Guide to Building Personal Brand Writer Edition

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



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



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.


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



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.



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.



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."


DAN PINK, AUTHOR OF FREE AGENT NATION


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.


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


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.


BRANDED WEBSITE


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


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


2. CONTENT


When you have a website,you can publish content

that shows off yourtalents, knowledge, and

abilities.

That content may include:


CONTENT

Blog PostsSales Copy

EbooksWhite Papers

VideosSlidesharesInfographics


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


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.


EMAIL LIST


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


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


PULLING IT ALLTOGETHER


WEBSITE + CONTENT + EMAIL LIST =

UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILDYOUR PERSONAL BRAND AND PROMOTE

YOURSELF AS A WRITER

Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Guide to Building Personal Brand Writer Edition