You think you know branding but do you brand yourself as an independent worker?
By Shelly Strom, for Liveops
Branding is a subject most people know a little bit about and anyone seeking more has the tools at their fingertips to learn about the art. Essentially, it is all about calling out features that distinguish a product or service from the crowd.
Thinking of companies that do it well, the top of the list usually includes folks like Apple, Nike and Starbucks.
If you’ve ever worked as an employee for a company whose purpose, mission or brand you really believed in and made going to work more meaningful, you know about the power of a brand.
But as a freelancer, are you also aware of the relevance of branding for yourself? For those of us who aren’t yet household names, building our brand story also has the power to build our business and connect us with the work in which we’re most interested.
Freelancers should resist the urge to shrink away from branding
Regardless of the type of freelancing you’re doing or would like to do—whether writing, providing customer service or driving for Uber—branding will help you reach your professional goals.
People who haven’t previously considered personal branding may be a little uncomfortable with the thought.
Yet, as this Boise-based writer explains, freelancers should be open-minded about branding: “Almost every time I mention the word ‘brand’ to a freelancer or author, I get a grimace in reply. No one wants to think of themselves as a brand. Well, almost no one. Except for authors like Stephen King, J.K. Rowling and James Patterson maybe. They are brands. When you open up a Stephen King novel, you know what to expect, the same way that when you order a Starbucks latte or buy a Pepsi. You know exactly what you’re in for.” Read more.