Why Branding Is Crucial for Influencers

When I was little, I day dreamed pretty much constantly.  My imagination was always sweeping me to far off places.  I had a hard time paying attention in class because my thoughts were just so much more captivating. 

And as I got a little older, my obsession became movies.  I loved seeing great stories brought to life.  After all, a great story could inspire people, bring them together, give them solace, and so much more.

Fun fact, I actually graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Film Production.  I side stepped away from that (cleary), but I never lost my appreciation and love for great storytelling. 

These days, I’ve been keeping my storytelling passion alive thru my personal branding on Out of Office Gal and Nomada Inc (my influencer marketing business), as well as helping other creatives and entrepreneurs. 

Often times when influencers are first starting out, they gloss over the branding process.  But I’m here to urge you to make branding a #1 priority for your business & social media account.  Whether you have plans to monetize in the future, or you just want to build a bigger audience on your social platform, branding is the key to success.  Thru a clear understanding of who you are and who you speak to, you can carve out a niche and establish yourself as an authority figure in the space – someone fans can trust….and eventually buy from! 

If you need help clarifying your brand, consider booking a 1:1 coaching session with me!  In the 1-hour Zoom chat, I’ll take you thru various exercises and tips to understand your unique mission, vision, selling proposition, ideal customer, how to optimize your profile, content strategy, and more.  You’ll also walk away with a 7 day branding workbook to put the learnings into practice as well!

In case you need more convincing – here are six reasons why branding is crucial for influencers & creators!

1.     Branding = Recognition

It is a known fact that people tend to engage with and buy from businesses they are familiar with.  When you go to the grocery store, you’re more likely to choose the brand you have heard of than one that’s totally foreign. 

Recognition automatically equates with a higher level of trust.  If I’ve heard of this brand, it’s probably better. 

But recognition doesn’t just help with purchasing decisions….it also plays a role in engagement as well.  When you’re scrolling thru your Instagram feed, aren’t you more likely to engage with a photo of someone you know and like vs someone random (say from a hashtag you follow)? 

And what helps produce recognition?  That’s right – BRANDING!

2.     Branding Makes Your Stand Out From the Crowd

Each year it gets harder and harder to stand out in the crowded influencer space.  There are thousands and thousands of influencers trying to a make a name for themselves in beauty, fashion, travel, etc.  This is why it is critical to find what sets YOU apart.

And how do you do this?  Thru BRANDING.

Branding puts the YOU in your business.  It capitalizes on what makes you unique and splashes that across everything you do.  Do you have a PHD in anthropology?  Did you spend 2 years backpacking the world?  Do you have synthesia?  Branding takes into account all the things that make you different.  At the end of the day, there’s always room for another influencers in a crowded space, because no one can be an exact replica of YOU.   

3.     Your Brand Tells Your Followers What You’re All About

Everything from your logo, to the way you dress, to how you speak to your fans tells your audience what kind of person you are and what they can expect from your content.

And when we understand what an influencer is all about – a level of trust is created.  We know what to expect, and that there won’t be any surprises.  Thus we feel more comfortable engaging with and buying from that influencer.

4.     Your Brand Provides Motivation & Direction for Content

Your brand acts as a blueprint for everything you produce.  So it actually simplifies your content creation process.  Your brand will drive what you create, how you create it, and for whom you create.

Having clear branding allows you to avoid detours or confusion.  It offers you clear guidelines so you can stay focused on your overall mission and focus on the fun part of your business!

5.     Brand Affinity Affects Purchases

Through consistent messaging and clear voice (your BRANDING), you will help followers develop greater affinity and trust for your channel.  And people are more likely to buy from someone they have been following for a while, know always provides great content, is an authority figure in the space, and shares the same values. 

Having good experiences with products and services can lead to additional sales and deeper brand affinity as well!

6.     A Great Brand Leads to More Shares & Referrals

We wear brands, use brands, travel with brands, play with brands, and tell others about the brands we LOVE.  Brands have the power to help us define ourselves.  When we share a post about ecofriendly hotels from a sustainability influencer we love or recommend Girlfriend Collective yoga pants (made from recycled water bottles), it says something about ourselves and our values.  In these examples, that we care about a greener planet and environmentally friendly practices. 

More shares and referrals means more opportunities for organic growth and potential new customers!  But in order to have these associations (and garner referrals) – we must have ingrained branding.  After all, you can’t tell someone about a brand you don’t remember.

7.     Your Brand Allows You to Connect Emotionally With Fans

Engaging with an influencer is an emotional experience.  Whether you are taking to the comments to relate, share a compliment, or offer support, these small actions create connections.  When we connect with others, it makes us feel good on an emotional level. 

We will often let brands guide our purchasing decisions as well.  Whether it’s a brand that shares the same values, a brand we think is the epitome of cool, or a brand that represents who we want to be – we feel better associating our purchase with strong brands.

These are just a few reasons why I think branding is so important for influencers and creatives.  If you’re interested in gaining greater clarity around your own brand – make sure to book a 1:1 coaching session with me.  More details above or feel free to reach out with any questions!

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