Top 5 Overlooked Ways to Build Your Personal Brand

While working as a fractional CMO and trying to build my personal brand, I've had the opportunity to learn from others in this space to grow my business. I've found several tools that I intially undervalued or overlooked that have turned out to be really impactful in marketing what I do. Here are a few of them:

Email Signature Marketing: The Silent Billboard

That humble space at the bottom of your emails? It’s prime real estate for promoting your latest content, product, or event, quietly working its magic with every email sent.

Voice Search SEO: Speaking Your Customer’s Language

With voice assistants becoming more prevalent, optimizing the content you publish for voice search is crucial. It’s about understanding the nuances of spoken queries and ensuring your brand is the first answer to their verbalized questions.

Online Communities: Your Brand’s Think Tank

Insert yourself into forums and online communities (especially LinkedIn) where your potential customers congregate. It’s about contributing value, establishing authority, and directly engaging with potential customers in a meaningful way.

Thought Leadership through Conference Speaking Engagements

Position yourself and your brand as industry leaders by securing speaking engagements at relevant conferences and events. This platform not only amplifies your voice but also puts you directly in front of engaged, interested audiences. Tailor your presentations to not only showcase your expertise but also to spark conversations and connect on a personal level with potential customers.

Referrals From Current/Past Customers (HINT: You have to ask)

Word-of-mouth isn’t old school; it’s timeless. Leverage your current/past customer base as your most credible influencers. Their recommendations are gold, turning prospects into customers at an enviable conversion rate.

Remember, it’s not about the tools themselves, but how creatively and effectively you use them to resonate with your audience. After all, in the world of marketing, being armed with the unexpected can sometimes be your greatest strategy.