A question I almost never get asked in business is, “Jo, how have you managed to build such a wonderful personal brand on social media?”

Admit it. Despite not starting this conversation or even asking to be a part of it, you’re curious about the answer, aren’t you?

I won’t keep you in the dark, don’t worry.

In terms of social media for business, I don’t really do a lot. I’m too old for SnapChat and TikTok, I’m not cool enough for Insta, and I’m not clever enough for Twitter. Don’t even get me started on how useless Facebook has been for my business, and WTF is Pinterest all about? I’ve focused all my attention in attempting to build a brand on LinkedIn. It’s a bit of a strange place, but people seem to really like me there.

Of course, some people really don’t like me there, but both factors have been pretty important in my attempt to build a brand whereby people recognise me, take an interest in what I do, and then hopefully give me cash for it somewhere down the line. That’s all that personal branding is, really; being you – and being unafraid to show people what that means.

Because I can’t bring myself to take selfies or share live videos, I have to rely on my words to do my branding for me. It’s quite fortunate, then, that I’m a professional copywriter, so I’m fairly decent with words and stuff. I’m known for my blogs, but more importantly, I’m known for some of the, erm, ‘sentiments’, that come out of them, so who should then be waiting in the wings to tell me to bang those slogans on a stylish tee? Ducky and The Sock Guy, AKA James Austin and Anthony Dibble, that’s who!

I’d met James at a LinkedIn meet-up in Leeds last year, and we’d bonded over a few drinks and our shared fascination for a rope-access-specialising party-goer called Jeff (a story for another time), and I’d first met Dibs when he responded to my public LinkedIn plea for sponsors for my family’s girls-only football club in Bolton. What a top guy, hey? When I found out they’d teamed up to create the wonderment that is Fairly Influential, there was no way I could say no to them. I’m a god damn inspiration, don’t you know?

I’m hoping that if this is the first time anyone’s reading any of my stuff, they realise quite quickly that I don’t actually take myself seriously. Funny is all I have, though, so I work with it. I think that’s why I’ve been able to do quite well with personal branding, if that’s what this is. I’m just me when I write my posts and share my stuff, and I think that style and those stories resonate with people and start up an engagement. So, flaws and all, if I’ve been accepted, then why not share my musings on a smashing t-shirt or lovely vest.

It doesn’t matter who you are, what you think, or how you come across as long as it’s comfortable for you. Just by being you, you’ll attract the right people to you who want you to do well. They may never need to buy from you, but they’ll be the first to champion you to other people who do.

Either that, or they’ll buy one of your t-shirts and share in your majesty.

I hope I get a discount on the ones I buy one for myself…

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