How to create a faith-inspired personal brand
What does personal branding have to do with faith? More than you would think! God has put awesome qualities and skills in the one and only you, and you have the responsibility to shine them bright in the world. Personal branding may seem a little scary or a little self-focused to some, but personal branding is a positive way to make sure Satan doesn’t blow out that light of yours or hide it under a bush. Personal branding is your chance to say, “Hey, here’s what God has done in me, for me, and through me.”
I had a fabulous conversation with the one and only Kate DiLeo about how to start and flourish on your personal branding journey. Kate is a branding expert and dear friend who has over a decade of experience helping individuals and brands set themselves apart and impact the world.
Now’s your chance to shine your light bright. So settle in, and let’s get started!
About Kate DiLeo
Kate DiLeo is the Chief Brand Architect of the brand strategy firm, Ennobble. An “Accidental Brand Strategist” who originally intended to pursue a Ph.D. in Anthropology, Kate fell into branding during her first sales job. In the pursuit of making quota, Kate realized she excelled at creating a message that got prospects to email and call her back. In fact, she went on to successfully manage a $1 million pipeline by throwing out the sales scripts and unsubscribing her leads from marketing campaigns. Instead, she delivered a simple pitch that told the prospect what she did, why she was different, and how she could solve their problem. The result was more leads who engaged in compelling conversations and ultimately converted into clients. Kate has since spent the last ten years teaching this powerful technique to over 200 companies across 20 sectors, helping them craft authentic brands that get more prospects to the table, more users who click, and more customers who buy.
What is a brand and how does faith apply?
A brand is the promise of who you say you are. Your brand is the promise of the value you offer and the experience others will receive when they interact with you or your products or services – this applies to anyone and any company. We buy from brands that resonate with our values, quality of life, aspirations, who we hope to be, and how we hope to live. Your personal brand is the same thing. What are you saying to the world about how you show up and what you can offer an organization or people? What promises do you put forth?
At the core, your brand comes from the understanding of who God says you are. Having the understanding of who God says you are and being bold enough and confident enough to own that allows you to excel in your personal branding. Forget the “I’m just a mom.” “I’m just an employee.” “I’m just me.” That is not the Truth and who God says you are.
How do I start building a personal brand?
Start simple. Kate mentions three keys to building your personal brand.
- Create a clear statement about what you do or who you are. Creating one quick sentence or phrase about what you do or who you are helps others understand what you offer in a matter of seconds. Essentially, create a tagline for yourself.
- Create a follow-up sentence, a.k.a in business-speak, a value proposition statement. Your value proposition statement should summarize how you can solve a problem or their specific problem. For example, “Here is the pain I know you are experiencing and this is how I solve your problem.”
- Create a set of bullet points called differentiator statements. List out clear and simple bullet points on how you are different from anyone or any business out there. Everyone and everything is not created equal.
How do I move forward and showcase my personal brand?
If this part makes you the most nervous, ask yourself, “What am I missing out on, and what is the world missing out on if I don’t show up?” What excuses are you making for not showing up? Cut the excuse and show up. The best way to show up is to practice in front of a mirror or with your family. Practice will encourage you and push you to get started. And, of course, get on your knees and ask God to give you the confidence. So, practice your pitch in front of someone and practice your pitch in prayer.
If you still aren’t feeling confident, go back and remember your why. What is your why? Why do you want this? Why are you doing this? Keep going back to your why to give you the confidence to continue to move forward.
More from this episode
Wondering how to add more of a faith message to your personal branding? Click play on episode 24 of the Faith Inspired Podcast to find out!
Connect with Kate DiLeo
Kate’s passion is to help individuals and companies build a brand that empowers and creates prosperity. If you want to connect with Kate, you can connect with her on LinkedIn, her website, and via email at kate@ennobble.com.
Looking to build a community of Christian women? Head over to Faith & Gather for connection and more stories to become faith-inspired.