How do you build your personal brand effectively

How do you do it?

One of the frequently asked questions at The Virtual Makeup Show was “How do you build your personal brand?”. To help answer this question and many more, James Vincent, Director of Education was on hand to navigate the process.

This is a question that my students often ask of me in my Business and Blogging Course because it is so important to build your brand to grow your your business and career. After listing to the webinar at The Virtual Makeup Show, I decided it would be helpful to write this post. I compiled my webinar notes and merged with the advice I give. These are my 10 best  tips on building your personal brand. 

Here is what you need to do:

1. 1. Figure out who you are. You have to first know who you are and what you want to do in order to determine the type of person and artist you want to be.
   2. Know what it is you’re striving for, in other words, determine what is it you want to do as an artist and whom do you want to work with  or work for.
   3. Be authentic – We are all influenced and impressed by other artists and businesses, and that’s a great thing. To be authentic, however, does not mean that you copy or do as they do. Take in the inspiration. Make notes on what they do well. Then make your own lists of your strengths and the things that move you. In our lives we have experiences that are unique to us. Think about your experiences and how you can incorporate your experiences, beliefs and talents do create a brand that is amazing and unique to you.
   4. Develop your signature style. As an artist, what is it about you that when someone sees your work, they know that it’s you? I’m a makeup artist and when I see work by Danessa Myricks, Pat McGrath, Gucci Westman or Alex Box, I can usually tell that it’s their work because of the way they work with makeup. It can be glow, artistic elements or skin that stand out in the work that becomes the signature of the artist. What is it about your work that is consistently you? That becomes your signature style.
   5. Develop your own systems. We all have ways of running our business, but it’s how you run your business that adds to your authenticity. Are you in charge of booking yourself, or does someone else do it? Do you create and develop your marketing strategies, or do you leave it up to someone else? Systems are the elements of your business is a snapshot of how it works.
   6. Create your own processes. Processes are the steps you take to make the systems in your business run fluidly. It is how you break down the way you work is a great way to be more authentic because it’s your process and it’s how you work best. Let’s take how you do makeup for example, ask yourself the following questions:
      1. 1. How do you do makeup?
         2. Do you start with the eyes?
         3. Do you begin with foundation?
         4. Do you eliminate powder?
         5. Do you require certain lighting?
         6. Is there a certain product you must have no matter what?
   7. Research and follow industry experts to learn best practices.
   8. Always show your best work.
   9. Build an online presence and post consistently. 
   10. Network professionally.

Thank you James Vincent for being an amazing host for many of the webinars at The Virtual Makeup Show.