How to be an Early Explorer and Generate Lively Content Ideas

Here’s what you can expect from this issue:

• Be an Early Adopter or at least an Early Explorer
• Content Spotlight
• Gold Standard Content Creators?
• How Heather Helps
• Calls to Action

Be an Early Adopter or at least an Early Explorer

This month I was able to test drive Honda’s first all-electric SUV, the 2024 Honda Prologue. Before this, I had only driven an EV once, and I hated the regenerative brakes because I didn’t know about them before getting behind the wheel.?

Fast forward to this experience, and my impressions of driving electric have shifted. The Prologue was extremely fun to drive, true to Honda’s brand. I also learned that regenerative brakes, which the Prologue has three modes for, actually re-charges the battery as you lift off the accelerator, resulting in better fuel efficiency for cities/urban areas! Being one of the first people to test out the Honda Prologue and learn more about EVs was an exciting opportunity for me, as I enjoy opportunities to try out new things. My colleague Jonathon Rivers has a full review of the Honda Prologue on his YouTube channel Drive Culture, check it out here!?

While new technology can be scary, it’s fun to embrace it, or at least test it out if you aren’t ready to go all in. Recently I also tried out Scenez, the world’s first marketplace for 4D concert experiences. They are currently on the Apple Vision Pro, and while I haven’t invested in my own VR headset yet, I was able to try it out at an event where they had headsets available. Scenez is also using Web3 technology, enabling artists to own their own spaces in the metaverse so they can benefit more directly from ticket sales.?

Just like when the new iPhone came out, there will always be a line of people waiting to try something new for the first time. There will also be another group of people who are intrigued but hesitant to dive in. Being an early adopter, or at least an early explorer, positions you to share your perspective on new things with authority. Trying something first-hand is more beneficial to your audience than giving your opinion on something you haven’t tried yourself.?

This leads me to the next segment of my newsletter, where my best-performing post in March centered around AI.?

Content Spotlight

I’ve been using Chat GPT and Bing Chat Enterprise for a few months now, but it wasn’t until LIAM DARMODY posted about a prompt for a LinkedIn avatar that I started experimenting with Dall-E, Open AI’s image generator. It’s clear that AI image generation has a long way to go, but just like AI chat, success lies both in crafting the initial prompt and how you give feedback to the AI’s initial output. The initial prompt used is from LIAM’s original post, but from there I gave several rounds of feedback to Dall-E before being satisfied with the final image. Check out my full post here.?

The Strategy

Show How to Use a New Tool or Technology.

Why it Works

While AI itself isn’t new, it’s been steadily gaining traction and interest since the launch of @Open AI’s Chat GPT. According to Google Trends, interest in “AI” is at its highest point since data became available in 2004. With all of this interest, it makes sense for me to share my own experience using it. I’d also argue that image generation AI has a long way to go compared to language models, so people would be impressed with AI’s ability to take my image and make a recognizable animated version.

Additional Considerations

Visual content continues to perform well on LinkedIn compared to posts with stand-alone text. I’m a huge advocate of using images in your content when you can, especially images that are personalized to you and your brand. Images where you use your own face are also more engaging than generic stock images.

What the Numbers Say

At the time of publishing this newsletter, this post from March 23 had 31 comments and 3,686 impressions. This post also had 70 reactions (51 likes, 10 hearts, 7 celebrations,1 insightful light bulb and 1 support).

Gold Standard Content Creators

In each newsletter, I feature three people in my network (or 2nd-3rd degree connections) who from my perspective are putting out the gold standard for content on LinkedIn.

1. Michelle J Raymond

I’ve been connected with Michelle since 2021, but I had the chance to finally meet her in person earlier in March while she was visiting the U.S. Michelle is a LinkedIn? coach for B2B teams and consultants, and is also an expert on LinkedIn? company pages. Michelle shared with me how she recently updated her business branding, which is consistent across her content on LinkedIn? as well as her podcast and IRL speaking. Michelle’s content and brand are a stellar example of showing up authentically online and in person.

2. Erin Gallagher

Erin is another person I follow on LinkedIn with an extremely consistent personal brand. She’s also the founder of the #HypeWomen Moment. If there was one person who exemplified matching words with action the best, it would be Erin. Not only does she use her brand and online presence to consistently hype women by engaging with and reposting their content on her page, but she also posts consistently about women’s rights. She is also the CEO and Founder of Ella, an inclusive network that promotes access for women to human and financial capital.?

Erin is also currently fundraising for additional Fairway dinners, which bring women in different cities together for “net*worth*ing” opportunities. Join me in donating here.

3. Pamela Dukes

I recently connected with Pamela through the Thought Leadership Branding Club . Pamela is an Olympic athlete turned Executive and Enterprise coach who understands how to motivate and coach individuals and teams across all levels. As a motivator, Pamela’s content is inspirational while also making you think and feel supported.??

I definitely recommend connecting with and/or following Pamela if you are looking for a dose of inspiration in your LinkedIn feed!?

How Heather Helps

Here are five ways I can help; feel free to send me a direct message with your ask:

1. Content strategy brainstorming session.
2. Introduction to someone in my network.
3. Open conversation or career reflection brainstorm.
4. Referral to my employer, for a specific role you are interested in https://www.honda.com/careers.
5. Resume review.

Calls to Action

? Don’t forget to subscribe here!

? Follow #HeatherHelps to see more of my content!

? Share this newsletter with two connections you think would find it insightful.

? Engage with Me! Comment below with questions you have about content strategy.

? DM me! See a piece of content on LinkedIn you think is awesome? Send it to me via LinkedIn DM.

? Follow me on other social channels including Instagram and X (Twitter).

Stay Golden