How to Stand Out by Bringing More Truth to Your Brand

What if I told you that you don’t have to be perfect in your business? In fact, that your “mistakes,” “failures,” and decided “human-ness” are actually HUGE assets and business gold?

Yep. It’s true. Vulnerability is brave & sexy. (And happens to be good for biz)

“58% of adults don’t trust a brand until they have seen ‘real world proof,” according to a consumer trust study conducted by Trinity Mirror. As we all know, it’s not necessary to look very hard to find evidence of brands being UN-trustworthy. (Wall Street, Pharma, Big Oil — we’re looking at you — and that’s just naming a few).

In other words, over half of your potential clients assume you don’t have their best interest at heart and can’t be trusted … until you prove to them otherwise.

Sounds daunting. But, for you, as a small business owner, there is a actually a real opportunity here to stand out in your industry.

“91% of consumers would reward a brand for its authenticity and 62% said they would either purchase a product from a brand they deem to be authentic or express greater interest in buying from that brand in the future,” per the Cohn & Wolfe authentic brand study.

What does it mean to be ‘authentic’ in business, anyway?

Whether you are the face of you brand or if you lean more towards a corporate identity — people always love to take a peek behind-the-scenes. Giving them an inside look brings more humanity to your brand and builds the know, like, and trust factor. (In other words, you start to feel like a trustworthy friend instead of an evil money-hungry corporation.) This is especially true if you give them a real glimpse, meaning not your typical super-curated, edited, and polished content, but a raw and real, “this is a day in the life…” sort of experience.

Furthermore, if your company does make a mistake: Own it! As appropriate, make a public apology, come up with a plan on how to fix it, make right with consumers affected, etc. What not to do: Try to sweep it under the rug. There is no hiding on the internet these days! Instead, turn your blunders into golden opportunities to authentically shine.

Additionally, publicly share your “learning opportunities” (sometimes referred to as ‘failures’). When you come from a place of, “we tried this, it didn’t work, this is what we learned from it” — it shows you aren’t hiding, you are willing to learn, and you openly share to help others, and above you are HUMAN too — all major trust-building qualities.

And, of course, the #1 way to be authentic in your branding is to share from your heart! Let them see your soul. Throw out the rulebook that says you have to show up a certain way in your business. It’s YOUR brand. You get to create the rules.

If you feel it in your heart that you would like to be a more authentic messenger and let your potential see and feel the REAL you, try on some of these journal prompts below!

Journaling is a conversation with our deepest self. Be unapologetically truthful in your journaling! Say all the things you’ve been holding back on. Speak your truth! This introspection leads us closer and closer to our truest voice.

Journaling to Authentic Voice

This is something that really gets me fired up (angry, impassioned, etc) about the world we live in and/or how things are. (Feel free to full on RANT here. Cuss if you have to. Say all the things you’ve always wanted to say! The more controversial/hot of a topic, the better. Don’t hold back.)

Who am I when I just let it all hang out? The real me. No mask. Just being real. How do I show up? Who is it that I can most be my authentic self around?

And, where am I hiding? Where does my voice feel suppressed? How do I find myself shrinking? Who is usually around when this happens?

What do I LOVE most in others? (We are all mirrors for each other, so this is a good clue as to what you love about yourself).

What TRIGGERS me? (It usually a quality or action in another that does this. Again, mirror in affect. Triggers can show you parts of yourself that need love/healing. When we heal our triggers, we find our truth)

If money was not an object, I would spend my days…

If I only had 6 months to live, I’d still need to…

Analyze

What did you learn through this exercise? Where is the gap between your authentic voice and how you are really showing up? Around who do you feel most comfortable and fully expressed? Around whom are you hiding? What steps can you take to be more authentic in your business AND life?

BONUS

Take one of the journal prompts & turn it into a Facebook post that you share publicly!