Have you ever met someone who tries too hard to impress you? It's almost as if their every word and action is a plea for attention, but the more they try, the more you want to pull away. Their facade leads you to question their sincerity. Perhaps, as you read this, you might be worried you’re that person! The truth is, we've all been both the giver and receiver in such dynamics. And while I’m not going to get into the psychology of these behaviors, let's explore how this dynamic could impact you negatively in the context of building your personal brand.

There’s nothing wrong with making beautiful, aspirational videos. I love creating that kind of content, and I love to consume it as well. But that kind of content only shows one facet of your life. An authentic personal brand goes deeper. An authentic personal brand says…

After you start creating content, your experience on social media will never be the same. You will pay attention to every opening line, the music used, the camera angles, what catches people's interest and what doesn't. A big part of personal branding is showing your face online. People love to see the person behind the name, the writing, and the videos. We want to know who we’re following. The best way to show people who you are, is to tell them. So let’s review one of the best methods for doing so.

I know the look all too well. The feeling of overwhelmingness written all over my students’ faces when they tell me their frustrations with social media. I empathize with them. Creating valuable content regularly will push you beyond what you are comfortable with. It is hard. And hard things require that we take breaks. So how does one take an intentional break from social media while still remaining aligned with the goals they have for their personal brand? Take it from someone who knows.

I created a personal website years ago. I remember loving the process. I’m an entrepreneur by trade and a creative at heart. I love my little ‘projects,’ and creating my personal website was the most fun of all. My personal website has continued to evolve as I’ve evolved. It’s always changing as I am always changing. I love that I have a place to share my knowledge, connect with my audience, and let others know how they can work with me. A personal website makes it real. Here are three main reasons you should start yours sooner rather than later.

To write well is one of the greatest challenges people face while building their personal brand. Everything you do for your personal brand involves the practice of writing; i.e, creating Instagram captions, voice over scripts, blog posts, emails, and most importantly, the copy on your personal website. If I had a nickel for everytime I heard, “But Anna, I’m just not a good writer, can I hire someone to do it for me?” I would be a very wealthy woman and I still wouldn’t hire anyone to do it for you. Here’s why.

What is a visual identity? We define it as a cohesive collection of graphical elements that are chosen intentionally to bring your personal brand to life. The purpose of a visual identity is to create an emotional impression on your audience and inform your Ideal Brand Adopter about the essence of who you are and the many different aspects of your personality and professional expertise.

When you’re granted a vision, I believe it’s a sign you’re meant to carry it though. The “how” may not always reveal itself at first, but take heart that every great and perfect thing once began as a fleeting thought in someone’s head. Without vision, nothing would cease to exist. Vision is what enables us to plan our futures with wisdom and imagination.