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Is Yours a Personal Brand or a Business Brand?

by Abby Kerr

in Uncategorized

About this column

And why does it matter?

In creating and carrying on with your niche-y enterprise, it matters whether you’re a personal brand or a business brand {also called a corporate brand}. Mostly, it matters to you, because how you classify and conceive of your business impacts how you market, how you network, how you interact in social media, and how your right people talk to you and about you. Or about your business. The choice is yours. {Just one of the many bright spots of an entrepreneurial life. You get to choose the shape of the Thing you put out there into the world. Pretty cool.}

A girl stands at a crossroads, contemplating her decision.

Is yours a personal brand or a business brand? The decision will impact your travels in entrepreneurship.

What’s a personal brand?

Gen Y personal branding expert Dan Schawbel says that:

“Personal branding, by definition, is the process by which we market ourselves to others. [Italics mine.] As a brand, we can leverage the same strategies that make…celebrities or corporate brands appeal to others. We can build brand equity just like them.” – from Personal Branding 101: How to Discover and Create Your Brand, on Mashable.com

Chris Brogan discusses the elements of a personal brand in this oldie-but-goodie post. Here’s just one of the really great points he makes:

“It’s really important to be yourself in building a brand. Coke never set out to be just like somebody else. Madonna didn’t try to be someone different. The brands we know and love work because they are their own identity.”

What’s a business/corporate brand?

According to the all-wise and all-knowing Wikipedia, business branding encompasses the identity {both visual and intangible}, personality, values, and mission of a business, and by extension, all of its products and its marketing.

So in short, a personal brand refers to how one might “package” and market onesself in the marketplace, while a business or corporate brand takes the focus off of any one individual and causes prospects to identify with the business entity itself.

Why do we need to know what type of brand we want to be right from the start?

Okay, you might not need to know what type of brand you want to be the second you dream up your idea for your business, but the sooner you can settle on which type feels right to you, the better off you’ll be.

Why?

So that you can start creating a strong, cohesive, compelling brand identity that connects with your right people right from the start. And when it comes to that, it’s never too soon to start strong.

What are the major differences I’ll feel as a personal brand versus a business brand {or vice-versa}?

How You Use Social Media

Nowadays, all viable brands should be stepping up to the social media home plate: blogging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. It’s becoming more and more of an essential piece for showing customers and clients that you are serious, savvy, and interested in connection. But there are some notable differences in how personal brands and business brands might use these social networking platforms.

For instance: an interior designer with a personal brand might take her blog readers to the New York Gift Show with her as she shops designer showrooms or scours fabric houses in the city. She might also include a pictorial on where she dined in the Meatpacking District and a video post of her explaining what makes the window display in the boutique behind her on the street so awesome.

Can you imagine a business brand, such as Pottery Barn, doing this? Usually, corporate brands like to maintain the “great and wonderful Oz”-ness of their brand and wouldn’t dare to let customers behind the curtain of how work gets done and how creativity happens. They just want you to buy their Thing.  {However, more and more, we’re seeing that the personal and “barrier-less” nature of social media is pushing business brands in this more behind the scenes, up close and personal direction. I find it refreshing, fun, and inspiring. How about you?}

How You Use Your Voice in the Marketplace

Every business needs a voice. {Hey, did I mention I’m creating a product to help niche-y enterprises tap into the business voice that works best for them?} The voice you embrace as the “voice of your business” has got to come from a natural, authentic place whether you’re a personal brand or a business brand. But how you use your voice will differ. What issues do you choose to address or to keep quiet about? Do you get political, or stay mum? Do you call people out on bull, or always be the nice guy? What types of clients are you hoping to attract? If your desired right people are corporate-y suit wearers, you’re going to want to find a more straightlaced, professional voice that works for you than you might if your right people are energy workers and spiritual healers.

Also, whether you veer toward a personal brand or a corporate brand may affect which point of view you take in your marketing copy. For example, the copy on my site is written in 1st person — I say I, and me. This is because as a copywriter and a coach, I work very closely with my clients and develop one-on-one relationships with them. I want them to feel who I am and feel that they can trust me and my judgment.

However, when I had my retail shop, all of the copy on my static website {which is no longer live} was written in 3rd person — I said we and THE BLISSFUL as if the shop were an entity bigger than any one person {and that’s how I saw it — I didn’t want the focus on me}. I chose 3rd person on purpose to allow potential right people to identify with the store and its brand identity, not with me the Proprietor.

How Much Skin You Show

Each entrepreneur has to decide for herself just how “naked” she gets in front of her right people. How comfortable are you with sharing personal details with people online? Will you share about your family? Your friends? Your past career life or your current “other job”? Your neuroses?

Obviously, the above details are more appropriate for personal brands than for business brands. {You don’t generally catch the brand director of Anthropologie tweeting about hiring a new nanny — although that might be cool.}

Especially as a personal brand, you have the advantage of feeling over time like you “know” your customers and they know you. This can be pretty powerful, especially if the work you’re doing is bespoke, creative, or personally transformative in nature {think coaching, some types of consulting, healing arts, design}.

On the flipside, as a personal brand or a corporate brand, you always have the option of creating an impermeable screen between you and your customers. They’ll know you as a thinker, a creator, and an entrepreneur, but you’ll keep the private parts of yourself…private. This is easier to do as a corporate brand because prospects identify with the business, not so much with a person’s name and a face. They’re less likely to wonder about the person behind the brand.

Why My Corporate Brand Made Me Feel Stifled & How My Personal Brand Helps Me Feel Free

My first business, a French-y lifestyle boutique called THE BLISSFUL, was a corporate brand. Customers and blog readers knew me as Abby the Proprietor, but I shared very little of my personal life on my blog or anywhere else. I always led with the store and what was up with it. In the big picture, this was a great move because theoretically, as I’d grow the store I’d be able to recede into the background and allow employees to run the show. {That’s what I wanted, but I didn’t hang in there long enough for it to become a reality.}

The ironic thing is, my desire to take the focus off of myself had me feeling bound by the image of the shop and all that it represented to customers: travel, romance, whimsy, bliss, peace, relaxation, wonderment. Needless to say, I didn’t always feel this way inside or while I was at the shop, but I felt as if I had to maintain the illusion that all was well, that I felt like the luckiest girl ever, that this was exactly what I wanted and why wouldn’t someone want this if they could have it? {Customers often told me I should feel that way, after all.} I realized, after a while, that I was hiding behind the brand and the brand I created wasn’t close enough to a good appoximation of myself and how I wanted to feel in the world. This may sound like a lot of navel gazing, but I advocate that one of the perks and prerogatives of entrepreneurs is getting to shape our work in the world to be as palatable to ourselves as possible. After all, it’s our work.

Now, in my current business model, I feel free to evolve. I’m talking entrepreneurially, creatively, professionally, even spiritually. Because Abby Kerr Ink is me. I won’t ever pretend it’s anything other than that. I’ve embraced a certain degree of transparency with my right people that feels comfortable for me. From the moment I posted my first update on the Abby Kerr Ink Facebook page {which happened before my site went live}, I was ready to talk real talk with my right people, not business-ese. For me, a personal brand is where it’s at. I like how connected I feel now to my work, to my clients and prospects, to my blog readers.

Entrepreneurs, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic of being a personal brand versus a corporate brand as it applies to your own enterprise. Have you struggled with deciding how much skin to show?

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

Christine July 27, 2010 at 1:21 pm

Hi Abby!
Wow – did this open my eyes, mind and heart to possibility. Although I am aware of these concepts and how I react to both business and personal brands, I hadn’t yet thought about this in terms of me and my mission and vision. This has given me something to think about that is important – I believe I really want to be a personal brand because this is how I can best make the world a better place – by truly opening up and sharing all (or most) of what is me and my life experience – I am scared to death of being so vulnerable though – but in my heart of hearts I know this is where my empowerment is. Thanks for providing the opportunity for me to really connect to what I am about and why I want to be in business.

Reply

Christine July 27, 2010 at 5:21 pm

Hi Abby!
Wow – did this open my eyes, mind and heart to possibility. Although I am aware of these concepts and how I react to both business and personal brands, I hadn’t yet thought about this in terms of me and my mission and vision. This has given me something to think about that is important – I believe I really want to be a personal brand because this is how I can best make the world a better place – by truly opening up and sharing all (or most) of what is me and my life experience – I am scared to death of being so vulnerable though – but in my heart of hearts I know this is where my empowerment is. Thanks for providing the opportunity for me to really connect to what I am about and why I want to be in business.

Reply

Abby Kerr July 27, 2010 at 8:31 pm

Hi, Christine —

I’m so glad this one resonated for you. :) I think that the concept of a brand — with all of its assumptions and limitations — is an often overlooked essential part of creating a business that feels right to you. We tend to gloss over it and just work out of a default sense of what “being a business” means to us.

In terms of becoming vulnerable, I think every blogger/entrepreneur/creator has to decide for herself how vulnerable to get. I will share a lot here over time, but certainly not everything. There has to be some boundaries between the personal and the professional, I think. And each of us decides where those lines are drawn for us. For instance, some people give their family members aliases to protect their identities when writing about them and some people never talk about their family at all. Some people write about emotional topics without ever revealing their own personal experiences with them. There are many ways you can help your right people tap into what they need to experience for themselves without giving all of yourself away, if that makes sense.

Excited to hear that you feel inspired and more connected after reading this post!

— Abby

Reply

Abby Kerr July 27, 2010 at 4:31 pm

Hi, Christine —

I’m so glad this one resonated for you. :) I think that the concept of a brand — with all of its assumptions and limitations — is an often overlooked essential part of creating a business that feels right to you. We tend to gloss over it and just work out of a default sense of what “being a business” means to us.

In terms of becoming vulnerable, I think every blogger/entrepreneur/creator has to decide for herself how vulnerable to get. I will share a lot here over time, but certainly not everything. There has to be some boundaries between the personal and the professional, I think. And each of us decides where those lines are drawn for us. For instance, some people give their family members aliases to protect their identities when writing about them and some people never talk about their family at all. Some people write about emotional topics without ever revealing their own personal experiences with them. There are many ways you can help your right people tap into what they need to experience for themselves without giving all of yourself away, if that makes sense.

Excited to hear that you feel inspired and more connected after reading this post!

— Abby

Reply

Greg George July 29, 2010 at 4:01 pm

Abby,

I loved this information. I feel that depending on the persons personality will tell how far they will take it. I also feel that letting it all hang out is the way to go. Since I started branding myself I have become the true person I was menat to be.

Thanks,
Greg

Reply

Greg George July 29, 2010 at 12:01 pm

Abby,

I loved this information. I feel that depending on the persons personality will tell how far they will take it. I also feel that letting it all hang out is the way to go. Since I started branding myself I have become the true person I was menat to be.

Thanks,
Greg

Reply

Abby Kerr July 29, 2010 at 5:14 pm

Hey, Greg —

Thanks for being here! Glad this one worked for you. I see that personal branding is the focus of your blog, so I’m guessing you have lots to say on the subject!

I sometimes think that people confuse being a “personal brand” with divulging everything about themselves, which in my world, is not a requirement. Even the little things we choose to reveal about ourselves and our lives can create a good sense of connection between us and the people we want to reach.

— Abby

Reply

Abby Kerr July 29, 2010 at 1:14 pm

Hey, Greg —

Thanks for being here! Glad this one worked for you. I see that personal branding is the focus of your blog, so I’m guessing you have lots to say on the subject!

I sometimes think that people confuse being a “personal brand” with divulging everything about themselves, which in my world, is not a requirement. Even the little things we choose to reveal about ourselves and our lives can create a good sense of connection between us and the people we want to reach.

— Abby

Reply

Ricardo Bueno August 10, 2010 at 6:39 am

Hi Abby,

We don’t know each other (yet). I read and have connected with David over at “Heroic Destiny” so this is me saying hello :-)

In regards to your post. I think that I’ve struggled with which brand I want to be. On the one hand, I really want to be just the personal brand (I love and I’m ok with the notion that I’ll attract a specific type of client because of who I am, my personality, etc.) but then, I feel like that personal brand isn’t as scalable as the business/corporate brand. Does that make sense?

I’ve never really had an issue with being open/transparent. I know to what degree I’m open and where I draw the line. What I find funny about social media is that it makes us really accessible which is great for attracting new business but then it can be hindering on your interactions with existing clients. It’s a balance that I think one needs to find and establish for themselves if they want to continuously use the medium to market themselves.

Anyway, just some random thoughts from me and once again, pleasure to connect :-)

Reply

Ricardo Bueno August 10, 2010 at 2:39 am

Hi Abby,

We don’t know each other (yet). I read and have connected with David over at “Heroic Destiny” so this is me saying hello :-)

In regards to your post. I think that I’ve struggled with which brand I want to be. On the one hand, I really want to be just the personal brand (I love and I’m ok with the notion that I’ll attract a specific type of client because of who I am, my personality, etc.) but then, I feel like that personal brand isn’t as scalable as the business/corporate brand. Does that make sense?

I’ve never really had an issue with being open/transparent. I know to what degree I’m open and where I draw the line. What I find funny about social media is that it makes us really accessible which is great for attracting new business but then it can be hindering on your interactions with existing clients. It’s a balance that I think one needs to find and establish for themselves if they want to continuously use the medium to market themselves.

Anyway, just some random thoughts from me and once again, pleasure to connect :-)

Reply

Abby Kerr August 10, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Hey, Ricardo —

Thanks for being here! I definitely recognize you from Heroic Destiny. :)

Really good point ou make, that personal brands probably aren’t as scalable as biz brands. But then I think of Laura Roeder {http://www.lauraroeder.com} who is a personal brand but has a personal assistant who handles some of her admin stuff. She accepts guest posts on her blog so it isn’t just her doing all the content creation. And as she’s shared in interviews, a couple years back she transitioned from a service-based biz model to a product-based model, selling digital courses and programs. Very smart, I think. As a new-ish freelancer, I’ve come to the realization that my earning potential has a cap on it {because there are only so many hours in a week that I can be productive and creatively at my best} unless I a} continually raise my prices and/or b} start transitioning to a digital product-based model, too. I also respect that even though Laura Roeder IS a personal brand, we mostly really only know professional details about her life. She has drawn her line in the digital sand and stays on one side of it, so to speak. :)

Thanks for inspiring some great conversation today, Ricardo, and I look forward to connecting with you more!

— Abby

Reply

Abby Kerr August 10, 2010 at 9:22 am

Hey, Ricardo —

Thanks for being here! I definitely recognize you from Heroic Destiny. :)

Really good point ou make, that personal brands probably aren’t as scalable as biz brands. But then I think of Laura Roeder {http://www.lauraroeder.com} who is a personal brand but has a personal assistant who handles some of her admin stuff. She accepts guest posts on her blog so it isn’t just her doing all the content creation. And as she’s shared in interviews, a couple years back she transitioned from a service-based biz model to a product-based model, selling digital courses and programs. Very smart, I think. As a new-ish freelancer, I’ve come to the realization that my earning potential has a cap on it {because there are only so many hours in a week that I can be productive and creatively at my best} unless I a} continually raise my prices and/or b} start transitioning to a digital product-based model, too. I also respect that even though Laura Roeder IS a personal brand, we mostly really only know professional details about her life. She has drawn her line in the digital sand and stays on one side of it, so to speak. :)

Thanks for inspiring some great conversation today, Ricardo, and I look forward to connecting with you more!

— Abby

Reply

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