Well… the time has come, my final column for Pretty Little Marketer!!!

It’s been a CRAZY year, to say the least, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to write for (no bias) the best community - plus the one that guided me when I was starting out in the industry.

I started to take my personal brand more seriously around Sept/Oct 2023 - when Sophie Miller opened my eyes to the power of LinkedIn for us marketers. It’s safe to say I haven’t looked back since.

With nearly a post a day (minus weekends), I’ve made SO many memories, some incredible friends, and have learnt more than I could ever have imagined.

So, with that being said, I’m treating this column like a 💌 love letter 💌

Here’s everything I've shared about personal branding…

Establishing you in your personal brand…

⚡ Tom Peters coined the term ‘Personal Brand’ in 1997.

⚡ Simon Sinek suggested all great leaders and businesses have their ‘why’ at the core of everything they do.

⚡ Setting goals will quite LITERALLY tell you if what you’re doing is heading in your desired direction.

⚡ Establishing your values will ensure that you are authentically you.

Content chaos to content calm…

💗 3-5 Content Pillars are key to finding your voice in your brand - plus stop the overwhelm when it comes to what to post.

💗 Content inspiration is EVERYWHERE - from your feed, newsletters, AI, old-content and offline.

💗 Credit creators properly by quote re-sharing the post, tagging them with a shoutout or a link straight to their post.

How to make your personal brand visible online…

⚡ Define your niche, understand your audience, create content that has value, and invest in yourself.

⚡ When optimising your profile… add personality, provide detailed information, spruce up your page with featured content, and make yourself discoverable.

⚡ Social SEO is in, and you can jump on the bandwagon by using relevant keywords, repurposing content, and fostering a community, not just a following.

Building your personal brand through community…

💗 The brands that are KILLING community have a balance of online/offline and are seeing here they can implement ‘exclusive’ communities into their strategy.

💗 Think about who you want to see on your feed - you want your scroll to be value-adding. Plus don’t forget to nurture your connections!

💗 Conquer the networking nerves. We’re all humans experiencing life for the first time. Do things scared.

The only personal brand strategy you’ll ever need…

️⚡ Don’t feel like you NEED to action every piece of advice on your feed.

⚡ Take a minute to reflect on what is realistic for you, right now (post quantity, time available, energy etc).

⚡ Make sure to keep it fun and flexible - it shouldn’t feel like a chore.

⚡ YOU are the brand !!!

How to secure your dream LinkedIn collab…

💗 Give your profile a glow-up: add a Linktree, your contact info, and social proof.

💗 Reflect on what kinds of collaborations suit your content and audience.

💗 SELL THE VISION: create a deck, reach out to the right people, and show them why you are the perfect partner.

AI that helps, not hurts your personal brand…

⚡ ****AI doesn’t have to replace creativity. It can take care of the admin, so you can focus on what matters.

⚡ Set boundaries and treat it like your bestie - context is key.

⚡ Use it in a way that helps, not hurts. Your audience follows you, for YOU - not a bot.

Repurpose your social media and maximise impact…

💗 Repurposing = giving your content a longer, more impactful life. It deserves more than a single scroll-past moment.

💗 It’s not cheating!!! It’s an efficient way to boost discoverability, cater to a wider audience, and stay on top of the game without burning out.

💗 Start small with one idea and identify how you can repurpose it across platforms or comms channels.

What I wish I’d known about personal branding at university…

️⚡ Optimise your LinkedIn! Complete your profile, add a headline and photo, follow creators and companies, and share university or extra-curricular projects.

⚡ Make your feed educational - follow people, pages, newsletters, courses, and podcasts to grow your skills and knowledge.

⚡ Gain practical experience, build a portfolio of projects, and tailor your CV to highlight relevant skills and achievements.

The metrics that built my personal brand…

️💗 Likes, views, and followers show reach - but not always relevance. Use them to spot what’s grabbing attention, not to define success.

️💗 Comments, saves, and DMs reveal how much people care. These are numbers that show your content is resonating and building credibility.

️💗 Real growth happens when people remember you, tag you, or quote you.

Doing it scared: building your personal brand while figuring yourself out…

️⚡ You might not have confidence at first, but it’s something you can build by showing up. The more you post and push through the fear, the easier it’ll become.

⚡ You don’t need experience to offer value. Your perspective, right now, might be exactly what someone relates to, or wants to hear.

⚡ Growth looks different for everyone, and comparing yourself to others will distract you from celebrating your own progress. Stay focused on what feels best for you.

Hehe, I said it would be a personal brand wrapped! 🤭

Thank you for supporting me not only this past year, but since I started posting online - and to Sophie, who gave me the opportunity every month to share my thoughts with you all <3

I am FOREVER grateful.

Allanah xx