New Year, New Personal Branding?
2020 was a doozy of a year and thank goodness it’s over, right?! We made it to the other side of that hill! But, here’s the reality—sorry to have to do this to you—not much is going to change right away. This is how things just kind of are now. But the good news is, that if you haven’t adjusted your personal branding strategy to this new normal already, it’s not too late! So, I thought you could use some tips and inspiration to start your personal branding goals off right.
Have Your Personal Branding Goals Changed At All?
So much happened this year, didn’t it? Maybe you felt bombarded, overwhelmed, and just really unfocused? I know I’ve had my moments. Did your 2020 goals get derailed by the COVID pandemic? Well, you’re not alone, friends. But here, again, is the good news—2020 also got a lot of us thinking about our priorities. It may have even prompted you to look at your personal branding goals and realign them according to how you feel about yourself in the world now? Trust these thoughts, and consider a bit of a rebranding to better fit how you feel and who you are now.
Adapting Your Strategy to the “New Normal”
People are craving authenticity and connection more than ever in these trying times. They’re also spending more time at home, and more time online, and in different ways than ever before. And this, friends, can be used to your advantage. So, below you’ll find some things to consider for branching out and adapting your personal branding goals and marketing strategy.
Some Personal Branding Goals and Marketing Strategies to Consider
- Podcasts: According to The Verge, Spotify alone is saying that every day is now like the weekend when it comes to podcast listening. Spotify also told The Verge that 21 percent of their subscribers use the platform for accessing podcasts. So, hey, maybe now is the time to try for that guest appearance on a podcast? Or maybe start your own? I’m hoping to be putting out some tutorials on that very thing soon, so keep your eyes open for that! Plus, check out my podcast, The Premise, where I interview authors and industry experts about all things Publishing.
- Guest Blogs: Yes, more people are online and on their laptops and desktops rather than their phones, so that means they’re more likely to read longer online content. Is this the year you’ll branch out and invite a guest blogger to your site, or write some guest blog posts yourself?
- Online Events: As you may have guessed, there’s a good chance that many major book events from book festivals to writers’ conferences will be held online through most of 2021. Some projections say that some of these events will remain virtual indefinitely. This includes book tours, book launch events, and readings. If you’re not confident on camera you may want to start working on that. Pssst… I’m also planning on some in depth tutorials on this in the near future! Here are some good tips for being more confident on video to get you started. I offer media training too if you’d like some hands on help.
- YouTube: Speaking of video content, do you already have a YouTube channel? If you are already confident with producing video content but haven’t moved from Facebook or Instagram Live, then now is the time to consider your own YouTube channel. If you regularly produce video content on social media, you should upload it to YouTube. A big plus of YouTube is that your content stays there. If you have something valuable to offer, or want to get creative with your book marketing, YouTube is a great platform. From your book trailer to readings, you can make your content come to life there and really connect with your subscribers.
Let 2021 Be the Year You Reach New Personal Branding Goals!
It does seem scary trying new things in uncertain times, and some of you may not feel the call. I don’t expect that everyone had some awakening, reexamined their value systems, or explored their more authentic desires during this time. It was sometimes hard just to get through the day, I know. But if you’re not ready for big steps, or your brand is already established and feels authentic to you, there are still some things you can do right now. I’ve included a little checklist below.
Things You Can Do This Week!
- Upload a new profile photo: Maybe you grew your hair out, or got a new cut? People are getting braver with their look in all this time out of the public eye, and maybe you did too? Show your new self to the world. Let it reflect what you’re all about currently.
- Check in on your website and freshen it up: I always recommend a check in at least every 6 months. Check on your links, add that new headshot, polish up your keywords and add new, relevant information. You can even update your blogs, to reflect changes or add new information.
- Go over your bio: How has this year changed how you see yourself? What have you accomplished? All of these things should be considered when updating your online bios. Even if not much has changed, it’s always a good time to check in on your bios and see if they’re still relevant and reflective of who your are, currently. My book, How to Write a Professional Bio is a good place to start if you need help.
- Reevaluate your efforts: Are you blogging, active on every social media platform, putting money and time into marketing efforts that may, or may not, be paying off? You don’t have to do it ALL! I highly recommend closely looking over how much time, money, and energy you put into your personal branding efforts and see which serves you best. Maybe pick just one or two social media platforms to be regularly active on? If you’re getting more engagement and followers on one over the other, then stick with that one and worry less about the rest. Same with your marketing and promotion efforts—which ones are the most successful? Find out and stick with those!
Keep Calm, Carry On, As They Say
Because not much is going to look very different for us for most of the new year, we need to lean in to the reality of how things are now. We can’t feel defeated about it. We have to embrace it! And I encourage you to take all this in stride, learn from it, use it to your advantage, and go big on your personal branding goals! It will be worth the effort.
