From Good to Great: Elevating Your Personal Brand as a Startup Founder

Graeme Barlow is an accomplished startup founder with over 24 years of experience. Graeme started his journey with a virtual currency company in the early 2000s, an innovative step in an era when digital currencies were still a new concept. His entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. He went on to create a successful game development company, Rocket Owl, which resonated with over a million users worldwide for its eco messaging game, Green Space. Today, he runs Iversoft, a software development company crafting mobile apps and web platforms for global brands. Parallelly, he is a passionate investor, always on the lookout for solving pain points in untapped markets.

Graeme Barlow's journey into the world of entrepreneurship started with a unique exploration into the realm of virtual currencies. His initial venture, long before the dawn of crypto, was selling items from online games such as Diablo, Neopets, and World of Warcraft. He managed to build a thriving business in an arena that was largely unknown at the time and eventually sold it before venturing into further entrepreneurial pursuits. This early experience in navigating uncharted territories inspired Graeme to delve further into the startup ecosystem. His ventures ranged from running a game development company to investing in promising businesses. His keen eye for identifying underserved niches led him to invest in areas like the pet industry, where he co-created a business management tool for pet owners, groomers, and rescues.

The Power of Traction and User Feedback

Flourishing startups understand their users, adapt to feedback and drive quantifiable results. The ability to showcase credible traction and positive user feedback can act as a compelling asset when talking to potential investors. It's a seal of validation that speaks volumes about the startup's viability, strength, and market acceptance. Incorporating user feedback into the product evolution process also signals an adaptive and customer-centric business approach, crucial for any startup's long-term success. Our guest is a firm believer in the power of traction and user feedback. He witnessed firsthand how startup traction had changed his confidence when presenting ideas. Startups that have shown early use and gained positive responses from early users often have a higher chance of convincing others of their offerings' value. In fact, when users are already engaging with a product, the skepticism and questions from anyone else become far less intimidating to tackle.

Identifying Genuine Pain Points in Industries

The cornerstone of every thriving business is its ability to solve a real problem or address a genuine pain point. To identify these unserved or underserviced areas, an in-depth understanding of the industry and its dynamics is crucial. It’s these niche areas within broader markets that provide the ripest opportunities for persistent entrepreneurs. Startups that succeed in tapping into these pockets by offering targeted, value-adding solutions can create a seismic shift in industry dynamics. Our guest evoked the concept of finding under-served markets and serving them with niche targeted solutions by citing the pet industry and realtor space as examples. For him, these industries present interesting opportunities because there are tangible pain points and a void of technology solutions. This strategic approach of his is simple - helping startup founders pinpoint real problems and devise the right solutions.

5 Effective Strategies to Build Your Personal Brand as an Entrepreneur

1. Consistency Over Quality in Social Media Posting

The journey to entrepreneurial success is often shaped by thoughtful strategies that leverage digital platforms and social media engagement. An important consideration in this is not necessarily perfection in content but rather the consistency of posting. The algorithm of many social media platforms, like LinkedIn, rewards frequency over finesse. Hence, while it's important to ensure your content is valuable and informative, frequency plays a significant role in driving engagement and creating a digital footprint. The principle applies across all types of content – text, images, and even more so with videos, which are often more dynamic and engaging. Implementing a consistent content strategy helps build credibility and spreads awareness about your entrepreneurial ventures.Graeme Barlow's approach to social media underscores the importance of staying persistent and consistent. Despite initial resistance or apprehensions, Graeme shifted his strategy towards posting multiple times a day, which led to a tremendous growth in engagement levels. He also highlighted the significant impact of video content, stating that it allows for a more comprehensive communication, enabling the audience to understand the person's character beyond the textual content. This proof was brought to light with the case of Kyle Voris who noticed a 1000% growth in the first month of switching to three posts a day, and a whopping 4000% in the second month, clearly indicating the robust impact of consistency.There is a clear suggestion here for entrepreneurs who might overlook the importance of consistent communication to their audience. A persistent digital presence can not only boost visibility but also establish a stronger connection with target audiences. Truthfully, it's not just about staying constantly visible but also about building trust, authenticity, and credibility. This, coupled with compelling content, can have a powerful influence on branding and audience engagement. It's an approach that serves multiple purposes - it keeps the audience informed, helps the entrepreneur establish their brand, and supports the startup's growth by fostering a sense of community and trust over time. However, one major element to bear in mind is to carefully balance the frequency, ensuring it does not tip over to becoming overwhelming or spam-like for the audience. That being said, the mantra of consistent social media posting holds significant potential for entrepreneurial success in the digital age.

2. Power of Video Content in Building Trust

Let's begin by discussing the growing significance of video content in connecting with audiences, especially for entrepreneurs and startup founders. In the digital age, people appreciate authenticity, personality, and a human touch. While written content can convey the essentials, it often fails to capture personality nuances and non-verbal expressions. Video content, in contrast, provides a richer, more immersive experience. It allows viewers to observe body language, hear tone inflection, and feel emotional resonance, thereby accelerating the process of trust-building. Moreover, it leaves a more memorable impression, as it engages multiple senses – sight and sound, making the whole experience more interactive than just reading a piece of text.Graeme Barlow reinforces the importance of consistent video content by sharing an anecdote about Kyle Voris of the Elite Group. He switched his posting strategy on LinkedIn from thrice a week to thrice a day, leading to a staggering growth in engagement - a thousand percent increase in the first month and a four thousand percent increase in the second month. Posted videos allow potential customers, investors, and partners to connect with the person behind the business, making the engagement more personal. While it may seem daunting to many founders, Barlow chimes in on the fear of coming off as irritating, which tends to hold back many entrepreneurs from posting frequently. His counterpoint is that this fear shouldn't stop one from benefiting from the immense potential video content holds. So, why is this key takeaway so crucial? The business landscape has evolved, and personal branding is equally as important as company branding, especially for startups. Building a brand around yourself is not just about self-promotion; instead, it's about showcasing your capabilities, your values, and your leadership style. As an entrepreneur, your personal brand can significantly influence your company's brand as you are often the face of your startup. Video content plays a massive role in shaping this personal image. It enables you to share the behind-the-scenes stories, demonstrate your passion, and let your audience feel more connected to you. Therefore, harnessing the power of video content should be an essential element of your brand strategy. So, let's move past inhibitions and not let the fear of judgments limit the opportunities to connect, engage, and build trust.

3. Overcoming Fear of Annoying Audience on Social Media

Stepping into the world of social media as an entrepreneur or startup founder can be intimidating, particularly with the lingering fear of annoying your audience with frequent posts. Contrarily, social media platforms, especially LinkedIn, reward consistency over meticulously crafted content. This counter-intuitive insight highlights that the fear of over-posting or irritating your audience is often misplaced. The key lies in breaking through this unfounded fear and realizing that social media algorithms favour frequency and consistency. To be noticed, it's less about creating polished diamonds of the post and more about maintaining a steady stream of engagement - daily, if possible.During our conversation, Graeme Barlow recounted the experience of Kyle Voris from the Elite Group who achieved extraordinary growth on LinkedIn by simply posting three times a day instead of three times a week. The result? A monumental 1000% growth in engagement in the first month and an incredible 4000% growth in the second. This shift wasn't driven by the quality of content but by the sheer frequency of it. Similarly, despite initial resistance from founders, Graeme witnessed that those who were consistent and persistent with their postings experienced higher levels of engagement and visibility. Indeed, letting go of the belief that every post needs to be a masterpiece and embracing frequent posting can lead to unexpected success.Why is this continual presence on social media so crucial for entrepreneurs and startup founders? The fundamental reason is that consistent posting increases visibility and credibility, which substantially aids in brand building. Both for personal and company brands, being in the audience's view frequently embeds your image into their perception. On platforms like LinkedIn, a regular stream of posts keeps you in the algorithm's favour, thereby prioritizing your content on people's feeds. Consequently, you need not worry about annoying your audience. Remember, not everyone will see every post, but someone will see every post. Essentially, what might feel like bombarding content to you is just a drizzle in the daily deluge of data your audience encounters. So, shrug off the concern of over-posting, embrace consistency, and reap the benefits of incessant social media visibility.

4. Cultural Differences in Social Media Strategies

Social media has become a crucial factor in the business world, particularly when it comes to building a brand's online presence. Entrepreneurs and startup founders have recognized the importance of a strong social media strategy for their businesses. However, there seems to be a significant disparity in the way businesses across different geographic locations approach social media strategies. This can largely be attributed to the varying cultural perspectives and approaches towards digital communication and marketing. It's interesting to note that upon analyzing the digital behaviors and strategies of businesses, visible patterns emerge that reflect cultural characteristics. Diving deeper into these patterns, one notices how different cultures impact the way businesses leverage social media platforms. For instance, in one of our discussions, Graeme Barlow elaborates on the stark contrast between startups in the UK and North America. He shares how startups in the UK are typically more cautious and take a slower decision-making approach when it comes to social media content. They assume a gradual adoption pattern, beginning with graphic posts on LinkedIn and progressively transitioning towards more engaging video content. On the contrary, North American startups exhibit more aggressiveness and eagerness, reflecting their cultural dynamism and risk-tolerance nature. They appear to plan their digital strategies differently, often opting to post content more frequently.Understanding these cultural differences in social media strategies can provide entrepreneurs with valuable insights. It’s significant since it underlines the importance of adapting one's social media tactics to suit the culture and preferences of the target audience, consequently garnering better engagement and visibility. These cultural nuances shouldn't be overlooked, as they can influence the successful penetration of a brand in a particular geographic market. It's particularly relevant for companies seeking international growth. By appreciating these differences and tailoring your approach accordingly, businesses can connect more effectively with their potential customers, in turn accelerating their growth and brand building journey.

5. Importance of Global Adoption of Social Media Tools

In the competitive world of startups and technology, the focus is often utilizing the latest tools and strategies to promote visibility, improve communication, and affirm credibility. One key element that has been gaining traction recently is the strategic use of social media. While it’s tempting to place emphasis on crafting intricate, awe-inspiring posts, the reality is that consistency and frequency are what truly count when it comes to visibility. This highlights the importance of daily posting even if the content is fundamental. Additionally, video content has been proven to foster deeper connections with the audience as it provides nuance and personality that plain text can't capture. Just like face-to-face interactions, video content allows the viewers to connect with the creators on a personal level quickening trust-building.Graeme Barlow brings unique insight into this topic, highlighting the stark contrasts between different markets. For example, startups in the UK are observed to proceed with caution, starting with graphic posts and transitioning gradually to video, while their North American counterparts tend to be audacious and frequent in their posting. An interesting comparison Graeme discussed was the impressive growth seen by Kyle Voris from the Elite Group when he shifted from posting thrice a week to thrice a day on LinkedIn. There was a significant growth in engagement, underscoring the power of consistent posting. Furthermore, Graeme touched on the global adoption of innovative social media tools, specifically mentioning Chirp, an AI transcription, and video editing tool. Though currently focused on English-speaking countries, expansion plans are on the horizon, highlighting the program's potential for global impact.The exploration of these strategies is not solely about gaining more likes or followers. It’s about harnessing the power of social media for the benefit of the business. Understanding and implementing these strategies can be a game-changer when it comes to reaching out to potential clients, investors, and even recruiting top talent. The bottom line is, consistent posting, harnessing the power of video, and utilizing smart social tools can equate to building a successful personal brand parallel to the company's brand. In the end, these techniques not only promote growth and visibility but also build credibility and trust with the audience. Please remember, posting frequently on social media platforms doesn't mean flooding the feed with nonsensical content. It’s about finding the balance in providing valuable, relatable content for your audience and maintaining consistency to keep the algorithm in your favor. As we delve into the world of social media and its power in building personal and company brands, the key takeaway is the importance of consistency. It may seem counter-intuitive, but posting regularly, even if the content isn’t high production value, often yields higher engagement. It’s a strategy that can take your visibility as an entrepreneur or startup founder to the next level. The power of video content is also undeniable, as it builds trust and strong connections with your audience. Overcoming the fear of annoying your audience with frequent posts is crucial in leveraging the benefits of social media platforms. As a startup founder, understanding cultural differences in social media strategies can be beneficial, especially when targeting a global audience. Lastly, capitalizing on the global adoption of social media tools like Chirp can streamline your social media efforts. It's time to embrace these insights and start crafting your social media strategy.