You live in New York City, and that means you’re no stranger to the power of branding. You’re confronted with branding the last Thursday of every November when you see a giant inflatable turkey bobbing its way down 34th Street. You see branding in action when you watch the tourists ice skating in midtown. And when you see these things, you immediately think of Macy’s or Rockefeller. So, as we explore personal branding for event planners, how’s your brand making an impact?
It’s easy to find examples of how massive companies use branding to create a positive image. But what can branding do for NYC event planners? In this article, we’ll talk about personal branding and why it’s just as important for NYC event planners as it is for big corporations.
What Is Personal Branding in Event Planning?
Put most simply, your brand is what you’re known for. It’s easy to think of branding in terms of products. For example, Lexus is known for its luxury cars, which are both fast and reliable. This is the perception about Lexus that precedes every Lexus vehicle. In the same way, potential clients know your brand before they personally know you. It makes sense, then, that your personal brand has a powerful effect on the success of your event planning business.
Building Blocks of Your Personal Brand
Several ingredients make up your personal brand. And like any fine chef, the quality of the ingredients you use for your personal brand will appeal to your preferred clients. The following are the characteristics that go into your personal brand.
Integrity
You do what you say you are going to do, and you go about it in an ethical way. NYC event planners oversee their clients’ biggest moments, such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and more. Given the emotional value of these events, clients need to trust you. That means you don’t promise lightly, and you deliver on the goods.
That kind of integrity will go a long way to making your NYC event planning business successful. In fact, integrity is a great differentiator in The Big Apple; Best Life gave New York state an integrity grade of D-. Ouch. Personally, we think they were surveying the residents of Buffalo. We’re kidding, of course.
Unique Values
Your unique values set you apart from your competitors. They also help you connect with potential clients who share similar values. Being eco-friendly, being LGBTQ+ friendly, or a supporter of small businesses are examples of values.
Story
Your story weaves your past experience, the lessons learned, and the motivation you found into a narrative that is compelling, relatable, and memorable. Humans are wired for stories. And that’s why your story is the cornerstone of marketing your NYC event planning company, whether you’re talking about social media, event marketing videos, or personal branding.
Value Proposition
Your value proposition tells your potential clients why they are better off choosing your NYC event planning service over the other guys. To zero in on your value proposition, identify the problems your clients face and the ways in which you’re the NYC event planner who has superior solutions. Incorporate your value proposition into your personal branding by creating content that highlights the problems you’ve solved for your current clients.
Strengths
Your strengths are closely tied to your value proposition. Whereas your value proposition focuses on your clients’ problems, your strengths focus on innate characteristics that make you the ideal person to solve said problems. Hard-working, detail-oriented, and creative are examples of strengths you may have as a NYC event planner.
Authentic
But don’t just rattle off what you think clients want to hear. Most people can smell a phony a mile away. Remember the point of personal branding in the first place. Sure, branding is meant to bring in more clients. But more specifically, your personal brand is a way to attract the type of clients you’ll vibe with.
By being authentic, you release yourself from needing to be all things to all people. And instead, you can focus on being the best version of you. In turn, your authenticity will inspire trust and attract the kind of NYC events that will feed your event planning passion.
Personality
Finally, don’t be afraid to inject some personality into your personal brand. People want to work with people, not faceless companies. Express your passions outside of event planning, talk about your hobbies, or share a little about your family. Or create content that reveals your fun side, your quirkiness, or your love for being organized. Injecting your brand with personality humanizes you and helps your clients connect emotionally with you.
How Personal Branding Can Help Your NYC Event Planning Business
Personal branding for event planners means tapping into these fundamental aspects of business growth and success.
Build Trust & Credibility
Creating a strong personal brand is a powerful way to inspire trust and will encourage potential clients to contact you. Being trustworthy is arguably the most important value to any business’s success. Just like your personal relationships, your business will suffer if people don’t trust you. That’s why trustworthiness is a key trait potential clients look for when choosing a NYC event planner.
Establish a Strong and Consistent Online Presence
When clients start their search for an NYC event planner, they’re confronted with plenty of options. Creating a strong personal brand through content creation, social media posts, and other outlets will help you rise to the top of their list.
Typically, a customer needs to see your brand seven times before they become a customer. As clients research their options, your consistent branding efforts will pay off as they encounter your NYC event planning business across several marketing channels.
Differentiate Yourself from the Competition
Personal branding helps your NYC event planning business stand out from the competition. Introduce your best qualities even before clients meet you in person. Effective personal branding will help define you and make you memorable while clients are still in the research phase.
Counteract Negative Publicity
None of us wants to talk about the elephant in the room: negative publicity. Whether you’ve been hit with a negative review or press piece or an event that simply went wrong, having a strong personal brand in place can help set things right. Your personal brand is like a strong foundation that helps you weather the storms.
Land More Clients
Your personal brand is a sort of beacon that helps the right clients connect with you. Prospects that respond positively to your personal brand are more likely to become long-term clients. And when the chemistry is right, these clients will be happy to refer your event services to their friends and family.
Give Your Personal Branding a Boost When You Exhibit at The Event Planner Expo 2024
Personal branding is all about introducing yourself to potential clients, whether they are meeting you through online content or in person. More than simply a persona, your personal brand is an authentic representation of your best self.
Potential clients can see your personal brand in action when you reserve an exhibitor booth at The Event Planner Expo 2024. You’ll be in good company with thousands of event professionals and industry leaders. And you’ll rise above the rest when you attend The Event Planner Expo 2024 as an exhibitor. Reserve your booth today.
