Personal branding…
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I didn’t even know what my personal brand was!
As a new business owner, one of the first things you have to accept is how much you don’t know. I’ve spent the first year of Bloom, my project management company, finding that out! But the second lesson is, there are people out there who can provide both support and give you the tools to start filling in the gaps.
I didn’t know what a personal brand was in my former life at a corporate company, because it wasn’t my job to know. But when you’re out on your own, your brand is your biggest asset and the key to making your business a success. This was the very first lesson I learned after meeting the very talented Beatrice Ronchetti, specialist in marketing and LinkedIn personal branding.
The power of recommendation
Midway through a conversation about brand development, I confessed to an associate that I didn’t really know what it was all about. He then introduced me to Beatrice who, over our first cup of coffee, said the reassuring words, ‘you’re a small business and this is how I can help’. I knew from that initial chat that we had a shared energy and connection, which is incredibly important to me. But also, I listed my concerns and she said she would help figure them out – and in those early days of business ownership, this was what I really needed to hear.
Who’s my client?
At the start of my first one-to-one workshop with Beatrice, I learned that I need to flex my tone in order to reach and appeal to my target audience. During the course of that session, though, we drilled down into the type of clients I want to win business from and mapped out what they look like.
A wake-up call
Coming to this conclusion with Beatrice was a real wake-up call. Even though I’m actually what those clients need in terms of delivering projects within time and money constraints, and within scope boundaries, would my personal brand communicate that? While I do want to remain true to doing things differently, I learned also that I need to change my tone in order to reach and appeal to this target audience. Having a perception of what people see when they view me and my brand has been so helpful in ensuring I get the right messages across going forward.
Tips and tricks
So, how to get that message out there? Social media is great, but when you’re running a business on your own, it’s hard to find the time to invest. Beatrice is a specialist in LinkedIn and she showed me its importance, how to get the most out of it and how to use it efficiently. I don’t have a big marketing budget or anyone to take care of that side of the business and LinkedIn is essentially a free marketing tool. If I can make the most of it with the tips that Beatrice has demonstrated, it will help me advance and grow Bloom.
Getting the word out
In fact, I would say I’m already reaping the benefits of what LinkedIn can do. As a small business, it’s simply a great platform for extending my reach and making new connections. And now I know what my personal brand is, I’m flying!
Whether you’re actively looking for a project manager or would just like to start a conversation, I would love to hear from you!
Yaeger Irwin is the founder and owner of Bloom Project Management Limited. She is passionate about her work, having spent the last 20 years delivering complex and high-profile projects to a wide range of satisfied clients. Get in touch to find out how Bloom could help with your next project.