How do you present your personal brand and thought leadership to skeptical audiences?

Anytime we're faced with skeptics, it's important to gain a deep understanding for why they are skeptical and get as much context as you can around how they got to be that way. In many cases, skeptics may be that way because they misunderstand or have incorrectly judged a situation. For example: if they equate "personal branding" with "social media creators," then there's an opportunity to help educate them on the very substantial differences that exist between people with strong personal brands vs. creators. Maybe they worked with someone in the past who gave them really bad advice on personal branding. If you don't dig for that story, you aren't making an argument with all the context you need. Always start with asking WHY.

Understanding audiences helps you to figure out what content to post! - It helps to find out what your audiences will like. - It gives you an idea of what kind of stories they like.

Know your audience and who you are speaking with. Why are they there? What problem can you solve for them? What knowledge can you share with them? What are you hoping that they gain from your content/presentation/writing?

Most Practical Advice Go to your peer's profile Check out their audience comments and questions Note down all of their problems, and suggestions Now you know what your audience wants. Nice and Easy

We often hear know your audience, know your avatar. But how do you determine which avatar you should really focus on? A lot of people struggle with their ideal niche or audience. There are a few techniques that you can use. 1?? Your favorite client. One technique that you can use is to look back and see your past clients or employers whom you REALLY enjoyed working with. Get down to the details and start creating their profile. 2?? Another technique is to use YOURSELF as an avatar. Your past self has undergone a transformation. It would be more feasible if you were selling educational services, mentorship, or coaching.

Stories are the best way to let your audience know about you. With stories: - you build trust - you bring relatability - you bring humanization to your work

People like story telling! One of the most powerful content pillars is the origin story! Yes, your origin story! You can create a whole content piece dedicated to it or you can incorporate your origin story in your content.

There is nothing you can say to any skeptic that will resonate as effectively as passionately recounting how personal branding has benefitted you directly. And given the opportunity, you want to invite your skeptics into your world & take them on your journey with you. What was life like before you began investing in building a personal brand? What happened as a result that was a catalyst for positive change to your situation? For example, I talk about how my decision to build a personal brand on resulted in a career pivot into marketing after 15 years in operations. Never in a million years would I have applied to a marketing job w/ my resume & expected to get hired. But my personal brand got me the job. That's powerful!

Storytelling is essential for connecting with an audience. I would recommend to always choose a story that will be most relatable to the audience you are speaking to rather than always telling the same story. It makes preparing for talks more laborious but makes a huge difference. Once you connect with people on an emotional level they are more likely to listen to the rest. The mistake I see people make (and I used to also!) is leading with credibility rather than making a connection first.

There is a saying - Mostly all of the ideas are duplicates. Nothing is original. You only don't know the source of it. So what is a great way to establish yourself as a brand? Tell your own story Tell your own experience Tell your own perspective You make the story unique.

You should always look to provide value to your audience. How can you serve them? What is their biggest challenge; what keeps them up at night? How can you solve that problem? Your value proposition lies at the juxtaposition of your lived experience, your knowledge, and your ability to solve a challenge for your audience.

Writing all day is of no use if it's not valuable to your audience. - Find out your audience - Find out your target - Write what can help them to evolve - Write what can help them to grow

I recently attended an event hosted by Alex Hormozi. Actually… so did 230,000 people. How did he get so many people there? The promise of value. You can rewatch it on YouTube. But here were my take aways: 1?? Create value by giving away your secrets. You can charge WAY more for the implementation. 2?? Every part of the creative process can be valueable… so double, triple, 10x your personal brand by turning everything into value. 3?? Small deposits of value can lead to a tidal authority for your personal brand.

True value resonates when you truly understand your audience's unspoken needs. It's not just sharing insights; it's being a guide in their journey. And to truly stand out, value should not just be about information, but transformation.

When you go to eBay to buy a pen for like $2 What you do first You always check the review/feedback Why? Because you trust feedback from people In the same way you also ask for feedback to show your future customers build trust and help you analyze your service or product. And if you do it right then feedback can be a great way to build your trust among people.

Inviting feedback is a door to a two-way conversation with your audience. Embrace not just the praises but the critiques, because their insights can guide in your evolution. Feedback isn't also just about improvement; it's about inclusivity. It shows your audience that their voice matters. It's about acknowledging diverse perspectives. It's a testament to humility – admitting that growth is constant. When you're open about your journey, your audience feels connected. You can use feedback to course-correct your brand journey. It's not just about adapting; it's about thriving. To invite feedback is a transformational shift where you don't just create content; you cocreate a resonating narrative with those who believe in your journey.

Consistency in your personal brand is like a beacon, steadily guiding your audience towards trust and credibility. It's the hallmark of authenticity, ensuring your voice remains genuine, recognizable, and impactful.

In addition to the knowledge and value your perspective brings to the audience, in my view, the most underrated element, is consistency. Regardless of the engagement your content garners, showing up regularly enhances your personal brand each day. But before that choose the topics you want your personal brand to be associated with.

Consistency is the key for success only if it is understood and implemented correctly. Actions should be taken by absorbing, admiring and adjusting with the constant change of the internal and external factors, in order to achieve long term goals or to maintain the outlook of your personal brand. In today's world, these factors are changing rapidly, every new addition to the technological world, every new adaptation of human behaviour and every 'new normal' need to be considered by both individuals and organisations to maintain their brand outlook.

Beyond regularity, consistency involves an emotional connection. Your brand should evoke feelings that your audience associates exclusively with you. This is about becoming synonymous with an experience, not just recognition. Additionally, consistency extends to adaptability. These days, your brand should be like a chameleon, blending with evolving trends while staying rooted in your core values. This duality is what sparks a timeless resonance.

Speaking to others is a great privilege and should be treated as such. The biggest gift people give us is the gift of their time. I’ve had to deal with many skeptical audiences in the past because the topic of personal branding is fluffy to many. I lead with academic research and sharing insights that are not what we hear, see, and read everywhere. It’s made a huge difference on my audiences who tell me my talk on personal branding is not at all what they expected to hear.

Skeptical audiences effect entrepreneurs at all levels. Even some of the people you see with a large number of connections. Prime example... I remember once reading a post from someone like that. She was expressing herself after people challenged if she could do what she said she could do. I was blown away. My takeaway... EVERY DAY you must show ways to prove you are who you say you are and you can do what you say you can do. MY BEST ADVICE: Focus on being your highest and best self while serving others from your zone of GENIUS. Let your results speak louder than your voice and please don't be shy about BRAGGING on yourself!