guide to building personal brand writer edition
TRANSCRIPT
Guide toBuildingYour
PersonalBrand
THE BEGINNER'S
BY SIMPLY STATED MEDIA
WRITER'S EDITION
simplystatedmedia.com
If you want to be a writer,you don't need to wait for
permission.
You don’t need an editor ora publisher.
You can start your career,uncover opportunities,score writing jobs, and
build a readership on yourown.
And, it starts with buildingyour personal brand.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF
PERSONAL BRANDING INTHE DIGITAL AGE
simplystatedmedia.com
simplystatedmedia.com
Branding is the act ofpositioning a commodity --such as a service, product,business, or idea -- so thatits unique value is visible
and recognizable.
You probably associate andrecognize the branding of
large corporations.
But branding isn't just forbig businesses.
"All of us need to understand theimportance of branding. We are CEOs of
our own companies: Me Inc.
To be in business today, our mostimportant job is to be head marketer for
the brand called You."
TOM PETERS IN FAST COMPANY
simplystatedmedia.com
simplystatedmedia.com
Branding is for businessesAND individuals -- especiallythose who want to become a
professional writer.
Personal branding is how youeffectively communicate who
you are and what you do.
It's positioning yourself sothat your unique skills and
voice are visible andrecognizable.
simplystatedmedia.com
And today, personalbranding is about who
you are in person....
But it's more about whoyou are online.
“Personal branding is about managing yourname — even if you don’t own a business — in
a world of misinformation, disinformation, andsemi-permanent Google records.
Going on a date? Chances are that your “blind”date has Googled your name. Going to a job
interview? Ditto.”
TIM FERRISS, 4-HOUR WORK WEEK
simplystatedmedia.com
simplystatedmedia.com
To searchers, you are whoyou are in results.
Don't show up at all --and you're sketchy and
unreliable.
Show up with noconsistency -- and
you're an amateur.
But show up with a strong,polished platform -- andyou're an AUTHORITY.
Being an authority and having a cohesivebranded digital presence allows you to standout and create opportunities for advancing
both professional and personally.
It unlocks doors -- some doors you may nothave been able to open otherwise.
simplystatedmedia.com
simplystatedmedia.com
A strong online personalbrand can lead to:
Job Opportunities
Speaking EngagementsBook Deals
Building a Following of ReadersFreelancing & Side Work
Consulting JobsEvent Invitations
Selling Your Products & ServicesJoining & Running a Community
Building Your Own BusinessBecoming More INDEPENDENT
For writers, yourpersonal brand and
your online appearanceis how you begin tobuild your authority
and notoriety asprofessional writer.
It's also how you takecontrol and ownershipof your writing career.
simplystatedmedia.com
simplystatedmedia.com
The Internet has giventalented writers and
freelancers a powerfulopportunity to be more
self-reliant.
Independently, we can builda following, share our talents,start businesses, and connect
with editors, clients,employers, and readers
around the world.
We don't need a publisher oragent to do it for us.
"Today, talented individuals needorganizations a lot less than organizations
need talented individuals.
It used to be that there was a stark boundarybetween who's working on their own andwho's working in corporate America. The
boundary is now more permeable."
simplystatedmedia.com
DAN PINK, AUTHOR OF FREE AGENT NATION
simplystatedmedia.com
Gaining mass visibility andattention -- once only
possible for large companiesand corporations -- is now
possible for any one with anInternet connection.
Individuals have theopportunity to advertisethemselves to the worldthrough personal digital
branding.
simplystatedmedia.com
A powerful personaldigital brand is made up
of three things:
1. Branded Website:that says who you are
2. Content:that shows what you
know or do
3. Email List:that allows you to
directly communicatewith your audience
1. BRANDEDWEBSITE
simplystatedmedia.com
A branded website is thecore of your digital
presence.
You can't just have aFacebook page, LinkedIn
profile or Etsy store --everyone does.
You need a brandeddot-com that shows youstand on your own and
don't rely on otherplatforms.
simplystatedmedia.com
BRANDED WEBSITE
simplystatedmedia.com
Plus, you do NOT want torely on other platforms.
When you do, you limityour growth and potential.
You are at their mercy.If they close your account,you lose your audience. Ifthey change their terms,you are impacted. If you
want to add features, theymay not support it.
BRANDED WEBSITE
simplystatedmedia.com
When you have your ownwebsite, you control and
centralize your digitalpresence.
You can use one brandeddomain to share yourresume and portfolio,
receive contact inquires,share your work, and
direct all of your trafficto.
BRANDED WEBSITE
simplystatedmedia.com
2. CONTENT
simplystatedmedia.com
When you have a website,you can publish content
that shows off yourtalents, knowledge, and
abilities.
That content may include:
simplystatedmedia.com
CONTENT
Blog PostsSales Copy
EbooksWhite Papers
VideosSlidesharesInfographics
simplystatedmedia.com
But your content doesn't always need to exist
solely on your website.
To get extra attention,you can seed content onother platforms through:
CONTENT
Guest Posts (blogs other websites)Social Content (posts on social)
Webinars (live online presentations)Native Content Publishing (videos
on YouTube, slideshows onSlideshare, etc.)
3. EMAIL LIST
simplystatedmedia.com
It's not enough to havesomeone discover you
online, read your content,and learn what you do.
You want — and need — tocapture their informationso you can stay in contact
with them.
simplystatedmedia.com
EMAIL LIST
simplystatedmedia.com
Collecting email addresses isfar more important thangaining Facebook Likes or
Twitter Followers.
An email list of people whoare interested in you and
what you do is the launchingpad for your brand.
It allows you to regularly andreliably connect with an
engaged audience.
EMAIL LIST
simplystatedmedia.com
When you have anengaged list, you are able
to leverage youraudience on a direct and
personal level.
You can share content,sell services, advertise
products, promote yourevents, and further build
lasting, powerfulrelationships.
EMAIL LIST
simplystatedmedia.com
PULLING IT ALLTOGETHER
simplystatedmedia.com
WEBSITE + CONTENT + EMAIL LIST =
UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILDYOUR PERSONAL BRAND AND PROMOTE
YOURSELF AS A WRITER