BRANDME!
September 2019 / Issue 4
PERSONAL BRANDING FOR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
INTRODUCING LUCY GRIFFITHS VIDEO STRATEGIST, COACH, AUTHOR & JOURNALIST
Photo: Emma Marshall
THIS MONTH'S THEME COMMUNICATION & FINDING YOUR VOICE
MAIRI MCHAFFIE
FEATURE INTERVIEW
Communicating Confidently
Lucy Griffiths - Video Strategist, Coach, Author & Journalist
NATALIE TRICE
FOCUS
ADVICE
5 Small Steps to Kickstart Your PR
Tips for effective communication
How to Use Social Media to Communicate to Your Target Client
IN THIS
issue EDITOR'S NOTE
03
COMMUNICATING CONFIDENTLY
04
COVER INTERVIEW: LUCY GRIFFITHS
06
3 SMALL STEPS TO KICKSTART YOUR PR
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GET EMOTIONAL WITH YOUR COMMUNICATIONS
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3 WAYS TO FIND YOUR VOICE ON LINKEDIN
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HOW TO FOCUS ON YOUR VISUAL BRAND COMMUNICATION
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7 STEPS TO CREATING YOUR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
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HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO COMMUNICATE TO YOUR TARGET CLIENT
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Photo: Emma Marshall
SEPTEMBER 2019
COVER FEATURE: LUCY GRIFFITHS PHOTOGRAPHY: EMMA MARSHALL
BRANDME!
contributors lead editor
Dionne Smith
social visibility
Jennifer Corcoran
photography
Emma Marshall
personal brand stylist Shyla Hassan creative design
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Bernita Shaw
BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
FROM THE EDITOR The Art of Great Communication Welcome to the 4th issue of BrandMe! Magazine and our theme of communication and finding your voice which has been a little late in coming to fruition. Members of BrandMe! will know that I lost my amazingly sweet and dedicated dad in early June. Being hit by such a traumatic event also hit my own ability to communicate quite dramatically. The ensuing challenges that came about in the event of his death, and that my family and I will have to deal with for many more months to come, have really made me question my outlook on life and how I share my own voice. I suddenly didn’t know what to do with myself. I didn’t know how to get myself around the gravity of what had happened; let alone the sudden barrage of emotion that felt like it was consuming me. As much as I wanted to hide away and just cry, I knew I couldn’t. It was only in our last issue when we were talking about confidence that I mentioned bereavement can be one of those major life events that can have a big effect on how you feel about yourself. Little did I know that I was about to experience just that! It takes a lot of strength to pull yourself through these situations and you just need time to adjust and refocus on what you want and need to do. It really does make you think about what is important. I wouldn’t say I’m there yet, but I will eventually find a way through as I know many of you who have experienced bereavement of a close family member or friend will understand. So, I want to thank you all for your patience and words of encouragement at what has been a very difficult time. So, with that said, let’s get back to the matter in hand! Communication is an essential tool that gets misused and misunderstood in a myriad of ways because in many cases it’s very much based on individual perception. Tone of voice plays a big role in communication as does phrasing. So, whether you are sharing your voice and communicating verbally, but most certainly when you are sharing your message in a written context, be mindful of how you think you might be perceived. Maybe get someone else to read or listen to your content before you release it to the world. Always be respectful and polite. Remember, it’s your reputation and credibility to maintain nobody else’s. In this issue we have featured the lovely Lucy Griffiths as our cover girl who I think you would agree probably has one of the biggest and most beautiful smiles on the planet. In her article, Lucy talks about her personal brand development as an introverted video marketing strategist who has learnt to love the lens! We also have featured articles from Mairi McHaffie on communicating confidently and Natalie Trice with 5 great tips for kickstarting your PR. We hope these articles, and the advice and guidance from myself and the rest of the BrandMe! editorial team, will mean this issue gives you some great takeaways to help you develop your communication style with flair and confidence. If you have any questions or would like to find out more about how you can contribute to the BrandMe! Movement on Facebook or in the magazine, email me at dionne@dpsbrandconsultancy.co.uk.
Dionne x founder & lead editor BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019 3
mairi
McHaffie
Mairi is a personal impact expert and MD of Scene Change Creative Consultants Ltd. As a trained professional actress and BBC TV presenter, she uses her skills to enable individuals and groups to communicate and present themselves better, build their confidence, increase their visibility and align personal branding to organisational values.
communicating confidently & supercharge your career chances by mairi mchaffie Confidence is a feeling of self-assurance rising from your appreciation of your own abilities or qualities and helps you to leverage your strengths. It plays a fundamental role in building healthy relationships and achieving success in your professional life. It can define your earning potential, your happiness and your ability to stay motivated. Without confidence we become a diluted version of ourselves. We hide behind the “what ifs”, the “if onlys” and the “could have beens”. Fortunately, it can be learned and with practice we can truly become comfortable in our own skin and live our lives to the full. I wasn’t always confident. At school I was the tallest girl in my class. I felt awkward and different. I had severe psoriasis that covered most of my body. I was taunted, avoided and often made to feel less. I spent much of my time wishing I could find a way to be more like others, to fit in or sometimes to become invisible so that no one would notice me at all and so at times I excluded myself before others did it for me. I soon realised however that there was no getting away from it. I was stuck with me and if I was to get anywhere in life, I’d have to unlock my strengths and demonstrate my talents to myself and to others because the obvious truth to me was, no one else was going to do it for me. If you wait for others to notice how brilliant you are and to give you permission to shine, you could be waiting a long time. In truth, most of the time other people are too busy worrying about themselves to notice. You need to be your own bff and your own champion and build a crew of trusted advisers and cheerleaders that can support you and each other. Here are a few of my tried and tested strategies to help you take small steps towards communicating your most confident successful self.
A smile is infectious! It can really make another person feel good about themselves and in turn feel good about you. It lifts the muscles in your face and makes you look vibrant, interesting and approachable. Some of the most impactful conversations happen when we’re doing the small talk and building relationships. Think about how you engage with others and what your expressions are saying. We process visuals 60K times faster than text so what people see is also your business card.
Make Yourself Heard Cheryl Sandberg told us to lean in to show we are assertive. If you see others physically leaning in when you speak, it MAY mean that they’re hanging on your every word but it can also mean they can’t hear you! If you see someone cocking their head to one side, putting their ear out first and frowning – speak up! Your message is wasted. The first rule of confident verbal communication is to be heard! If speaking up at meetings, get in early and choose your seat. Don’t end up on the “leg”. It’s awkward and deflates your impact and influence. Put your jacket on your chosen seat, THEN go for coffee and you’re free to network. Always get the agenda up front and pre-position allies where you can. Find out who will be there and what they will talk about. How can you add value or connect into a topic someone else is going to be speaking about? Connect with them prior to the meeting and agree how you will collaborate – you could say “I see from the agenda that you’re going to be talking about this…I’m doing something which supports that, can you bring me in when you talk about it?” BOOM – permission to speak granted and heralded by a champion.
Be Prepared to Ask Questions So, what can you do if you’re on your own in front of a client or stakeholder? Prepare in advance whenever you can just one or two points, or one or two questions, on each section of the agenda. Questions are great because you don’t then need to have something profound to say when you don’t feel confident about the subject matter. Questions help others to gain clarity and questions get your voice heard.
Imposter Syndrome? We all have days when we feel that we’re not the expert and someone will find out that we don’t know what we’re doing. Even the most senior person feels like this. Separate your feelings from fact. If you were invited to the meeting you are meant to be there. Turn fear into excitement, it’s the same part of the nervous system. Be curious. If you don’t feel you have anything to add be fully present, actively listen and ask questions. To build your communication, confidence and impact skills, don’t hide behind a screen. Interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence (the ability to read others, to match them and to lead them) are skills highly prized in our tech centred world. At the end of the day, being MORE YOU will win hearts and minds and give you a confident edge to build upon.
Start the journey to building your confidence now with my FREE ACHIEVEMENT TEMPLATE. Contact me at mairi@scenechange.co.uk
BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
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lucy
Photo: Emma Marshall
Griffiths
As a journalist and TV reporter, Lucy has reported from all over the world including North Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan and she’s been telling stories for television and newspapers for 20 years.
lucy now uses her personal and professional knowledge and experience to support female introverts, entrepreneurs and SMEs to be confident on camera and grow their bottom line. Lucy's passion is helping people to tell stories so that they get seen, get read and get paid....! "I’m a success coach and video strategist for female entrepreneurs who want to be visible and grow their business by harnessing the power of video and storytelling."
personal development Please start with telling us more about what you do? I’m an introverted video marketing strategist who’s learnt to love the lens and treat the camera as my friend. Now I teach others how to do the same for themselves and their business so that they can engage and build trust with their audience and clients.
What were the biggest influences in your life that have helped shape who you are and what you do today? I left the UK when I was a baby and moved to Berlin. My Dad worked for the Foreign Office and so we were always on the road. My parents and four kids, including 6-month old me, set off in a cramped car and a trailer tent and moved to Germany. Our house wasn’t ready so we camped on an old Airfield in Berlin for 6 weeks until it was sorted. My parents instilled a sense of “anything is possible”, independence, adventure, and wanderlust from a young age. My Uncle Frank was a journalist for The Guardian and I would spend a great deal of time with him because my parents were abroad. He has been one of the biggest influences on my life. He definitely inspired me to become a journalist, inspired me to see the world from different perspectives and instilled a passion for the world’s unreported stories. I was exposed to different cultures from a young age, and that really shaped my ability to see the world from different perspectives. When I was working in Iraq I was setting up a TV station for Syrian Refugees, and that was definitely a moment when I realised that I wanted to find a better way of training and coaching them. I started doing a masters degree in coaching, and my plan was to use the coaching to help those with PTSD.
What are the areas of your personal development that you really had to focus on improving to help you progress in your career?
BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
I’m very shy and an introvert, so I tend to hide myself away and don’t want to “shine”. It seems perverse saying that confidence is a huge issue when I’m on the cover of a magazine, but it’s definitely one of my biggest challenges. I have had to really push myself to put myself out there.
What motivates you to keep doing what you do? I combine coaching with the creativity of making video, and I love writing, editing and shooting, but I also love people’s stories so it’s the perfect mix for me. I’ve been writing books and making TV shows since I was a little girl and it’s always been a passion project. When I worked in TV news I happily would work all night on a story, and then still work the next day. I’m not motivated by money in the slightest and I’m always driven to help people to tell stories that connect.
social visibility How has social media helped you in your business / work? I don’t think I’d be in business if it wasn’t for social media. I wouldn’t know it was possible to become an entrepreneur and would think that business wasn’t for me… so I’d be working in TV news and resenting the crazy juggle that comes with working long hours and travelling to bonkers places.
Are there any ways in which you think social media has held you back or not supported your goals? When I first started out it was easy to get swept up in the 6 figures in 6 seconds stories, and I did my fair share of comparison-itis. It was only when I’d got more clarity about my experience and background that I realised what kind of coaching I wanted to do.
Which channels do you use the most to improve your online visibility? I started out using Facebook, but actually I think the algorithm isn’t conducive to ensuring your content is seen. I get much better traction on Pinterest where I get 2 million views a month, and YouTube is an amazing platform to build an evergreen lead magnet.
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How important is social media in connecting you with your audience and building your influence? Social media is one of the best ways to build an audience and ensure that you’re seen by thousands. But I have to say that meeting people in the real world is really, really, important, and when you’re first starting out, that's what matters most. Most of my clients in the beginning came from in-person meetings, so don’t forget your network - and if you don’t know anyone – it is possible to create your network.
personal brand image When you think about your personal brand style (fashion, beauty, body image etc), how would you describe yourself? When I was working as an international correspondent, colleagues would joke I was Snow White meets Lara Croft. When I was working in Afghanistan, I’d be wearing combat trousers, and flak jackets but I still had my bright pink handbags and pastel pink Shalwar Kamez! Nowadays, I’m often in my mum uniform of red and pink tops with jeans and trainers. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t wear pink and red, and they really suit my colouring, and style. When I’m doing a training session, or giving a talk, I’m always wearing “brand colours” which are – can you guess - pink and red! People also see me as an introvert and down to earth, so I work hard to combine the “polished” look with the down to earth mum that is wearing jeans 95% of the time.
Is there anything about your style that you think makes you stand out and if so what would you say that is? I’m very feminine and girly, and my branding photography is pretty strong. I’m often in fitted dresses from the Pretty Dress Company, and love clothes that go in at the waist, and flatter me.
I’m careful to be filmed and photographed in red and pink and that has definitely helped me to establish a brand style. I work on video and I think it helps to build a brand identity, and whilst you want to shake things up and offer people something new from a visual perspective, it also helps to create an identifiable look.
Do you have any tips for people who are shy about putting themselves ‘out there’ and being the ‘face’ of their brand? I’m an introvert and being on camera isn’t easy. Practice smiling in front of the camera so that you know what your “flattering smile is”. Get a makeup artist to do your hair and makeup – it makes a MASSIVE difference. And get great lighting!
I often take a personal shopper to help me buy clothes because I find it boring and I’d rather go to a yoga class, and that definitely takes the stress out of shopping for me. I’m impulsive and have to buy it NOW!
What areas of your personal brand style do you think works for you the best in terms of your attraction and visibility (i.e., do you get more attention from your images or video or do they both work well for you)?
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BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
final question When you think about all of the elements that make up your personal brand (mindset, social visibility and image), why is your personal brand important for building an authentic persona with your target audience? In my first job in radio, the branding of the radio station was drummed into us and I knew that I had to create news for 25-34 year old females, and 20 years later I can still rattle off lots of audience research about the brand. A strong brand matters because your audience needs to know you and know what you stand for. When I set up in business, I worked hard to create that same brand identity, but you cannot do that UNLESS you know who you’re talking to, and what your audience needs to hear from you. Research is really important to help you create content that talks to that audience. And it also makes it so much easier to put yourself out there, when you know you’re being “helpful” to your target demographic.
Follow Lucy on Social Media: · https://lucygriffiths.com/ www.facebook.com/LucyGriffithsdotcom/ www.instagram.com/lucygriffithsdotcom/ www.linkedin.com/in/lucygriffithsdotcom/ www.twitter.com/LucyGriffithsTV www.youtube.com/lucygriffithsdotcom
Interview: Dionne Smith Photography: Emma Marshall Personal Brand Stylist: Shyla Hassan Clothing: Ted Baker London Jewellery: Jewel Tree
Join Lucy's Online Membership Programme: The Online Entrepreneur Studio is a membership for small business owners to get support with video, marketing, mindset and tech. We’ll help you to build and grow your online business. There will be daily Facebook lives, guest experts, and themes each month to help your business succeed.
natalie
Trice
An author and independent PR consultant with an international career spanning nearly 25 years, Natalie's an eye for a story and wealth of contacts, sees her exceeding client expectations time and again and she is well regarded by the media. When she isn't working, you will find her on the beach in Devon with her family and their dog, Dotty.
5 steps
to kickstart your PR by natalie trice
With a to-do list longer than the school run, meetings to attend, and orders to complete, PR might not be on your radar but if I told you it could make a real difference to your business maybe it would be?
Get professional images taken
As well as building your profile and boosting sales, PR can lead to new partnerships, help position you as an expert in your field and give your confidence a real boost.
I cannot emphasise enough how important professional images are when it comes to PR. A picture not only paints a thousand words, but it can also be the difference between a game changing piece going into Grazia, and not.
To help you kickstart your PR here are five steps you can start taking today for better visibility in the future.
Know what your target audience read Knowing your target audience is at the heart of any PR strategy because you want to talk to the people who will buy your products and use your services. Once you know who you are talking to it’s time for some fun. Research newspapers, trade magazines, consumer titles, blogs and social media platforms to find out what your customers consume and look at where you might fit on the pages.
What to say Writing a book, opening a new shop, launching a children’s clothing range or recording annual sales are all ‘potential’ stories from you, but think about whether they will be of interest to a journalist before taking the idea further. Brexit, obesity levels, fertility, and the latest superfoods are often in the news so if you can offer comment, go for it! Awareness days and seasonal events can be another way of getting your voice heard, so do your research and build a calendar that you can tap into when other things are quiet.
Being confident in front of the camera isn’t always easy. So, work with a photographer you have a good rapport with and give them a brief of what you are looking for (headshots, product images, lifestyle snaps) and let them know of you have any concerns. If you feel confident working with them that will shine through in your photos and make them even more appealing to the media.
get involved with twitter Twitter can be a fantastic tool if you are feeling a little nervous about trying out PR but want to get 'out there'. Following the #journorequest hashtag is a great way to find potential media opportunities and can set up great relationships with key contacts for the future. With many media outlets, journalists and bloggers active on the platform it’s easy to find them, follow them and communicate with them – just don’t stalk them. If you want to make a start today, you will find me at @natalieprschool.
give it time There is no doubt that PR works but it takes time, and patience is a virtue. So do the groundwork, keep an eye on the news and don’t give up because I promise you that your time will come. Good luck!
Natalie has worked in the media for the past 23 years and is also an author and the founder of DDH UK. Find out more about Natalie and her work at PR-School and look out for her second book, ‘PR School – A Masterclass in Publicity’ this autumn.
BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
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get emotional
with your communications by dionne smith
One of the things I love to do is write. I may not be perfect with my punctuation and grammar but I love to tell a story and share my voice and advice with my audience. When I look back at the videos, blogs and articles I’ve produced or written in the past, the ones that seem to make the most impact are those that deliver an emotional message. We naturally align to communications that stir our feelings. Whether it’s a personal account of someone’s experience or a significant change that has evolved from using a product or service. When we are moved by what we see, hear or read, the connection we have with that communication has a much more lasting effect than ones that don’t. With all the mobile devices we have access to we receive a range of different communications at a much faster pace. So, being able to stand out in the overcrowded 'media' space. means you need to speak to your audience on a deeper and more meaningful level.
Where possible, show vulnerability or describe the challenge Describe how you got into the situation and how it made you feel. We can all relate to desperate situations that have made us feel insecure and less confident about ourselves. Being honest about your feelings can be very scary, but it’s also very humanising because who hasn’t been vulnerable?
Take them on your journey of discovery and redemption! Every story is a journey to discovering your strength, courage, determination and confidence. You've successfully navigated your way through situations that seemed hopeless at the time. Describe how it felt to find your solutions and how things changed for you.
When it’s appropriate to leave the emotion out of your communications
3 Tips for Crafting Emotional Communications We're used to hearing stories every day. During TV shows – both factual and fictional, adverts, on the news, in papers and magazines, from friends and family and at work. Stories help us to shape communications in a way that is easily digestible and believable. They help to build trust and influence with your audience which is why they are so powerful. With any communication, it’s essential for your audience connect with the message you are trying to get across. So, here are my tips for crafting an emotional message:
Make an impact in the title and opening section You only have a few seconds to get someone’s attention, so it must be done immediately. Why do they need to hear or read what you have to say? What statement can you make in those first few seconds to entice them to keep reading?
One of the most important facts about how you communicate is to be respectful and considerate, especially when you are talking about someone else. Social media has been the downfall of many highprofile celebrities and businesses just because of one post that they may have put out years ago! Be mindful of what you are saying, think about how you would feel if you were receiving the comment you are about to make. So, stick to the facts and try to leave your personal feelings out of your communications. In the long run, it’s not worth expressing your feelings if it could be viewed as disrespectful, overly controversial or just downright rude!
Finally… Whether you are communicating about yourself or a customer (with their permission of course), when it has an emotive message from a real-life story or experience the effect is so much more powerful in helping you to connect with your audience. With any communication it’s about building that know, like and trust factor while also being truthful and authentic to who you are, what you do and where you are going.
For more advice and support with your personal brand development, visit my website to schedule a free 90 minute brand discovery session.
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BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 3 May 2019
3 ways to find your voice on LinkedIn by jennifer corcoran There are 3 ways to network on LinkedIn: 1. On the home feed via posts, blogs and videos etc. 2. In LinkedIn Groups 3. Via LinkedIn messenger (email) Most people get hung up on number 1 and feel so intimidated that it stops them trying to use LinkedIn at all and then giving up! We are all different and have different communication styles. I advise all of my clients to find the best way of communicating that suits them. You don’t need to use all the methods or be all things to all people. Just be you. That’s when you will start to enjoy using LinkedIn and be authentic to your communication style. I use a mix of all 3 methods. I’m an introverted ‘green’ and I love the fact that social media allows me to get my voice in the room and make an impact. I’m not the loudest in the room 'physically' but I can be when I'm online.
Home Feed: Posting on the home feed is a great way for me to stay top of mind and to promote my personal brand. If you are still a bit shy and not at the stage of ‘posting’ you can still make an impact here by liking and commenting on posts from your network. Sharing posts from your network sadly doesn’t have a great reach with the algorithm so ideally commenting is the best way to go and when commenting and mentioning someone don’t forget to tag them in with the @ sign or they may never see your comment.
groups: You are allowed to join 100 groups now on LinkedIn – phew! I belong to local groups, national and global groups, groups related to my industry with my peers and most importantly groups where my target audience are. Ideally focusing on 5-10 will give you the best results. You may just need that one great group that is a combination of local and your target audience and not need to use any others. I myself run a group called ‘My Super Connector’ where I share top tips and updates on LinkedIn so I would love you all to join! The best way to get engagement in groups is to post content giving value and ask questions. Don’t just drop a blog link and leave. That’s pretty spammy. Engage with other members of the group on the feed and also reach out to connect with them.
LinkedIn Messenger: Messaging people within LinkedIn is so powerful. A 1-2-1 message will trump a post on the home feed any day of the week. If you don’t have the LinkedIn App I would advise you to download it. I do most of my mails on LinkedIn when on the go and when someone is using the app or has it open you will see a green light which may lead to a quick conversation. You can either mail people or leave a short audio message for them depending on their account functionality. In order to leave a short audio, you must hold your finger down on the small microphone icon and hold it there while you record. You have a 1-minute limit and get a short countdown when you are reaching that quota. I love these voicemails as they stand out in a sea of text! Check them out if you have the functionality. The main thing to be mindful of when using LinkedIn messenger is that you want to move people out of LinkedIn and on to the phone, email, Skype / Zoom or a face to face meeting asap as this is where the magic happens. LinkedIn is a communication tool to facilitate this. Otherwise you fall down the rabbit hole and will spend all your time messaging but never really achieving anything. Hopefully this short blog will give you the confidence to go forth and try a method that suits you. Which method will you use going forward? What is your preferred communication style online? Do you prefer posting or direct messaging? I would love to hear how you get on!
If you want to learn how to fully optimise your LinkedIn profile check out Jennifer’s services via www.mysuperconnector.co.uk. Jennifer offers 1-2-1 support and group workshops. She also has an online training program ‘LinkedIn Profile Success’ and BrandMe! readers qualify for a 20% discount with the code 20OFFLPS
BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
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How to focus on your visual brand communication by shyla hassan It’s not unusual to judge a book by its cover! So, judging a person by their attire is the only visual identity we have to go by to get a sense of who a person is. We are effectively walking advertisements for ourselves, so how we dress will send out subliminal messages that represent you whether you like it or not.
If you want to communicate your brand identity in a way that matches your personality and style, you need to decide which tribe you belong to, or would like to belong to, then use this to express yourself positively and communicate your brand in the way you want to be perceived.
style & visual messages Take a look inside your wardrobe and you will see your personality through the clothes you wear. We often choose our clothes depending on our social status, economic or cultural views and what sits with our lifestyle. If we were to meet a woman wearing a traditional sari one might assume her to be of Hindu religion, this may not be accurate but this view is based on preconceived typecasting. You might notice someone who is wearing a classic traditional tweed jacket and trousers and expect that person to be quite conservative and formal. So, as you can see it’s easy for us to assume that if a person has a particular dress sense then he or she belongs to a certain 'tribe'.
If we take blue for example, this is a colour for communication and professionalism, trustworthiness, knowledge,. This colour can be seen on the popular social media channels of twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Blue is also associated with wisdom and loyalty, so if you're looking to attract new clients then it's essential to think about what you would like to communicate in your choice of colours.
So, with that said, it's therefore very evident that there are certain expectations and judgements attributed to one’s dress code.
Be confident in your individuality
Colours and their psychological meaning
People trust and gravitate towards people who are naturally confident and make an impression, so start by using colours to communicate your visual brand identity.
It's a proven fact that colour and style increases brand recognition — up to 90% of snap judgements are made through the colours you wear. Colours have subliminal messages. For instance, red can be seen as a lively loud colour representing love and passion, but is also used for warning and danger traffic signs! Red can also be seen as an aggressive colour and so it is vital to use this in the right environment and context as it may not be suited to, or appropriate for every type of business.
Decide which colours suit you and then see how they influence your business. Do you want to come across as classic, romantic, traditional or adventurous? Once you decide on your colours, you can then identify the mood you want to express through your style by using words that best describe your personality and business. By concentrating on your style and colour choices, you will showcase your individuality and what you represent which will help you create the right subliminal messages that help you connect and communicate with your audience and clients on an emotional level.
Visit www.stylistinlondon.com and subscribe to my exclusive weekly style tips to help you express your personal brand through what you wear. For a no obligation consultation, feel free to email contact@stylistinlondon.com.
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BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
7 steps to creating your communication strategy community Tool Box All organisations have to develop regular communications between staff, management, HR and other parts of the business as well as communicating with outside stakeholders such as suppliers, customers and the general public. It is essential therefore, that in order to facilitate your communications, you will need to develop an effective and strategic communications strategy for both internal and external audiences. This will allow you to build trust, manage your reputation and ensure that you fulfil your organisations priorities, goals and objectives. However, creating the right communication strategy is not an easy task. Every organisation has a different set of goals, which can also involve different teams trying to achieve them. Even if you are a solopreneur, creating a strategy that you can easily maintain will help you to deliver your communications more effectively to your target audience. Whilst there is no such thing as a perfect strategy, there are some keys steps you can take to help you create the right strategy for you and your business:
Identify the purpose of your communication
Identify the audience you are targeting
Plan for potential obstacles
Plan and design your message
Focus on your media strategy
Consider the resources you need to use
Create your action plan
For more information on developing your communication strategy, visit Community Tool Box to view the full article. BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
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how to use social media to communicate to your target client by bernita shaw Over the last 5 years we have seen the mega force that social media has become. One tweet, one Instagram post or one video clip has the power to propel a brand or individual into a household name. With such propensity behind social media it’s no wonder that many professionals and businesses now use social media as a mandatory requirement. However, because it has become an over saturated market many businesses are also wondering how they can cut through the noise (and paid ads) and be seen and heard by their target audience. Fear not! For many small businesses the aim is to not be seen by millions but seen by the right people for your business. So, with that being said here are some tips to help you communicate clearly to your ideal clients:
be consistent Human beings are creatures of habit and having a consistent presence on social media will help you to build your ideal customer base. Studies show that 64% of consumers make a purchase after following/seeing a brand over a period of months. What does this mean? Don’t get disheartened if you don’t receive instant engagement or likes. Posting consistently means that when the time’s right those who passively engage can, and eventually will, purchase a service or product.
research Although this can be time-consuming as there are millions of social media accounts to scour through. Spending time doing solid research on your target market and competitors can prove to be extremely beneficial in helping you curate the right content to speak to your audience. Look at the type of accounts that your target customer follows and interacts with. Take notes and see what type of content they post and find the best way to personalise and incorporate it into your content. I wouldn’t recommend ‘copying’ other people’s posts, but definitely take inspiration from them especially if you feel lost as to what you could be posting.
There are a range of social media schedulers you can use such as Hootsuite, Buffer, TweetDeck, Social Sprout, Sendible and many more. Ask other online marketers for recommendations or do a search online to find out how they are ranked. Once you have selected a scheduler you then only need to spend an hour or so setting up your posts for the week or a couple of weeks ahead. This way you know you have regular content being posted to your audience without you having to do it every day which would be a total chore that you would quickly lose interest in!
interact The great thing about social media is that it provides multiple ways for you to interact with your audience instantly. A good example is Instagram Stories. This feature allows you to conduct polls, ask questions, do a live Q&A or show live business updates. This presents a great opportunity to stay connected with your audience, receive direct feedback and find out exactly what your customer base wants. Also, create an extensive list of accounts to follow and start interacting with them. Comment and like their posts, retweet and share their content where relevant, take part in polls and ask questions. This helps to build strong relationships online and strengthen your online network.
brand awareness Needless to say, having a clear, distinctive and consistent brand speaks volumes and helps to set you apart from your competitors. Your profile needs to have visual appeal because we are inherently visual creatures and are naturally attracted to aesthetically appealing images. It is important that your profile has a distinctive theme (colour scheme, imagery, brand colours). This reinforces your brand identity and instantly makes you recognisable with your audience. Being consistent, interacting, doing your research and maintaining brand awareness will ultimately result in building a strong social media presence
To find out more about No Brainer Solutions. Visit www.nobrainersolutions.co.uk or email Bernita at bernita@nobrainersolutions.co.uk
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BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
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sign-up for the Communicate you virtual summit Hi, I’m Jennifer Corcoran the founder of My Super Connector and I'm really excited to have brought together this amazing tribe of 6 Devon-based female business owners to share with you their top tips as to how you can communicate your personal brand effectively to connect with more people and generate leads in your own authentic voice. This is a one-day virtual summit dedicated to helping you learn, grow and transform your business and career through effective communication. Communicate YOU is for you if you’re forward-thinking, willing to show up authentically and committed to doing the work. From PR to marketing, career advice to branding, LinkedIn and much more – Communicate YOU is THE no fluff virtual conference that you won't want to miss. If you can join us live for the Summit, then you will be able to interact with the content and the other attendees through our dedicated summit platform. All you need to attend is a computer and Wi-Fi. If you can’t make it live, the sessions will be available on replay for up to 7 days following the summit so there is really no excuse not to sign-up.
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Here at BrandMe! our mission is to motivate, inspire and encourage women like you to be their authentic self without question or compromise. Our goal is to feature articles that showcase strong female professionals and entrepreneurs who are building their influence and making a difference in their industry or profession; supporting a cause that empowers and creates solidarity with other women or; making a global change in mindset and consideration of how we are making an impact and changing the world. If this is you, get in touch so we can help you share your story and bring awareness to the difference you are making. Email dionne@dpsbrandconsultancy.co.uk to find out more about sharing your story with our readers. 18
BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 4 September 2019
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BrandMe! Magazine: Issue 3 May 2019
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BRANDME! PERSONAL BRANDING FOR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
2020 FOCUS:
WE'RE LAUNCHING OUR NEW STRATEGY FOR 2020 AND INTRODUCING A NEW PROGRAMME OF SUPPORT FOR YOU AND YOUR PERSONAL BRAND DEVELOPMENT...WATCH THIS SPACE! Highlights: M i n d set & Succes s T r a i ning
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