked myself back up and came back stronger than ever. I got another job, and another job, I guess that’s just the fighter in me.

After all of that I finally found my place as a manager on the art desk for a magazine, but you know what, I soon got itchy feet. I always did really. I soon worked out that it was because I just didn’t feel challenged enough. My Grandma had always said to me, and she reiterated it massively before she passed away that I was so much more than what I was doing.

That always resonated with me. And still does to this day. I think it always will.

So, I started my first business and named it after her. I didn’t get everything right, and I was by no means perfect, but I knew I was good at what I was doing. I learned a LOT, overcame a lot of challenges and I shocked myself because within a few months I was able to leave my 9-5. It picked up that quickly and you know why? Work, work, work and more work. I put sooooo much effort in, grafted all the hours god sent and pushed and pushed to make it happen. It wasn’t easy. And yes, I was exhausted, but it got to me where I needed to me. And the rewards were more than worth it, if I told you I was chuffed it would be another big understatement. More importantly, I was hooked. No itchy feet, no feeling unchallenged, I knew the entrepreneur life was for me.

Then I got a coach and pushed things to another level. I started Branding by Nicki and I’ve never looked back. I’ve also always had a need to help people, which I guess comes from always being the rock for my family from such a young age. It’s in my nature and the buzz I get when I help women to build brands is like no other!

Now? I am successful, confident and yes, I am going to say it…SMASHING IT! I am on track for my goals this year, I have some exciting things coming up (which I can’t wait to share with you all soon) and becoming my own boss is easily the best decision I’ve ever made.

So there you go, that’s my story and that’s how I got here, writing this blog to you. And I guess what I am trying to tell you with all of this is that if you put the work in now, you can use what’s happened to you to make you the unique brand that you are. You run your business, don’t let your business run you.
Before I love you and leave you I want to sign off with one of my favourite quotes from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos: “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

So, use your story, tailor it to suit your ideal client, and always consider what you want people to say about you when you’re not around.

Nicki x

If you want to hear more from me, stories from people just like you, and get access to a whole host of brand tips and support, then my community The B Studio on Facebook will be right up your street. Check it out and I look forward to meeting you soon.

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