As an aspiring content creator, you need to build your brand. Nowadays the internet is full of aspiring content creators, and competition is fierce. Your brand is what identifies you and makes you stand out from the crowd. It’s the foundation upon which your future success rests. If you’re ready to create a strong brand that attracts a large and engaged audience, then read on to discover the five building blocks of a successful brand.

1) Positioning

Who is your target audience, and who are you in relation to them?

Start off by creating an audience avatar and create a very specific idea of the person you want to appeal to.

Who are you for this person: an educator, guide, friend or inspiration?

This doesn’t mean that you won’t appeal to anyone outside of your target audience, or that you can’t expand your brand to encompass new audiences over time. But the best way to build a loyal following when you start out is to be super specific and speak to a niche group. Appeal to their wants, needs and interests. 

If you are too general, your message won’t resonate with anyone. In order to stand out from the millions of other aspiring creators out there, you need to be crystal clear on your brand positioning. You can’t be all things to all people.

2) Personality

Next, you need to get clear on your brand personality.

How do you want to appear to your audience? Are you goofy or sophisticated, relatable or inspiring, modern or traditional? As a content creator, your brand personality should align with who you are. What makes you different?

It’s important to take charge of how you are perceived by your audience, otherwise you run the risk of being pigeonholed. Don’t let the world tell you who you are; communicate your personality and tell them instead.

3) Promise 

Your brand promise is the experience you deliver to your audience.

As a content creator, your promise should center around how you make your followers feel. It’s what they come to you to find.

For example, I am to inspire my audience with my content. I want everyone who views, reads or watches my content to feel motivated to elevate their life. My aim is to create an online presence that provides an escape from the everyday.

4) Values 

What you stand for is a big part of who you are. Your brand values will underpin all of the content you create and shape the business that you build, so it’s important to get them right.

Consider the following:

• What are your personal values?
• What social causes do you believe in?
• How does this translate to your business?
• How does your content help others?
• What do you represent?

Of course, you can’t just create a list of brand values, crumple it up and stick it in your bottom draw. Your values are there to inform everything you do and determine the action you take as your business grows. This is the difference between a strong brand and an unremarkable one.

5) Story 

Last but not least, your story is a huge part of who you are. As a content creator, you are continually telling stories, so it’s vital to be clear on your own. 

Why does your brand exist? Why did you choose your specific niche? What motivates you?

A meaningful brand story will resonate with your audience and create a meaningful connection with them. You want your audience to know and trust you, and sharing your story is a big part of this. Your brand story takes you from a random content creator to a visionary with a mission and a purpose.

For more on content creation, check out this list of must-have tools or my guide to affiliate marketing.