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Building your personal brand to build your  business

Think of Elon Musk, Steve Jobs and Richard Branson. These are well-known people. Elon Musk owns companies like Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink. Steve Jobs was behind the iconic Apple products such as the iPhone and the Mac. Richard Branson owns Virgin Atlantic. These people are not known because of their companies and businesses. Their companies and businesses are known because of these people. This is the power of personal branding.

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Share prices of a company drop when a CEO leaves. On the reverse side, share prices of a company rise when a new CEO joins. This is personal branding. People are ready to bet on a company because they trust the person at the helm. In current politics, the biggest example is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Whether you vote for the BJP or not, he is the deciding factor, the personal brand.

A personal brand is strategically built. It shapes and promotes an individual’s identity, expertise, and reputation, in such a manner that people are eager to spend money on the business that individual is associated with.

You must have seen in TV ads how famous actors and players become brand ambassadors of certain products. When Amitabh Bachchan endorses a product, he is putting his name and his reputation behind that product. He wants people to buy that product because people trust his judgement. They believe that if he is saying something, it must be true.

While reading this you must be thinking personal branding is all about mega businesses and mega personalities. Where does that leave a small business? Can you use personal branding to promote your business? Yes you can. If you believe your business depends on trust and reputation, you can add your own personal branding to the overall trust and reputation that your business has so far enjoyed.

The benefits of building your personal brand

Your personal brand helps you build credibility and trust in your niche. When people recognize your expertise and consistency, they trust your opinion and through your opinion, the trust your product or service. Your personal brand also helps you build your network. You connect with

like-minded people who have established themselves as an authority in their field or profession. Through your powerful personal brand, you can positively influence people. You inspire change in their thinking. You can help them decide. Also, in a market full of similar products and personalities, your personal brand helps you stand out. Your customers and business partners can differentiate you from your competitors.

How do you build your personal brand?

Building a personal brand is not as difficult as it used to be. There are multiple platforms available to you where you can increase your visibility and the good thing is, 99% of such platforms are available on the Internet, and mostly free.

But before that, do an audit of your strengths, passion, and your mission. Why do you do what you do? What unique value can you offer? Why should people pay attention to you? Within your field, where would you like to excel and make your name? What sets you apart? What strengths you already have that you can build on? Who is most likely to benefit from your abilities?

Once you have written down answers to these questions, you need to decide how you want to elevate your visibility so that more people know about your expertise. You can write a book. You can create a social media presence by regularly posting insightful, authoritative content. But before that find out where your audience spends time looking for content you are interested in sharing. Is it LinkedIn? Is a Twitter? Is it Instagram? Be consistent. Add value to people’s timelines. Inform and encourage.

Share knowledge and insights that others don’t share.

If you have contacts in popular publications like newspapers and magazines, you can get your expert opinions published over there, for example, getting an article published in Forbes can immediately enhance your authority. Using blogging platforms like Medium and LinkedIn you can even publish your own blog posts as authoritative commentary on your chosen topics.

Take up speaking opportunities. There may be many conferences and seminars where you can speak and share your experience to enrich the audience.

Building a personal brand these days requires a strategy. Continuously evaluate your effort. Gather data of the responses that you get on social media. What type of content gets the maximum traction? Publish more of such content. What topics excite people? Talk about those topics.

Participate in ongoing discussions. It takes time, effort, and dedication. Be persistent, remain consistent in your efforts, and above all, deliver value.

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By Invitation

Professional Guidelines for Training Jewellery Retail Sales Staff

By Shivaram A, Founder – Retail Gurukul

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Selling jewellery requires a distinct approach from other retail sectors. Customers in this environment anticipate a higher level of service and expertise than they might expect at a grocery or clothing store. To achieve success, staff must possess specialized skills tailored to jewellery sales. The following guide outlines key training principles for jewellery sales associates, complemented by practical examples for each area.

1. Appearance

• All employees should maintain impeccable grooming and attire.

Example: Associates arrive in pressed shirts and polished shoes daily.

• Where possible, provide uniforms; otherwise, ensure personal clothing is clean, ironed, and understated.

Example: Staff without uniforms wear plain, well-ironed garments, avoiding prominent logos.

• Hair must be neatly styled and footwear kept clean for all staff members.

Example: Management conducts pre-shift checks to confirm proper grooming standards.

• Dress codes apply universally, including to security personnel.

Example: Security staff participate in regular dress code reviews and grooming inspections.

2. Attitude

• Encourage staff to display consistent friendliness and positivity throughout the workday.

Example: Every customer is welcomed with a genuine smile and warm greeting.

• Staff should maintain courteous engagement, even if customers do not reciprocate.

Example: In cases where a customer appears upset, the associate still offers a friendly introduction and assistance.

• Staff are expected to compartmentalize personal issues during shifts, remaining constructive and solution-oriented.

Example: Employees adopt a focused mindset before starting their shift to prioritise exemplary customer service.

3. Communication

• Employees must uphold polite, respectful dialogue at all times.

Example: Use courteous phrases such as “May I assist you, Sir?” or “Thank you, Madam” consistently.

• Appropriate titles or respectful terms in local languages should be used when addressing clientele.

Example: “Good afternoon, Sir. Is there something special you are searching for today?”

• Professional etiquette should permeate every interaction.

Example: Regularly incorporating “please” and “thank you” in conversations.

• Indifference must be strictly avoided.

Example: If an employee is occupied, they acknowledge waiting customers with assurances of prompt attention.

• Multilingual abilities are advantageous in serving a diverse customer base.

Example: Staff transition to Hindi when necessary to make customers feel comfortable.

• Demonstrate extra patience and care with elderly patrons.

Example: Spend time clearly outlining details for older customers who may require additional support.

• Engage children hospitably so adults can shop undistracted.

Example: Offer small toys or converse briefly with children while adults browse.

• Ensure equal treatment for all visitors, irrespective of appearance or attire.

Example: Give consistent attention to both casually and formally dressed customers.

4. Hospitality

• Begin interactions by welcoming guests and offering seating.

Example: “Please have a seat while I present our newest collection.”

• Provide complimentary refreshments as a hospitality gesture.

Example: Serve water or tea to customers as they view products.

• All team members should be prepared to assist customers, regardless of primary responsibilities.

Example: If the primary salesperson is occupied, another employee steps in seamlessly.

• Owners should occasionally interact directly with clients to lead by example.

Example: The owner personally thanks loyal customers for their continued patronage.

• Always offer proactive and attentive service.

Example: Assist customers with carrying purchases or parking arrangements when needed.

5. Product Knowledge

• Deliver thorough training to ensure staff are knowledgeable about inventory.

Example: Monthly training sessions update employees on new designs and materials.

• Define clear guidelines regarding which product details and certifications to share.

Example: Staff are informed about certifications relevant to gold purity inquiries.

• Team members should confidently describe product features, fabrication methods, and distinctive qualities.

Example: Discuss differences between handcrafted pieces and machine-made jewellery.

• Educating customers is integral to the sales role.

Example: Clearly explain gemstone properties or style benefits to interested shoppers.

• Counter personnel must answer queries knowledgeably or direct customers to appropriate experts.

Example: Junior associates promptly consult senior colleagues when complex questions arise.

• New hires should discreetly seek supervisory guidance rather than stating uncertainty.• Example: “Let me verify that information with my manager to provide you with an accurate response.”

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JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.

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