Building a Personal Brand as a Creative

Real Talk on Personal Branding for Creatives: How to Not Suck at Standing Out

Hey there, fellow creative misfits! Zing here.

Look, I get it. "Personal branding" sounds like some corporate BS, right?

But stick with me. This stuff's important, and I'm gonna break it down without the fluff.

Know Thyself (And Don't Be Boring About It)

First up, you gotta figure out who the hell you are.

Sounds obvious, but you'd be amazed how many people skip this part.

Here's the deal: Your brand isn't some fake persona. It's you, but louder.

Me? I'm all about that orange and black life. Why? 'Cause it's bold, it's energetic, it's a little weird. Just like me.

So grab a drink (coffee, beer, whatever floats your boat), and ask yourself:

• What makes you weird in a good way?
• What can you do that makes people go "Holy crap!"?
• What's your story, morning glory?

Remember: There's only one you. Lean into that.

Your Brand: Don't Half-Ass It

Your brand is like your outfit for a first date with your dream client.

Make it look good, feel right, and leave an impression.

You need:

1. A look that turns heads (in a good way)
2. A voice that's unmistakably you
3. Values that you'd tattoo on your arm (metaphorically, unless you're into that)

For me? It's in-your-face colors, visuals that make you go "Whoa!", and a tone that's like chatting with your brutally honest best friend.

Pick your vibe and stick to it. Wishy-washy is for laundry, not branding.

Get Your Digital Ducks in a Row

It's 2024, folks. If you're not online, you might as well be invisible.

Here's your internet domination checklist:

1. Website: Your online home. Make it look like you, not like a template threw up.
2. Social media: Pick your poison. Better to rock one platform than suck at five.
3. Content plan: What are you blessing the internet with? And when?

My YouTube channel? It's where the magic happens. K-pop dance covers, tutorials, behind-the-scenes madness. Find your jam and own it.

Network Without Being a Sleazeball

Yeah, yeah, I know. Networking sounds about as fun as a root canal.

But here's the truth: Your network is your net worth. (Cliché, but true. Deal with it.)

How to network without feeling like you need a shower after:

1. Collab with cool people
2. Show up at industry things (virtual pajama parties count)
3. Actually talk to people on social media
4. Help others before asking for favors

I've worked with other K-pop nerds and creative types. Result? More friends, more fans, more fun. Win-win-win.

Content: The Lifeblood of Your Brand

Listen up, 'cause this is important: You gotta make stuff. Good stuff. Regularly.

It's like feeding a demanding pet. Neglect it, and it'll die. Or poop on your carpet.

My content menu:

• YouTube: Dance stuff that makes you wanna move
• Blog: Brain dumps on creating, teaching, and making pretty things
• Social media: Daily doses of "You can do this!" and "Look at this mess I made!"

Find your groove and stick to it. Your fans need to know when to expect your awesomeness.

Spill the Tea on Your Story

People don't give a hoot about brands. They care about stories.

And guess what? Your story doesn't suck.

Maybe you think it's boring. It's not. Promise.

Your journey, your face-plants, your wins – that's the good stuff.

I share how I went from fangirling over K-pop to creating content about it.

Why? 'Cause it's real. It's messy. It's human.

Don't sanitize your story. The ugly parts are what make it juicy.

Give 'Til It Hurts (In a Good Way)

Wanna know the secret to a ride-or-die following?

Give, give, and then give some more.

Tutorials, tips, laughs, inspiration – whatever your thing is, shower people with it.

The more you give, the more they'll stick around.

I'm out here spilling dance secrets, design hacks, and K-pop gossip.

Find your superpower and share it like it's going out of style.

Talk to Your People (For Real)

Your brand isn't a one-way street. It's a block party.

Chat with your audience like they're your BFFs. (Because they kinda are.)

How to not suck at this:

1. Answer comments like a human, not a robot
2. Slide into those DMs (professionally, ya weirdo)
3. Go live and let your hair down
4. Ask questions, run polls, get nosy (in a good way)
5. Show your followers some love

Build a squad, not just an audience.

Trust me, a hyped-up community is better than coffee. (Almost.)

Change or Die (Dramatically Speaking)

Here's the thing about personal branding: It's never done.

It's like a Tamagotchi. (Remember those? No? Just me? Cool.)

Keep an eye on what's working and what's flopping.

Use nerdy tools like:

• Google Analytics (to see who's stalking your website)
• Social media insights (to see who's actually paying attention)
• SEO stuff (for playing the Google game)

Be ready to switch things up. 'Cause what worked yesterday might be lame tomorrow.

The Last Word (I Promise)

Building your creative brand is a marathon, not a sprint.

It's about:

• Embracing your weirdness
• Showing off your superpowers
• Telling your story (warts and all)
• Giving 'til it hurts (in a good way)
• Making friends and influencing people (non-creepily)

Stay real. Stay fired up. Stay consistent.

Do that, and watch your personal brand become your secret weapon.

Now go forth and conquer, you beautiful creative weirdo!

P.S. If this guide made you snort-laugh or had you nodding along, share the love. Your creative buddies need this too. Let's make the internet a more awesome place, one personal brand at a time!