Elevate Your Business
Your personal brand isn’t just a headshot. It’s a combination of the many facets that make you unique. And it’s the visual first impression people have of you.
Your personal brand shows the various aspects of who you are and visually tells your story. You’ve taken risks, had self-doubt, created success, embraced change and diversity and undergone transformations. And whether you want to show you’re the strategist, the parent, the coach, the best friend, the fur baby lover, the cook or the philanthropist – with personal branding you don’t have to choose.
In fact, you want to share the complete you with your audience. As Zig Ziglar says, “If people like you, they’ll listen to you. If people trust you, they’ll do business with you.” People trust you by knowing you. Let people get to know ALL of you and build trust through visual storytelling.
Here are 8 ways investing in photos for your Personal Brand can build trust and elevate your business:
1. On your website
Display your uniqueness throughout your website and be sure to include your professional side and images of you in working situations throughout the site, i.e. meetings, speaking, attending and you outside of work, i.e. coffee, pets, hobbies on the “About Me” page.
2. On your social media profile and posts
Choose one headshot to use consistently across all your social channels: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, etc. Also use other professional photos in posts as appropriate.
3. Newsletters and Email Marketing
Incorporate your personal brand in everything you do. Showing prospects and your customers is much more effective than telling them.
4. Press releases or announcements about new products or offerings
Press releases are free marketing! And could land you in the news so be sure to leverage this platform as needed. Whenever you’re doing new product or offering announcements, use more than a headshot in your delivery.
5. Sales and landing pages
Professional photos of you on these pages will increase conversion rates. Not sure which photo would be best? Try different photos with the same message/call to action and see which one performs better.
6. Bio for speaking engagements
This is a great way to show the attendees that you’ve been a speaker at other conference. It’s always better to show than tell when possible. This also provides a visual reference for people who want to meet and connect with you while you’re there – especially after you’ve presented.
7. Email signature
A professional photo of you in your email signature is a great repetitive visual especially when you’re prospecting. Seeing the same photo in various email messages will build trust and recognition while driving traffic and conversions.
8. Marketing brochures, business cards, and other print marketing materials
Print marketing materials are another great form of distributing your professional experience, branding and story. Since printing is more time consuming and costly, layout the photos you want to use before printing. Be sure to use a mix of professional photos that tell your story throughout each piece.
When you have a library of personal branding photos to choose from, you save time and money when a photo is needed for a new speaking opportunity, print materials or new web page. The goal is to keep a variety on hand, tell your story through professional photos and allow the world, in particular your customers and prospects, to get to know the real and authentic YOU.
Having high-quality, professional photos that capture the essence of who you are allows your audience to build trust in who you are, shows consistency in your visual presence and allows for quick recognition by all who encounter anything YOU.
Are you ready to take your personal brand to the next level? Click here to get started.