Authenticity. Do you have it?

People see through “fake” very easily. The average person online is far more savvy than they were just 5+ years ago. It’s a lot harder for a faker to make it.

So, that’s the million dollar question then, right? Does your online brand match up with the real you?

If people met you at a party after knowing you online for a few years, would they think, “Wow, just like expected”? Or, would they feel like you fooled them?

If you are building your personal brand the right way, at some point, your online persona will take a trip outside the digital world. You’ll connect with fans and followers at an event, or even just at the grocery store.

When that happens, you’ll want to have created a seamless experience that makes them feel like they’ve know you for years.

So, how do you make the connection?

How do you bridge the two worlds?

Have you ever talked to someone who met a celebrity and they said something like, “He wasn’t what I expected. A bit underwhelming to be honest.”?

Or…something much worse…

To ensure people don’t say similar things about you, do the following things to make sure your personal brand is recognizable whether online or offline.

• Let your true personality shine in your content - Write like you’d speak, and avoid too much jargon

• Use real-life experiences - Drop anecdotes from real life into your content, and show your followers how you do things

• Share images and videos - Your profile pic is great, but the greater the variety of imagery you share, the more likely it is that people will recognize you in real life

• Actively engage and smile - Be happy, in person and online, and be fun to be around - no matter where the engagement happens

Who does this well?

There are lots of great examples of people whose online presence lives up to what you’d expect when you meet them online. One of the top examples in my field (marketing) is Joe Pulizzi.

Joe is the Founder of Content Marketing Institute, and more recently, the Tilt, a newsletter for creators (It’s awesome. Seriously, check it out).

Online, Joe’s personality stands out. Larger than life, helpful, friendly. He seems like a very approachable guy.

I’ve seen it before, though. When you meet this type of person offline, they throw up their hands and shout, “No pictures please!”

Joe isn’t like that. I met him the first time at an event we organized. I was a speaker early on at the event, and Joe was in the audience. He’s an amazing speaker, and this was 10 years ago, so I was fairly nervous knowing that someone who so gracefully executes speeches in front of thousands was there critiquing me.

Setting the example

What struck me from the start was that, as I spoke, Joe was listening. He was watching. He wasn’t busily typing away on his phone waiting for his turn to speak. He paid attention, and that’s a hugely important factor in being authentic.

I had a chance to speak to him later that day, meeting him for the first time. He shook my hand and told me the speech was great. We chatted about content marketing for a bit, and he turned out to just be a regular guy.

Accessible. Friendly. Knowledgeable. Joe lived up to the billing, and you should strive to do the same. Be in person what you present yourself to be online. That’s how you truly grow. I recommend checking out Joe Pulizzi online to get a feel for the vibe he’s creating, then check out an event and say “hello.” You’ll see what I mean.

A few great resources from Joe…

• The Tilt - for creators and entrepreneurs

• Epic Content Marketing - A must-read for content marketing pros

• This Old Marketing Podcast - A collaboration with the talented Robert Rose

Get Started Building Your Personal Brand

Personal branding is so important in growing your business, boosting your reach, and building your network. Inspired by my own personal branding journey, I wrote The Business of Branding You: Invest in Your Personal Brand, Grow Your Career, and Gain Influence.

The book contains insights and actionable advice from my own experience as well as examples from my colleagues and other industry professionals who serve as excellent examples of personal branding done the right way.

Have questions?

I’m an open book. If you have questions, want some feedback on your personal brand, or you need support in another way. Just drop me a line. You can reach me via email at [email protected], follow me on LinkedIn, or catch me over on X.

Let’s connect and grow together!