62 - All Things Branding: My Interview on the Freedom Slay Podcast

On today’s episode of the Instant Impact podcast, we’re turning the tables. This week, Elyse is sharing with us an episode of the Freedom Slay podcast where she was recently a guest. The Freedom Slay podcast is hosted by Gaynete Jones. Gaynete is an all-around incredible example of how to build an influential brand. She’s a best-selling author, a keynote speaker, and a millennial mentor. On her show, Elyse chats about all things branding. Right now, so many of you are focused on digitizing your brand and rising above the noise. Making your mark in the world is an important endeavor, and Elyse shares with us some powerful ideas that can help you do just that. In the past, it appeared as though Elyse had it all--the job, the house, the money, everything. But in reality, she was struggling with self-image and self-worth, dealing with an eating disorder, living in an unhealthy marriage, and questioning who she truly was. At that point, she left an 8-figure business to join Brand Builders and bring value to those around her by helping them find and create their personal brand. It really does make sense--becoming more visible can elevate your business and increasing the visibility of your brand can boost incoming leads and drive revenue in a very real way. However, becoming more visible can come with insecurities. For many people, questions like “why me?” or “who would want to hear what I have to say?” come into play. The truth is, you have a unique backstory and there are people who need to hear what you have to say, and they need to hear it from you. Elyse shares the number one thing she notices her clients struggling with early on. She says a lack of clarity can present a big challenge for entrepreneurs trying to get off the ground and become more visible. Either there is a vision and they’re not sure how to get there, or they have a journey and they’re not sure how to turn it into a cohesive brand. Getting that clarity is an art and a science. There is a method, but who you are is what matters. One of the first things Elyse talks about is thinking about how you’ll monetize your brand. Knowing what your revenue model is will allow you to build a brand that doesn’t leave you “Instagram rich but dollar poor.” Knowing what your audience is asking for and who your ideal client makes it much easier to sell your service. Often times it was you a few years ago. Take a look at what your target demographic needs and think about how you can provide them value. Elyse fills us in on some common misconceptions with personal branding. In a nutshell, it’s not just being famous. There’s a massive factor--the impact you make. You don’t have to be “that guy” to have a brand! You only need to be yourself and the rest will follow. Another misconception is the idea that trying to become visible in many different ways will increase your chances of being seen. In reality, being hyperfocused on one area of expertise will have the power you need to rise to the top of your class. Additionally, many people care far too much about what other people think of them! There is a fear of judgment that gets in the way of a lot of growth. People have always and will always judge you. The difference is that you can recognize that you will NOT die if someone judges you. Embrace it! Elyse’s tips for building your business very simply come down to posting videos on LinkedIn. It has the best organic reach without paying for ads. Twice a week, Elyse posts videos. What happens is people reach out to her instead of her needing to reach out to them. This leads to a conversation that can be converted. It doesn’t have to be complicated to work well. One more thing--don’t watch your own videos before you publish them! Things get better with time.