3 Questions to Ask Yourself When You Want to Stand Out Online
Watch the video at the end of the article.
Before you hop online and start pumping out content into the ether. Ask yourself, "Does the content I am creating reflect the business I want to build and maintain"?
It's important you ask yourself tough questions throughout the building of your business because if you don't —one unsolicited comment, unfortunate mishap or unforeseen roadblock may force you to re-evaluate EVERYTHING.
HowEVA, the first question I originally posed to you is not a part of the 3 questions below, but it is the overarching question, once you've done the homework. Trust me, this question (Does the content I am creating reflect the business I want to build and maintain?) will pop up as you level-up.
Do the work now to address it by asking yourself these 3 questions. And if you can't answer them honestly, you won't be able to generate and sustain that content marketing machine energy.
Question One: "What adjectives do people consistently use to describe you?"
Do some digging into past testimonials, references and/or online commentary on an Instagram photo. You should take notes on how people introduce you to others. And be hypervigilant about the compliments or praises people dote on you. It all counts.
Take the GOOD adjectives and begin to EMBODY them as part of your identity.
For you will present this identity online —similar to creating a brand persona.
Celebrities do this all of the time.
Have you ever been face-to-face with your favourite TV Show character? Rarely are they ever the same person in real life. As the saying goes, “Never meet your heroes”…because they may disappoint you. Generally, most celebrities can't keep their likeable on-screen image switched on at all times. Despite this fact, that on-screen image makes them money.
This is why I suggest you embody an identity centred around what you naturally do —what people notice and like about you. That way, you can keep the same energy no matter online or off.
Assignment: Embody it.
Question Two: "What is it that your colleagues, friends, and/or clients come to you for?"
The only effort on your part for this question is to PAY ATTENTION.
Someone in your life is already coming to you for this consistently (personal or professional). It's the let me pick-your-brain scenario. Think about what people most often need your advice, feedback or help on?
Create from this space.
In other words —turn the advice, feedback or help into a service and/or product. Let this be the inspiration you need to create that solution to the problems people need solved, BY YOU.
This is the #1 organic way to market yourself without coming off sales-y.
It's the same as not investing into things you don't believe in or promoting products to a friend without knowing for sure it won't give them a rash. Only create projects that you know can help someone and it also pours back into you.
In the video, I share what people come to me for: I make things simple, fun and help your true personality rise to the surface. In a nutshell, I am a Passion Activist.
Assignment: Create it.
Question Three: "What’s your superpower?"
What energizes or ignites you? Your true passion(s)? What you believe? Your values? How you operate?
For me, I can get real. Real quick. It's a gift and a curse, truly, because not everybody is built to put their right hand on the bible.
Nevertheless, I am not everyone's cup of tea and that's okay! It is important to attract people to your brand, just as it's important to repel. As hard as it may be, you should draw a line in the sand. The fact of the matter is you won't stand out if you're for everybody.
Determine what and how you do what you do...
The way you achieve interesting or uncommon results.
What's so uncommon about you? Once you figure it out —unapologetically execute from this space.
Operate from your superpower.
Play unfair.
Assignment: Execute it.
This is how you sustain the content marketing machine energy because all you're really doing is being YOU in High Definition (HD).
