How Branding Yourself as a Disruptor Can Help You Monetize Beyond the C-Suite

As a black woman executive, you have a unique perspective that is needed in the marketplace. You also have the ability to create opportunities for yourself and others. And, when you brand yourself as a disruptor, you open up even more doors for success.

And if you're wondering what I mean by a disruptor, then, sis, you need to catch up! Check out my other blogs to learn more about it.

By branding yourself as a disruptor, you invite others to see (and embrace) you as the authority figure you are. You align yourself with the innovators, the trendsetters, and the game-changers. You become someone who is not only seen and heard but coveted.

This type of thinking is what we need in the business world today. And, as a Black woman executive, you have the power to make this happen.

Cultivating your personal brand can have unexpected and far-reaching benefits. Many professionals use their personal brands to accelerate their careers and build lucrative income streams.

So how can you leverage your personal brand and use it to monetize beyond the c-suite?

Lean Into Your Role as an Authority

Whether you're a senior executive or a rising star, you have something valuable to share with the world. By polishing your brand, you can create opportunities for yourself that you never thought possible. When you position yourself as an expert in your industry, people will be more likely to invest in you.?

Many black women executives find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to networking and building relationships - and you know what they say, "Your network is your net worth."?

Incidentally, so many of us are taught to shy away from the spotlight while, at the same time, being told that we have to be "twice as good" to get half as far.?

Creating a personal brand and fully embracing your role as an authority is one way to subvert these negative narratives and create a space for yourself where you can be seen and heard.

Making the Most of Your Personal Brand at Work

If you're not already doing so, start by leveraging your personal brand to create opportunities at work.

Get More Job Offers

By sharing your work and accomplishments, you can pretty effortlessly attract the attention of recruiters and hiring managers without even having to post your resume. You can also use your personal brand to stay top of mind when it comes time for promotions if you have no intention of leaving your current organization. The sky's the limit!

Command a Higher Salary

Use your personal brand to demonstrate your worth and command the salary you deserve. When you're seen as an authority in your field, you become a valuable asset to any organization. And as such, you should be compensated accordingly!

Creating a personal brand that extends beyond the metaphorical hour walls of your organization shifts power in your direction. It comes down to human nature. We all want what we can't have, and if someone wants what we have, we want to hold on a bit tighter. This puts you in a prime position for premium salary negotiation.

Build Opportunities Beyond the C-Suite

There are many opportunities for income beyond the traditional corporate ladder, and your personal brand can help you tap into them. As Black women, we have to show up and overwork for every penny we earn.

With a wealth of resources at our fingertips, there's virtually no reason this should be the case anymore. We should be able to work smarter, not harder. And that's exactly what a personal brand can do for you.

But it all starts with asking yourself why you want to monetize your brand to begin with.

This may seem like a simple step - because of that; it's also the most overlooked. Honing in on why you want to monetize your brand is a key factor in discerning which income streams are right for you.?

Are you looking to make more money? Do you want more job offers? Do you want to create content? Are you open to consulting or coaching? By understanding your motivations, you'll be able to better map out a plan for monetizing your brand.

There's no wrong answer here – it's all about understanding what you want to get out of monetizing your brand. So take some time to think about your motivations, and then move on to the next step.

Book Speaking Engagements

One of the first income streams that come to mind is speaking engagements.

From giving speeches to leading workshops, there are many opportunities to get paid for sharing your expertise on stage. When you share your insights with others, you'll not only continue to build your personal brand, but you'll also attract newer opportunities for monetization.

Write a Book

This is another personal branding crowd favorite when it comes to setting up and diversifying income streams.?

You can use your book as a marketing tool to attract new clients or customers, or you can sell it on Amazon. You can also create downloadable content for free and use it as a lead magnet to grow your email list.

There's no one else quite like you, which means there's no one else who can share your experiences and insights in quite the same way. So get writing!

Create a Course or Program

Virtual learning is having its moment, and it doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon. Leverage your knowledge, insights, and unique expertise to create a course or program that helps others learn and grow.?

By sharing your expertise with a wider audience, you'll be able to reach more people and make a bigger impact with your work, which means more lives changed and more dollars in your pocket.

Offer Your Services as a Consultant

Of course, this may not be a possibility for everyone. Always review your employment contracts, as well as HR regulations, to ensure you're in compliance before moving forward.

If you're able to, offer your services as a consultant to help others achieve their goals. After all, you're an expert in your field, which means you have a lot to offer others who are just starting out or looking to make a change.

Consulting allows you to share your passion and expertise while getting paid for it. What's not to love?

Tap Into Advertising

Maybe you don't want to (or you're not ready to) put a price on your insights. The internet is an amazing place where anyone can launch a website, podcast, YouTube Channel, or any number of other platforms to share what they've learned along the winding paths of their career journeys.

You can join an advertising network and start earning money from the ads that are displayed on your site. This is a great way to monetize your personal brand without quite making the big leap into the spotlight.

Premium Content Membership?

If you have valuable insights and expertise (and you do!) that people are willing to pay for, consider creating a premium content membership. This could be an online course, e-book, audio program, or anything else that would provide value to your audience.

By offering premium content memberships, you'll be able to monetize your personal brand while also providing valuable resources to your audience. This is a great way to build a loyal following and turn your brand into a sustainable business.

Adding Income Streams One by One

Of course, you don't have to (and probably shouldn't) do all these things at once. Splitting your focus not only dilutes your brand but can also lead to complacency or burnout.

Instead, focus on one or two income streams you're passionate about and that fit well with your brand. Once you've got those up and running, you can always add more later.

The important thing is to get started. Every step you take gets you one step closer to your goal. And remember, these are just a few ideas to get you started.

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Beyond The C-Suite is committed to providing you with invaluable expert communications strategy and brand management execution that will catapult your next-level advancement. What you have to say is equally as important as where and how you say it. We work to craft a personal story and message you are proud to share. No matter your background, where you started, or what you've been through, you have a story and point of view that the world needs to hear. Ready to elevate to a top industry influencer? Need to create stronger name recognition??Contact us to book your Brandsultation?with one of our team members to learn more.

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