Smart branding tips for the busy solopreneur

There are benefits to working for someone else, like a steady paycheck and opportunities for advancement, but sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side of the corporate fence. If you are tired of sharing your talents, and the fruits if your labor, with a corporate overlord, it may be time to strike out on your own.

The trend toward solopreneurship has been picking up steam in recent years, but many of those new business owners do not realize how important branding can be in their success. If you want to build a great business, a solid branding strategy is always a good place to start, and here are nine tips to get you started.

1. Formalize your business. If you want others to take your business seriously, you need to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. Memorializing your business with a formal name and structure is important, even if you are operating entirely on your own.
2. Invest in a professional logo. When you see a great logo, you instantly recognize the brand name in question, and a great logo can do the same for your solo business. If you have an eye for design, you may be able to create your own logo. If not hiring an outside artist could prove to be a sound investment.
3. Use consistent branding across all your online and offline properties. Consistency is one of the keys to effective branding, so make sure the look you are creating in the world is the same across all your online and offline properties.
4. Build a robust and professional social media presence. Sites like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok can be valuable allies in your fight for solopreneur brand awareness. Strive to create a robust, professional and consistent look and feel across all the social media channels you utilize.  
5. Consider hiring a photographer. Adding a profile photo is a great way to personalize your business and your brand, and this is not a job for the DIY selfie. Consider hiring a professional photographer to create the perfect head shot for your business.
6. Write a mission statement. Formal mission statements are not just for big businesses - they can be powerful assets for solopreneurs and small businesses as well. Think about what you want to accomplish with your business and let that guide your formal mission statement.
7. Focus on great content creation. Quality content is an essential part of branding and running a great solo business. Good content will help drive your organic search engine optimization efforts, helping would-be customers find you and driving down your external marketing costs. Great content will also help reinforce your expertise, solidifying your place as a leader in your field.
8. Set up your own website. Relying on social media is not enough, and it is important to have your own branded website. As a solopreneur, you and your online presence are essentially one and the same, so invest in a professional website and keep it updated.
9. Expand your brand with video marketing. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a good video can be even more valuable. Video marketing is a powerful part of branding for solopreneurs, so grab your camera and start posting.

If you doubt the importance of branding for your solo business, just think about how you view brands when making your own buying decisions. Even if you never hire a single employee, having a solid branding strategy in place can help you stand out from your competitors, drive visitors to your website and give your tiny business the legitimacy it needs to thrive.