Mastering Your Personal Brand with Social Media
Feeling Invisible?
Hey there, friends.
I want to start with a question…Do you ever feel like you are just invisible? Like you are giving your best, pouring your heart into your work, yet somehow it feels like nobody is noticing all that you have to offer?
You Are Not Alone
The first thing to understand is…you are not alone…I know so many of you are feeling like this. I’ve felt like this, so in today’s blog, I want to help you out with some solid advice and strategies to help you to go from invisible to visible.
The Struggle of Being Unseen
Many talented coaches, consultants, and leaders feel like they're stuck in the shadows. They desperately want to be seen, respected, and heard. To get more opportunities, to speak on panels, on stages, to get more clients, to help more people…to be seen and heard.
It can be hard, right?
You’ve got the ideas, the passion and the expertise, but it's like shouting into the void.
Your Megaphone Awaits
But guess what?
There is a tool that you have in your pocket that you can use every single day that can be your megaphone, your chance to bring your personal brand out of the shadows and into the daylight.
Why Social Media?
What is it….social media.
Why?
Because the ability to connect is right there. There is an entire audience of millions of people out there just waiting to connect with you, to learn from you, to buy from you!
When I was starting out in my career, there were no phones, no social media, no such opportunities. In order to be seen, we needed to be published in printed media, to get on the radio and get guest appearances on TV. It was so much harder. We couldn’t just pick up our phone and record from a venue, in the moment and connect with an audience of avid listeners. It was much much harder.
So Many Platforms to Choose From
But now, we have so many platforms to grow our visibility and our personal brand. Instagram, YouTube, FB, Tiktok, X, LinkedIn. Seriously, there are 1000s of people, who will be genuinely interested in what you have to offer and they are waiting to hear from you.
What’s Holding You Back?
I fully understand some of the things which could be holding you back.
One of the biggest is fear. But, there’s a fear. What if you're judged? What if I’m not good enough yet? What if I get negative comments?
Please understand…I get it. I’m actually sharing this today, not just for you, but because I also need that boost of confidence, that push and accountability to up my game and stop shying away from putting myself out there more.
The path to being recognized has to start somewhere.
The joy of people resonating with what you share is a thrill like no other.
What You’ll Learn Today
Here's what I’m covering here:
Getting out there & feeling at ease
Real ways to connect with others
Using video to really stand out
How paid ads can help you grow
Keeping it all consistent without stress
Step 1: Comfort in Visibility
Have you ever noticed how the most impactful voices aren’t always the loudest?
They are just sincere, real, and constant in their presence.
Imagine Speaking to Just One Person
Getting comfortable with visibility starts with a simple thought:
I want you to imagine you are speaking to just one person, don’t think of the entire Internet being behind your camera but just one person. Imagine that person and how your advice, story, experience can help them.
Start Small
You don’t have to be present on every single platform. Choose the platform you resonate with the most and where you think you can offer the most value too. For example, if you are speaking to executives and leaders, LI or X might be a better platform to share your message.
If you are a coach, you will do well on YouTube because people are searching there for the solution that you can offer. If you want to build your personal brand with short-form content, IG and TikTok will be great. There is no right or wrong.
Explore Different Formats
There are different ways to grow your personal brand. I am going to put a strong emphasis today on using voice and video. But there are other ways to share through blogs, articles, posts that don’t mean you have to be on camera.
Just Get Started
The most important thing is you just get started!
Post a simple insight or story on your favorite platform.
Think about what one person might find useful.
Describe simple things related to your work or day.
Think of it as documenting your journey, a journey that could help and inspire others. In fact, if you can help just one person…isn’t it worth it?
Regularly sharing thoughts makes showing up feel less strange. The more you do it, the more comfortable it will get over time.
Step 2: Be Real and Authentic!
Authenticity Is Key
Be yourself. Be natural. People can smell insincerity and fake from miles away.
What can truly set you apart?
Real stories and real emotions.
Show Up as a Real Person
The people I tend to follow on social media are those that show up as real people. Sharing not just the perfect moments in life, but also the moments when things aren’t so perfect. Being genuine will win you more genuine followers and grow a community than pretending to be something that you think your audience wants to see and hear.
Don’t try to copy other people out there, don’t be worried about your competition. You do you! You are uniquely you. No one else can show up the way that you do.
Engage with Others
When a project goes well, share the excitement; when things don’t go well, share the lessons you learned.
Engage with people:
Encourage people to comment and have conversations.
Reply to people who reach out on the comments and in the DMs. Ignoring people is just rude…unless of course it’s obviously spam or a troll.
Share others' ideas too; it’s community-building.
Step 3: Impact with Videos
Why Video Is Powerful
Now I want to talk about the power of video. Being in front of the camera is such a powerful way to connect with an audience. Because people can get to know you…the real you, not just a picture, a post or something you have written. It’s your voice and your facial expressions that people will connect with. How you speak, with passion, enthusiasm, authenticity.
Start Imperfectly
Now, I know many of you shy away from being in front of the camera. It doesn’t come naturally, but just as I’ve said earlier…you have to start somewhere. Start imperfectly. There is no perfect anyway. We are always improving.
When I go back and watch some of the videos I recorded 5 years ago, 4 years ago…I cringe! I was definitely not as relaxed on camera then as I am now. But I started. I put content out there. People resonated with it. People still resonate with it.
Step 4: Amplify Your Reach with Paid Ads
Why Paid Ads?
Next, I want to talk about the magic of paid ads and how they give you that extra push to grow.
There are many different reasons to use paid ads and different types of paid ads.
Two Types of Ads
Here, I’m going to only talk about two kinds of ads:
Lead Generation Ads:
- Run these from an ad account to a specific landing page.
- Use them to collect email addresses by offering something free, like a downloadable guide, an invite to a free training, or something paid (like a product or paid training).
-These ads are highly targeted and measurable when set up correctly.Boosted Posts:
- If you’re posting regularly but not seeing engagement, boost your posts.
- Boosting helps your content reach the right people, increasing followers, engagement, and likes.
Organic vs Paid
Organic reach alone isn’t enough. It can be slow and requires consistent posting. Boosted posts speed up the process.
Important Tips:
Don’t buy followers just to increase your numbers—it’s not worth it.
Focus on quality followers who are genuinely interested in what you offer.
The Benefits of YouTube Ads
I’m a big fan of YouTube video ads. They’re highly targeted and allow you to show up at the moment your audience is searching for solutions you provide.
For more on this, check out Podcast Episode 46 of the Impact Through Voice Podcast, where I share my winning ad script formula.
Step 5: Maintain Engagement
Engagement Is More Than Likes
Engagement isn’t just about getting likes or follows—it’s about having conversations and building relationships.
Ways to Keep Engagement High
Ask Questions: Use your posts to spark discussion.
Start a Series: Regular features like “Monday Motivation” encourage people to return.
Share User-Generated Content: Highlight comments, polls, or follower successes.
Handling Feedback
Not all feedback will be positive, and that’s okay. View every comment as an opportunity to learn or engage.
Step 6: Blend Personal with Professional
Finding the Balance
Being genuine doesn’t mean oversharing. It’s about blending your personal and professional sides.
Tips for Balance
Share Stories that Inspire: Highlight successes or lessons learned from failures.
Include Behind-the-Scenes Content: Show glimpses of your process or daily life.
Set Boundaries: Decide what parts of your life you’re comfortable sharing and stick to them.
Handling Feedback
Not all feedback will be positive, and that’s okay. View every comment as an opportunity to learn or engage.
Words of Wisdom from Lisa Hugo
Remember, you’re not just building a brand—you’re building trust.
Research shows that 90% of people prefer well-known brands, so visibility is key. Consistency and authenticity make you approachable and memorable.
Wrapping Up with a Call to Action
It’s time to step out of the shadows.
With these steps, social media can bring your personal brand to life, allowing you to share your expertise and passion with the world.
Ready to Be Seen and Heard?
Start implementing these strategies today. You won’t just find an audience—you’ll build a community.
If you’re looking for guidance or a confidence boost, reach out. Let’s harness your voice and help you step into the spotlight.
Believe in yourself, stay engaged, and grow your personal brand to new heights!
