One of the most common misconceptions about personal branding is that it has to do with logos, nail art designs photography and your business colors. Personal branding isn't focused on just the technicalities since the root word lies in the word "personal," which means it's all about you! Yes, your story and mission are to make the world a better place with your nail art designs, from ombre nails to crackle gel. There are numerous statistics to back up the power of personal branding in effectively marketing yourself and making your clients fall head over heels for you! If you're a nail salon owner or a nail tech, building a solid and recognizable branding can help you stand out in the nail industry. You can learn how successful celebrity nail techs made their brand with nail art, passion for beauty, and work ethics. To put it simply, personal branding is all about your story and how you can add value to your nail clients; read on to get an overview of how you can do so! How to build your personal brand as a nail tech or a nail professional: 1. Ask yourself why Before you get down to the nitty-gritty details of building your personal brand, you have to ask yourself, what is your why? Yes, dig in deeper to yourself since, as a nail entrepreneur, it's easy to get distracted with your main purpose when you have a million things running in your mind, from nail salon sanitation to having the right nail salon equipment. Why do you want to be a nail tech? Why are you selling DIY press on? Why have you chosen to be an expert on acrylic nails? A strong personal brand has indestructible reasoning behind it. Therefore you have to ask yourself many questions to know your driving force since working in the beauty industry can be challenging, and if you don't know who you are and why you're an entrepreneur, how can your nail clients get to know you? As Plato once said," Know Thyself," since knowing who you are and what you value the most can help you figure out how you want to build your personal brand, what story to tell, and how you want to portray yourself to your clients. Your brand makes you who you are; therefore, knowing your strengths and limitations firsthand can help you create concrete personal branding. 2. Know your audience Personal branding is like unraveling yourself or being vulnerable to your audience, but there's a sense of intimacy between you and your clients. Personal branding is more than just a part of online marketing strategies, but it's getting to know what your clients prefer and like, think of it as getting to know someone on a first date. You tell someone about yourself, and they tell theirs, and you'll see if both of you clicked. Once you know your audience, you can cater to their needs and wants while sharing who you are. Humanizing or personalizing your business can increase your chances of getting to know you on social media and getting more clients, which is good for your business! Nobody likes booking with a nail tech that doesn't feel approachable, relatable, and human-like as possible; your personal brand is an extension of who you are online and offline. 3. Tell your story Everybody loves hearing stories since, according to Joe Lazaukas, there's science in storytelling. It's how our brains are wired to remember stories rather than facts and figures. It explains why personal branding can help you elevate your business. Sharing your story allows your clients to understand you and love your brand in the long run since they get to know your story and who you are as a person. It can be daunting for other nail techs to share a glimpse of their lives with their customers aside from nail hacks or nail care since it removes their privacy. However, even just a brief introduction, telling your story can help your brand look more personable. No man is an island, and if your clients are looking for someone they can connect with long-term, your story can help make a difference. You want to highlight your branding with certain colors, style, and mood that help your audience get to know who you are and, at the same time, pique their interests. It's all about finding common ground with your audience and making them feel seen, heard, or known. 4. Know what makes your nail services or business unique What makes your brand uniquely yours? Why are you offering line nail art designs? Is bejeweled acrylic nails your expertise? Does your branding consist of red nails- share the reason behind it? Going back to the central core of building your brand is knowing who you are, especially your strengths and weaknesses. What makes your nail salon unique? Is it the ambiance or the theme? Once you figure out what makes your brand unique, use it as part of your personal branding, so people know it's you.If you're familiar with the story of Achilles Heels in Greek mythology, you'll know how to use your strengths and work on your weaknesses. There's no such thing as a perfect nail service or nail tech, but with your personal branding, you show your quirks, flaws, and personality. Your clients will know you love who you are and what your brand stands for. 5. Build a community The beauty industry has become more community-driven since the pandemic happened. According to statistics, a whopping 96 percent of beauty brands of all sizes, including nail techs from all walks of life, are using social media as part of their marketing strategies? Does it mean communities can only be formed online? The answer is a resounding no. As a nail tech or nail salon owner, you can help build a community among your clients who love your brand and all things nails, anything basically that ties you to them, the moment they step into your nail salon and create an online community. You can start fostering a community among nail lovers by sharing your passion for nails from your point of view. If you're a mom who works as a nail tech, you can connect with other moms in your area who are in dire need of a Mani or Pedi. You can share your story with them online or in-person on how you juggle nail career and motherhood, which can help them feel less lonely and more empowered. You can share your experiences with your clients or share your best practices in the nail industry with fellow nail entrepreneurs. At iGel Beauty, we do our best to stand by our goal of creating a community that advocates learning, creating high-quality nail art designs, and inspiring nail techs from all walks of life with our nail products and love for nails. You can join our Facebook community to see how communities are helping make a difference in people's lives and how you can keep them up to date on your business. 6. Create an online presence Your personal brand should be present online and not just in person. About 88% of people follow brands online, and you want yours to be one of them. Having an online presence means you're proactive in reaching out to your audience, expanding your network, and solidifying the legitimacy of your business. If your nail business is not online, you're missing out on plenty of opportunities that can help your business grow even more. 7. Utilize your chosen social media platforms Are you more of a TikTok person? Or Instagram? How about Facebook? Your personal branding can help you figure out what social media platform you can use that suits your personality and business goals. Also, if you know where your audience is, you can quickly learn where to connect with them online. One of the worst mistakes you can make for your personal branding is not having the right social media strategy by creating social media accounts on all platforms. It's hard to keep up with the social media algorithms, let alone create content for each one if you're a one-person team. It would be best for small business owners or nail tech owners who are just starting to start small by focusing on at least two social media platforms that can help them be relevant online. 8. Stay consistent Consistency should be a part of your personal branding as a nail tech since it helps clients know your work ethic, values, and creative direction. Your personal branding should be imprinted on your works, from building an apex to nail prep, and it's all a part of your brand's DNA. It's like following your skincare routine daily with no-fail; consistency makes your brand professional and reliable. Nail clients want professionals who can deliver outstanding results that are beyond nails, from having excellent customer service to valuable content online. Personal branding should not be taken for granted since it's powerful enough to bring in loyal customers with the same values as yours. It's one of the key ingredients in building a loyal fanbase for your business, so start being personal with your clients! Personal branding should be a mystery to you anymore since, in an age of transparency, and digitalization, being authentic and unique is one way to make your business stand out. It all starts within you! You can start by sharing your story with us on our Facebook community. You'll be a part of a community of iGel Beauties who have the same passion as yours and, at the same time, stay updated on the latest iGel Beauty launches. We'll see you there!
