What are the best strategies for building a personal brand as an IC expert in Internal Communications?

Bollocks. Don't choose your niche too early and be too inflexible about it. Internal Comms is both a slow-moving and fast-moving field. The basics stay the same, but the flavor of the month can change every week, and the interactions between IC and AI will accelerate that. I once chose a niche - internal influence - that was ahead of its time, and spent a lot of time missing out on other opportunities. Having three or four things that you can do better than most people is a smarter strategy.

Building your personal brand takes time. Play the long game and be patient. Things you need: - Interesting opinions that people may disagree with. This attracts your tribe and repels the rest. It can position you as a thought leader with original ideas. Read Wes Kaos piece on having a "spiky point of view" - The ability to be consistent. You need to show up again and again. Be reliable, be visible. - A willingness to put yourself out there. Yes it's intimidating to post a video of yourself, but it helps people to get to know you and it builds trust. So get uncomfortable and give it a try.

To build a strong personal brand as an IC expert, you need to project yourself as someone that’s larger than just your job profile. Firstly you need to showcase your expertise in the field by continuously updating your knowledge & sharing your insights through thought leadership articles, public speaking, & networking but this everyone will do. You also need to be empathetic & genuinely caring about your audience which you can do by talking to them in person, knowing them at a personal level & just networking. This gives a uniqueness to your communication as you have a deeper understanding of your audience. I feel that people listen to you with more interest and will go out of the way to support you. ‘The human touch’ is really important.

Another way to build a personal brand as an expert in #internalcommunications is to be deliberate in the relationships you choose to build, and where they are in your organisation. And sometimes these can be in unexpected places. Find people who ‘get’ IC and leverage them as advocates. Figure out who the key people are that will help you to grow both your own brand and also your hopes and dreams and strategic goals for what IC can achieve. In IC it’s easy to fall into the trap of spreading ourselves too thinly because we care about people. By being intentional about the people and relationships that matter you’ll be amazed at how your brand grows and what you can get done.

Forge partnerships and collaborations with other experts in your field. By aligning with respected professionals, you not only expand your network but also strengthen your position as a niche specialist.

Harness the power of social proof by collecting and showcasing client or colleague testimonials and recommendations. These endorsements provide tangible evidence of the value you offer.

In my experience, delivery excellence is the first step (delivering on your promise at a high quality level) but robust measurement and reporting is the second. We need to demonstrate value add and outcomes in everything we do, otherwise we shouldn't be doing them in the first place.

No one wants to be lectured to, but that’s exactly how it sounds and feels when the messages are just broadcast from the top. Employees want to be heard, and the best Internal Comms practice here is to take their opinions and feedback straight to the top.

Solid advice on crafting your personal brand assets! But let's cut to the chase—authenticity trumps all. You're not an actor; you're a real person. So, your tone of voice, your bio, and your entire brand should scream 'you,' not someone you think you should be. Honesty isn't just a policy; it's your strongest asset. Also, let's shatter the myth of perfection. Folks, done is better than perfect. An authentic, imperfect asset out in the world does far more for your brand than a 'perfect' one sitting in your drafts. So be you, and be proud of it. Your audience will thank you!

"Jack of all trades and master of none" - don't fall into this trap. Create assets that connect you with your audience; don't be on Instagram if your audience is not there. Also, limited assets mean more time dedicated to each asset. This way you could have original content across assets instead of a 'copy-paste' regime.

Be selective in the channels you use. LinkedIn is great at building an audience, blogs are better at building a database. If you are great with video, add in some video to amplify your content. Even if you suck at video, give it a try as well.

Analyze engagement metrics (views, likes, shares, comments) to understand what resonates with your audience. Tailor your content to address the most pressing concerns or interests within your niche.

Share your content in a way that truly resonates with people. I've always found that sharing personal stories that connect to the struggles internal comms folks experience is incredibly helpful. Today, my communication clients always ask me..."what are other clients doing?" IC folks want to know what's happening in their field and get the validation that their approaches and strategies are on point.

5 Tips to share content: - Share your knowledge and experiences with wider IC community - Teach young professionals in colleges - Think how can you elevate the IC experience for customers/employees/community

“Digital” in Internal Communications best practices can mean anything from the broad-brush Digital Workplace, to the nitty-gritty of digital signage. Technology can enhance workplace productivity and collaboration, and can bring disparate teams closer together. It’s a beautiful thing.

Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room. The first and most important thing to do when you're defining and developing a personal brand strategy to shape it is to find out what your brand is TODAY. What are you known for? And by whom? Ask some trusted friends and colleagues, or even consider hiring a coach, to help you get clear on this. From there, you can map a realistic path to getting to where you need to be, which starts with whose radar you need to be on, and what you want them to know, believe, and do about you and your brand.

I found IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) very useful. So much to learn from the IC professionals from different industries spread across the world.

Never underestimate the power of building a network. It helps with gaining insights, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, learning best practice and generally knowing you are not alone in all the work ‘struggles’ you may face as an internal communicator. Good thing is you can easily build your network globally on LinkedIn

You are an average of 5 people you meet daily. It is the same here, so... Network with the right people and watch yourself move into a different orbit.

While digital is increasingly important to (and prevalent in) Internal Communications best practices, it will never be the only channel used by the profession. Internal Comms specialists still value the power of face-to-face communications, where leaders can look employees directly in the eyes and face questions directly.

Not just the look and feel but also your brand’s values, what you stand for, and how you do business or intend to do business. It’s one thing having expertise but it’s quite another shaping and moulding the way you deliver your services. No one wants to work with a knob head.

Part of building your brand involves establishing a strong online presence through social media, professional networking platforms (like LinkedIn), and a personal website or blog. Share valuable insights, articles, and case studies related to IC regularly.

It’s a fancy word for a process so embedded in today’s society that we don’t even think about it anymore. Gamification plays on the psychology that drives human engagement - namely, the drive to compete, improve and out-do - and to be rewarded.

Embrace your inner geek! Stay curious about your IC niche. Always look for interesting articles, case studies, research papers, quotes and stats. I keep a note book just for random ideas, insights and quotes. I'm on my 4th one. Every now and then when I need inspiration I re-read them.

Your brand is a mix of your character + personality + skills. It's uniquely your own. Relish and develop it. Over the years, I've learned to embrace my quirks and personality while building my skills and refining my character. Brands need to be holistic instead of being reduced to the number of likes, subscribes, and hits.

Deliver. In other words if you promise something then deliver it. I've found that however good my reputation or relationships might be in an organisation they can easily be blown away if I don't do what I promise. This means making sure you are confident that you are promising something you know you can deliver, to a high standard that can help your stakeholder succeed.

You need to demonstrate the value of IC, which means being able to talk the language of business. Through your content, showcase your business acumen and how IC helps support strategic business goals, and helps build leaders' credibility.

GlasgowGPT perspective: 1. Share yer expertise: Write blogs, contribute tae industry publications, or speak at conferences. Spread yer knowledge far and wide. 2. Network like a boss: Connect wi' fellow IC pros through social media, attend events, and join professional groups. Collaborate and share insights. 3. Be visible: Regularly engage on social media, share valuable content, and participate in relevant discussions. Show folks ye ken yer stuff. 4. Seek endorsements: Encourage colleagues tae recommend yer skills on professional platforms. Their vouchin' fur ye adds credibility. 5. Embrace continuous learnin': Stay up tae date wi' trends and best practices in the IC field. Knowledge is power, pal.

Personal brand should revolve around that one niche skill which people should know you for. Share content, network with professionals, teach young professionals and display the passion for raising the bar of IC.