Personal Branding for Black Entrepreneurs: How to Own Your Story and Stand Out

Personal branding isn’t just something that’s trendy, it’s one of the most powerful tools that Black entrepreneurs in the UK can use to cut through the noise, build trust and claim visibility on their own terms in spaces that don’t always want to see them. You could be running a creative business, launching a start-up or growing a public profile; your personal brand is more than just your headshot or social media presence, it’s the way people experience your work, your values, your voice and your vision. When your personal brand is rooted in authenticity, cultural nuance and social relevance, it has the potential to become unforgettable.

Ariatu PR has worked with a wide range of Black founders, entrepreneurs, leaders and creatives—from publishers to podcasters, authors to activists—helping them to craft personal brands that feel as real as they are strategic. One of our long-standing clients, a dynamic media founder and speaker, came to us unsure how to present their voice in traditional media without compromising their values. Through tailored media coaching, brand storytelling frameworks and profile-raising technicals and tactics, we helped them to secure national press, panel appearances and podcast interviews; all while staying true to their identity and mission.

Why does this matter so much? Because for Black entrepreneurs in the UK, personal branding exists in a different context. You’re not just building a business, you’re navigating systemic challenges, cultural biases and still while sometimes being the “first” or “only” in your industry. That means your brand must do more than sell, it must protect, connect and reflect who you are, therefore psychological safety is crucial here. You shouldn’t have to perform or shrink yourself just to be “media ready.” you should feel safe, supported and seen. Our approach to personal branding is rooted in creating space where Black entrepreneurs and founders can speak with freedom and not fear. This is why our personal branding strategy sessions also includes media coaching that doesn't just cover talking points, it builds confidence and a brand voice that can hold its ground in tough rooms or viral moments.

Too often, generic personal branding advice fails to speak to the realities Black founders face in the UK. Messaging that works in a US context or for a mainstream audience, may not resonate when speaking to diasporic communities, community-driven consumers or culturally conscious audiences. We help our clients tell stories that matter to the people they actually want to reach whether that’s through a feature on Bloomberg, a local radio interview in Brixton or a write-up in The Voice, a podcast guest spot on a Black-led platform, or a feature in Forbes Africa.

And of course, no personal brand is complete without a plan for when things don’t go to plan. As your personal brand rises, crisis moments are more and more likely and your personal brand needs the flexibility to withstand them. A tweet taken out of context, a media quote that lands wrong, a failed launch or public criticism can knock even the most confident founder off balance. But when your personal brand is built with strategy and authenticity, you have the tools to recover with grace. We recently worked with an entrepreneur whose comments were misrepresented in a national interview. Because we had developed a consistent brand voice, key messages and holding statements in advance, we were able to manage the fallout quickly, clarify their position with integrity and strengthen their public image rather than damage it.

Ultimately, personal branding is about power; the power to show up fully, to speak with authority and to build a presence that grows beyond trends. For Black entrepreneurs, this power is especially vital. In a market that often overlooks or underestimates us, a strong, value-led personal brand is both a defence and a launchpad.

At Ariatu PR, we’re proud to champion Black founders who aren’t afraid to be bold, honest and different. We believe the world doesn’t need another manufactured persona—it needs more real stories, told well. If you’re ready to shape a personal brand that stands out and stands for something, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today to start building a personal brand that’s as impactful as your ideas.

Why Black Creatives and Founders Need a Visibility Plan Not Just Social Media

Social media is loud, fast and sometimes chaotic. It’s where trends take off, movements are born and brands can become famous (or infamous) overnight. For Black creatives and founders navigating this space, visibility is essential but relying solely on social media to build brand presence can be a risky strategy. You need more than content calendars and hashtags, you need a thoughtful, long-term visibility plan rooted in PR, storytelling, cultural nuance and emotional resilience. This is why Ariatu PR works with Black founders, creatives and start-ups across the UK and beyond who want to grow their visibility without losing their voice. Social media is powerful but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. A strong visibility strategy is what ties everything together and allows you to build trust before a crisis, gain meaningful media attention and grow a brand that resonates far beyond the scroll.

One of the biggest challenges Black founders face is being seen without being stereotyped, tokenised or misunderstood.  Telling your story in a way that reflects your values, your voice and your audience requires sensitivity, context and clarity. The visibility plans we create at Ariatu PR centre your lived experience while ensuring that the wider world understands the depth and value of your brand. A visibility plan also offers something that social media often lacks: psychological safety. When you’re building a business in public, you are vulnerable to feedback, misinterpretation and sometimes even targeted trolling - which is particularly true for Black women founders and entrepreneurs. We've seen founders freeze in the face of viral backlash or negative press simply because they didn’t have a plan in place. We’ve helped clients face online backlash and survive crisis situations authentically and robustly.

This is the power of proactive visibility work. It doesn't just help you get featured in the press or booked on a podcast. It gives you the tools to manage your narrative in the good times and the difficult ones. Social media may drive awareness, but it’s PR that drives reputation and the two are not the same. Take the example of a Black British food entrepreneur we worked with whose viral online success brought a sudden spotlight on her business. While she celebrated the online buzz, she knew she needed more than momentary clicks. Through media coaching and a visibility strategy grounded in community storytelling, we helped her land features in both UK mainstream and diasporic publications. That coverage gave her lasting credibility that turned likes into partnerships and visibility into sales.

Another important layer of visibility is social relevance. Black founders are often leading purpose-driven businesses; creative brands rooted in culture, sustainability or community. Your work deserves to be seen in the right spaces, by the right people, with the right message. A visibility plan ensures that your media moments don’t just go viral, they make sense within the larger conversation. This is especially important in an era where allyship is trendy one moment and absent the next - we saw this quite consistently post pandemic lockdown.

Ariatu PR’s approach to visibility is not one-size-fits-all. It’s intentional, holistic and built around you, not just the algorithm. It includes everything from thought leadership and editorial placements to media training, influencer collaborations and culturally relevant brand partnerships. And yes, it includes social media, but it’s social media with direction and depth.

So if you're a Black founder or creative ready to be seen, heard and remembered for the right reasons, not just the right moment, then it's time to think bigger than a post or a reel. It’s time to invest in a visibility plan that protects your peace, honours your story and amplifies your message in a sustainable way.

Get in touch with Ariatu PR and let’s build something brilliant together.

Engaging Black British Audiences: Communications Strategies for Charities That Care

For charities and not-for-profits in the UK that genuinely want to support Black British communities, communication is about more than simply getting your message out, it’s about building trust, showing up with integrity and authentically reflecting the communities you serve. Yet too often, organisations with the best of intentions miss the mark when trying to engage with Black British audiences. The disconnect doesn’t always come from a lack of effort (although sometimes it does), but from a lack of cultural understanding, inclusive strategy and meaningful storytelling.

We have had the pleasure of working closely with charities, social enterprises and not-for-profits that are committed to racial equity and inclusion. We’ve seen first-hand how culturally relevant, community-rooted communications can transform a campaign’s impact not just in media metrics, but in trust, reach and long-term engagement. If your organisation is serious about engaging Black British communities or African and Caribbean diasporas, then a one-size-fits-all PR approach simply won’t work.

The first step in developing a successful communications strategy is recognising that Black audiences are not a monolith. Within the Black British community, for example, there are generational, cultural, linguistic and even geographical nuances that matter. Whether you’re communicating with first-generation West African and Caribbean elders or UK-born Gen Z activists, the language, tone and channels you use will need to shift accordingly. Taking time to understand the specific audience you’re trying to reach, who they are, what they care about, and how they consume information is key.

Charities often make the mistake of only reaching out to Black communities during Black History Month or when seeking support for a specific campaign. This reactive approach can come across as tokenistic, even when it’s not intended that way. Authentic engagement means building relationships all year round, not just when there’s an ask involved. It means featuring Black voices in your leadership, your storytelling and your decision-making processes not just in your social media graphics.

Another core part of effective communication is choosing the right platforms and partners. Traditional media outlets might not always be the most effective way to connect with Black audiences. Often it’s community radio, cultural podcasts, grassroots influencers and independent Black-owned platforms that hold the real trust and influence. A strong communications strategy should include a mix of these channels, prioritising those that resonate with your intended audience.

Messaging that speaks “at” people rather than “with” them is likely to fall flat which is why tone is crucial. Audiences can sense when they’re being marketed to without genuine respect or cultural awareness. This is where sensitivity, research and collaboration come into play. Working with PR professionals like ourselves who understand the cultural context and who are part of the communities you’re trying to reach can make all the difference.

At Ariatu PR, we’ve supported clients across the not-for-profit sector to reframe their messaging and improve their media presence by putting cultural relevance at the heart of their strategies. That means crafting stories that go beyond stats and figures to highlight lived experience, intergenerational wisdom and community impact. It also means equipping charities to respond with confidence and care when engaging with sensitive or complex issues affecting Black communities—whether it’s systemic racism, mental health stigma, or funding inequity.

It’s also worth noting that inclusive comms strategies don’t stop at external messaging. Internal communications play a vital role, too. Staff, volunteers, and trustees need to feel included, informed, and empowered. If your internal culture doesn’t align with the inclusive image you’re projecting, it will show and it will affect your credibility. Clear, respectful internal comms and culturally competent training can help create consistency and trust from the inside out. We offer robust and dynamic PR training for teams across the charity and not for profit sector.

One of the most powerful outcomes of a culturally aware communications strategy is deeper community trust. When people feel seen, heard and respected, they are more likely to engage with your work, support your campaigns, and amplify your message. This doesn’t happen overnight but with commitment and consistency, it’s possible to build relationships that go beyond one-off campaigns and lead to long-term partnerships.

For charities and not-for-profits committed to justice, equity, and meaningful impact, communication is not just a function, it’s a responsibility. It’s about ensuring your messages don’t just reach the right ears, but that they land with respect, understanding and authenticity.

If your organisation wants to improve the way it communicates with Black communities, now is the time to invest in a strategy that reflects your values and strengthens your relationships. At Ariatu PR, we offer culturally-informed, values-led communications support tailored to mission-driven organisations like yours.

Get in touch with us to explore how we can help your charity engage Black audiences with purpose, power and genuine care.

Why the Publishing Industry Needs Inclusive and Strategic PR: Supporting Black and Marginalised Authors Beyond the Book Launch

In the publishing world, a successful book launch often marks the culmination of months, even years of hard work from the inception to publication, it can be an exciting and worthwhile time. But for many Black and marginalised authors, what happens after publication matters just as much as the lead-up. A powerful launch doesn’t guarantee visibility, longevity or meaningful reader engagement which is why an inclusive and strategic PR is vital, not just as a one-off campaign, but as an ongoing tool for amplifying voices, building cultural relevance,= and supporting author careers beyond the first press release.

We’ve worked with authors, publishers and imprints who are committed to changing the narrative within publishing. However the reality is that the UK’s publishing industry’s traditional PR models often don’t reflect the nuances, communities and storytelling needs of underrepresented writers. It’s time for a shift that centres cultural insight, audience authenticity and long-term strategy.

Publishing teams regularly invest in media plans to support launch day coverage often through mainstream broadsheets, trade magazines, and book review blogs. While these are valuable platforms, they don’t always connect with the audiences that marginalised authors are writing for or about. Post-launch, coverage often tapers off, especially if authors don’t already have a public platform or if their work challenges conventional narratives. Without continued engagement, vital stories risk being forgotten in the fast-moving cycle of publishing publicity.

Strategic PR, when done well, creates lasting visibility. It ensures that books by Black and marginalised authors don’t just make a splash—they make an impact. It means thinking beyond press kits and into personal branding, digital storytelling, podcast features, grassroots media and community partnerships. It means positioning authors as thought leaders, speakers and culture-shapers, not just book promoters for a few weeks.

Inclusive PR also recognises that not every author has the same starting point. Some may be debut writers with little experience in interviews or public speaking whilst others may be navigating cultural or institutional barriers that affect how their work is received. That’s why media coaching, tailored to the author’s background and values, is a critical part of our process at Ariatu PR. We help authors show up with self-assuredness and clarity in the media, making sure their voice stays intact and isn’t lost to industry expectations or generic messaging.

Moreover, publishing imprints that centre inclusivity in their commissioning must also apply the same principle to their publicity because without this, their commitment to diversity rings hollow. Readers can spot tokenism. Authors feel the difference between a team that uplifts them holistically and one that treats them like a moment. A strategic PR partner bridges this gap, ensuring the author’s identity and community are not just acknowledged but actively embraced in the visibility process.

We’ve seen the impact of this work first-hand. When authors are supported beyond the launch, they build deeper connections with readers. Their names stay in circulation longer. They’re invited to new opportunities, events, panels, collaborations, that expand their reach and impact. Importantly, they gain control over their own narrative, something especially vital for those from communities whose stories have historically been misrepresented or overlooked.

This isn’t necessarily about replacing traditional publishing publicity, it's about complementing it. At Ariatu PR, we collaborate with publishing teams to create campaigns that extend the life of a book, while also building up the brand of the author. We understand how to reach Black British, African and Caribbean diasporic audiences in culturally relevant ways. We’ve helped authors find their voice, shape their messages and own their story in media, online  and in real life.

If the publishing industry truly wants to support equity and inclusion, it must expand its approach to PR. That means working with partners who understand the intersection of creativity, culture and communication and who know how to navigate the media landscape with authenticity and intention.

Authors deserve more than launch week buzz; they deserve a platform. Publishers who invest in inclusive, long-term PR strategies will not only support their authors better, they'll reach new audiences, deepen brand trust and create impact that lasts far beyond the shelf life of a single campaign.

Ready to elevate your authors’ voices with strategic, culturally aligned PR? Contact Ariatu PR to explore how we can collaborate.

How to Protect Your Brand Reputation Before It’s Too Late

A single negative comment, poor customer experience, or misjudged social media post can damage years of hard-earned brand trust. For start-ups, creative businesses and purpose-led brands, a reputational crisis doesn’t just affect your image, it affects your revenue, relationships and long-term growth.

At Ariatu PR, we help our clients prepare, respond and recover with clarity and confidence when things go wrong and when a crisis hits. The good news? You don’t need to be a big corporation to benefit from crisis planning but you do need to start early before it’s too late. It is so important to be proactive rather than reactive.

It’s a common misconception that crisis comms is only for big brands dealing with massive scandals. In reality, any business, especially small businesses and start-ups, can face a PR crisis.

Some common examples:

• A bad review goes viral
  
  

• A supply issue causes delays or cancellations
  
  

• A founder’s social media post sparks backlash
  
  

• A brand collaboration receives criticism
  
  

• A product or service fails to meet expectations
  

Without a plan in place, your response can come across as defensive, dismissive or disorganised leading to lost trust and worse media coverage.

With a plan? You take control of the narrative and show that your brand is transparent, thoughtful and resilient.

Step 1: Identify Your Vulnerabilities

The first step in crisis prevention is knowing what could go wrong. Make time to audit your business and identify areas of risk.

Ask yourself:

• What would happen if a customer complaint went public?
  
  

• Are there any controversial issues tied to your industry or values?
  
  

• Do all team members know your brand values and tone of voice?
  
  

• Are there old posts or brand partnerships that could be misunderstood?
  
  

These questions aren’t meant to cause panic, they’re meant to help you prepare. At Ariatu PR, we help clients run through real-world scenarios to stress-test their messaging and response plans.

Step 2: Create a Crisis Comms Toolkit

Once you understand your risks, it’s time to build a crisis toolkit that ensures your business is ready to respond quickly and clearly.

Your toolkit should include:

• Key messaging templates
  
  

• Media holding statements
  
  

• A designated spokesperson
  
  

• Contact lists for press, legal and internal teams
  
  

• Guidelines for social media responses
  

Most importantly, these tools should reflect your brand’s authentic voice and values. In a crisis, people want honesty not necessarily perfection and if your brand has a specific audience focus, such as Black British consumers or diasporic communities, your response should be culturally aware, sensitive and inclusive.

Want help creating a toolkit that aligns with your business? Explore our services to learn how we support clients with reputation management.

Step 3: Monitor Conversations in Real Time

One of the fastest ways to lose control of a crisis is by being the last to know about it. Active media monitoring, especially on social media is essential. Set up alerts for your brand name, key products or founder’s name. Keep an eye on direct messages, email feedback, and industry news. If something negative is gaining traction, act quickly but don’t rush to respond without a clear plan and a clear message.

At Ariatu PR, we help clients set up simple systems for real-time monitoring that don’t require huge budgets or specialist tools.

Step 4: Own the Narrative

When a crisis hits, the worst thing you can do is ignore it or hope it disappears. Silence creates space for speculation. Instead, respond proactively and take ownership of the situation.

A strong crisis comms response includes:

• Acknowledging the issue clearly
  
  

• Apologising sincerely if needed
  
  

• Explaining what’s being done to fix it
  
  

• Following up with updates
  

Remember that people respect brands that take responsibility so avoid jargon, blame-shifting or trying to spin the story. Authenticity builds trust even in tough times.

Step 5: Learn and Rebuild

Crisis comms doesn’t simply stop once the headlines fade, your final step is review and rebuild.

Ask:

• What did we do well?
  
  

• What could have been handled better?
  
  

• What systems or policies need to change?
  
  

• How can we regain trust moving forward?
  

Sometimes, the most powerful PR results comes after the crisis when you show growth, learning and accountability. That’s how reputations aren’t just protected but strengthened. At Ariatu PR, we work with founders and teams to create tailored, practical, and culturally aware crisis comms strategies that help protect and elevate their brands. Contact us today to discuss how we can help your business stay resilient, responsive and ready no matter what comes your way.