Building a personal brand online is a multi-channel effort. It is not enough to just have a website, or just be on Facebook, or just have a LinkedIn account. If you really want to expand awareness about you and your personal brand, you need to be in a lot of places all at once. Increasingly, that means having a mobile presence. As an individual, you may not have a need for a specific app that people can download (though there are cases where this makes sense), but you still want to be available on people’s smart devices when they are away from their computers.
So what’s the best strategy for having a mobile-friendly personal brand without an app?
Take a look at a few options:
- Mobile optimized websites. If you use an automated website builder, chances are mobile optimization comes with the package. Most independent designers will also give you this option. It’s important to double check that you have this ability, though. You don’t want consumers to get frustrated by the wonky fonts or tiny places for clicking. As with any marketing strategy, the key is to communicate effectively with your prospects. You want to keep people on your page – not drive them away to your competitors.
- Video content. Globally, digital video views through mobile devices more than doubled from 2014 to 2015 – from 15 percent to 35 percent. Site like Facebook are driving the higher demand for video watching, and making this a very natural way for consumers to learn more about you and your brand. It’s vital to make videos a part of your website, as well as your social media strategies. If you don’t have a lot of time to post your own original content, post videos from others to build your engagement. Then when you do post a video that is all about you or your brand, there is a higher chance that your audience will see it.
- Text messaging campaigns. Connecting with consumers through text messaging can be done even if there are no smartphones involved, which expands your audience. Use your website and social media accounts to promote incentives for signing up for text campaigns. You have to find the right balance when it comes to texting, though, and be sure not to inundate consumers. Use this for special announcements or as an occasional reminder of what you offer.
In order to build up your personal brand through mobile avenues, you do not need to build an app. Take a look at the online branding you already have in place through a mobile filter. How can you use what you already have in a way that engages mobile audiences?
Think of your personal brand in a mobile-centric way and your following will grow.
Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. ChamberofCommerce.com helps small businesses grow their business on the web and facilitates connectivity between local businesses and more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide. She specializes on the topic of small business tips and resources and business news. Megan has several years of experience on the topics of small business marketing, copywriting, SEO, online conversions and social media. Megan spends much of her time establishing new relationships for ChamberofCommerce.com, publishing weekly newsletters educating small business on the importance of web presence, and contributing to a number of publications on the web. Megan can be reached at megan@chamberofcommerce.com.
Website: www.chamberofcommerce.com
