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Engage and be Real

One great way to stand out and show the authentic YOU is to comment on people’s posts on LinkedIn. Challenge yourself to leave better responses to people’s posts in 2024.

NOT examples of better responses:

“Good idea.”

“Yes.”

“Agree.”

These add little value and won’t help you grow. They add nothing for others, and you won’t gain followers or engagement this way. Instead, create valuable commentary by expanding on the subject.

Or, ask questions to learn, help others, teach network, and grow on LinkedIn and beyond.

Each reply is an opportunity to showcase your expertise to new people. Take advantage of the power of each reply, and make LinkedIn a better place for us all in the process.

Bonus Tip: Share the real you - use photos in your posts - posts with images perform greater than 70% better than those without. See the example below. Me with a red glass-wearing statue (there’s a story behind it).

Speaking of being the real you, this week’s Creator Spotlight highlights one of the most real, authentic people I know. His approach to content creation offers inspiration for creators across any niche. Take a look, and learn some things from this week’s Creator Spotlight, Brandon Stanchock.

Creator Spotlight: Brandon Stanchock

Brandon Stanchock is CEO at SWF Industrial, host of the Just Some BS podcast, and a YouTube content creator. On the Just Some BS podcast, Brandon and his guests explore a range of topics, from leadership and careers, to personal growth, supply chain and logistics, and even what it’s like to experience Disney as a VIP. His YouTube channel, Detailed Traveler, is a fun, energy-filled journey to destinations like Hawaii, Disney, the Dominican Republic, Canada, and other destinations. 

I had a chance to catch up with Brandon recently to learn about his approach to being a successful content creator. I want to pass along what I learned from our conversation to help subscribers to Elevate & Inspire grow.  Let’s meet Brandon! 

Authenticity and Humor

One thing that always stood out to me about Brandon and the content he produces is that he comes across so real. So genuine. His content is well-produced and effective, but it doesn’t come across scripted, and that’s hugely important. People want to connect with other “real” people, and Brandon serves as a great example of how to make that happen. 

“I focus on authenticity and humor. My personal brand is about helping leaders or aspiring leaders figure things out.,” says Stanchock. “I aim to show the kind of person I am through my posts—giving insight rather than preaching.”

The Power of Video In Projecting Authenticity

Video is a powerful medium to help project your personality in an authentic way. People not only receive your insights and advice; they hear you and they see your mannerisms. They feel what it would be like to work with you in real life. This authenticity helps to build trust and form connections. 

To help bake more of the authentic YOU into your video content, Brandon offers the following tips. 

• Keep it concise: Trim unnecessary parts to maintain viewer interest.

• Start with a strong idea: A good idea is more important than production value.

• Tools: Use CapCut for short-form and DaVinci Resolve for long-form video editing.

• Practical Tips: Batch record content to save time and utilize downtime (e.g., flights) for editing.

Using Personal Branding to Attract Top Talent

The best talent (the most qualified team members) want to work for companies where they can connect with the leadership and recognize their own values in those leading the company from the top down. Brandon uses his personal brand to grab the attention of top talent, showcase SWF Industrial’s culture, and bring in the right employees to build a powerful workforce. 

“My personal brand is about helping leaders or aspiring leaders figure things out,” said Stanchock. “I aim to show the kind of person I am through my posts—giving insight rather than preaching. My personal branding allows employees and others to get to know the real me.”

By leveraging the power of content creation and personal branding, Brandon says SWF is able to: 

• Attract potential employees who align with the company’s values

• Make recruiting more effective and reduce costs 

• Foster deeper connections and trust with the team

• Network and build connections with partners, clients, and others

“Consistency in my online presence builds trust both within and outside the company,” says Stanchock. “It’s fascinating how many people feel connected to me simply through consistent, authentic messaging.”

Finding Time to Create Content in Addition to Leading a Company

Time management is key. Brandon is the CEO of a hugely successful company. In addition to that, he somehow pumps out a ton of quality content. That’s not an easy feat. To make it happen, he offers the following tips. 

• Use pockets of time (e.g., waiting at the vet) for small tasks.

• Leverage AI tools to speed up content creation.

• Stay 4–8 weeks ahead of schedule to avoid cramming. Effective planning allows me to integrate hobbies, leadership, and content creation seamlessly.

Brandon narrows down his focus, mainly publishing content on LinkedIn and YouTube. Spreading yourself too thin can cause your content to come out thin and often leads to burnout. If you’ve watched any of Brandon’s videos, he’s certainly not lacking in energy, so he’s found a way to avoid burnout, produce lots of great content, and thrive. 

Advice for Aspiring Content Creators

Success as a content creator doesn’t come overnight. Brandon offers advice to aspiring creators who want to build a powerful personal brand to grow their career, boost their business, and increase influence online. 

• Accept that your first creations will likely be bad; improvement takes time.

• Focus on strong ideas and eye-catching visuals (e.g., scroll-stopping thumbnails).

• Teach yourself editing through tools and tutorials.

• Leverage your strengths and find your niche in the market.

I highly recommend connecting with Brandon, learning from him, consuming the content he creates to serve as inspiration on your own content creator journey. 

So, how do you connect with this edition’s Creator Spotlight? Here are some links you can follow. 

• Brandon’s YouTube Channel

• Brandon’s Podcast

• Brandon on LinkedIn

• Brandon on Instagram

Let’s Connect

If you have any questions, or you are ready to start working on your personal brand, email me at [email protected] or visit gaenzlemarketing.com.

Oh…and don’t forget to grab your copy of The Business of Branding You: Invest in Your Personal Brand, Grow Your Career, and Gain Influence.

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