• About
  • Article PDF
  • White Papers
  • Listening Tours​
  • Contact
  • Support Us
  • Advertising & Sponsorships
Monday, August 8, 2022
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Times Of Entrepreneurship
Growth and Equity for a Changing World
Times Of Entrepreneurship
No Result
View All Result

How To Build A Personal Brand Without Being Annoying

by Elaine Pofeldt
September 9, 2019
in Mentorship, New Builders
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Many entrepreneurs know they should build a “personal brand” yet resist doing it, because they fear it entails posting pictures of the perfect life they’re not yet leading on Instagram.

Fortunately, there’s another way to do it, says Cynthia Johnson, co-founder of the branding agency Bell + Ivy in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, author of the new book Platform: The Art and Science of Personal Branding and an influencer with 1.7 million Twitter followers.

Cynthia Johnson, author of “Platform,” says four key elements go into a personal brand–personal proof such as education, social proof like social media followers or speaking engagements, who is in your professional network and recognition, such as awards. Cynthia Johnson

True personal branding is about being part of conversations where you have something to add—so you can make an impact, according to Johnson.

“People start to realize when they put their ideas out there, when they become bigger than their job and care more about having an opinion and being part of the world, then really amazing things start to happen,” says Johnson.

We spoke recently about how owners of micro businesses can build a personal brand that helps their business grow. “As a one-person brand, sometimes you need opportunity to come to you,” says Johnson.

Cynthia Johnson, author of “Platform,” says four key elements go into a personal brand–personal proof such as education, social proof like social media followers or speaking engagements, who is in your professional network and recognition, such as awards.
Cynthia Johnson

Here’s how to set the stage.

Take control of your online presence. Major platforms such as Amazon, Facebook and Google have profiled you, whether you realize it or not. “It’s amazing what people don’t know is online about them already,” says Johnson.

The information these giant platforms gather shapes how you appear online to others, Johnson explains. To take back control of your online image, she recommends logging into these accounts and looking at what they say about your ad preferences. Change the preferences (or turn off the ad personalization) if they don’t reflect what you want the world to see. (In case you have no idea how to do this—this was new to me—her book offers step-by-step instructions). That will, in turn, shift how you appear to others on these platforms.

Consider how other people introduce you. Many self-employed people wonder if they have impressive enough credentials to build a personal brand and worry that they need one more university degree before they get started. “We overthink it,” says Johnson. “As human beings, we tend to think other people are judging us, talking about us and know more about us than they really do.”

To break out of this, pay attention to the one or two things that most people who are familiar with your work mention when they introduce you, advises Johnson. You’ll be able to quickly identify an area where you could build a personal brand around your expertise, she says.

Ultimately, your personal brand is a way to telegraph to other people that you have the right stuff to tackle the projects you want to take on. When you keep that in mind, she says, “you can get past the hurdle of feeling like you need to complete so many different things to get there.”

“Platform” looks at how to use game theory in personal branding, explaining how to build a bigger social media following by studying the accounts of people with the kind of followers you want. Bell + Ivy

Become a resource. If – like many professionals – you’re not comfortable shining the spotlight on your own ideas and opinions, become a curator of thought leadership articles and content relevant to your target audience. A good example, Johnson says, is the Moz newsletter, which sends out the best articles on search engine optimization every week. “You don’t have to spend hours writing,” she says.

Not sure what topics to focus on? “Follow the money,” advises Johnson. For instance, if you know it costs $50,000 a year to get an art degree, share a way to get an art degree that costs a lot less.

“Platform” looks at how to use game theory in personal branding, explaining how to build a bigger social media following by studying the accounts of people with the kind of followers you want.
Bell + Ivy

Go where your audience is. Once you get clear on your personal brand, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the social media that exist and feel like you should be posting on multiple sites constantly. That’ll distract you from running your business.

“Pick the platform you’re most comfortable with. Don’t try to be everywhere,” advises Johnson. “People will catch on to what you’re doing.” Once your fans start noticing what you’re sharing, you may be surprised by how many opportunities start flowing your way.

Originally published on Forbes.com, Feb. 2019.

For more inspiring stories, insights and actionable funding opportunities, subscribe to Times of E’s weekly newsletter, www.timesofe.com/introduction.
Elaine Pofeldt

Elaine Pofeldt

Related Posts

Two blonde women outside, leaning against a pole

Big Social Media Doesn’t Work So Well For Small Businesses. But the Market Is Shifting.

by Lori Ioannou
April 27, 2022
0

QBSleeves co-CEOs Barbara Booth (left) and Cornelia Quinn created airplane tray covers to safeguard travelers against germs during the pandemic....

woman in a colorful skirt and turban

Main Street Caught in a Whipsaw as the Fed Looks to Combat Inflation

by Lori Ioannou
March 16, 2022
0

Meghan Noland founded her own brand, Meghan Fabulous. It's taken creative tacks to deal with inflation. Credit: Tyler Rowell (https://www.tylerrowell.com/)...

black woman florist

A Washington, D.C. Florist Steps into her Father’s Shoes, With the Help of Georgetown Students

by Skyler Rossi
March 1, 2022
0

Alexes Haggins recently re-opened her father's florist shop. Alexes Haggins grew up working shifts at her father’s floral shop in...

Entrepreneurs are Tapping into Employees on a Booming Island Nation With 11% Growth

Entrepreneurs are Tapping into Employees on a Booming Island Nation With 11% Growth

by Skyler Rossi
February 28, 2022
0

Alex Ross, Jose Herrera and Jared Karson, co-founders of Hire Horatio When e-commerce boomed during the pandemic, Jose Herrera and...

Black man in headshot

Problem Solved: A Lawsuit from Mattel Almost Killed a Board Game Dream, but the Founder Rebounded

by Skyler Rossi
February 23, 2022
0

Sherry Martin Sherry Martin’s first go at the board game business went better than he could have imagined. A year...

A Historically Black Community in Miami Helped A New Small Business Survive the Pandemic

A Historically Black Community in Miami Helped A New Small Business Survive the Pandemic

by Skyler Rossi
February 16, 2022
0

Akino and Jamila West Jamila West always wanted to open a bread and breakfast. So when a developer told her...

Subscribe to Times of E’s Free Weekly Newsletter

Learn about the emerging ecosystem of diverse founders

Popular

  • man in front of a tufted rug

    TikTok Craze Gets Real at a Brooklyn Rug Tufting Studio

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Venture Capital Returns Are More Skewed Than People Realize

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 20 U.S. University Entrepreneurship Competitions, 2021

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Commentary: Authenticity Is Women’s Most Powerful Weapon in Raising Funds. Here’s How To Tap Into It.

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A City Of 66,000 Is At The Center Of An Audacious, $200M Attempt To Build A Tech Hub From Scratch

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent

woman leaning against a brick wall in a white jacket

Editor’s Note: Times of E is on a reduced publication schedule

June 23, 2022
Video: Armory Square Ventures’ Sawhney On The Rise of Upstate NY

Newsletter: Varsity Blues, redemption stories and women-led finance

June 23, 2022
Video: Armory Square Ventures’ Sawhney On The Rise of Upstate NY

Video: Armory Square Ventures’ Sawhney On The Rise of Upstate NY

June 19, 2022

Recommended

  • Health
  • Climate
  • Deep Tech
  • Finance
  • Education
  • Women Entrepreneurs
  • Mentorship
woman leaning against a brick wall in a white jacket

Editor’s Note: The Market for Bad Journalism

5 months ago
Picture of Booknam

The Thai Ecosystem Is Starting To Revive

2 years ago
  • About
  • Partner
  • Bespoke Research
  • Listening Tours​
  • Contact
  • Support Us
  • Privacy Policy

(703-966-7357)

© 2020 Mondial Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
No Result
View All Result
  • Research
  • Finance
  • Women Entrepreneurs
  • New Builders
  • Ecosystem
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Editor’s Note

© 2022 Mondial Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Free Download

Times of E Speaks with Jim McKelvey

Get exclusive insights on the future of entrepreneurship. 

Download Now

Support Times of E

Times of E covers the emerging ecosystem of diverse founders.

With your support of our journalism, you will receive our weekly newsletter and one of these resources for free: 

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?