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#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Build a Brand That Will Stand Out in 2018 with Rochelle Moulton

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Build a Brand That Will Stand Out in 2018 with Rochelle Moulton

by | Dec 1, 2017 | ContentWritingChat

There’s no denying that it takes time to truly build a brand that will stand out from the crowd, especially if you’re in a saturated niche.

Fortunately, our latest #ContentWritingChat has some tips that are going to help your brand shine. And this is advice you’ll want to implement in the coming year!

Whether you’re building your own personal brand or you are part of another company’s brand, these tips will still be beneficial for you. So, if you want to learn how to build a brand that people truly love, keep reading for this week’s recap!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Build a Brand That Will Stand Out in 2018 with Rochelle Moulton

Our guest host this week was Rochelle Moulton. She’s an entrepreneur and a personal brand strategist. She joined us for Tuesday’s #ContentWritingChat to share her advice on branding and it’s definitely worth a read! Let’s dive in!

Q1: What does it mean to have a personal brand or a brand for your business? Have you built one?

To kick off the chat, we asked everyone to share what it means to have a brand. We also wanted to know if they’ve worked to build a brand themselves! Here’s what a few of our chat participants had to say:

Rochelle said that having a personal brand is consistently presenting yourself and your ideas so your “sweet spot” audience knows you. Your brand also needs to be authentic. If it’s not, people are going to see right through you.

Lexie knows a brand is essentially the identity of the person or company that it represents. She feels your brand shows what’s important and that consistency is key.

Sarah said that having a personal brand showcases what your business is and how you’re able to help your customers.

When building a personal brand, you need to be transparent, genuine, and honest. Julia said that people will need to be able to relate to your brand and should want to invest in it. That’s all part of helping you attract the right people.

As Brittany said, your brand is your personality, your vision, and your mission. It’s all about what you do, why you do it, and how you do it. She knows that your brand helps people get to know and understand you.

Your brand is the foundation of giving your company a voice, identity, value, and awareness.

And remember, we all have a personal brand, whether you realize it or not! It’s better to be smart and actually manage your brand’s reputation.

Q2: What are some key elements you will need in order to build a brand that will stand out?

To build a brand that truly shines, there are a few key elements you’ll need to get started! Here’s what you need to know:

As Rochelle said, it’s important to have clarity on who your ideal audience is. You need to know who you want to reach in order to create the content that will resonate with them. She also said that having a compelling point of view will help you stand out from others.

And don’t forget that consistency is essential as well! It’s going to help you establish your brand and build trust with your audience.

A unique message is going to help differentiate you from the others in your niche.

Zala said you need to figure out who you are, what your unique offering is, how you can serve your audience, and ways you can educate, entertain, and help the right people.

Cheval knows that it’s important to figure out your why. That’s essential because your purpose is what will keep you going when times are tough.

Besides knowing your why and the mission behind your brand, you also need to know who you’re trying to reach. Without a clear idea of who your target audience is, how can you expect to reach them?

Know your why. Be consistent. Be genuine and authentic. These are all important things to keep in mind when you build your brand.

Both Kristen and Danielle know that authenticity is a must!

Authenticity, emotional connection, and value are just a few of the elements Varun feels every successful brand needs to have.

Don’t forget you need a unique voice, a valuable message, strong motivation, and the ability and willingness to share a well-crafted story.

Tamara shared a great tip about analyzing your competitors. You can learn a lot from the areas they may be lacking in. You can use this as your opportunity to step up to the plate.

Q3: How important is content creation when you build a brand? How can it help your brand stand out?

What role does content play when you’re building a brand online? Does it really make a difference? (That answer would be ABSOLUTELY!) These are some reasons why the content you produce is essential for your brand:

Rochelle knows that both content creation and content curation are essential when it comes to building your brand.

The content you publish online can build trust and loyalty, while also boosting engagement with your audience.

As Lexie said, content can also help you connect with your audience. She knows a brand is nothing if there aren’t people who believe in it.

Jason said the content you crate shows your views and opinions on things. This can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level, which can also attract new people to your brand.

Content speaks directly to your customers. It tells them who you are and what you’re all about.

Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing with their content. As Jade said, put your thoughts out there and see what people think. Don’t be afraid to share your unique point of view, but make sure you’re also engaging with the responses you get.

Even Julia knows the benefits of content creation! It’s been her top priority when growing Express Writers.

Q4: How do you include your personality or a company’s personality in the content you create online?

If you want to build a brand that stands out, one of the key aspects to consider is personality. Your personality is what will attract and resonate with your target audience. But how do you express that through the content you share? Check out these tips:

Rochelle knows that adding personality can be a scary thing, but she encourages people to experiment. Take cues from what others are doing and try seeing what works for you.

Language, voice, and tone need to be consistent with your brand and should be reflected in your content. Always keep that in mind when you’re creating. Kristen also suggests thinking of three words to describe your brand. Those words can help guide you when writing content, designing graphics, and more.

Cheval’s advice is to speak from you heart. As he said, it takes time to develop your voice, so don’t rush it.

It helps to have guidelines for branding if you have a team working alongside you. As Varun said, those guidelines can help your teammates maintain tone and voice when creating content.

Jade’s advice is to be yourself. If you try to be like everyone else in your industry, you’re just going to blend in.

Don’t forget to engage with others! It shows them the human side of your brand. Don’t let them think you’re some sort of robot.

A helpful piece of advice from Shelly: not everyone is going to like you. You need to focus on resonating with the right people, which are the ones in your target audience. It’s okay to repel the ones who aren’t the best fit for you.

Be yourself. If you aren’t true to who you are, people are going to see right through a false facade.

Zala had some kind words to share about the Express Writers team, which we couldn’t appreciate more! We like to make sure our team is visible and an active part of our brand.

Q5: How can brands use storytelling in 2018 to ensure they stand out from the crowd?

Storytelling has become a crucial element in helping brands connect with their target audience. If you’re wondering how you can better use storytelling in 2018, take a look at this advice:

Rochelle suggests writing how-to content, sharing mistakes or light bulb moments, talking about client experiences, and more. These are all great ideas to implement.

Sarah suggests showing others how you and your audience work together to fulfill their needs. They want to know how you and your offering will benefit them.

To showcase the benefits you can provide to your target audience, sharing client success stories is a great way to get started.

Immerse yourself in your brand and live your story. As Zala said, it’s important to take about your successes and your failures. That’s relatable and it’s what draws people into your story.

Andrea knows that video marketing is where it’s at. If you aren’t already using video to tell your story, 2018 is the time to do it.

Brian said that a well-crafted story gives you a foundation for all your marketing and sales content. You want to be consistent to stand out and become easily recognizable by your audience. He also pointed out that you might not get things right the first time, so don’t be afraid to make tweaks.

Q6: How can you tell if your brand is resonating with the right audience? Are there metrics you can track?

Once you’ve started building your brand, you obviously need to make sure it’s attracting and speaking to the right people. How do you do this? Here are some handy tips to help you find out:

There are a variety of metrics you may want to track. Rochelle suggests looking at social media engagement stats, new client stats, etc.

Ask yourself who is engaging with your content and what they have to say about it. This will help you determine if your content is working or not.

Both Sarah and Lexie know that conversions are key. It’s important to keep your end goal in mind and create the content that’s going to help you get there. Plus, conversions can be a number of things, not just sales.

You can look at social media engagement, page views, duration on page, and support tickets from customers.

Are people sharing your posts? How much time are they spending on your site? Are they leaving comments, and if so, what are they saying? These are just a few things you’ll want to ask yourself.

You can even look at your subscribers to see if they represent your target audience. If they do, you’re on the right path. If not, you have some work to do!

Q7: Your brand just isn’t working for you anymore. What should you do if you think it’s time to re-brand?

How do you handle a re-brand if you think it’s the right step for you? Check out this advice:

Rochelle said to use this as an opportunity to better hone your niche and your message. You want to get clear on who you’re targeting and what you’re providing.

Before you dive head first into a re-brand, ask yourself what isn’t working for you. This will help you determine where you need to begin your work.

As Lexie said, you can’t change anything without first knowing what the problem is. From there, you can make tweaks until you find what works for you.

Tamara also suggests reviewing your strategy to see what’s not working and why. This is always the best place to start.

Sarah’s advice is to do your research. You can even ask your audience for feedback since they’re the ones you need to resonate with.

If you have a team working with you, get their help as well. Figure out who you are, who you serve, and why.

Gaby shared some great questions you should ask yourself if you’re facing the possibility of a re-brand.

Sometimes a refresh is all you need! Don’t immediately jump into a re-brand. Take time to figure out what’s really in your best interests.

Zachary suggests figuring out why things are no longer working and what has changed. Sometimes a change in your strategy is all you really need.

As Julia said, you want to be very careful about moving forward with a re-brand. It can get tricky and it’s a lot of work to take on.

Q8: Is there any final branding advice you’d like to share with us?

To close out the chat, we asked everyone to share a final piece of branding advice that we could all takeaway from this week’s chat. Here are some of the responses:

Be genuine and focus on how you can transform your audience.

Be yourself. Be unique. Be authentic.

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it! Sarah said you shouldn’t be afraid to go for a facelift when it comes to your brand, but a full makeover isn’t always necessary.

Cheval said to make sure your brand emulates your core values. He also encourages you to focus on producing quality content on a regular basis.

As Brittany mentioned, your brand is more than your logo. It’s your identity.

Holding a focus group with your target audience is a great way to get feedback!

Be consistent, be patient, and never give up!

Want to join the next #ContentWritingChat? You can hang out with us on Twitter every Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time! Just be sure to follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for all the latest!

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#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Build a Highly Profitable Personal Brand with Anthony John Amyx

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Build a Highly Profitable Personal Brand with Anthony John Amyx

by | Aug 4, 2017 | ContentWritingChat

Are you wondering how to build a personal brand that stands out online? If so, you’re in luck! That’s exactly what we discussed in our latest #ContentWritingChat. We talked about what it means to have a personal brand, the first steps you need to take to build your brand, and how you can incorporate personality into all of your online content.

Does that sound like exactly what you need right now? Keep reading for our recap of Tuesday’s chat!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Build a Highly Profitable Personal Brand with Anthony John Amyx

Our guest host this week was Anthony John Amyx. He’s a personal brand and business growth strategist. He shared some great advice with us this week, which you’ll want to check out!

Q1: What does it mean to have a personal brand and why is it important?

So, what exactly does it mean to have a personal brand of your own? And why is it such an important thing? Here are a few of the responses we received during the chat:

If you want to stand out online, you need to have a personal brand. Show what you’re passionate about and what you have to offer that can help others. This is ultimately going to separate you from others.

As Javi pointed out, your personal brand is your reputation. It’s what other people think of when your name crosses their mind. Whether you realize it or not, we all have a personal brand. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of it.

Julia said personal branding is when you apply your name to your products and services. This begins to establish you as your own brand.

Your personal brand goes beyond the visuals, but it also includes your values, priorities, and influence. It’s all about how you portray yourself online.

Your brand is going to attract the right people and help them connect with you on a deeper level.

Rebecca knows that we all have a personal brand, whether you maintain it or not. That’s why it’s better to be in control of what you’re putting out there online because it directly impacts your reputation.

Q2: What are the first steps to building a personal brand online?

Now that you know why it’s important to build a personal brand, you’re likely wondering how to create a brand of your own. Here are the first steps you should take to establish your brand:

Make sure you know who your target audience is and know your story as well. You also want to build a platform to get people onto your list. All of this should come before you focus on promotion.

Maureen said you need to know what you want to be known for first. Get those building blocks in place in order to get started. You want to know which topics you’ll talk about and you need to find your voice.

Passion is always going to be a key to success. Know what you’re passionate about and use that as fuel to build and grow your personal brand.

It’s important that you figure out your niche and what makes you original. As Shelly said, you should be interested, present, knowledgeable, original, and in demand.

One very important tip to remember when building your personal brand: don’t fake it. People will see right through you if you aren’t being genuine. Be yourself and that’s what will resonate with them.

Nick said you want to put out content that’s going to help you build your brand. Know what’s going to resonate with your audience and what aligns with your goals and share content that fits that.

Cheval’s advice is to provide value to your audience on a daily basis. This is going to help establish trust and allow you to build a relationship with them.

A great way to grow your personal brand on Twitter is to join Twitter chats. They’re the perfect opportunity to find and connect with new people in your niche.

Jenn suggests using strategic words and hashtags on social media. This is going to help more people discover your content. After all, you need those people to find you.

Don’t forget that consistency is key when it comes to branding. As our guest host pointed out, clarity, confidence, certainty, and consistency are essential if you want your brand to be profitable.

Q3: How do you incorporate your brand’s personality and voice into your blog and social media content?

Once you’ve started building your personal brand, you might be wondering how to inject personality into the content you publish online. Take a look at this advice from Tuesday’s chat:

Nick’s advice is to be yourself. He realizes that we, as humans, crave authenticity. Unfortunately, there are so many people online who aren’t being true to themselves though. You’ll be much happier and more successful when you embrace who you really are.

Let your brand’s personality shine through in everything you do online. Don’t hold back! Your personality should be apparent on your site, in your blog content, and on social media.

Maureen advises clients to “stay close to the real you.” She encourages them to own humor and imperfections because that can help build trust.

Authenticity and transparency are so important when it comes to establishing a personal brand.

When it comes to writing, Andrew recommends keeping a mission/goal statement as a reference. This will help ensure you stay on track with your personal brand.

Julia also likes the idea of having style guidelines for writing. When you know how you want your brand to be perceived, it’s easier to create those guidelines and stick to them.

Q4: How can you know if your personal brand is truly successful or not?

How do you know if your personal brand is really getting the results you want? Here are some tips to keep in mind:

First, you need to set goals for your personal brand. You can’t expect to track results if you don’t know what you want to achieve. Figure that out first and you can move forward from there.

Andrew also agrees that you need to have goals. He suggests choosing something quantifiable, which will allow you to track your results. You’re then able to make adjustments as needed to get the results you’re hoping for. Andrew also said having confidence in your own brand is important.

Kavita also knows the importance of setting goals. She also said that people finding value in your personal brand is a good sign. You want people to learn something from you, right?

Trust is essential! If people are beginning to trust your personal brand and they rely on your expertise, you’re on the right track.

Jenn also said that it’s a good sign when people are coming to you for whatever you’re an expert in. That shows that you’re doing something right.

When you see a community being build around your brand, that’s an incredible feeling. You want to have that genuine engagement with your audience.

There’s nothing better than authentic interaction between you and your audience.

Courtney feels true success stems from having genuine followers that engage with you because they like you and the content/message you offer.

A dedicated readership is another sign that you’re on the right path. You want to know that people are reading your content and engaging with it. Content that resonates is going to set you up for a win!

Q5: How can you be sure your personal brand leaves a lasting impression on your audience?

It’s hard to stand out in this noisy online world these days. So, how can you be sure you stand out and actually leave an impression? Check out this advice from the chat:

Building a personal brand requires consistency. As Andrea said, you can’t disappear for months, only to come back and expect people to welcome you again. You need to be present by consistently sharing content and engaging with your audience.

Elizabeth also agrees that consistency is important. She said to be consistent with your look and your presence, but that you also need to be yourself.

Shelly feels your brand will leave a positive, memorable impression by consistently delivering on the promises you’ve made to your audience.

And in case you needed one more reminder: consistency is key.

Kristin encourages you to consider how you leave people feeling after they’ve interacted with you. Do they feel hopeful or motivated? How do you want your audience to feel after reading your content, watching a video, or having a conversation with you?

Sara’s advice is to focus on serving your audience. When you can deliver what they want, they’ll keep coming back for more time and time again.

Q6: Share some of the most common mistakes people make when building their personal brand.

There are a lot of things that can go wrong when building your brand. To make sure you avoid them, take a look at these mistakes people frequently make:

A lack of consistency can set you up for disaster. Make sure you find consistency in your voice. Jason also suggests avoiding anything that may come off as spammy.

Don’t ignore your gut. You shouldn’t do something you aren’t comfortable with.

Brand confusion is going to leave your audience scratching their heads. One way that brands often mess this up is with visual elements. You want to keep styles and colors the same so your content is easily recognizable.

Don’t try to please everyone. You have to focus on doing what’s right for you and your target audience.

As Anthony said, when you try to be everything to everyone, you become nothing to no one.

Don’t ask for something once you’ve connected with someone new. You need to give a lot before you can take something by means of asking.

Maureen said you should never fake your expertise. She also said you need to figure out what makes you different and get some good headshots.

Instead of faking it, know what your strengths are and embrace them. That’s the key to success!

Too many people make the mistake of not engaging with their audience. Have a conversation and develop a relationship with them.

Q7: What are the upsides to building a personal brand? Are there any downsides?

We asked everyone to share the positives and negatives of having a personal brand. Here’s what some of our chat participants had to say:

Jason knows the expanding networking is a definite upside to developing a personal brand. He said it’ll help you find and connect with people similar to you, which is always great.

When creating a personal brand, you get to be yourself. That’s a plus! However, it does take time and effort to establish and grow your brand.

Having a personal brand is a great way to stand out from your competition. Your brand will help others resonate with you.

With a personal brand, your followers are attached to you. They’re not tied to any particular product or company. No matter where you go, they’re likely to follow.

Q8: What are some of your favorite personal brands? Tag them!

Ready to be inspired by some other amazing personal brands? Check out these favorites from the chat:

Jenn and Julia both shared great examples of personal brands that are worth checking out!

Want to join us for the next chat? #ContentWritingChat happens every Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time! Be sure to follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for the next one!
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#ContentWritingChat Recap: Being Recognized & Known Online: Personal Branding 101

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Being Recognized & Known Online: Personal Branding 101

by | Apr 28, 2017 | ContentWritingChat

This week’s #ContentWritingChat was all about personal branding! We talked about who should have a personal brand, they key steps to creating one, and much more. If you missed the chat or need a refresher on the topics we covered, it’s time to dive right into our recap!


Our guest host this week was Barry Feldman. Barry is a content marketing consultant, copywriter, and author. In fact, he recently wrote a book called The Road to Recognition.

Q1: How do you define a personal brand? Who has a personal brand?

To kick off the chat, we asked everyone to share their definition of a personal brand. What do they think it means to have a personal brand and who actually has one? Check out some of these responses from the chat:


As Barry said, a personal brand is the perception people have of you regarding your professional life. People are always going to have thoughts and opinions surrounding you, whether you realize you have a personal brand or not. So, you better make sure it’s a good one!
He also added that everyone has or has the potential to have a personal brand. It’s important that you recognize this and take control of the image you’re portraying.


Katie had a great answer to this first question. She feels a personal brand is your essence, what you stand for, and what you won’t fall for. It’s all about your mission and the values you have. Definitely something worth thinking about!


Maggie said your personal brand is a package of who you are and what you’re about. This package essentially represents you to the world, which is why it’s something everyone should think about.


As Jenn pointed out, everything anyone can see or read about you makes up how you’re perceived. It may sound a little scary, but remember that you can take control of your personal brand overall.


Gabriela said your personal brand is your vibe. It’s all in how you communicate who you are, what you do, and what people can expect from you. Here’s hoping your personal brand gives off an amazing vibe!


Lexie from Netvantage Marketing feels everyone has a personal brand. This is why it’s so important to consider how you’re representing yourself, especially online.


Ask yourself the following question… What do you want people to think of you when you’re not around? Make sure your personal brand is a reflection of that answer.

Q2: What key steps should someone take when building a personal brand?

Now that you know what a personal brand is, let’s talk about the key steps to building it. It’s likely that you have a personal brand whether you realize it or not and you want to make sure it’s an accurate reflection of you. Here’s what you need to know:


Barry’s key steps to developing your personal brand: establish your message, identify who your audience is, concentrate on a niche, find the right platform, and then deliver value.


Julia said to know what value you can provide and who your audience is first. From there, you can begin building a content strategy and your unique voice.


Pamela knows just how important it is to know and understand who your audience is, so start there by figuring out who you’re targeting.


Sarah’s advice is to know who you are and who your audience is, plus how you’re going to interact with them. It’s also important to be yourself, otherwise you aren’t building your brand on a strong foundation.


Katie suggests starting by creating a mission statement and setting values. This will help give you some direction with your brand so you know what you’re all about and who you’re targeting.


A great reminder when it comes to your brand: be human. Build a personality around your brand that is genuine and true to who you are. That’s what will make you unique and it’ll help others resonate with you.


If you’re feeling confused about where to get started when building your personal brand, Sara suggests looking to some of the brands you admire and are inspired by. Consider their mission, the values they have, and their personality. Determine what it is about those brands that resonates with you and you can replicate that for yourself, but don’t copy them.

Q3: How can you be sure your personal brand is a true reflection of your personality and who you are?

When building a personal brand, you want to make sure it’s genuine. It should be a reflection of who you truly are if you want it to resonate with others. Here’s how you can do that:


Barry suggests asking yourself if your personal brand feels true. If you are faking it by pretending to be something you’re not, people will find out soon enough. Although your niche might not be unique, you can always make your voice unique so you can stand out from the crowd.


Gabriela feels personal branding all starts with self-awareness. She said you need to understand who you were, who you are, and who you aspire to be.


As Julia said, be true to you. It all starts there by being genuine and true to who you really are.


Jenn says you need to be genuine. If you aren’t being yourself, you won’t enjoy it and it’ll all catch up to you sooner or later.


When you’re true to yourself, your personality will shine through. That’s what people will connect with.


When you’re genuine, you stand a much better chance at attracting the right audience to your brand.


Pamela’s advice is to not overthink it. That’s something we should all keep in mind!


Jayme is spot on with this answer!

Q4: How can you get your personal brand noticed online so you stand out as an authority?

Once you’ve built your personal brand and you’re ready to start making connections, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. You have to find a way to position yourself as an authority in your niche. Here’s how you can do that for your personal brand:


If you want to get noticed online, take Barry’s suggestions into consideration: experimentation, persistence, collaborative projects with influencers, and media. He also suggests mastering a platform that suits you. It could be blogging, vlogging, podcasts, or something else. Find your thing and become a master at it.


Gabriela’s tips for standing out include: adding value, engaging, being consistent, being accessible, and giving a whole lot to your audience.


Varun said to join relevant conversations online. You can connect with people vita Twitter, forums, industry seminars, and other meet-ups. Make sure you’re adding value if you truly want to get noticed.


Engage, engage, engage!


Maureen knows great content can go a long way to building a reputation for your brand. Produce quality content that shows people what they need to know and back it up with proof.


Megan also knows the importance of content, as she said don’t create weak content. Share your knowledge with your audience instead.


Know that you aren’t going to see results overnight. As Flavia said, you want to find your people, continue to share content, and being active when it comes to engaging with others.

Q5: In what ways can social media help you build your brand and network with others?

Wondering how social media can help you build your brand and make connections online? Check out these suggestions from Tuesday’s chat:


As Barry said, you’re going to need friends, fans, followers, and collaborators for your brand. Social media can help you make those connections to build those relationships.


It’s clear that Elizabeth knows the power of social media. As she said, it gives you the opportunity to connect with people globally. You just never know who you might meet and where those people will be located.


Social media is a great opportunity to connect with peers, customers, colleagues, and other brands.


Jason said social media can connect you with people who are new to your brand and help you stay connected to those who already know you.


There are no limits on social media. As Lori suggestions, you should focus on growing your brand on all the social media platforms you want to use for your brand.


Don’t forget to use social media for its main purpose: be social!


Twitter chats are an amazing way to be social and make connections online.


Social media may provide a lot of amazing opportunities, but there’s also a lot more competition to deal with. Embrace what makes you unique and do what you can to stand out.

Q6: What are the upsides to having a personal brand? The downsides?

What are the advantages to personal branding? Are there any disadvantages? Find out in these responses from the chat:


Having a personal brand can help you gain recognition.


Being recognizable is certainly a benefit of personal branding, but it’s also a downside. If you mess up, a lot of people may see it. That’s all the more reason to be careful about what you put out there online.


Personal branding can help you form a bond with your community and the audience you’re trying to attract.


On the plus side, having a personal brand can give you an increased reach, a larger audience, and help you attract potential customers. On the downside, if there’s a misstep in your personal life and everyone finds out, it can impact you negatively.

Q7: What is the most important thing to remember when building your personal brand?

The most important things to remember when building your personal brand, courtesy of our Twitter chat:


Great advice from Barry!


Consistency is key.


Don’t be too focused on the brand. Be yourself and things will begin to click for you.


Be careful what you put out there online because once it’s out there, it’s public for the world to see. You can’t take it back.


Be yourself and don’t try to be like everyone else. That won’t help you stand out from the crowd.


Be genuine, be active, and be you.


Authenticity and honesty are essential.


Don’t fake it because you’ll eventually be found out.


Keep moving forward because you won’t find overnight success. You have to put in the hard work if you want results.

Q8: Which personal brands do you love? Tag them!

Which personal brands are out there doing it right? Check out these brands:


We have to agree that our CEO, Julia McCoy, is killing it!


Gary Vaynerchuk and Lisa Buyer are two favorites for Jayme.


Madalyn, Neal, and Sujan are all great!
Join us every Tuesday at 10 AM CST for #ContentWritingChat! Follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat to stay updated on topics and guests.
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#ContentWritingChat Recap: Using Storytelling & Other Tactics for Successful Personal Branding in Content Marketing with Tara Clapper

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Using Storytelling & Other Tactics for Successful Personal Branding in Content Marketing with Tara Clapper

by | Mar 24, 2017 | ContentWritingChat

In our latest #ContentWritingChat, we talked all about storytelling and personal branding. If you’re ready to take your personal brand to the next level, this is the chat for you. Keep reading for the recap!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Using Storytelling & Other Tactics for Successful Personal Branding in Content Marketing


Our guest host this week was one of our own team members, Tara Clapper. Tara is our talented Content Development Specialist. In this chat, she shared some helpful tips on personal branding that you’ll want to put to use for your own brand.

Q1: What is personal branding and who needs to develop their own personal brand?

To kick off the chat, we wanted to hear how our chat participants defined personal branding. We also wanted to know who they felt needs a personal brand. To find out what some of them said, check out these responses:


Tara said your personal brand is an expression of who you are, both online and off. It should also be genuine. There’s no need to be fake, so keep it real and true to yourself. And as she said, everyone needs one!


Great answer from Julia! She said if you’re in marketing or running a business, you have a brand. You need to develop that brand in order to stand out online.


Kristen agrees that everyone has a personal brand and that it’s all about reflecting that brand to the outside world.


Cristy brought up a great point for those who work as part of another company. If you have a public role within that company, you have to be careful about the image you put forth, as it reflects on the company as a whole.


Chris feels anyone who is serious about career development, digital marketing, or who wants an online presence should be focused on personal branding.

Q2: What are the key steps someone should take when developing their personal brand?

Now that you know why personal branding is so important, you need to know what steps to take in order to develop a brand of your very own. Here’s some advice straight from Tuesday’s chat:


Great response from Tara! When developing your personal branding, you need to define your brand, have clear messaging on social media, consistency within your branding, and you should also make it multi-faceted.


Gabriela shared some helpful steps to ensure you effective craft your own personal branding. She recommends the following: define your purpose, discover the value you can provide, develop your voice, and deliver your message consistently.


Julia’s advice is to start by defining what you want to stand for. You should create a mission statement for your brand so you and your audience know exactly what you represent. You can then develop that into slogans and share it on social media. Don’t forget to have a nice logo and color palette to create a great brand image as well.


Kristen knows you can learn a lot from other brands that are already established. Make a list of the brands you look up to and ask yourself why you love them so much. While you don’t want to copy them exactly, you can implement what you love about those brands into the creation of your own.


This tweet is a very important reminder from Cathy. As she said, you need to be authentic in everything you do. Being fake will hurt your brand because people will see right through you.

Q3: What is storytelling and how can brands use it to their advantage?

You’ve likely heard all about storytelling by now, but what exactly is it? And how can brands use storytelling to their advantage? Check out these great tips from the chat:


Tara feels storytelling is the truth and the why behind your brand.


Gabriela said storytelling is using a narrative to give context to your message. She followed that up by saying storytelling can help make your content memorable and relatable while also helping you build trust with your audience. It’s always a great way to communication your brand’s personalty with others.


Storytelling allows you to connect with your audience and take them on a journey with you.


You can tell an effective story through a variety of ways. Tony suggests using video, photos, and written content to take your audience through your story.


As Breonna said, brands can use storytelling as a way to humanize the brand overall and give emotional context to their content. It’s a powerful way to make a connection with your audience.


Mallie knows that people respond to stories, which is why it’s so important to share your story with your audience.


Keira said storytelling puts your product into context for customers. It’s a great way to encourage your customers to be part of your journey and the story you’re telling.


In a time where people are all about automating everything, storytelling helps to show your brand is human.

Q4: How do personal branding and storytelling work hand-in-hand?

Check out these tips from Tuesday’s chat all about making your personal branding and storytelling efforts work together:


Personal branding and storytelling equal innovation in Tara’s book. She feels your natural story will progress like a good character would throughout a book.


Julia knows you can weave your story into every element of your personal branding. Use it in your slogan, your about page, and more.


You can allow your audience to grow alongside your brand as it develops. The story you tell will take them on that journey and make them become loyal fans.


Michelle said your personal brand shows authenticity while storytelling provides a narrative for your product. Together, they’re powerful for growing your brand and building a fanbase.


Storytelling encourages your audience to engage and connect with your brand.

Q5: How can you improve your personal brand using social media?

Social media is just one way you can improve your personal brand and connect with your audience. But how do you do it? We asked this question during Tuesday’s chat and got some great advice in response. Check it out:


Have conversations with others, start conversations yourself, and find your tribe. Make sure you’re engaging with others so you can grow and develop your brand.


Gabriela’s advice is to focus on building your tribe, sharing and consuming great content, showing thought leadership, sharing your USP, and building trust. Make sure you’re also being consistent!


Mallie’s advice is to keep your voice consistent on all platforms. This is essential when working on your personal brand. Don’t be afraid to make tweaks along the way when you’re still in the early phases.


Jeremy said to be yourself on social media. If you aren’t true to who you are, your audience will see right through you. You should also take the time to listen to others and help them in any way you can.


Julia said to make sure you’re engaging with your followers on social media. Use it as a platform to start real conversations and make connections with others. This is key when it comes to personal branding.


Michelle recommends participating in Twitter chats. She knows it’s a great way to connect with others, but can also provide an opportunity to share your expertise. Make sure you’re listening to what others have to say and help them with the issues they’re facing.


Cathy also agrees that participating in Twitter chats is a good idea for your brand.

Q6: How can you craft a personal brand story that builds trust with your audience?

We all know that building trust with your audience is essential. Having a level of trust is key to ultimately making sales and landing clients for those who are running a business. To build trust, here’s what you need to do:


Tara says to credit when necessary, be personal, apologize when you mess up, and be transparent with growth.


Jeremy knows that people need to get to know you and start liking you before they can build trust. You can encourage trust by chatting with your audience and actually listening to what they have to say.


Be a source of information and engage with your audience.


Be yourself! You shouldn’t try to be something you’re not because it’ll only turn off your audience.


Cathy encourages you to be vulnerable and share the real stories even if they aren’t all that pretty. Those are the stories that people can connect with.


Sarah agrees with taking that open and honest approach. She recommends sharing when things go wrong. It’s relatable because we all make mistakes and your audience will appreciate that you’re sharing things like that with them.


Varun’s advice is to be approachable. When people feel like they can reach out to you, it helps to establish trust within your personal branding.


Engage with your audience! Ask questions, answer the questions they have, and don’t be afraid to have a sense of humor when talking to them. It shows you’re real.

Q7: Which content formats are key for best telling your brand story?

There are all kinds of content formats available to us: blog posts, videos, podcasts, and more. Which one is the best way to go? Here are some responses from the chat:


Tara’s advice is to consider how you best express yourself. For her, that includes blogging, podcasting, webinars, and live events.


Sherri agrees that you have to consider what works best for you. Determine your strengths and embrace that.


Pamela loves Snapchat and Instagram Stories as a way to share behind-the-scenes content.


There’s no denying that video is a great way to go! It gives your audience the opportunity to see you and hear your voice.


For Javier, it’s all about that long-form content. We’re big fans of valuable, longer blog posts here at Express Writers as well.


Whatever format you use, you need to bring your audience along on your journey.

Q8: Which personal brands do an amazing job at storytelling?

Who does an amazing job with their personal branding? You’ll want to check these people out:


Tara is a fan of our own CEO, Julia, as well as the actors behind the Marvel characters.


It’s no secret that Gary Vaynerchuk is pretty impressive! Both Julia and Zachary are fans of his.


Sherri thinks Gala Darling does a great job at sharing and connecting with her audience.
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!