As a coach, consultant, or small business owner you want a website that sizzles and sparkles and lets prospects know your secret sauce is what they need. Before you build a site that’s all about you and how amazing you are, slow your roll. There is an inconvenient truth you must know that is a key to your success. Read on friends!

Without your Why You lose your way. Many small businesses fail in their marketing or messaging because they do not have a clear understanding of their Why—their reason for being. Understanding your Why is critical to ensuring that your product or service is well-differentiated, it informs how you articulate your brand’s value, and it enables you to tap into the core emotional connection your brand has with its customers.

Many newbies think personal branding is all about their social media presence and website design. While these are certainly important aspects of your marketing and branding, the heart of your personal brand is about you—your entire persona. It includes your personality, strengths, values, beliefs, experiences, and your own image. Here are six personal branding checkpoints.

Personal branding is still a concept that is misunderstood among women who are new in the quest to carve a niche for themselves. But it is a critical component of marketing, as it informs your messaging and is the heart of your identity as a professional or business owner. Make sure you build it on a solid foundation.