My Digital Brand

In working with clients, I have found that most professionals who struggle on LinkedIn aren’t failing because they lack effort. They’re following advice that sounds logical but doesn’t actually drive results. The platform is filled with conflicting recommendations - post daily, do more video, engage constantly with everything, join a pod, do another video, engage even more, follow every new trend ........Phew! The list can be endless, unachievable and unproductive. It creates pressure to be everywhere, all the time, but in reality, that’s not how LinkedIn works best. Some of the so-called "musts" are sometimes nothing more than myths. The professionals who succeed on LinkedIn do so not because they do more and jump on every trend, but because they do the right things. ?? In this month’s newsletter, I’m unpacking 9 common LinkedIn myths that keep professionals stuck - and what to do instead. ????I’ve also shared a quick recap of my ICON APAC session on building a strong digital first impression, along with a behind-the-scenes look at my new presentation, ‘They’re Not Better Than You. They’re Just More Visible.’ Plus, I’ve included practical insights from delivering the Social Media Crisis Masterclass and Brand Reputation series for MARKETING-INTERACTIVE online to participants across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. ?? Plus, upcoming events in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne - if you're looking for hands-on LinkedIn strategy or training, let’s connect. #linkedin #digitalfirst #socialmedia

We are excited to share that our speaker for Local Link Networking - Brisbane CBD on the 30th of April will be Jacqueline Brooker CSP. I know a lot of you in Brisbane, know Jacqueline, but for those who don’t, Jacqueline has personally coached thousands to step into their power and deliver unforgettable, high-impact presentations. Too many business owners, entrepreneurs and speakers find themselves stuck in the Red Zone - receiving applause, validation, and recognition but struggling to convert that into consistent revenue. ?? In her session, “You’re So Good, You’re Broke”, you’ll discover the transformative power of the Gold Zone, where authority, influence, and revenue intersect. This is the space where your spoken word content doesn’t just engage - it drives measurable outcomes like paid opportunities, leads, and long-term business growth. We’ll break down what it takes to make the shift, including the intentional strategies, structured content, and focused delivery needed to transition from the Red Zone to the Gold Zone. Walk away with a proven framework to identify your target audience, land the right stages and business opportunities, and create presentations that inspire action, not just applause. Most importantly, you’ll discover how to leverage speaking to move from free or low-paid opportunities to high-value, consistent revenue. Here are all the details: ?? The beautiful 5-star Amora Brisbane, thanks to Tom Blair-West and the team. ??Wednesday, the 30th of April from 5.30 pm. ?? You can get tickets in the link in the comments. ? Our last event sold out and with nearly 70% of tickets already gone, this one’s heading the same way. Don’t miss out - you can grab yours via the link in the comments. PS - We have a range of sponsorship opportunities available for this event! If you’re interested in getting involved and showcasing your brand, feel free to reach out - we’d love to chat. #locallinknetworking #brisbane #networking #community

Your content gets you noticed. Your profile makes you credible. But your network creates real opportunities. I was working with a client who on the surface, had everything set up on LinkedIn. ? A polished LinkedIn profile. ? Strong, consistent content. ? A clear personal brand. But… not much of anything really. No traction. No leads. No real engagement beyond friends/supporters. No opportunities. They were doing all the right things on the surface. But when we dug a little deeper, we found the missing piece: networking, connections, and communication. Think about the last time you landed a big opportunity - a job, a client, a project. Chances are, it didn’t come from a cold email. It came from a conversation with the right person. LinkedIn isn’t just a content platform. It’s a real-time networking event that never stops. ? Every comment you make? That’s a handshake. ? Every post you engage with? That’s a room you just stepped into. ? Every DM you send? That’s a coffee chat that could change everything. Once my client shifted their focus to being more strategic about their network, connections and conversations things shifted. More profile views. More DMs. More inbound opportunities. Because your profile makes your creditable. Your content gets you seen. But it's the relationships that create real results. ??This image is a slide from my new 20-minute presentation, 'They’re not better than you. They’re just more visible.' - designed for professional associations and industry groups. We cover how LinkedIn can help you increase your visibility and position yourself as the go-to expert in your industry. If this is something you’d like to learn more about for your members or community, let’s connect #linkedin #marketing #digitalfirst

Last week, I had the privilege of delivering two online training sessions for MARKETING-INTERACTIVE (thanks to Sheela Faheen Nazir and the team), working with participants from the Asia-Pac region including Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In these sessions, we explored how brands can anticipate risks, set up preventive strategies, protect their reputation, along with created a social media crisis playbook for when things go wrong. Although we covered strategies, frameworks, and processes - a key point to remember is the human element. Often businesses assume that a social media crisis stems from a product or services failure. But it’s generally not the case, it's more often human behavior. ?? According to Sprout Social’s research: ? 60% of consumers call out brands due to dishonesty. ? 59% cite poor customer service as a key reason. ? 57% are responding by in-person rudeness. It’s not the product or service that sparks a response - it’s the way people feel about how they’ve been treated. People react emotionally first and rationalise their decisions later. When trust is broken, their response can be immediate, public, and often amplified on social media. And here’s where it gets even trickier: ?People behave differently when there’s a keyboard in front of them. ? Social media makes it easier to voice dissatisfaction in a way that escalates quicker than ever before. ? The more emotional the reaction, the more likely it is to gain traction. In today’s digital-first world, your reputation isn’t just built on what you sell - it’s built on how you treat people. In a world where digital word-of-mouth hold immense power, your reputation is the sum of your daily interactions. It about prioritising: ?Connection over conversion. ?Value over volume. ?Relationships over reach. #SocialMedia #CrisisManagement #DigitalFirst

Last week, I worked with a professional services firm, and as I shared with them, every LinkedIn profile, every post, and every comment contributes to how you and your business are perceived. Yet, so many professionals hesitate to post. And more often than not, it’s for the same reasons. But here’s the thing: If you don’t tell your story, someone else will write it for you, and this is something I'm exploring in this newsletter edition. In this newsletter edition, I’m also diving into: ? The 10 most common reasons professionals don’t post on LinkedIn and how to overcome them. ? Why professional branding isn’t just about visibility. ? Highlights from our sold-out Local Link Networking - Brisbane CBD. Plus, if you’re planning a conference or corporate event in 2025, I’ve been updating my sessions. There is more on that in this issue too. Let’s jump in… #linkedin #digitalfirst #professionalbranding #locallinknetworking

At Local Link Networking - Brisbane CBD, we believe that business is better when you have great connections, meaningful conversations, and feel part of community. That’s why everything we do is about bringing businesses together to connect, collaborate, and grow. ?? Today, we’re excited to share that Westpac is coming on board as a partner for our February event! ?? Westpac’s strong commitment to backing businesses makes them the perfect partner to support our vision. In fact, Westpac plans to hire 200 more business bankers over the next three years to boost its capability to support small and medium-sized enterprises in fast-growing industries.?Small businesses and SMEs are the engine room of the Australian economy, making up 98% of all businesses in the country, and Westpac is here to support more great Australian success stories in the future. ?A special thank you to Sharon Lincoln?and Cheryl Wither?from Westpac for your incredible support of businesses and for partnering with us. Your commitment to helping businesses grow, build valuable connections, and access the resources they need makes a real difference. So, if you haven’t already got your ticket, we’d love for you to join us in February for what is looking like being a sell-out event. Here are the details and you can get your ticket in the link in comments: ?? Date: Wednesday, the 26th of February ?? Location: Amora Brisbane, thanks to Tom Blair-West and the team. ? Time: 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm ?? Guest Speaker: Dave Greenberg presents, “Brace for Impact: Are you ready of your worst working day”. ? We’re looking forward to meeting you! #LocalLinkNetworking #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Networking #Westpac

We are excited to announce our partnership with My Digital Brand for Sydney Build Expo! ?? https://lnkd.in/gsSSWxwD Want to learn more about Professional Branding for Women in Construction? Don’t miss out on this workshop at Sydney Build, May 7-8, at the ICC! ??♀??? Registration is now live: https://lnkd.in/g39FEBSS #SydneyBuild #MyDigitalBrand Kylie Chown

In this edition of my newsletter, I’m looking back at my most-viewed posts of 2024 and the key takeaways. This includes what worked, what I learnt, and what this means for content strategy moving forward. ?? I’m also sharing tips that include how to clean up your LinkedIn feed to make it more relevant, how to make sure your network aligns with your strategy, and why your digital-first impression matters more than ever. ?? You'll find more details about the launch of Local Link Networking - Brisbane CBD in Brisbane, an opportunity to make a great connection, have a conversation and feel part of a community. I have some exciting workshops and speaking engagements coming up in February and March in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne and have included all the details. So, whether you’re looking for insights on LinkedIn strategy, networking opportunities, or upcoming events, this edition has you covered! #linkedin #digitalfirst #strategy

Meet the Speaker .... Last week, I spoke with Dave Greenberg, our speaker for the upcoming Local Link Networking - Brisbane CBD. ?? We covered everything from his incredible career to what you can look forward to in his presentation - even NZ red wine got a mention! For those of you who don’t know Dave, he has helped thousands of people get through their worst days. He helped save his first life, performing CPR on a stranger on a street in New York City when he was only 13 years old. ??He went on to become one of New Zealand’s longest-serving rescue helicopter crewmen, completing nearly 4,000 missions across his 25-year career aboard a rescue helicopter based in Wellington, New Zealand. During the pandemic, Dave served as a response manager on New Zealand’s National COVID-19 Response Team, using his operational and strategic expertise to help coordinate the response to outbreaks. This role saw him regularly attending and briefing senior government members, including the Prime Minister and Cabinet. ?? He has been interviewed thousands of times by TV, radio, and print media, and he took part in several first-responder reality TV shows. Today, Dave brings his experience to organisations, helping them prepare for and respond to their worst working days. His talk, Brace for Impact: Preparing for Your Worst Working Day, promises to be packed with actionable insights and practical strategies that leaders and teams can implement immediately. ?? Join us on the 26th of February at Local Link Networking Amora Brisbane to hear from Dave. Check out the link in the comments to not only grab your tickets but listen to my full conversation with Dave - it’s a great insight into what’s to come. #networking #brisbane #locallinknetworking

Over the past couple of years, I have been working with someone whose life is anything but ordinary. They’re a dedicated business owner who also happens to be an international referee in one of the world’s most passionate sporting leagues. ??When we first talked, when you Googled their name, the first results weren’t about their business. Instead, they were... let's just say, less-than-flattering opinions about their referee calls. While those search results had nothing to do with their business, they were influencing how potential clients viewed them. People Googling their name weren’t seeing the skilled, professional, and ethical business owner they are. ??Instead, they were seeing a very different narrative. One that didn’t reflect who they truly are or what their business stands for. Here’s just some of what we did in this long-term project to help them reclaim their digital reputation: ?? We started with their LinkedIn presence. We crafted a profile and content strategy that highlighted their expertise, credibility, and the incredible story behind their business. It wasn’t just about listing achievements; it was about weaving a narrative that showed their insights, leadership and values. ?? We created a broader content strategy. Together, we built a plan to share stories, insights, and updates that humanised them as both a professional and a person across multiple platforms and channels. Authenticity was key here as we wanted people to connect with them beyond the noise of the search results. ??We strengthened their digital footprint. We encouraged clients to share testimonials and reviews, along with strengthen their broader digital footprint to balance out the negativity in the Google search results. The results? Their digital footprint now tells the right story. A story that reflects their dedication, professionalism, and the passion they bring to their business. The leading conversation is no longer about referee calls but about their ability to lead in business. Questions to ask yourself: ?Have you Googled yourself lately? ?What story does it tell about you or your business? ?If the narrative isn’t quite right, we can take steps to shift it. #digitalfirst #linkedin #socialmedia