personal branding and web Design go hand in hand

Jun 9

In today's digital age, the combination of personal branding and website design has become increasingly important for creatives and small business owners. Personal branding is all about creating a unique identity for yourself that sets you apart from others in your industry. Whether it’s sharing your favorite meal prep recipe, your favorite playlist, or even more specifically, the elements within your branding suite - there are many things that play into your personal brand. When it comes to your online presence as a creative business owner you can play into your personal brand in many ways but I want to focus on the importance of showcasing your personality on your website! (Ps, let’s play a drinking game for how many times I say “personal” in this post 😉)

so what is personal branding?!

Let’s talk about it! Personal branding is important because it allows you to establish a reputation and identity that reflects who you are and what you stand for. By creating a strong personal brand, you can differentiate yourself from others in your industry. I like to call this “your special sauce” - it’s all about what makes you, YOU! Sharing things that dig deeper about yourself, like your favorite genre of music or what you like to do outside of work, creates that know-like-trust factor that is essential - especially within service-based businesses. A well-established personal brand not only allows you to stand out in an oversaturated market, but also helps you build credibility, recognizability, and trust with potential clients as well as other connections in your industry.

what the heck does this have to do with my website?

We see people getting personal on Instagram stories and captions, TikToks and Reels, but not to one of the most important pieces of their businesses… their website. There has always been this stigma that websites should be ~professional~ and clean cut. While there’s some truth here, this doesn’t mean that your website should be lackluster.

One of the most important aspects of personal branding is consistency. Consistency in your messaging, tone, and visual identity (i.e. your branding elements, brand photos, color palette) helps to reinforce your brand and make it more memorable. This is where website design comes in on stage right. A well-designed website that infuses your personal brand can help to reinforce your approach and create a consistent experience for your clients across all of your platforms. If you’re showing a fun wild side on your TikTok and your website copy is chock full of SAT vocab words and stiff brand imagery, you could confuse your audience. Here are a few ways you can easily showcase your personal brand on your website:

Stick to a consistent color palette and font suite - traditionally this is 4-5 colors and 2-3 fonts. Remember less is more.
If you have phrases that you consistently use within your brand, use those same phrases across your website for consistency.
Consider your brand tone - are you playful? Serious? Do you cut up with your clients? A mix of work and play? How do you write your Instagram captions? This is the same way your website copy should be written.
Brand Imagery - Show that face! Let people know who you are before they even meet you with custom brand photos. This goes SO far.
Peel back the curtain - let your clients in on who you are, why you chose this career and what it means to YOU. Websites are far more about your WHY than your what. Now, it is still important for users to know what you offer but telling the story of WHY you do what you do and HOW you do it is key.
Share your favorites - Your about page is more than about your accolades and accomplishments. Sure, feel free to share where you’ve been featured, but don’t forget to tell your potential clients about your obsession with Ted Lasso or your favorite Starbucks order. Give them something to relate to!

In conclusion, people want to work with PEOPLE. Period point blank. The infusion of your personal brand on your website is crucial to the success of your business. By creating a strong personal brand and designing a website that reflects your special sauce, you can differentiate yourself from industry competitors, build trust and credibility with your people, and be proud of your home on the WWW because it’s a direct reflection of YOU. Whether you're an influencer, freelancer, or small-business owner, investing in your personal brand and website design is an investment in your future success.