When you create your personal brand it’s integral to look at what value you add to others. A great way to understanding that value add is to look at what problems you solve for others. When you clearly know this, you’ll find it a lot easier to sell your services. People want solutions but they don’t always know what type of solution, only that they have a problem.
Problems are ubiquitous
We all have problems, in fact most of us have lists of problems to get through. Some will be easy to solve, like taking out the rubbish or booking a flight, others will be trickier, like replacing a satellite dish or installing a new gearbox in your car.
The person that can come in and says “let me take that problem off your hands” and has the solution ready will be highly appreciated. Once you have done it a few times, you can position yourself as “that guy” that solves problem ‘X’. If you carve in a niche for yourself, you’ll soon be seen as the expert in the ‘X’ field and your personal brand will go up in stock accordingly.
What problems do you solve?
Your brand is based on your ability to solve problems and the customer testimonials you have of solving these. Here are three questions to ask yourself about your problem solving:
1. What are the problems that you are very good at solving? How can you become known as the solution to these problems?
2. Who has these problems that you solve? How would they go about looking for help?
3. How do you position yourself as the solution? How will people find you?
Based on your problem solving skills, you should now be able to shape a sales formula. Think about how your potential customers have the need to solve this problem. Where do they look for help? Who do they speak to, what sites do they visit and how do they phrase it?
Let's do it
To build your personal brand you have to tell the world about your problem-solving expertise. Make use of the web and start blogging about your topic, write informative how-to articles that position you as the expert.
Be all over social media and answer any questions people pose in discussions and groups. Go to networking events in your city; see if you can book an unpaid speaker slot where you can spread the gospel further. Be “that guy” in your area and you’ll stay booked solid for ever more!
More branding fun at Personal Branding from the Inside Out in London.