Your Iconic Image : Using Your Unique Story to Grow Your Brand
Michelle Griffin is a certified personal brand strategist, StoryBrand Certified Guide and marketing/PR mentor for experts and entrepreneurs who want to become the face of their business with authentic, memorable and in-demand personal brands.
\xa0
She is the Founder BRANDThority, a personal branding consultancy that helps entrepreneurs present their best selves online.
Michelle is also the host of the upcoming Personal Brand Matters podcast and a frequent podcast guest, LinkedIn content creator and weekly Clubhouse moderator.\xa0
\xa0
When she's not helping people stand out online, you can find Michelle enjoying the outdoors of sunny Florida, discovering the latest gluten/dairy-free offerings or planning her next home renovation project.
Learn more about Michelle at MichelleBGriffin.com and follow her on LinkedIn for daily personal brand building tips or with her drop by her weekly Personal Brand Building Room on Clubhouse.
\xa0
Michelle@MichelleBGriffin.com
\xa0
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellebgriffin/
Clubhouse: @MichelleGrififn
It starts with us on the inside\u2026.define their values, mission, purpose\u2026all of that\u2026we have to know who we are on the inside before we go to the external, which is all about your customer.
That\u2019s one of the biggest misconceptions. \xa0
I have something called Own Your Message, which is a 7-8 step process that I take people through\xa0all the way from their power to their purpose.
Everyone has something unique\u2026we either have a story that you went through, a perspective, a belief..and so when you marry your uniqueness, your beliefs, your perspective, the people you\u2019re serving, the industry\u2026it is unique.
It\u2019s just because we haven\u2019t dug deep to realize what it is yet.
First we have to know who we are, but in context it\u2019s going to be about (who we are talking to)
Show up as yourself to help some One. No everyone.\xa0Someone.
It\u2019s psychographics.\xa0You have to know who they are, their pain point\u2026it should be about a problem, not so much a niche\u2026their challenges, needs, interests, desires..and start speaking to them in their language, that\u2019s exactly how you\u2019re going to break through and be un-copyable and have a competitive advantage.
\u2026and then we bring it into your messaging.\xa0So it\u2019s branding, messaging, then the marketing because you have to get out there and build awareness and then, my last stage is visibility.
That\u2019s a constant thing.\xa0We can\u2019t just show up once.\xa0We have to show up consistently.
The visibility is also about listening to your customers and keep serving them with amazing content, whatever you are comfortable with.
The story is always going to be about them.\xa0But as as personal brand, you\u2019re showing up as your story so there\u2019s a connection.\xa0You\u2019re going to be the guide.\xa0We\u2019re talking about their problem and\u2026most often, we\u2019ve experienced this problem\u2026your story is how you\u2019ve had this same problem that they are trying to overcome\u2026
Lead with the story in their heads.\xa0Show up as that person that understand them\u2026.80% of the time, you are talking about them\u2026.you can show that personal side, which then makes it like a friend to friend situation.
To a certain degree that you\u2019ve overcome something that they are trying to solve\u2026you\u2019re a helpful guide who\u2019s been there, done that\u2026you show your humanness and your realness, which is relatable.\xa0No one wants perfect. \xa0
There\u2019s a fine line.\xa0If you show up as \u2018I get you\u2019, \u2018I\u2019ve had first-hand experience\u2019,\u2026\u2019I\u2019ve overcome this\u2019, \u2018I have a way.\xa0Let me how you how\u2019..then that\u2019s the way to do it.\xa0You balance the realness with the reality.
As a personal brand, first you need to identify\u2026why am I showing up?\xa0I need to know your why, what you\u2019re all about, you mission\u2026there\u2019s usually some backstory. \xa0
Well, who do you want to help?\u2026there\u2019s different ways to position them\u2026we will craft the branding and messaging around the problems.\xa0Then we will show up as the guide\u2026.and then tie it into their personal story.
Trust is everything.
Lead with the problem and alleviate that problem.
Always look for the thing that makes you stand out. \xa0
Branding is what other people think of you.\xa0Marketing is what you tell people.\xa0Branding is what other people think of you.
Branding is your stamp of who you are, what you stand for, your how\u2026.it\u2019s the perception you\u2019re creating around yourself.
A mother with a dog, a senior with a dog\u2026.they all love their dogs but they have different problems surrounding that dog\u2026connect your why to their problem. \xa0
You always want to be in control of your narrative.\xa0People are going to mis-assume\u2026unless you control the narrative. \xa0
It\u2019s not about how you want to be.\xa0It\u2019s about how you want to be to serve others.
Personal branding isn\u2019t about \u2018Me\u2019, it\u2019s just about me as the product\u2026.show up as the real you to help others.
Some people show up and don\u2019t really know who they are, then their fail in their marketing or in connecting to the right clients\u2026because they haven\u2019t really aligned with who they want to serve and how they want to show up.
If you want visibility, people need to know the message. \xa0
Say it as often as possible.
You need to keep saying that one message so you\u2019re known for it.\xa0Don\u2019t keep switching it up.\xa0Stay in your lane.
Don\u2019t dilute the message.
Pick two social media platforms that you\u2019re comfortable with and where your audience lives.
You don\u2019t need a lot of big numbers.\xa0We can only serve so many\u2026
Clubhouse is such a great example\u2026.
Its the comparison trap that gets us.
Would you rather have likes or leads?
Look inside and see\u2026are you doing exactly what you want to do and do you have the narrative crafted around that?
When you don\u2019t have the clarity, you\u2019re not going to have the confidence and you\u2019re not going to have all the clients you could get.
Is it hard for you to say who you are and what you do? \xa0
If you can\u2019t do it, you can\u2019t expect others to.
We all get hung up in our own head\u2026and don\u2019t see the brilliance of who we really are\u2026.you need someone to help show you the way.
\u2026People come to you\u2026because people get you.
We don\u2019t see the frame of the picture we\u2019re in.
Live in the moment.
Brand Your Brilliance podcast. \xa0
Audio : Ariza Music Productions