It’s 2025. Time to get in the spotlight.

Gemma Samuel 

Media Communications (BA Hons) is passionate for putting you in the spotlight, and shares what she has learnt surrounding Marketing & PR, from being a multi-preneur in the hair and beauty sphere! 

When you don’t know what works, marketing your business feels like a gamble.

Tactics, platforms and fads don’t make great marketing! Great marketing comes from an acute understanding of what makes your brand, your offer and even YOU stand out. When you find yourself in the spotlight, you’ve executed a tactic that works and accessed a capacity of influence. The trick is to discover that capacity over and over again…

After years of launching, learning and failing with different businesses, my mission is to encourage you to tap into something bigger, with greater meaning to become an ICONIC influence. 

Ultimately, Marketing is Visibility and Visibility is power.

Power is what gives us the ability to influence others and make a difference in the world. This is why your marketing is an effort to establish power in your community or marketplace. When people pay attention to your marketing, they are giving your business the power to influence them.

Marketing and power go hand in hand, and visibility and power comes from authenticity. 

Fortunately, a lot of beauty-preneurs can promote a business by being yourself.  You can show up as your authentic self and promote your products and services, mainly by using social media.

Mix Social Media Marketing with PR and you’ll have a much more in-depth strategy. You then become visible, influential and iconic. 

Generally PR focuses on fostering positive relationships with external audiences and our buying customers are far more likely to trust earned media over traditional ads.

Brand mentions and product reviews are far more effective than branded content at every stage of the buying journey. 

To be Iconic you need to;

• BUILD BRAND CREDIBILITY

• FACILITATE OMNI-CHANNEL VISIBILITY.

Being present in such a competitive industry, like the hair and beauty industry, can be daunting to repeatedly show up on social media promoting your business. However, in order to improve customer acquisition and retention rates, you have to take control of how the public perceives you and your business. If you don’t pro-actively create your own story, then the public will create their own narrative.

Business owners are usually too busy perfecting their growth marketing, however a growth model that puts their customers first does not let PR be an after thought.

PR goes beyond telling your story, it solidifies trust between you and your customer, whilst positioning you as an expert.

Iconic brands are the direct result of innovative genius. They exemplify business genius, and they’re not afraid to do things differently. 

3 ways YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS can be ICONIC...

If you don’t pro-actively create your own story, then the public will create their own narrative.

Iconic brand identities come from businesses who find their voice. BUT how does a company take the next step - from a successful company into an iconic brand?

I want to give you some tips on how to use PR to become a well-recognised, well-established iconic brand name.

DRESS WELL AND HAVE A STAND-OUT ISH BRAND!

In today’s digitally diverse world, iconic brand identities prevail because they’re consistent, powerful, and easy-to-recognise. By updating your brand and personal image, you will attract new audiences. 

Iconic brands remain true to their story and values, even if that means reinterpreting their beliefs at times to suit an ever-changing environment.

Understand your audience and always be relatable for engaged connections. Have the courage to be different!

Create exceptional content that educates, entertains and Inspires.

Think about your customer base, and look for ways to use your marketing materials to emphasise how your service or product will make people’s lives better, or solve a specific problem.

Since iconic brands are all about telling stories, it’s important to think carefully about how each aspect of your identity contributes to the narrative you want to create.

Trying different Marketing tactics and attracting the right customers will establish favourable public perception, which will help you gain more customers.

When it comes to creating iconic brands, a lot of companies get caught up focusing on just one part of the marketing mix. 

Use all media platforms and don’t let your customers forget about you!

Utilise Kindness and try to collaborate where possible.

If your end goal is to be an iconic brand with an iconic brand identity, then you need to establish loyal clients, and that means keeping your customers happy – whatever it takes.