Personal branding will come at a cost.
It’ll take time, energy, and resources for polishing and distribution.
In fact, the cost of setting up and promoting a personal brand is usually the main thing that keeps people from doing it.
What you might not know is that it’s possible to set one up for under $1,000.
If you’re savvy enough, that number might even be a bit high.
In this post, I’ll teach you how to set up your personal brand on a budget.
Let’s get started.
What You Can Do To Set Up Your Own Personal Brand On A Budget
Define Your Brand First
This may seem obvious, yet folks who are rushing to launch businesses frequently skip this crucial stage.
What you care about most should also serve as the driving force behind your brand.
Think about the issues that are most important to you and find ways to incorporate them into your work.
Having a crystal clear objective in mind is essential if you want to construct a reputable business brand.
It will steer product development, guide your interactions with other companies, and shape who you attract as customers.
For the first step, find your purpose and lay out your business plan.
Related Reading: Investing Vs Entrepreneurship – Start Planning Your Future Now.
Create Your Own Logo
Even if you don’t consider yourself artistic, you can make your own logo!
Discovering a layout that works for you is a breeze with the help of services like Canva.
They even come with stock artwork!
The colors, patterns, and pictures may all be customized to your liking, and you can even add your own original content, like photos.
To top it all off, there is no cost to save your design to your computer.
If you really don’t know what you’re doing in this area, you can always hire a freelance graphic designer to bang out a logo for you for cheap.
Platforms like FlexJobs make this possible.
Launch and Manage a Blog
This one may be a laborious task, but launching a blog is a significant step toward expanding your brand’s reach.
Beginning a blog is a great first step toward expanding your brand’s reach.
You won’t have to spend money every month on a domain name or hosting.
To get your own free website, you can use a platform like Wix.
It’s a breeze to produce your own graphics and incorporate text using its tools.
Building a website from scratch might be nerve-wracking, but there are many online resources to hold your hand throughout the process.
If writing isn’t your favorite task, you can always outsource this task to others. See some top freelance writing websites here.
No one in the business world can deny that a blog is a simple and effective method to get your feet wet and establish your brand’s voice.
Here is our complete A-Z beginner blogging guide.
Take Your Social Media Presence Seriously
When it comes to spreading awareness of your brand, social media is essential.
Now more than ever, it’s crucial to cultivate an online identity that accurately reflects who you are and what you stand for in a world where everyone is connected.
Thankfully, there is no cost to join any of the most-used social media platforms.
It’s also important to keep up a regular posting schedule with valuable content.
These days, you can create a big splash with apps like Instagram and TikTok.
They’re frequently included in modern business plans.
Collaborate
Building your reputation requires teaming together with other entrepreneurs.
Establishing a relationship with a more well-known company or individual can do wonders for your brand’s visibility.
Don’t be shy about contacting some of your favorite independent brands that you believe in.
Related Reading: Best Books On Mastering The Art Of Networking – Get The List Here.
Use Email Marketing
Distributing a newsletter once a month or once a week can do wonders for brand awareness.
Firing an email blast is a great method to quickly and easily engage with your audience, whether you’re a large corporation advertising a sale or a person updating your friends and family on your latest life events.
If you want to frequently update your fans and buyers, use a service like ConvertKit. We use it as well.
Live Stream For Free
For spontaneous live streaming, all you need to do is turn on your camera and start filming. (Here are some of the best live-streaming platforms)
No post-production expertise or expensive gear is required.
It’s ideal to have high-quality gear so that your audience can see and hear you properly, but you can upgrade your camera and microphone as your business grows.
Raw, unscripted videos will make your brand seem more genuine, regardless of production value (at least in the beginning).
Your business and reputation might benefit greatly from showcasing your knowledge through free webinars and online events.
YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and Zoom’s 40-minute meeting functionality are currently free to use.
If you’re not comfortable being on camera yet, you can always start with a podcast.
Invest in Photography
These days, visuals are everything.
So, it would be smart to spend your money on photos you can share on social media.
Branding strategies that make use of visuals are more important than ever in today’s always-connected digital landscape.
Your brand’s first impression is crucial as consumers seek out the latest and greatest.
Excellent photography is a surefire way to set yourself apart.
“Brand” Everything
It’s not uncommon for new entrepreneurs to begin with nothing more than a laptop, smartphone, and notebook.
Putting a sign over an office door may be a pipe dream for now, but there are smaller steps you can take.
You may still present a polished professional image even if you only have a modest team on board.
You can print a custom laptop case in addition to branded notepads, business cards, and social media channel headers.
Keep in mind that every business meeting is a chance to make a good impression and strengthen your brand.
What’s more, you’ll probably be working in public places like cafes, where people will gawk at the back of your laptop.
An email signature is the most cost-effective and fundamental branding technique there is. Start there.
Try Winning an Award
Check the internet for contests you can enter; most of them won’t break the bank, considering the prizes they provide.
If your business’s products or services are certified, both your competitors and your potential customers will have more faith in your talents.
When the finalists are named or nominated, most award programs also do PR for them.
Getting positive exposure anywhere you get it is the key to success!
Related Reading: Entrepreneurial Mindset – Learn To Embrace It Here.
Final Thoughts
The creator economy is built on brands and reputations.
These new entrepreneurs are exploring methods to gain autonomy by monetizing their audiences in their own ways.
This is more feasible these days as the lines between creator and corporation become increasingly blurred.
Even while your impact and audience are expanding, there are a number of ways to monetize your personal brand if that is your ultimate aim.
If you’re simply trying to lay a solid foundation for your own business, setting up your brand doesn’t have to break the bank!