One of the most important things I've learned as a Personal Branding expert is the difference authenticity makes in both yourself and your business. Real authenticity–not pretending to be what you think other people want! Finding your true self and bringing authenticity into your brand is what makes it stand out and what makes YOU unforgettable!

Finding a genuine connection with your audience is crucial to having a successful brand, and if you're not authentic, it's difficult for customers to connect with what you do.  People want brands that they can relate to; companies that are just like them, only better at their service because of experience and expertise. Authenticity is also about transparency and showing the world who you are and what you believe in! So, think of authenticity as your company's personality–it should be unique to every brand out there.

Bringing authenticity into your brand isn't difficult at all. If anything, it's harder to keep your personality out of your brand! If you want guidance on how to ensure that your brand is true to you, here's where to start:

1) Find Your Target Audience

You need to know who your target audience is and what their needs and interests are before you can create a message on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The more you know, the better your marketing will be! 

It's your job to create an emotional connection with your customers, and authenticity is key here. Once you understand your target audience and their needs, you know how to connect with them on different platforms!

Don't forget–you're trying to attract people who are interested in your business and services as they are! Never change what you do to get a bigger audience; that's the opposite of authenticity. Having a smaller, loyal target audience who LOVE what you do is the best route to success!

2) Be Genuine in Your Marketing Messages

No one likes a page full of self-promotion! Knowing your target audience does NOT mean you should be overly promotional. You can still show people who you are as a brand and what makes your company unique while also being honest about your company's benefits. Establishing authenticity in marketing means NOT trying to be something you're not!

Remember, people will see right through anything that seems fake or disingenuous. If you decide to be honest with people, then put all your cards on the table. Don't try to market your startup as something it's not!

3) Create an Authentic Voice For Your Brand

If you're looking to create a brand that people will love, your voice must be authentic and sound like you! Without an authentic voice, your customers may not feel connected or have the experience they expected. You may even lose customers for being too robotic!

Don't expect to win customer loyalty or get people excited about your product if you don't sound like someone they can trust. It's not just what you say, but how you say it! Having an authentic voice for your brand means letting go of the idea that marketing is all science and no creativity. You need to put creativity and personality into everything that comes out of your business, from product development to marketing and sales. People are attracted to brands that speak to them in a way that feels personal, not automated!

Learning authenticity is a long journey, but once you have your true self discovered, it's insanely easy to apply your personality and flare to your brand! It's a totally underrated tool, don't pass it up. You got this!