You Can Market Without A Company Name (Personal Branding Series)

LLCs, logos, and office space are all fine and dandy, but how do you market yourself without all that jazz?

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LJ Jose & Fahad
May 02, 2025

Hi hi! Hope April didn’t go too fast for ya…because it’s May now! 

(‘May’ we welcome you to a new topic?)

Up to this point – over a freaking year if you’re on our email list (just a few months for our LinkedIn folks!) – we’ve been bringing you awesome content about promoting your local company…

…But what about those of you who don’t use a company?

It’s not Yee Haw Homes LLC, it’s you, the solo wrangler.

Sometimes, company “shells” don’t really work the best for all of your marketing. 

In fact, coaching, retail, therapy, AND real estate brands have a lot of extra good that can be done with personal brands.

Think:

  • Bringing real-life examples to your coaching

  • Creating social influence to sell lots of products

  • Humanizing healing and leveling with those who need it

  • Being a partner in crime while clients figure out what home means to them

(No, a Google ad can’t do that, sorry.)

Around here at DF Promotions, we’ve got the methodology that builds brands that sneak into your heart and lay eggs (eek).

All of those brands are made with BIRDIE – specifically with the basics: your mission, vision, and values.

Brand Basics – Defining Your Brand Concept

A brand concept is where your brand strategy starts. It’s just a few jotted down notes to start: what your brand is in a sentence.

This isn’t the same as your brand summary we get at the end of BIRDIE…think of it as a rough draft that we’re going to edit to death.

Brand Basics – The Mission

Our mission is only as clear as the definition to our offering. So…let’s do that:

  • List all the products you sell, the services you offer, or the jobs you perform.

  • What values, actions and guiding principles make you stand out?

  • Why does your company exist? What's your purpose, cause, or belief?

  • Write about specific times you've felt most proud to do your work.

  • What did the contributions of your organization allow others to do or to be?

The mission statement is only bridging the gap between your contributions as an expert and the impact it creates in your clients.

Play around with it to get a better sounding mission that fits you.

But the mission is only where it starts!

Brand Basics – The Vision

Where are you now and where are you going?

Your brand vision is where you bring definition to where you’re headed with your brand.

Again, if you already know where your headed, skip the first two bullet points and pick up there.

  • What’s your company size, customer base, market share, lifetime value, etc.? (If you’re a startup, write down overall things like investing X amount in this project, burning X amount each month, having a website, etc.)

  • Where do you see your brand in 5 years in terms of growth?

  • What will your brand look like in 10 years? How big will it be? What market share will you have? What other products and services could you possibly offer? Will you expand to other locations or to other industries?

  • Where do you see your brand in 15 years in terms of growth? What impact will you have on your industry in 15 years? How will your brand expand?

  • If it all goes right, how will you impact the category you’re in?

  • What would the world look like if this problem was solved? What problems arise if this problem is no longer present? How can your brand fill this need in the future?

Your vision statement summarizes that entire journey…it’s tough, so if you need help hit reply.

Brand Basics – The Values

We’re almost through.

Last bit for this edition is your values. 

You get to get on your soapbox and preach your beliefs and why you hold them. 

If you already know them, great. Write them out and add a sentence to what they mean to you.

If you’re not sure (or just want a better one) try using these four prompts to get you thinking:

  • Describe negative experiences with brands in your or similar category. Figure out what could go wrong. Check negative reviews on the internet to see what customers don’t like about your competitors. Think about experiences that’ve left you feeling like a piece of dog sh*t on new sneakers.

  • How did that bad experience (repeat for each) make you feel internally? (Besides, f*ck I have to clean these and I might have to throw away a perfectly good pair of sneakers.)

  • What'd be desirable experience that you wish you had instead of the bad one?

  • How would that positive experience make you feel internally? What’d be the desirable positive feeling?

Find values you’d like to adopt to ensure designing those positive experiences and feelings. They can be words or short 1-2 word phrases. 

(We suggest keeping it to 4-8 values max.)

Brand Basics – Bringing The Brand Story Together

Your brand story is the journey to your vision by way of your mission because of your values. 

Next week, we’ll talk about how you can create a visual identity that sells your brand story!

Learn about it a day early (plus get exclusive email-only content) by subscribing!

This Week’s Campaigns

Alright, let's brainstorm some fresh campaign ideas for each segment for the week of May 5th, 2025, keeping our Las Vegas focus and ensuring broad applicability for retail/e-commerce:

Retail/E-commerce

  • Concept: Run a "Staff Picks" or "Team Favorites" series where different members of your team showcase their favorite products and explain why they love them. This adds a personal touch and provides authentic recommendations. 

  • Why it works: It humanizes your brand, builds trust through genuine endorsements, and can highlight product features from different perspectives. Bonus points if your team also shops at the store!

Consultants and Coaches

  • Concept: Share short, impactful "Myth vs. Fact" reels related to common business challenges or opportunities in the Vegas market. Debunk misconceptions and offer clear, evidence-based insights that highlight your expertise and sell your brand story.

  • Why it works: It positions you as a knowledgeable authority, clarifies potentially confusing topics for local businesses, and encourages engagement by addressing common beliefs. It’s a win-win-win!

Realtors

  • Concept: Create a series of reels highlighting the "Best of Vegas Living" features associated with different types of properties. This could showcase outdoor living spaces perfect for the Vegas climate, proximity to entertainment or cultural hubs, or family-friendly amenities in specific communities as the weather warms up.

  • Why it works: It taps into the lifestyle aspirations of potential buyers in Las Vegas, showcasing the perks of living in different types of homes and locations as the season changes. Give potential clients a taste of your expertise and knowledge of the locale.

Therapists

  • Concept: Offer short, practical tips for cultivating resilience and managing stress as the energy of summer starts to build in Las Vegas. This might include strategies for maintaining routines, finding moments of calm amidst activity, or setting healthy boundaries to prevent burnout.

  • Why it works: It addresses the specific energetic environment of Las Vegas as it heads into a busier season, providing relevant support for mental well-being. Plus, it’ll be a great reference series for clients.

Brands are a layered, moving entity, they’ll continue to refine and grow as you do!

It’s not something to pick up and drop when you’re bored, it’s a lifetime commitment to your mission, vision, and values.

We’ll see you next week!

Fahad & LJ

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash