Your brand is more than just a logo. In fact, it’s a lot like a person! It has a unique style, point of view, and personality that draws people in. Just as individuals have unique personalities that shape their interactions, brands possess distinct personalities that influence how they are perceived and received by the public.

Think of it this way: Your brand personality is what makes you memorable. It’s the reason someone chooses you over your competitors. It’s the feeling you leave people with after they interact with your business.

Why Your Brand Needs a Personality

Your brand needs to have a personality because it helps your business stand out from the crowd. People like brands that they can relate to, and a strong personality can help you build a community of people who like your vibe. If you use a consistent personality in your brand, you will build trust, which is an important step in your customer journey.

Create an Authentic Brand Personality

As a small business, your brand personality should reflect YOU. When you incorporate your personality into your brand personality, you show potential clients how you are different from other businesses (especially in markets where your services are competitive). Your business will always be distinct because you are unique! Understanding your brand personality helps you become clear on how you can show the world what makes you special. This is a critical part of your brand strategy! It’s okay if not everyone loves your personality. In fact, it’s a good thing! It means you’re attracting the right people.

What’s the Difference Between Brand Personality, Identity, and Perception?

Your brand personality is comprised of the human-like traits, values, and qualities that your brand embodies. It’s what helps you form emotional connections with clients. For example, some of my brand personality traits are bold, playful, and optimistic!

Your brand identity, on the other hand, is how you want people to see you and how you want them to feel about your brand. For example, I want people to feel inspired and empowered by by brand. Your brand personality is a part of your brand’s identity, but it also includes things like your brand’s visual representation and your voice.

Your brand perception is how people actually see you. It’s shaped by your brand identity but also things like client experiences and media coverage. Not everyone will perceive you well and not everyone is going to love your brand. But that’s okay! That’s the entire point of having a brand. You attract the people you want to work with and repel the people you don’t want to work with. For example, I want to attract women who are small business owners. I don’t want to work with big, patriarchal corporations!

A deep understanding of these elements (and more) will ensure that every marketing decision you make aligns with your brand. That is what we call a brand strategy!

At Bootstrapped Woman, I believe a strong personal brand is the foundation of a successful business. That’s why I like to delve into your personal story and personality when I begin working on a business’s brand strategy! By getting clear on your authentic brand personality, I can craft a brand identity that resonates deeply with your target audience, ultimately shaping a positive brand perception.

So, what’s your brand’s personality? Take my free brand personality quiz to get started!