How can you build trust and intimacy with your audience through authenticity and transparency?

Start by really thinking about what it is you want to be known for. What would you like people to know you for? Once you discover this, you can begin. But stick to those values and create content and discussions that align with it. You won't please everyone but by being authentic, you'll find your community who will support and appreciate you! Make yourself indispensable, desirable, appreciated. Share your successes, along with the challenges you faced achieving them, to help others. Ask for feedback and your network to contribute their views and actively listen to these, respond and incorporate. And don't worry about what others are doing as no one can express your values and opinions like you do.

Consistency is the foundation of trust. Just as one trusts a clock that ticks reliably, an audience trusts a voice that remains true and steady. Stick to your word and be consistent in your actions, and trust will naturally follow.

You should be clear on showing your authentic self. This process establishes trust, and help both parties engage in a manner where there is a foundation. "People tolerate those they know of, people engage with those they understand." - The Holy Spirit

> sharing personal story, origins, motivations & values reveals human connection behind the brand > spotlight failures, vulnerabilities & lessons learned which builds empathy and integrity > audience input through interactive polls, Q&As and feedback opportunities as two-way dialogue cultivates relationship > give behind-the-scenes looks at processes > goals & aspirations shared to rally the audience around mission > co-create content with the community through collaborative projects, contests & user-generated content > spotlight causes & charities sincerely care about, not just causes that sell which leads with value Authenticity comes through giving & sharing - knowledge, passions, dreams, and imperfections which breed true community

Consistency will support your existence on Linkedin. not only consistently present, but consistently providing value in accordance with the positioning that we determined at the start.

Be vulnerable could be interpreted as being personal. Instead I refer to sharing vulnerable moments. Vulnerable moments = differentiator in the sameness of profiles. Owning your story and sharing it creates emotional connections. No one wants to do business with someone they cannot build a rapport with. Being vulnerable is also different from being personal. Set your own boundaries with what you want to share. Do not feel compelled to share the things that you'd like to stay private. But typical mistakes, lessons learned, challenges and how you've dealt with them are all great examples of vulnerable moments.

Some of the best leaders practice authenticity by being vulnerable. This allow includes those that wear golden armors that emulate toxic positivity. Earlier in my career, I wasn't as vulnerable as I could have been, and it wasn't until a few years ago that people confronted me about my toxic positivity. They were always so shocked about how I was able to be so positive, upbeat and happy all the team whereas in reality, that was far from the truth. I've had my fair share of bad days, days where projects and programs didn't go well and/or things weren't going well at home. My peers let me know that it was okay to show that vulnerable side, especially as a leader. It humanizes the corporate world environment. Best advice ever.

Everyone loves a success story... give them one. Everyone wants to feel like they are there from the beginning... let them be. Talk about your wins. Talk about your failures. Talk about what you learned. Take that internal dialogue and put it out for the world to see. Just like that phrase about asking questions in a lecture... if you have a question someone else does... the same can be said for experiences. If you lived it... others have too. Talk about it.

Fail fast and fail forward - we all make mistakes but sometimes mistakes are where we learn the most. By being vulnerable and sharing that you're not perfect and that sometimes things go wrong, people will connect with you. It's also a great feeling knowing that sharing these moments can help others avoid making the same ones. Everyone "fails" at some point. What's important is how you deal with it and move forward. Acknowledge it as fast as possible and learn from the mistakes. And if possible, share those so that others know they're not alone in making similar ones/can also learn from your experience.

The quality of your marketing depends on how well you emotionally connect with your customers. You can make a strong emotional connection when people get to see that you are a real person too. When you share that you don't have it all together and that you've messed up, people will actually care more about you. And when they care about you, then they're more likely to do business with you.

You can never be enough valuable. Most of us deal with the expert syndrome. We take our knowledge for granted and tend to assume that everyone is on par. Somewhere there is a version of you a year, two years, three ago. Who is facing all the things that you once did. Experiment sharing the trivial, the basics, the obvious and see what happens. You'll be amazed by how valuable that can be for someone else

Before it becomes valuable, we have to really understand who our audience is. what their dreams and goals are, what obstacles they encounter in their environment, maybe even their hobbies. because the definition of value is the right treatment for the right person.

By interacting with thoughtful and personal comments, you're taking that extra initiative to stand out from the many others that are also engaging with the same type of content you're trying to promote. All of this helps you build connections and can help you stand apart from other businesses who aren’t as responsive. Be sure to always adhere to the same voice and tone, and refrain from getting combative in the comments to contradictory opinions. Show genuine interest in others thoughts, without adding in conflict.

Responsiveness is synonymous with respect and care. our responsive nature shows that we truly treat them with respect. And this is what makes them respect you back

In my experience, audiences can discern genuine honesty from mere lip service. When a person or brand consistently demonstrates truthfulness, it fosters a deeper connection, leading to lasting loyalty and engagement.

- Building trust and intimacy with your audience hinges on authenticity and transparency. You need to be YOURSELF! - Be genuine in your communication, share your values, and admit when you don't have all the answers. Embrace vulnerability; it fosters connection. - Show empathy by actively listening to your audience's concerns. - Transparency means sharing both successes and failures, reinforcing your credibility. - In the digital age, authenticity is a rare gem that can set you apart.

This is a tough one. Especially if it’s on camera. But I know that my social posts, even written ones, resonate better if I use my true personality. So don’t be afraid to be yourself.

Lots of us struggle to be ourselves. I know when I began working in the legal world, I felt I needed to act and look in a certain way. But I've realised that since I've been more open about who I really am and what I really think, the support from the in-house legal community has grown. It's built a trust that you cannot create and can only form naturally. I'm not everyone's cup of tea but that's OK. My supporters know exactly what they're getting, that I believe in them and want to help them. And that's what's most important to me. When you wear a mask, it can really damage your mental well-being and be stressful to keep up. Trust in who you are and that this will attract the right people who will appreciate your opinion.

Authenticity is not just important; it's the cornerstone of relatability. Equally crucial is understanding the audience you aim to connect with."

LinkedIn invested $25 million into reinventing itself; it wants to amplify people who will use its platform to help redefine professionalism. Build trust and intimacy with your audience by throwing out everything you used to think is professional and what isn't. In 2023, talking about your mental health journey is most certainly professional. It's professional to talk about the lessons learned from failures. It's professional to be kind and thoughtful. It's professional to take time to make people feel seen, heard and acknowledged. It is professional to share during the challenge/struggle and not just after with a 20/20 vision. In this increasingly disconnected world, people are just looking for genuine connections.

Authenticity starts by leaving the corporate jargon and marketing-speak at the door. No one wants to hear how your synergistic solutions will revolutionize their lives. Speak like a human, not a buzzword generator. Authenticity means embracing the awkward moments. Share the behind-the-scenes blunders, the bloopers and the times you accidentally went live while your toddler was actively potty-training. Talk with your audience, not at them. Respond to comments, answer questions and acknowledge feedback. It shows you're listening and not just using your social media accounts as one-way megaphones.