Photo by Magnet.me on Unsplash

When you start your own business, you need to decide how you will brand and promote yourself as part of that. Some people choose to keep the business brand more formal and not attach themselves to it. For a lot of people, especially those who are freelancing or consulting, then you become the face of that business. 

It can be nerve-wracking to become the face of your business but there are some things you can do to make the process easier. 

How Much Of Yourself You Share

If you take a look around online, you will see many other entrepreneurs out there. Read their blogs and scroll through their social media accounts and you will see the information they share about themselves. The type of content will be split between professional, using their experience and knowledge and personal, talking about their family, health, or other causes close to their heart. 

Sharing so much of yourself can seem daunting and you may not wish to do this. There are pros and cons to each approach. Think about what seems acceptable for you and your circumstances and don’t second guess yourself. 

Your Image

There’s no one ‘right’ way to look.  Your own personal style and the industry you’re in will dictate how you want to look in your promotional photos and videos. Putting yourself out there in this way can make you feel very anxious. 

A way to build some confidence is to have a bit of a makeover. A hairstyle refresh and new makeup can work wonders and not cost too much money. If you are self-conscious about your smile, visit a dentist and they can help you with any dental bridges or cosmetic work you might need. 

Embody Your Values

Ultimately, you have to embody your business values if you hope to present as the brand itself. This might mean showing strong leadership, learning to talk with confidence at the expo you attend, and becoming the main ambassador for your vision.

As Keith Hovan shows, principles and practices such as this can help you represent the best of even stringent and highly competitive industries.

Lock Down Your Social Media

You might want to consider separating out your business life from your personal life. Not only does it give your a clear boundary between the two, but you may feel that you aren’t able to be yourself on your own social accounts. Worse, you might say something that could potentially upset or alienate your clients. 

Make your personal social accounts private and don’t add clients or prospects. 

Hire A Brand Photographer

There are many great photographers out there who specialise in working with freelancers and consultants. They don’t just turn up and take a photo but work with you to discover how your want your brand to be perceived and ways to make your personality shine through. They can get even the most camera-shy people to open up and take amazing photos. 

They will also have stylist contacts who can help you choose your wardrobe, hair and makeup choices too. 

Final Thoughts 

Becoming the face of your business can be both liberating and a little scary too. With some careful planning and thought, you can set some clear rules for how you communicate with your audience and build your brand. 

You’ll find it is one of the best things you can do for your new business.