Building a Powerful Online Presence through Content Marketing

What if my post sucks?

What if I don’t get likes?

What if people judge me?

What if I get too popular? ??

What if people don’t engage?

What if I am not good enough?

What if people think I overshare?

What if I couldn’t handle naysayers?

What if I can’t write the corporate style?

What if my HR called me out for being too active?

You’re not alone. ??

These fears are common blockers preventing many people from sharing on LinkedIn.

But here’s the thing—I’ve been there. I know the struggle of those “what ifs.”

But guess what? Magic happens when I screw the what ifs and just do it anyway ??

Today, I will share some eye-opening insights about personal branding that might just transform the way you approach your journey of self-discovery and growth.

Debunked the Myth of Personal Branding

? Myth #1: You have to be perfect to build a successful brand

Alright, let’s talk about the idea of perfection for a minute. It’s tempting to show only the best side of ourselves to everyone. But personal branding isn’t about being perfect.

What’s cooler than someone who’s not afraid to be themselves? Forget about being perfect. Just be real and let your true self show in everything you do.

???Myth #2: Personal branding is only for famous people

Nope, not at all! Personal branding is for EVERYONE – yes, that includes you, the amazing human reading this right now! You have a unique story to tell, experiences to share, and passions that light you up.

???Myth #3: You need to appeal to everyone

You can’t please everyone. Figure out who is your ideal audience, what are their pains and how can you help them solve their problems. That way, you can connect better with the right people.

???Myth #4: Personal branding is a one-time thing

Your personal brand is a constantly evolving, ever-changing, just like you. As you grow, learn, and experience new things, your personal brand will change and evolve. And that’s okay! It means you’re being true to yourself and adapting to life’s changes.

???Myth #5: Your personal brand needs to be everywhere

It’s better to focus on quality over quantity. Pick a few social media sites where your ideal audience hangs out. Keep sharing added-value content that can help to make their life’s better.

What is a Personal Brand, What is NOT

The concept of a personal brand has become a crucial element for personal and professional success. But what exactly is a personal brand, and what is it not? Knowing the difference can make you seem strong and real on the internet and in person. Let’s check it out. ??

What is a Personal Brand?

Your personal brand is like your special mix of skills, experiences, and personality that you want the world to see. It’s how you show yourself to others, whether online or face-to-face, and it includes your values, beliefs, and things you love.

? Misconceptions Addressed

• Personal branding is not about creating a fake persona but rather about being genuine.
• It’s not just about self-promotion; it’s also about providing value to your audience.

???Differentiation from Traditional Marketing

• Personal branding focuses on creating a connection with your audience on a personal level.
• Unlike traditional marketing, personal branding emphasizes storytelling and authenticity over sales pitches.

Why is it Important to Build our Personal Brand?

???Establishing credibility

Making an online persona helps people trust you. When you share good stuff often, you show you know your stuff and become someone others can count on.

?????Differentiating yourself

Creating a personal brand helps you stand out from others in your field. It helps you shine what makes you special and what you’re good at.

?? Expanding opportunities

Having a strong personal brand can help you team up with others, get better job chances, and find people who share your beliefs. It brings in folks who think like you and might want to work with you.

Content Pillars for a Strong Foundation

Content pillars?are the core topics or themes that represent the main areas of focus for your content strategy. They serve as the foundation for creating consistent and relevant content that aligns with your brand’s values and goals.

?? Benefits of Content Pillars

• Focus:?Content pillars help you stick to a plan for making content.
• Consistency:?They ensure that your content remains cohesive and aligned with your brand identity.
• Efficiency:?When you organize your ideas into different groups, it helps you come up with new ideas and keep creating interesting stuff.

To make good content pillars, you need to know your audience well, keep up with industry trends, and understand your business goals. This helps you create a strong content plan that connects with your audience and gets them interested.

The Content Marketing Funnel

In the world of content marketing, understanding the content marketing funnel—also known as TOFU, MOFU, and BOFU—is essential for creating effective strategies that guide potential customers from initial awareness to conversion.

1?? TOFU: Top of the Funnel (Awareness)

When you start out, you want to get lots of people interested in your stuff. Share useful info that helps them with their problems or what they like.

Here’s what you can do to strategise your content :

Growth content – gets you more visibility

–?Share your Personal growth through stories???

–?Transformation (Before /After)

2?? MOFU: Middle of the Funnel (Engagement)

In the middle of the funnel, you need to keep people interested in your brand. Share helpful stuff that teaches them more and helps them trust you.

Authority-building content

–?Educational posts???

–?How to

3?? BOFU: Bottom of the Funnel (Conversion)

At the bottom of the funnel, the focus is on converting leads into customers or clients. Content at this stage should provide clear calls to action and incentives to encourage conversions.

Lead generation content

–?Address audience pain point

–?Add clear Call to Action

Content Strategy Development

Starting to create content without a plan is like going on a trip without directions. To make sure your content connects with your audience and meets your goals, you need a good strategy. Let’s look at how to make a plan for your content that will help you succeed. ??

???Define your objectives and audience

Before you start making stuff, make sure you know what you want to achieve and who you’re making it for.

• What are you trying to achieve with your content?
• Who is your ideal audience?
• What are their needs and preferences?

???Conduct research and analysis

To do well, you need to check out what’s happening in the market, ask people questions, and look at what your competitors are doing. This will help you see where you can do better and make content that stands out.

???Figure out what kind of content to use

Pick the best types of content like blogs, videos, infographics, podcasts, or webinars that match what your audience likes and where they usually hang out online.

????Plan a content calendar

Make a plan for your content ahead of time. A content calendar helps you stay organized, be consistent, and post content at the right times.

???Create high-quality content

Make sure your content is interesting and helpful to the people you’re trying to reach. Do good research, focus on quality, and make sure search engines can find your stuff.

???Promote your content

Don’t just post stuff and wait for people to see it. Share your content on social media, through emails, and with influencers. This way, more people will see it.

???Analyze and measure results

Use website analytics and social media insights to see how well your content is doing. This info helps you know what’s good and what needs fixing, so you can keep making your content better.

Conclusion

I encourage you to start creating content today. Share your knowledge, tell your story, and connect with your audience. ??

By recognizing the significance of building a strong personal brand and leveraging content creation, you’ve got what it takes to shine online!

Now that you understand the fundamentals, it’s time to take action.

Building a powerful online presence through content creation is an ongoing process that requires creativity, consistency, and authenticity.

Until next time, happy strategizing and documenting your journey!

P.S. I’ll be facilitating 90-min power packed workshop on 07 Sep, 10am on how you can build strong Personal Brand which can attract opportunities aligned with your mission!?

You wouldn't want to miss this!?

Let’s make YOU shine!

Register HERE!