Personal Branding 101 with Branding Expert, Patricia Johnson
As former colleagues and friends who both started our entrepreneurial journeys around the same time, Patricia Johnson and I are kindred spirits. Patricia, who leads Cultivation Studios as Brand Strategist & Website Designer, is a talented digital marketing genius I think y'all should know. She helps community-driven brands and entrepreneurs worldwide not just build an online presence, but cultivate a custom digital ecosystem that can thrive.
I'm excited to share some of her magic, as well as more on how to expand your personal brand, in a Q&A with Patricia!
L: Why would someone choose to build a personal brand online?
Patricia Johnson, Cultivation Studios
P: To stand out on your own terms! Having an online presence (whether that's an active LinkedIn profile, a personal website, a blog, etc) gives you the opportunity to showcase who you are beyond your resume. And, it gives you the space to tell your story on your own terms! It's wise to find a way to showcase your unique voice and talents online. The internet is a tool for human connection, so putting yourself out there in this way helps you connect with others — and this will benefit you, your career, & your business in the long run.
L: Why does the idea of a “personal brand” feel icky to people? What are the misconceptions?
P: I think the concept of a "personal brand" is often associated with influencers, which feels icky to folks who have zero desire to get internet famous. It's also associated with very loudly sharing your opinion and the intricate details of your life online, often in ways that feel scripted & fake.
(The idea of openly promoting yourself can also feel very uncomfortable. I do think there is something to be said here about the fear of publicly claiming your full power & value! Which is why I'm glad we're covering this in our upcoming webinar together)
The reality is, in our digital world, personal branding is for everyone... and for many folks it may even be a necessity to get to where they want to be in their careers. But it does NOT have to mean making up an internet personality for yourself to fit a certain box, collecting as many followers as possible, or selling products.
What it DOES mean is showing up online in ways that emphasize your key qualities, values, and skills, with the goal of authentically connecting with other human beings who care about you & what you have to say.
L: How does someone create their own personal brand?
P: A brand is simply the perception people have about a certain thing. When you intentionally show up in specific ways to emphasize key traits & skills, and you do this consistently over time, you influence how people perceive you. This is your personal brand.
I want to emphasize that the goal isn't to lead people to believe something about you that isn't true. The key is to show up with authenticity — the goal is connecting with other humans, and authenticity is what gets you there.
L: My clients often say “I’m not good at selling myself.” How do you respond?
P: Why would you want to sell yourself? You're a human, not a product!
“Selling” implies trying to *convince* that you have value. It's presenting yourself in a certain way to fit within a specific box. But when you show up with authenticity, you’re coming from a place of confidence that you already inherently have value. And it’s the most effective way of connecting with others; it will open you up to whatever is most naturally aligned to you. It does take courage, but putting your authentic self out there should be far easier because you're simply being you.
L: What questions do you ask clients to guide them to think about their brand?
P:
What are your goals? That is the most important question — it will determine exactly what you need to do to achieve that goal.
What are your values, traits, skills, and interests? These key things that make you *you* are what's going to help you stand out, so we want to emphasize them.
Based on your goals, who is your target audience? We need to understand exactly who you're talking to so your brand resonates with that person.
L: What’s energizing you these days?
P: I'm excited to offer new opportunities to work with folks building their personal brands online. Currently I’m working on two new offerings that aren’t quite released yet — a Personal Branding Masterclass and Personal Brand Website Starter Kit — but you can get on the waitlist for an exclusive discount once they’re released! In the meantime, you can download my free Personal Brand Workbook.
To learn more about personal branding in an authentic, feel-good way, Patricia and I are teaming up on an upcoming webinar to share our expertise and experience in brand-building. It's called Branding for Entrepreneurs: Finding the Courage to Show Up Authentically. It's free, vitrtual, and will be recorded. Come hang out with us on June 6th and learn how to show up with more of your magic online. For more details and register here
