Whether you are conscious of it or not, branding is a powerful part of the industry. Every time you meet a new client or offer a service, you’re marketing your brand—you! You are your brand; it is what you are selling to your clients. And, your brand is what makes the difference in your clients coming to you and not the competitor.
Your brand is who you are and how people perceive you to be. Whether you’re starting out or already established, there are a few key things you need to do in order to create, or define your brand.
Personal Brands
To start branding, you need to create a foundation to build your brand on by asking yourself a few questions. What are you selling to your clients? High-end haircuts? Are you promising pain-free waxing? Your brand is your niche in the industry and will set you apart. You don’t need to own a business to have a brand. Your brand is going to be based on who you are and what you are selling.
Business Brands
Similar to personal brands, your business brand needs to be what your business is representing. Is your spa all about relaxation or are you offering the world’s fastest facial? The business brand needs have a clear message. If you hire employees, everyone needs to be on the same page of what your business’s brand is and how to get that across to your clientele. Your brand includes everything from the name of your business, to your website, and even your waiting area.
Marketing
Both personal and business brands should have a good marketing strategy, which includes a logo, and a sometimes, a tagline. They should represent your brand, be meaningful, and represent your personality. If you are not interested in a catchy tagline, maybe your brand is a simple mission statement representing who you are. Whatever you chose, make sure to market to your audience via social media, your website, business and services cards—these all reflect on your brand.
You’re in this industry to offer your clients your unique skills, but you need to realize the importance of creating a brand and how that can show our clients why you are unique. Don’t let the idea of developing your brand overwhelm you, just know your brand will give you recognition in the industry and will set you apart from all your competitors.
