In the competitive landscape of entrepreneurship, it is essential to build a strong personal brand to stand out from the crowd and achieve long-term success. As a solopreneur, your personal brand serves as a powerful tool for establishing credibility, attracting clients and differentiating yourself in the market. The question for entrepreneurs running a business solo is, how can you take your personal brand to the next level?
Below, 17 Forbes Coaches Council members share vital steps solopreneurs can take to elevate their personal brand and why it is vital for their business growth. From defining a unique value proposition to leveraging digital platforms and nurturing meaningful connections, these strategies can empower solopreneurs to build a reputable personal brand that opens doors to new opportunities and expands their entrepreneurial horizons.
1. Bring Every Part Of Who You Are To All You Do
You are your brand. Bring every part of who you are to all you do. Showing up authentically is key, consistently. Build trust with your audience over time. Relationships are a long game. Your customers want to know you—bring them along on the journey. – Amy Pocsik, Bold Moves
2. Document Moments When Your Work Makes An Impact
Pay attention to the moments when your work makes a genuine, powerful impact on someone. Make note of them by literally writing them down. If you can recall direct quotes that reveal what aspects of your work made the biggest difference, record those. Before long, you’ll have not only a stream of reminders that your expertise truly matters, but also specific language that will inform your personal brand. – Zitty Nxumalo, Deftable, LLC
3. Build An Online Presence Through Social Media
A solopreneur can take their brand to the next level by building an online presence through social media, leveraging the internet and telling the stories behind their brand of who they serve and why. They can also document their journey, as this will help build community. It is important to build a personal brand because solopreneurs need to be visible in their communities to thrive and scale. – Eno Eka, The Business Analysis School
4. Choose Your Niche
Often, solopreneurs are hesitant to choose a target market because they don’t want to limit their potential client base. When you market to everyone, you market to no one. Make a choice. If a client is meant to work with you, they will make it work. Let them be the agent of their change. And remember, nine times out of ten, your target market is you from five years ago. – Alexandra Phillips, Alexandra Phillips Consulting LLC
5. Define Your Brand And Target Audience, Then Network
Define your personal brand and target audience, create a strong online presence and network and collaborate with others to show why it is important. A strong personal brand with specific positioning makes a solopreneur stand out. A strong online presence can increase visibility and attract more clients. Networking and collaborating with others can lead to new opportunities and partnerships. – Carrie Anne Yu, Conscious Ignite
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6. Create A One-Minute Video About Yourself
Recently, I was asked to create a one-minute video to be offered to potential clients about who I am as a person and a coach. I was initially resistant to the idea, but now believe it to be a very effective way to build my brand. The clients get a feel for my energy and how I might support them. It provides a more conversational feel and complements other tools, such as a bio, website and other content. – Lisa Walsh, Beacon Executive Coaching
7. Apply For And Earn Awards, Recognition And Honors
Taking your brand to the next level will enable a solopreneur to close more contracts, increase revenue and scale their business. One of the best strategies for breaking out of the box you might find yourself in is to earn awards, recognition and honors. Apply for every award you’re eligible for, and celebrate the wins on social media. Announce to potential clients just how qualified you are. – Dr. April Willis, April Willis Consulting, LLC
8. Offer A Valuable Product For Free
One way to take your brand to the next level as a solopreneur is to offer a valuable product for free. This free content can be in the form of informational tidbits, digital products or brand giveaways—so long as you require users to enter their email in order to receive their free item. The more people who subscribe to have access to the free content, the better the brand visibility. – Oluwashogo Oyeniyi, Dr Shogo Consulting
9. Trust Your Own Brand
The next level of a solopreneur’s personal brand should build toward sustainable, residual business, client flow and income. Start with the outcome you want. Then, map backward to where you currently are. Borrow the best ideas from others’ successes, but trust your own brand—do not fall into the trap of trying to do what others do to get their results. This differentiates you! – Carmell Clark, Center for Transformational Influence, Inc.
10. Leverage AI Tools And Technology At Every Stage
Amid the digital noise, one has to stand out to survive. AI tools are disrupting business in favor of solopreneurs who can reach audiences at a much larger scale. Solopreneurs are already wired to be self-reliant, and by leveraging tech at every stage—from content creation and curation to engagement and publishing—they can automate the basic aspects and focus more on chiseling out their core value proposition. – Sandra Colhando, TransforMe Learning
11. Follow This Three-Pillar Framework
When working with solopreneurs who want to elevate their brand in the marketplace, I teach a framework with three pillars: 1. Leverage LinkedIn to build mutually beneficial business relationships, positioning yourself as an influencer in your lane; 2. publish a specialty book, building credibility and authority for your brand; and 3. get paid to speak at industry events, reinforcing the value of your brand. – Dr. Tajuana Ross, Get Over Yourself Career & Life Coaching, Inc.
12. Understand Your Industry And The Gap You Fill In It
In order to stand out as a solopreneur, you must understand the industry you’re in and how your unique personal brand fills a gap within that industry. How can you authentically showcase your gifts and create a personal connection with your intended audience? This will be the quickest way to not only create traction through sales, but also build sustainable, lasting interrelatedness with your community. – Tiffany Cheung, Tiffany Cheung LLC
13. Be Consistent
Consistency is key. In an era of constantly changing algorithms, shifting social platforms and different products, services and pricing, consistency is key. Your brand is not what you tell people about yourself once, but what you repeat again and again. If you want to be seen, heard and embraced, be visible often and dependable. – Abe Brown, Certified Flourishing Coaching
14. Niche Down To Land Speaking Gigs
Take your personal brand to the next level by niching down. Get more specific about both who you help and the problem you help them solve. Then, use the power of social media to optimize your profile with this new messaging, create a content marketing strategy focused on this messaging, and land speaking or interview gigs. It’s important to do this to be seen as the No. 1, go-to expert in your space. – Betty Kempa, Betty Kempa | Business Coach
15. Infuse All Professional Assets With Your Personal Brand
Make your own name your company name. Make your website URL “your name” dotcom. Position your picture prominently on your website in key places. Share information about who you are both personally and professionally in the About section of your website. Create a YouTube channel linked to your website that shows both your personality and your professionalism. Put your picture on your business card. – Jeffrey Deckman, Capability Accelerators
16. Amplify Your Brand Through Thought Leadership
We encourage leaders to amplify their personal brands through thought leadership and op-eds. By consistently and authentically sharing ideas through op-eds, media appearances and speaking opportunities, solopreneurs become sought-after authority figures in their space. – Meredith Leigh Moore, Leverette Weekes
17. Start Your Own Podcast
Having your own podcast is an effective way to provide value to your audience and show how you can solve their problems. By sharing your expertise, insights and tips on a particular topic, you can establish yourself as a go-to resource in your field. As your listeners gain value from your content, they are more likely to trust and respect you and become loyal customers. – Divya Parekh, DP Group
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