Personal Branding for Female Entrepreneurs
Becoming an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. Especially if you come from a corporate background, becoming your own boss is no joke!
Beyond the basics of entrepreneurship, learning how to brand yourself is key to standing out in crowded markets. Personal branding for female entrepreneurs looks a little different than a lot of the “macho” branding out there (you know what we mean!). Learning how to market yourself and establish your brand identity might be a learning curve, so here are our best tips on personal branding for women.
BONUS: BEST FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
Why Personal Branding is Important
It seems like everyone is an “influencer” these days. From Instagram to TikTok and even LinkedIn, lots of professionals are focusing on building a recognizable brand – and for good reason. Standing out in a sea of competitors takes more than catchy content and fun photos. Branding yourself means providing value and establishing trust. The goal is to become the go-to person in your field!
Personal branding is important for a few key reasons:
1. Differentiation. This one might seem obvious, but consumers don’t know the difference between you and the next gal! Clearly pointing out what makes you different allows your audience to see your unique qualities, expertise, and offerings.
2. Credibility and Trust. A strong personal brand enhances credibility and builds trust with customers (and future stakeholders!). It might feel like you have to brag a little, and that’s okay! Communicate your expertise and track record to establish yourself as an authority in your field.
3. Visibility. Building a personal brand increases visibility and recognition. Share your story, tips and tricks, or thought leadership consistently to gain traction. This is especially important if you’re hoping to secure future investors or hire employees who want to get a feel for your organization. (P.S. - Virtual assistants can be instrumental in getting your branding going. Here’s a breakdown of how much it costs to hire a VA.)
4. Networking and Partnerships: Growing your network never hurts! A recognizable brand can attract opportunities for collaboration and networking. You never know who you’ll meet when you put yourself out there.
How to Map Out Your Personal Brand
Figuring out how you want to present yourself to the world is the fun (and scary!) part of personal branding for female entrepreneurs. While you want your personality to shine through, you’ll also need to maintain a level of professionalism, not to mention highlight how great you are at what you do! There are a lot of components to balance, but by taking the time to map out your brand, you’ll be well on your way to a successful personal brand.
Identify your values
What are some of your personal values that carry over into your business? If you’ve never taken the time to map these out, now is a great time to start. Your values could be as simple as “integrity” or “honesty,” or as specific as “I only work with clients who I know will follow through on their commitments.” Whether you consciously realize it or not, these values will come through in your personal brand.
Define what makes you unique
Reflect on your experiences and how that’s shaped your professional path. How have these set you apart from others in your field? Identify your unique strengths and expertise that you can leverage to build your brand.
Nail down your target audience
If you’re speaking to everyone, you’re speaking to no one. Get clear on who you want to serve, not just who’s likely to buy from you.
Define your identity
Figuring out your brand identity includes things like your personality, writing style, and visual branding elements like logo, colors, and imagery. Do you want to be fun? Serious? Stylish? This is the place for self-expression to shine through.
Stay consistent.
Building a strong personal brand requires that you stay consistent in all your channels – including your website, social media profiles, networking events, and presentations. This helps continue to build your recognition and helps your audience trust you.
Examples of Successful Personal Branding by Female Entrepreneurs
All you need to do is open Instagram and, voila, personal branding is everywhere! There are lots of celebrities who have done personal branding really well. Here’s what we like about their styles.
Martha Stewart
Martha has established herself as elegant and accessible from day one. She knows her audience (women who like to cook, garden, or style their home), and her image makes them want to be like her. She’s crafted a fantastic image as the home and garden expert. Even her five-month stay in prison hasn’t damaged her powerful brand!
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah’s personal brand is so strong that she’s become a household name. While she rose to fame through her talk show (many call her “The Queen of Talk”), most people think of her as strong, powerful, and authentic. It’s allowed her to branch into areas way beyond the realm of talk TV, taking her recognizable brand with her.
Kylie Jenner
If this name made you roll your eyes, that’s just a testament to how distinct her brand is. Kylie doesn’t shy away from what many people consider “excessive” – the wild houses, clothing, and makeup, and lip kits are just a start. She’s leaned into being the girl that people are jealous of and somehow admire – and it’s only made her brand stronger. Love her or love to hate her, Kylie is endlessly watchable.
Next Steps
If building your brand on top of running your business feels like a stretch, we get it. Consider these top 23 apps for solopreneurs to help save time and energy as you’re crafting your personal brand. And of course, if you need help, She’s a Given is ready to connect you with the Virtual Assistant of your dreams! Reach out any time to get started finding the perfect VA for you.
