Three years ago, I embarked on a new journey.
I was a new mum, and had been financially and emotionally forced to go back to work when my baby was very tiny.
My job required long commutes, mundane work and pay that was insulting considering my skills. We’ve all heard it before, right?
But “just” being a stay at home mum didn’t seem like it was enough (yes, I gave myself daily guilt trips for feeling like this).
The Best Lessons are the Ones Learned through Mistakes
After struggling for months with little benefit, and seeing my then husband about a handful of times a week, I realised that something had to give.
In 2014, I made the scary decision to quit my job.
I joined a network marketing company specialising in health and wellness. At the time, I had no idea what it was, how it worked, or what was expected of me.
So I got to work.
My social media became an advert for the company I was partnered with. I literally vomited the products and business over my timeline.
I wanted the whole world and his wife to know about the great products, company and comp plan. Like, why isn’t EVERYONE buying the products or joining my team already?!
Here’s the deal – no one cares. No one. Zip.
None of your family, friends or followers care as much as you do.
Unfortunate yes, but we see far too often endless posts about “my company is the best thing since sliced bread” (even though it’s now their 4th venture and every single one has been the best one ever – insert eye roll).
We are so used to seeing advertising everywhere, to a point that social media has become a buying and selling platform.
Over a two year period, I devoted thousands of hours to doing the “buy my products” and “join my team posts”, and that’s no exaggeration.
I contemplated giving up on it, and yet continued to plug the products.
I copied what the leaders were doing. I tried to become like the leaders. In short, I had no idea what I was doing.
And guess what? I wasn’t earning a single thing.
Fast forward to May 2016.
It was during one of my sessions of being sucked in within the blue vortex that is facebook, that I saw a post from a lady I’d been following. She was talking about how with 3 children under the age of 3, no childcare and no car, she had done well in her business working purely on social media without spamming.
Bingo. This is exactly what I needed.
I signed up and this time I really got to work.
I stopped doing what everyone else did, because I was getting nowhere.
I started investing time and money learning the SKILLS to have a truly online business. Because that’s what it takes.
I realised that people are nosey. They’re curious. And if you hand it to them on a plate, they’re not interested.
I started following SUCCESSFUL people and realised they had all done one thing – they had created a story about who they are, and what their life is like.
I watched as they shared all about going on holiday, and families taking their children to destination spots for the weekend. I observed as parents bought their children gifts each week, and felt my own curiosity pique at how they were doing this!
Something clicked.
People need to know ME. They need to know who I am as a BRAND.
CLICK TO TWEET “People need to know ME. They need to know who I am as a BRAND.”
Since working on me, and applying my brand to my new business, I got to leadership level in less than five months without sending a single spam message or having a list of people I know.
I launched a profitable coaching business and went from broke and unhappy to living life on my terms.
I drive the car of my dreams, I have international clients, I get to serve others and spend every day with my daughter. To me, that’s freedom. Just by understanding what I needed to do to stand out, and applying it.
Branding is a word that everyone seems to be talking about without really knowing what it means.
YOU are your brand. People want to do business with people, not companies, or products or services, or compensation plans.
Your personal brand on social media will help separate you from the masses.
CLICK TO TWEET “Your personal brand on social media will help separate you from the masses.”
Do you believe you will have MORE success blending in, or standing out on social media?
Here’s my top tips on building your own brand:
1. Know, Like, and Trust
You can have the very best product, service or comp plan in the profession, but if your friends and followers do not know, like or trust you, you will not have a business. Simple.
2. People are attracted to people!
When was the last time you were inspired by a negative person on social media? Be positive. This is attractive to others! They will follow you.
3. Be an authority. People want to work with those who they feel are knowledgeable, and can help them. Stand out from the crowd and share value with others. You will be seen as an authority figure, and someone who others are attracted to.
4. You can’t afford to miss out. I can assure you that those who are having success online are branding themselves. If you want to get ahead, you have to ask yourself HOW to do it, and not whether you should or not.
Think how BIG you can go once build your own personal brand.
For more branding tips and info, follow me on facebook.
CLICK TO SHARE THESE FOUR TOP TIPS ON BUILDING YOUR OWN BRAND
“I work with women across the globe who are feeling trapped and undervalued, and help them to realise their purpose and do the work they are meant for.
I encourage them to celebrate their place in the world by no longer playing small, and in spite of the cultural barriers.
I help them to take back their power and design a life they love”
Website being completed currently.
For coaching enquiries, email samcoaching@outlook.com