43 www.printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2024 - Issue 347 add some credibility. Over the past three years I’ve put a lot of effort into building a strong personal brand and I can speak from experience when I say that all these things matter. We’re blessed to live in a digital age where we don’t just have the luxury of doing this in person, I’ve had a vast number of opportunities come my way on the back of following these processes and being consistent online. If you differentiate yourself from the competition and build trust and credibility with your audience, I have absolutely no doubt that you too can develop a strong personal brand that will deliver results. and ask them all the same question: what’s your USP? You’ll be amazed to know that as many as eighty percent of them will all give me the same answers. I know this because it’s one of the first things I explore when onboarding a new coaching client. It’s what makes you different though and it’s what will help you win more business. In 2022, I embarked on a transformative journey with The Business Coaching Academy, culminating in my full certification as a corporate coach with the prestigious Worldwide Association of Business Coaches. This achievement not only marked a significant milestone in my professional career but also uniquely positioned me as one of the few coaches globally specialising in the print industry. For you, it could be a unique approach to sustainability and offering eco-friendly printing solutions. It could be a specialisation in a specific printing technique, perhaps you niched down in customisation and personalisation. Perhaps you’ve developed a specific software to enhance your customer’s experience? You get where I’m going here. You need to go beyond what everyone else is saying and find what makes you unique. A Compelling Brand Story Every printing company has a story and you should use yours to connect with your audience. It’s one of the main reasons I get so much positive feedback on my podcast ‘The Printerviews’. People want to hear about your journey, what challenges you’ve experienced, what successes you’ve accomplished, and understand what has led you to bring the business to where it is today. A strong and compelling story makes you relatable and memorable. For those of you looking for a new read at the moment, I highly recommend checking out Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller. Leverage Social Media I can think of several people who stand out on my LinkedIn timeline and I’m sure you’ll have your own springing to mind. You know the ones who are always popping up, drumming up lots of likes, comments, and referrals. It’s because they’re building up a strong personal brand. They are building a strong brand message, they’ve got a tone that resonates with their audience, and most importantly, they’re being consistent with it across all channels. All of these things build recognition for their efforts and trust. Remember, people are unlikely to want to work with you until you have gained their trust. Networking & Collaboration Building a strong network is crucial to enhancing your personal brand and it’s important to surround yourself and partner with those who share similar values to yourself and perhaps offer complementary products or services to your own. The best way to build this network is by attending events and engaging with these professionals both on and offline. Personal Client Experiences What clients say about you can significantly impact your personal brand. Use things like case studies as social proof of how working with you has positively impacted your clients and testimonials to INDUSTRY TIPS / THE ONLINE PRINT COACH The printing industry is a crowded place and therefore you need to be different
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