In a recent Coffee Chat, Puja Misra led a conversation about building a personal brand to capture and connect.

Although Coffee Chats are not recorded, so that attendees have a safe space to drive connection and conversation, we wanted to share some highlights:

“You don’t get a second chance to create a first impression” 

Keep it personal. Build a connection.

A personal brand image represents you when you are not physically there. A mistake Puja says people often make is creating a faceless brand. Some people feel they can simply speak through their logo; but to build a connection with others, we must see the person behind the business. Your images should show your personality and authenticity. A personal brand positions you as an expert, but also sets you apart from the competition. Know what you are trying to accomplish, your vision and where you want to go.

Build your brand through visuals. 

Visuals evoke feeling and perception, so don’t simply use a generic photo or selfie. The quality of your images or videos reflects your online persona and your business. You want your visuals to be consistent and compliment each other and make you look like you know what you are doing. Utilize the power of social media to tie in with your brand and show who you are in action. Puja recommends having a video because it is the ‘new king of content marketing.’ If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth 1.8 million words. When you focus on what you want to achieve, you can reach the right audience.

Know your brand colours.

What do you want your brand to represent? Connecting a colour to your brand is not always about choosing your favourite colour. Puja says that every colour has its own meaning. This does not mean you should choose a colour you don’t like, but a colour that resonates with both you and what you are trying to achieve. For example, I use red for Inner Strength because for me, it represents power. Ask yourself how the colour makes you feel. One of the most compelling examples shared was a before and after of one of Puja’s clients who focused on coaching and spiritual healing. Her original fushia pink look was jarring and attracted more female clients while her revamped calm blue with professional images helped her build a global, multi-gender clientele. 

Managing the use of space.

When capturing her clients, Puja tries to keep the background noise to a minimum. You are the focus. From a marketing perspective, Puja recommends having images with enough negative space that can be used through different platforms (Website, LinkedIn, Twitter). 

Puja says that most new businesses go through a branding evolution. 

Year 1: Startup 

Let your audience know who you are. Showcase your business with professional headshots to put a face to the name. Don’t use selfies. 

Years 1-3: Growth 

Now it’s time to build a personal brand and develop an elevator pitch video. Your images and video should tell a story about who you are and what you do. 

Years 3+: Expansion 

Videos drive action. What service do you provide? Include a Brand Video (digital business card), course, content, testimonial, training, or sales materials.

Want more information about personal branding or book a shoot? You can find Puja Misra here.

Coming soon in June, conversations with:

• Michael Klein, Changing the Terms Register Here
• Trudy Lewis, Communications Consultant and Executive Coach Register Here
• Advita Patel from Comms Rebel (is back to talk about an exciting collaboration with me)