Here's What Happened When I Started Using TikTok
A few years ago, I made the decision to build my personal brand.
I started with the basics.
First, I cleaned up my social media profiles.
Then, I built my own website using Squarespace.
Lastly, I doubled down on content creation.
Over time I was able to build an engaged audience across multiple platforms.
But something was off...
The content I was making felt inauthentic. It seemed like I was using Instagram and LinkedIn as a means to bolster myself up and make up for the insecurities I felt deep within.
Almost as if to say, "Look, here I am! Here's what I can do and how much I know. Now, do you trust me?" I realized that I was building a personal brand out of fear and insecurity, and not from a place of love and authenticity.
When I started using TikTok, everything changed.
I started making videos because I wanted to (because it brought me pleasure) and not for anyone else. I documented my travels, shared stories from my life, and stopped trying to be something I wasn’t.
After almost ten years of creating content, my first viral video was about loneliness, and it changed the way I viewed personal branding forever.
It felt rewarding to share something that resonated with so many people. Something that wasn’t educational, informative, or anything of that nature.
It was just…. me. A reflection of how I felt on the inside.
For the first time, things started to click.
I stopped sharing the story I thought others wanted to hear and I started telling the story that was true for me.
I began to use social media as an outlet for creativity and self-expression, while still sharing helpful information that showed others how to build their personal brand.
I stopped struggling through content creation and I started enjoying it.
The results were surprising.
My business grew exponentially, I started working with clients who were an amazing fit for me, and I grew an audience of 150k+ in less than a year.
I was asked to share my expertise at conferences like Social Media Week and host workshops for companies like Walmart.
My writing was featured in places like Foundr and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Above all else, I felt truly confident for the first time in a long time and was able to share my story with more self-assurance than ever before.
I started building my personal brand because I thought it would help me "look the part."
What I didn’t expect, was that personal branding is so much deeper than updating my LinkedIn profile or starting a blog.
It cannot and will never be a construct to hide behind; rather personal branding is about sharing who you truly are with people. It’s a pathway to discover your purpose.
What I know from coaching hundreds of people is that no individual is the same; everyone has a unique story to share and a purpose they are called to fulfill.
Do you know what yours is and how to communicate it to the world? Hit 'reply' and share it with me.
And, hey, if you don't... a program like Personal Brand Accelerator can help you uncover your story, clarify your message, and share it in a way that’s powerful, imaginative and highly-effective.
A new round starts January 30 and we are officially open for enrollment. Have you applied yet? Start Here.
Anna Vatuone
Founder, Personal Brand Accelerator
