The concept of self-branding is more popular and relevant than ever. The cornerstone to marketing yourself? A website. You need a proper (and aesthetically pleasing) place to house and show off all your talents and skills. A proper website elevates your brand and communicates your unique aesthetic by creating consistent content, headshots, logo, and color palette.
Building your personal brand through a website is the chance to share your unique voice with those who have the same passion or even potential employers. But how do you get started sharing yourself with the world (wide web)? It’s actually simpler than you may think! I’ve broken down how to launch your own website so you can get to blogging/storytelling/content creating/resume building today!
1—Pick a Website Builder
There are so many easy-to-use platforms to help launch your website. I recommend Wix, Weebly, and WordPress. However if those options don’t fit with your brand, Tumblr, Squarespace, and Blogspot are amazing alternatives. Remember, user-friendly website navigation makes life easy and fun for people visiting your website.
Generate a home page with a short bio, that lead to other pages such as: your resume, portfolio, blog, and contact information.
2—Brand Images
Visuals quickly convey your brand’s values and personality, as well as attract your target audience. Every personal brand should have a headshot that is square, close-up, and the subject is smiling. Additionally, publicity shots that are wide, medium close-ups which would be used for press releases or news coverage.
Your pose, clothing, colors, and backgrounds should clearly show off your brand personality. Use a simple, plain background with few details so you can pop out in the photo. Avoid bad lighting and the passport look.
3—Color Palette
Colors communicate meaning to your brand personality. Did you know specific colors express different emotions? Blue shows strength and trust, while yellow evokes optimism. Red is bold and youthful, whereas shades of purple are imaginative and wise. If you are looking for peaceful vibe, go green. And neutral gray is a great choice for a calm and balanced feel. Need help nailing down the perfect color palette? Adobe Color CC is the perfect tool to customize a color palette that is so “you.”
4—Logos and Fonts
Think about it—your favorite brands all have unique logos that are practically synonymous with their name. So if you are trying to brand yourself, shouldn’t you have a proper logo as well?
A logo is super important to establish an instant recognition and most importantly, it distinguishes you from your competition. Color is important in creating your logo. Use the same colors you picked out for your website’s color palette. Keep it simple because the best logos give the audience a clear idea of who you are and what you’re about. Logomakr is free and easy to use. If you’re artistic, sketch your own logo with Logoshi.
Consistency is key with fonts. Pick two primary fonts for your website copy and social media graphics. Also, have one for headers and one for body text. Google Fonts is a great way to incorporate a wider variety of fonts.
Your header font should be the largest and allude to your brand personality. If you want to use script, uppercase, or big bold title fonts, this is the place to do it. Your body text should be smaller, simple, and easy to read.
In order to build a strong website, be goal-oriented, have an authentic voice, and hustle for it. Despite the fact that fashion, lifestyle, and beauty blogs are in a highly concentrated space, find your niche and shed light on it. So, what are you waiting for? Launch your own website because it’s the most effective tool to establish your content and social media presence.
