The quickest way to build your profile online

One of the quickest and easiest ways to build your personal brand and attract the right people and opportunities is by creating original content.

If you are new to creating content then LinkedIn is the best place to start. Of the 740 million users on LinkedIn, only 1-2% create original content.

This means there is a huge opportunity for you to start building your profile and make an impact in your industry.

 What is original content?

Original content is a post or posts you write yourself: your thoughts, insights or tips. You might think every topic has been covered already by someone on the internet. The reality is that, while there may be many posts on, say, the importance of trust in a business relationship, you are the only person to write about it from your perspective. 

 Don’t know what to write about?

One benefit of creating original content is that you can demonstrate your expertise and position yourself as a leader in your field. Here are some thought starters:

1. What do you have in-depth knowledge of (your earned secrets)? 
2. Common myths about your industry
3. A ‘how to’ post on one of your areas of expertise. (How-to posts rank well.)

I don’t want to look like a know-all

When you create content, it is critical to have your audience in mind. How can you add value? What can you tell them that they don’t know already, or haven’t thought about in quite the same way as you do? If you stay away from posts about yourself and your own achievements, you won’t look like a show-off. (However, posts about your failures or disappointments and how you overcome those will help your readers understand you better – and they tend to be popular.)

 I’ve tried creating original content but I’m lucky to get a few likes

 Personal branding is a long game. Like most things, consistency is key to success. At first, only a few people will see your content but as you continue to show up and add value, your audience will grow along with the opportunities.