#ContentWritingChat Recap: Being Recognized & Known Online: Personal Branding 101
This week’s #ContentWritingChat was all about personal branding! We talked about who should have a personal brand, they key steps to creating one, and much more. If you missed the chat or need a refresher on the topics we covered, it’s time to dive right into our recap!
Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, April 25th at 10 AM Central Time with @FeldmanCreative! pic.twitter.com/OPqu7a0Q8I
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) April 18, 2017
Our guest host this week was Barry Feldman. Barry is a content marketing consultant, copywriter, and author. In fact, he recently wrote a book called The Road to Recognition.
Q1: How do you define a personal brand? Who has a personal brand?
To kick off the chat, we asked everyone to share their definition of a personal brand. What do they think it means to have a personal brand and who actually has one? Check out some of these responses from the chat:
A1: A personal brand is the perception people have of you regarding your professional life. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
A1: Everyone has, or has the potential to have, a personal brand. Whether they take control of it is the question. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
As Barry said, a personal brand is the perception people have of you regarding your professional life. People are always going to have thoughts and opinions surrounding you, whether you realize you have a personal brand or not. So, you better make sure it’s a good one!
He also added that everyone has or has the potential to have a personal brand. It’s important that you recognize this and take control of the image you’re portraying.
@ExpWriters A1: I think of a personal brand as your essence, what you stand for, what you won’t fall for. Your mission and values. #ContentWritingChat
— Katie Lewis (@kathryndlewis) April 25, 2017
Katie had a great answer to this first question. She feels a personal brand is your essence, what you stand for, and what you won’t fall for. It’s all about your mission and the values you have. Definitely something worth thinking about!
A1. A personal brand is a package of who you are and what you’re about that you represent to the world. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/JH8FG4hRuo
— Maggie Bizzell (@MaggieBizz) April 25, 2017
Maggie said your personal brand is a package of who you are and what you’re about. This package essentially represents you to the world, which is why it’s something everyone should think about.
@writingchat A1: You are your personal brand. Everything anyone can see or read about you makes up how you’re perceived. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/jaNpkat5LQ
— Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) April 25, 2017
As Jeff pointed out, everything anyone can see or read about you makes up how you’re perceived. It may sound a little scary, but remember that you can take control of your personal brand overall.
A1
You personal
brand is your vibe!How you communicate who you are, what you do, what people can expect from you…#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/SyLCps7dj1
— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) April 25, 2017
Gabriela said your personal brand is your vibe. It’s all in how you communicate who you are, what you do, and what people can expect from you. Here’s hoping your personal brand gives off an amazing vibe!
A1: First of all, everyone has a personal brand, whether they want to or not! It’s how you represent yourself to others. #contentwritingchat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) April 25, 2017
Lexie from Netvantage Marketing feels everyone has a personal brand. This is why it’s so important to consider how you’re representing yourself, especially online.
A1: Everyone has a personal brand, from personality to reputation, what do people think of you when you aren’t around? #contentwritingchat
— Digital Natives Cast (@DgtlNativesCast) April 25, 2017
Ask yourself the following question… What do you want people to think of you when you’re not around? Make sure your personal brand is a reflection of that answer.
Q2: What key steps should someone take when building a personal brand?
Now that you know what a personal brand is, let’s talk about the key steps to building it. It’s likely that you have a personal brand whether you realize it or not and you want to make sure it’s an accurate reflection of you. Here’s what you need to know:
A2: Establish your message (UVP). ID an audience. Concentrate on a niche. Find the right platform. Deliver value. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
Barry’s key steps to developing your personal brand: establish your message, identify who your audience is, concentrate on a niche, find the right platform, and then deliver value.
@ExpWriters A2 Know your MVP/ value prop and your audience, first & foremost. Then build a content strategy & YOUR unique voice. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/kRegTw4L4H
— Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) April 25, 2017
Julia said to know what value you can provide and who your audience is first. From there, you can begin building a content strategy and your unique voice.
A2. Before you start throwing things to see what sticks, get clear on who you’re talking to and why. #contentwritingchat
— pamelahughes (@pamelahughes) April 25, 2017
Pamela knows just how important it is to know and understand who your audience is, so start there by figuring out who you’re targeting.
A2: Know who you are; who your audience is & how to interact with them. Think sustainability; not trends. Be yourself.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/YbEhBTtWJ6
— ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) April 25, 2017
Sarah’s advice is to know who you are and who your audience is, plus how you’re going to interact with them. It’s also important to be yourself, otherwise you aren’t building your brand on a strong foundation.
@ExpWriters A2: They should first create a mission statement and set of values, giving their brand direction. #ContentWritingChat
— Katie Lewis (@kathryndlewis) April 25, 2017
Katie suggests starting by creating a mission statement and setting values. This will help give you some direction with your brand so you know what you’re all about and who you’re targeting.
A2: Build a personality around your brand, be human and let people know who you are, what makes you unique? #contentwritingchat
— Digital Natives Cast (@DgtlNativesCast) April 25, 2017
A great reminder when it comes to your brand: be human. Build a personality around your brand that is genuine and true to who you are. That’s what will make you unique and it’ll help others resonate with you.
A2b: Look at the brands you’re inspired by – their mission, values, personality – you may have some of them in common. #contentwritingchat
— Sara Tetzloff (@que_sara) April 25, 2017
If you’re feeling confused about where to get started when building your personal brand, Sara suggests looking to some of the brands you admire and are inspired by. Consider their mission, the values they have, and their personality. Determine what it is about those brands that resonates with you and you can replicate that for yourself, but don’t copy them.
Q3: How can you be sure your personal brand is a true reflection of your personality and who you are?
When building a personal brand, you want to make sure it’s genuine. It should be a reflection of who you truly are if you want it to resonate with others. Here’s how you can do that:
A3: Does it feel true? If you’re faking it, you’ll be found out soon. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
Q3: Your niche is *unlikely* to be unique. Your challenge is to make your *voice* unique. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
Barry suggests asking yourself if your personal brand feels true. If you are faking it by pretending to be something you’re not, people will find out soon enough. Although your niche might not be unique, you can always make your voice unique so you can stand out from the crowd.
A3
Personal
Brand:Starts with self-awareness.
Understand
who you were
who you are
who you aspire to be#ContentWritingChat#Branding pic.twitter.com/OeqkS9QunR— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) April 25, 2017
Gabriela feels personal branding all starts with self-awareness. She said you need to understand who you were, who you are, and who you aspire to be.
@ExpWriters A3 Be true to YOU. When you start being YOU 100%, you attract your ideal clients. Your transparency will shine. #ContentWritingChat
— Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) April 25, 2017
As Julia said, be true to you. It all starts there by being genuine and true to who you really are.
@ExpWriters A3: Be genuine. If you can’t be yourself you won’t enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, then why are you doing it? #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/cgDW4p0yba
— Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) April 25, 2017
Jeff says you need to be genuine. If you aren’t being yourself, you won’t enjoy it and it’ll all catch up to you sooner or later.
@ExpWriters A3: If you are being true to yourself then it should come out in your personal brand. Don’t be fake! #ContentWritingChat
— DAVRON (@davronlife) April 25, 2017
When you’re true to yourself, your personality will shine through. That’s what people will connect with.
A3
Passion always attracts minds who think alike. Which means you can be genuine and attract a quality audience!#contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/qjjIu9bws8— HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) April 25, 2017
When you’re genuine, you stand a much better chance at attracting the right audience to your brand.
A3. It may be counter to this chat, but don’t overthink it. Your personal brand should be personal, after all! #contentwritingchat
— pamelahughes (@pamelahughes) April 25, 2017
Pamela’s advice is to not overthink it. That’s something we should all keep in mind!
@ExpWriters A3: If you’re pursuing your passion, creating goals, and achieving them ahead of schedule, you’re doing it right. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/kjEWT9qfIF
— Jayme Byrd (@jaymevbyrd) April 25, 2017
Jayme is spot on with this answer!
Q4: How can you get your personal brand noticed online so you stand out as an authority?
Once you’ve built your personal brand and you’re ready to start making connections, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. You have to find a way to position yourself as an authority in your niche. Here’s how you can do that for your personal brand:
Q4: Experimentation. Persistence. Collaborative projects with influencers. Media, media and more media. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
Q4: Master a platform: blog, vlog, podcast, speaking, webinars, courses… something that suits you.
#contentwritingchat— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
If you want to get noticed online, take Barry’s suggestions into consideration: experimentation, persistence, collaborative projects with influencers, and media. He also suggests mastering a platform that suits you. It could be blogging, vlogging, podcasts, or something else. Find your thing and become a master at it.
A4.
ADD value.
Engage.
Be consistent.
Be accessible.Give, give some more…
then receive. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/s4jqEelC4y— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) April 25, 2017
Gabriela’s tips for standing out include: adding value, engaging, being consistent, being accessible, and giving a whole lot to your audience.
A4 Join the relevant conversation be it on twitter, forums, industry specific seminars, meetups. Add value & get noticed #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/w1Ln04zmkp
— Varun Kumar ? (@DigitalVK) April 25, 2017
Varun said to join relevant conversations online. You can connect with people vita Twitter, forums, industry seminars, and other meet-ups. Make sure you’re adding value if you truly want to get noticed.
A4 You’ll stand out more among the crowd the more you engage and engage with value such as in chats. #ContentWritingChat
— Jim Katzaman (@JKatzaman) April 25, 2017
Engage, engage, engage!
A4: Authority is recognized when you have proof. So, hammer out a library of “show, don’t tell” material to illustrate #ContentWritingChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) April 25, 2017
Maureen knows great content can go a long way to building a reputation for your brand. Produce quality content that shows people what they need to know and back it up with proof.
A4. And don’t create weak content. Share your knowledge #ContentWritingChat
— Megan McCarthy (@thlittleartiste) April 25, 2017
Megan also knows the importance of content, as she said don’t create weak content. Share your knowledge with your audience instead.
A4: Slow and steady wins the race. Find your people, keep sharing content, and be an active participant. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/sQ9EYZ7ZUo
— Flavia Logsdon (@flaviacat03) April 25, 2017
Know that you aren’t going to see results overnight. As Flavia said, you want to find your people, continue to share content, and being active when it comes to engaging with others.
Q5: In what ways can social media help you build your brand and network with others?
Wondering how social media can help you build your brand and make connections online? Check out these suggestions from Tuesday’s chat:
Q5: In every way. You’re going to need friends, fans, followers, collaborators. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
As Barry said, you’re going to need friends, fans, followers, and collaborators for your brand. Social media can help you make those connections to build those relationships.
A5: #socialmedia gives the opportunity to connect globally, not just locally & makes it easy for others to endorse you. #contentwritingchat
— Elizabeth Greenberg (@BettaBeYou) April 25, 2017
It’s clear that Elizabeth knows the power of social media. As she said, it gives you the opportunity to connect with people globally. You just never know who you might meet and where those people will be located.
A5: SM allows connecting with your peers, customers, colleagues and other brands #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/do0RQ2xTQ4
— Geoffrey M.Mutalemwa (@SweetbutKanana) April 25, 2017
Social media is a great opportunity to connect with peers, customers, colleagues, and other brands.
@ExpWriters A5) If done right, you can connect w/ people that haven’t seen your brand yet, & keep you connected to those who have! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/SWP0EJMjuJ
— Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) April 25, 2017
Jason said social media can connect you with people who are new to your brand and help you stay connected to those who already know you.
A5: There are no limits to how you can engage, share and grow your brand on all social media platforms. #ContentWritingChat
— Lori Anding? (@southbaysome) April 25, 2017
There are no limits on social media. As Lori suggestions, you should focus on growing your brand on all the social media platforms you want to use for your brand.
A5: The weird thing about social media is that YOU CAN BE SOCIAL ON IT! People forget this…a lot! #ContentWritingChat
— Jeff Higgins (@ItsJeffHiggins) April 25, 2017
Don’t forget to use social media for its main purpose: be social!
A5: SoMe is the fastest/easiest way to connect with a lot of people –so get connected! Do Twitter chats, share ideas!#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/znEsfE6DMH
— ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) April 25, 2017
Twitter chats are an amazing way to be social and make connections online.
A5: #Socialmedia makes #PersonalBranding both easier and harder – more opportunities, but also more competition!#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/aUh65EpAj0
— @AndreaTorti90 (@andreatorti90) April 25, 2017
Social media may provide a lot of amazing opportunities, but there’s also a lot more competition to deal with. Embrace what makes you unique and do what you can to stand out.
Q6: What are the upsides to having a personal brand? The downsides?
What are the advantages to personal branding? Are there any disadvantages? Find out in these responses from the chat:
Q6: In a word, RECOGNITION. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
Having a personal brand can help you gain recognition.
A6: Upside – you are recognizable! Downside – you are recognizable. Once you own your #personalbrand, you’ve committed. #contentwritingchat
— Elizabeth Greenberg (@BettaBeYou) April 25, 2017
Being recognizable is certainly a benefit of personal branding, but it’s also a downside. If you mess up, a lot of people may see it. That’s all the more reason to be careful about what you put out there online.
A6: The upside of personal branding is a bond with your community and the audience you attract fits with your narrative. #contentwritingchat
— Jeff Higgins (@ItsJeffHiggins) April 25, 2017
Personal branding can help you form a bond with your community and the audience you’re trying to attract.
A6. Upside = increased reach/audience/potential customers. Downside = misstep in personal life can hurt business. #ContentWritingChat
— Gene Petrov (@GenePetrovLMC) April 25, 2017
On the plus side, having a personal brand can give you an increased reach, a larger audience, and help you attract potential customers. On the downside, if there’s a misstep in your personal life and everyone finds out, it can impact you negatively.
Q7: What is the most important thing to remember when building your personal brand?
The most important things to remember when building your personal brand, courtesy of our Twitter chat:
Q7: Remember your objectives. Don’t just chase fame. Earn recognition in line with career goals. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
Great advice from Barry!
A7.
CONSISTENCY. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/jPfQGRoP2x
— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) April 25, 2017
Consistency is key.
@writingchat A7 Don’t always be so focused on “the brand.” Be you. Earn the brand you want to have. #contentwritingchat
— Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) April 25, 2017
Don’t be too focused on the brand. Be yourself and things will begin to click for you.
A7: Whatever you do on the Internet is there to stay – be careful!#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/GX1grle5Pj
— @AndreaTorti90 (@andreatorti90) April 25, 2017
Be careful what you put out there online because once it’s out there, it’s public for the world to see. You can’t take it back.
A7: Be yourself and don’t try to be like everyone else. Your audience will value you being yourself and not someone else #contentwritingchat
— Mind of a Diva (@MindofaDiva) April 25, 2017
Be yourself and don’t try to be like everyone else. That won’t help you stand out from the crowd.
A7: Be genuine, be active, be you. #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/KSNrmEKI0N
— Digital Natives Cast (@DgtlNativesCast) April 25, 2017
Be genuine, be active, and be you.
@ExpWriters A7: Authenticity with a lens of honesty: don’t overplay it, don’t undersell yourself either. Be real. #beyou #ContentWritingChat
— Jeremy Murphy (@jeremypmurphy) April 25, 2017
Authenticity and honesty are essential.
A7. Please don’t fake it. Honesty is everything. Your followers and customers will ultimately figure it out. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/LGiJTYsNez
— Gene Petrov (@GenePetrovLMC) April 25, 2017
Don’t fake it because you’ll eventually be found out.
A7 Remember that overnight fame isn’t the goal. Stay authentic and keep focus on progress, not perfection. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/LKEC6EsyRt
— Flavia Logsdon (@flaviacat03) April 25, 2017
Keep moving forward because you won’t find overnight success. You have to put in the hard work if you want results.
Q8: Which personal brands do you love? Tag them!
Which personal brands are out there doing it right? Check out these brands:
Q8: @JuliaEMcCoy That woman is doing it right: podcast, blog, social, SEO, email, book, course, relationship building. #contentwritingchat
— Barry Feldman (@FeldmanCreative) April 25, 2017
We have to agree that our CEO, Julia McCoy, is killing it!
@ExpWriters Q8: @garyvee and @lisabuyer are def some of my favorites! #ContentWritingChat
— Jayme Byrd (@jaymevbyrd) April 25, 2017
Gary Vaynerchuk and Lisa Buyer are two favorites for Jayme.
A8 Lot of ppl, whom to exlude. @MadalynSklar build a great personal brand. @NealSchaffer @sujanpatel r great inspiration #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/rH6HdXjTCZ
— Varun Kumar ? (@DigitalVK) April 25, 2017
Madalyn, Neal, and Sujan are all great!
Join us every Tuesday at 10 AM CST for #ContentWritingChat! Follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat to stay updated on topics and guests.
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