Connect with us

Startups

6 Ways Your Personal Story Connects You to New Clients

Published

on

Your Personal Brand Connecting You With Clients

It seems that everyone is looking for ways to connect with customers and clients, but many miss quite possibly the best way to connect with those they want to reach: Their personal story.

Your personal story can be the thing that separates you from all other service providers. It can be just what you need to go from being one of all the others offering a similar service to the only choice for your target buyer.

Many people in business try to hide behind the company brand when they reach out to prospective clients and customers. Their websites are stripped of any reference to who they are personally. Their books focus solely on the work at hand. Their blogs are impersonal floods of facts. They struggle to stand out in the minds of their would-be buyers, not realizing it’s who they are — their authentic, unique selves — that matters to those who want to do business with them.

That is because in our online and offline world, getting to know who it is we are talking to, learning from, and working with is part of how we do business.

When you see your personal story in this way, you’ll look for opportunities to tell it in your life and business.

 

Why your personal story helps you stand out in business

 

1. It reflects your values

When you share your personal story, the fact that you did X, Y, or Z might not be as important as the reason you did it. That reason might resonate with your target buyer.

Your personal story can illustrate your values in a way a mere value statement cannot.

 

2. It makes you human

People do business with people. When someone has the choice between two (or 200) service providers, the one who stands out might be the one who takes the time to show that he or she is more than an impersonal service provider, and is a real person who has a genuine interest in the work at hand and not just the dollar value of the contract. This can be a place where you show your prospect how much you and she have in common.

 

3. It creates an emotional connection

We buy because of emotion. Sure, we want all the facts, but we whip out our cards because of how we feel: Will buying this shirt make me look and feel good? Will this designer make my website look amazing so I feel like a winner? Will eating at this restaurant be a pleasant experience that makes my day?

 

4. It inspires

Your personal story can be a powerful tool when it pushes others to be better versions of themselves. This is especially the case when your work is speaking, writing, or some other expression aimed at moving people to act. But it is also the case when your work is related to a particular challenge that you successfully faced and now can help others face. For instance, if you are a wellness coach, then the fact that you successfully overcame an eating disorder can be incredibly inspiring to your prospects who are struggling with the same thing.

 

5. It shows you get it

Your personal story can be the place to illustrate that you truly understand your client and her problem. The way you express yourself through your personal story shows that you know the challenges your client faces and you have a way to address them.

 

6. It invites others to be a part of something bigger than themselves

Your personal story can even have the ability to help you kick-start a movement or to create something for the common good that is bigger than the individual service you provide.

Look for ways to share your personal story in your business. Maybe it’s in a book. Maybe it’s your website or blog. Maybe it’s in your speaking. Maybe it’s in a sales presentation. Opportunities are all around for you to weave your life into your business to become a standout in the eyes of those you most want to reach.

 

Your Personal Brand Picture Quote

Monica Carter Tagore ghostwrites books for life and business leaders. In the process of building a business around her writing, she has ghostwritten or authored more than 40 books, including her latest, Connect and Conquer: Grow Your Business, Organization, and Career Through Online and Offline Relationships. As the co-founder of Life and Business Tribe, she shares insight, tools, tips, and strategies to help others build businesses around what they love.

Advertisement
11 Comments

11 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

Published

on

how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

Continue Reading

Startups

How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

Published

on

How to pitch investors better

Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

Continue Reading

Startups

From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

Published

on

How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

Continue Reading

Startups

12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

Published

on

Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

Continue Reading

Trending