I used to have very weak branding (ironic right?)
And this made it hard for me to stand out in my market.
That’s because strong branding = high perceived value
And weak branding = low perceived value
The difference between the two?
Clarity.
A strong brand is clear in its…
- Promises
- Actions
- Messages
- Looks
- Values
A weak brand is the opposite, and this was my problem.
I wasn’t clear with what I did: I offered branding, but people mistook me for a social media marketer)
I wasn’t clear with my ideal clients: I targeted everyone and I kept changing my target market)
I wasn’t clear with my messaging: I’d talk about different things every week
I wasn’t clear with my visual identity: I redesigned my brand every year
I was confused with my brand, and so was my audience.
I ended up working with clients I didn’t like, offering services I didn’t enjoy, and creating content that was against my values and personality.
Of course, being a branding specialist meant constantly working on my brand.
So when I finally nailed it?
Everything started falling into place.
I attracted clients aligned with my personality, values, and work ethic…
I worked on projects I enjoyed so much that work didn’t feel like work…
I no longer had to negotiate with my rates because I was able to create a relationship founded by trust.
All because I became clear with my brand, who we’re for, and why we exist.
So if you’re having a hard time standing out, ask yourself this first:
Is my branding clear?