Understanding The Differences of Personal and Business Branding
A brand is more than just slapping a logo on your work and calling it a day; it's what people feel about the individual, company, product, or service.
Branding is crucial for you personally as well as your business. Branding is about setting yourself apart from your competitors, finding your target audience, and communicating your brand to the people who need to know you. It is about identifying the heart and soul of who you are and what motivates you in business.
Branding for your business essentially builds trust with your audience; it shows potential customers that you're an established, credible business. But, if done incorrectly, it can do the opposite. Therefore, branding is a long-term investment in the future of your business.
Personal branding can provide a foundation for your business brand; it's essential to understand the contrasts between the two, as existing and potential audiences often tend to be confused about the differences. So let's clear away any misconceptions.
Business Branding
Your business branding involves creating a distinct business concept that will stand out to your target customer base and differentiate your brand from competitors.
Personal Branding
A personal brand should not be ignored, especially for entrepreneurs or business owners. Personal branding is about an individual's personality, skills, experience, and behavior that defines their unique identity.
Examples of entrepreneurs who need personal branding:
Authors
Coaches
Artists
Political Figures
Youtuber Creators
What are the Main Differences?
So, now you know what they are, but what is the difference between the two types of branding?
Business branding focuses on the company rather than the person. The company or organization is at the forefront of the brand rather than the creator.
Business brands are less likely to have flexibility, personality, and development. However, the most significant benefit that business brands have is for selling. It can be easier to sell a business brand than a personal one.
Personal branding is about you, the creator, leader, or head of the business. People will recognize your name before they actually meet you, which will help you gain the reputation of an expert in your field. The best PR is by word of mouth. The key to success with your personal brand is to remain consistent with your brand voice, image, and tone.
Entrepreneurs Often Overlap the Two
Entrepreneurs know their business isn't conducted solely on their products and services but by their character, integrity, and personal relationships they build with others. A strong entrepreneur would understand how people perceive them and use them to their benefit. Remember, people don't buy from a business; they buy from people they like and trust.
As an entrepreneur, you should focus on personal and business branding but keep them separate. It isn't always this clear-cut, of course, especially for entrepreneurs. Like Oprah or Mark Zuckerberg, your business is closely tied to your identity. Ideally, your personal brand is a platform for sharing and promoting your passion while allowing your business to continue operating as usual.
