In addition to that, look at their audiences. I don't mean to poach their audiences. Don't show up in front of their audience and say, "Here's who I am, I'm super smart, come check me out." No. What you need to do is enter those conversations, be an active part of those audiences, have conversations with other people who have already identified themselves as having a keen interest in the topic, other people who are also inserting themselves into the conversation in a way that brings value and provokes thought, as opposed to just being self-serving. That will make you visible to the right people who have self-identified as having an interest in the topic that you have an interest in and a knowledge in. Also, if you show up with value, showing up in the right spaces with value is the most important thing you can possibly do.

That's how to build the strongest of personal brands. It's not by telling people you're great. It's by showing up with value, saying something that gets people thinking, saying something that has some intelligence behind it, saying something that could help someone else.

If you keep showing up with value, people are going to start asking you to show up with value. They'll ask you to be on their podcast, they'll ask you to speak at their events, they'll ask you to write a guest blog post, they'll ask to come in and consult, if that's what you do. They will want to talk to you. They might even just ask you to coffee. That's fine.

Getting to know more people and getting to tell your story and get in more people's heads in an accurate way that lets them know what you're about, that's gold. The only way to do it is to figure out not only how you can show up with value, but also where you can show up with the appropriate value.

Did you hear that?

The people were doing people things even when someone wasn't listening.

But, as they kept going, something caught "fire". And then those people built on that fire.

Also, did you hear the importance of interest and being interesting about the thing you are interested in is a key thing to think about.

A slip it in their tip that Christine said so quickly was around creating content!

Lastly be approachable. (If you're smart) and I know you are.

After the show, hit that rewind and jot down what Christine shared as a blueprint to get started with building a personal brand in the future.

Now, we will get back to Christine Gritmon in a few minutes but first it’s time for some...

Dope B2B Learnings From The Vault of MarketingProfs Articles

That's right, it’s time to dig into the treasure trove of valuable information and pull out two pieces of gold to help you be a better B2B marketer.

Article one this week is: How to Crash-Proof Your Personal Brand in a Tight Job Market by Humberto Herrera

Five years ago, asking a CEO whether he or she wanted—or needed—personal branding services would have earned you a raised eyebrow and a polite but emphatic no.

When I started my career as a branding consultant, most of my clients were ambitious entrepreneurs or midcareer professionals who were willing to invest the time and money in boosting their personal brands.

Top-level executives, however, often demurred, reasoning that they were busy and already as prominent in their industry as they needed to be.

But in an ever-intensifying job market, even top executives—I'm talking triple-A talent—have come calling.

Article two this week is: You Need to Add Video to Your Personal Branding Strategy by William Arruda

When you're building your personal brand, you want to make sure you're visible to the people who are making decisions about you. When building your brand on the Web, that means showing up on page 1 of search results for a Google search.

Why? Because if you're not on page 1, you're nearly invisible.

A Gravitate Online study found that 94% of Google users click on a first-page result, and fewer than 6% click on a page 2 result. So showing up on page 1 is essential if you want to get noticed.

So how do you make that happen? Video.

Videos are much more likely than text pages to get that coveted page 1 slot, thanks to blended search. So, instead of focusing only on blogs, articles, and whitepapers, spend time creating a video bio or a series of thought-leadership videos.

Doing so is your best opportunity to stand out from the pack and increase your influence.

Want to keep learning more? If so, check the links in the description below after the live show to get access to both amazing MarketingProfs articles.

OK, back to Christine... Let's dive back into this conversation of Why B2B Marketers and Executives Need Personal Branding in 2023 and Beyond

In this section of the live show, I wanted to cover the hurdles that might get in your way. That's right, your boy George B. Thomas want's to help you streamline your personal brand-building journey.

So, what does Christine Gritmon have to share pertaining to what to watch out for?

Take a listen and make sure to jot it down!

Christine: One really big thing is being more concerned with showing other people how smart you are than with bringing value. It's a matter of show, don't tell. Really, telling other people how smart you are is not going to do nearly as much as showing other people how smart you are by delivering value that's actually relevant to them.

It's kind of like in marketing in general, and we're hearing this more and more, you have to think of the consumer, you have to think about their needs first, not necessarily what you want to sell to them. The same is true with personal branding. You need to come up with what they need, where is there a need for your gifts. Whatever your gifts are, there is one, but you have to figure out who needs it, how they need it, what's going to get through to them, what's going to serve them.

People want to cut to the finish, people want to cut to the opportunities part, people want to cut to the fame, people want to cut to getting the fancy stages. I understand this completely. You get a little ambitious and you wonder why that person is getting the opportunities that you're not, and you feel like you're ready for the big game. You know what? Maybe you're not. What you need to do is take the time to develop that trust. The way to develop that trust is to give people what they need, not just what you feel like serving up. That's the biggest hurdle I've seen, people getting a little too excited about it.

On the other side of the coin, and this is usually different people, but not always, there are also people who feel very hesitant. A lot of people have to get out of their own heads in order to step into the spotlight in that way, in order to share their thoughts.

One of the things that I actually really love about Twitter chats, of all things, I host my own chat about brand, I love Madalyn Sklar's Twitter Smarter Chat, one of the things that I love about that is that while I do love interviewing experts and listening to expert interviews and learning from the people who I learn from, it's also tremendously powerful to say, "What do you think?" in an open-ended way to people who have identified themselves as interested in the topic. Some people really feel like they don't have anything to add to a conversation professionally. Some people shy away from that sort of thing. Or they feel like they have something to add, but they're shy, or something like that.

There's a lot of ways we get in our own heads. I think that the way to reframe that goes back to the other thing of stop thinking about the reasons why you're getting in your own way, start thinking about the other people. Stop thinking about how you're going to look or if you're going to sound stupid or no one wants to hear from you. No. What do other people need? What are other people looking for information on? What are other people looking for thoughts on? What are other people wanting to have conversations about that are the things that you also geek out on?

There's nothing better than finding someone who wants to geek out on the same things that you want to geek out on and then finding out that you're on the same wavelength. That's incredible. Give that joy to somebody else. Don't just hoard it all for yourself. Don't just hoard all of your brilliant thoughts in your own head. Recognize that other people want to geek out on it, too. Whatever you're passionate about, whatever you're knowledgeable about, there are other people who want to geek out on it. Do not rob them of that experience because you're too much in your own head to do it.

Oh my gosh!

Are you trying to look smart or are you just showing them through the value you bring to their world?

Are you thinking of their needs first?

Are you using your gifts to fill a need?

Are you trying to shortcut the personal branding journey? Don't! Just Don't.

Take time to build trust with your community.

We’re going to get some words of wisdom from Christine Gritmon here in a few minutes but right now it’s time to turn the spotlight on you, the MarketingProfs community. Yep, time for...

From The #MPB2B Community

We searched far and wide in the #MPB2B universe to find amazing information and conversation to bring to the masses.

So, first, make sure you are using the hashtag, and second, make sure you have fun and add value to the community.

Then, we’ll spotlight you or your crew on the show. This week, it's...

David Pittman: B2B Marketing Leader | Data-Driven Content, Communications and Campaigns

David shares...

Marketers, if you're not yet learning about how to use AI in your job, STOP what you're doing and invest some time to explore it.

I recommend starting by following Paul Roetzer and Marketing AI Institute. I saw Paul speak at the MarketingProfs #MPB2B conference last year, and his presentation was inspiring, energizing, and frightening all at once.

But it gave me the kick in the pants to investigate, learn, and experiment. In just a short time, my team has already had good "wins" with AI, and we're expanding our use. Don't get left behind!

But, you need to check out the description and click that link to check out the post and read or learn more!

Marketing Smarts viewer, I have to ask... are you going to be next to get the spotlight?

Remember community, use the hashtag #mpb2b on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter and get the light shined on your awesomeness in the next episode or a future episode of the Marketing Smarts Live show!

Pro tip, it won't hurt if you tag me into your post as well I'm @georgebthomas on LinkedIn and Twitter.

OK, let’s kick it back to Christine and some words of wisdom around this topic of Why B2B Marketers and Executives Need Personal Branding in 2023 and Beyond.

Here is what Christine Gritmon wanted to leave us with...

Christine: This applies to all of them. Don't overthink it. Do be intentional, but don't overthink it. This goes for branding, this goes for life, this goes for parenting, this goes for anything I do in my life. I am trying to get more intentional about some things because I want to be in control of my own trajectory. Instead of just letting things happen to me, I would like to be an active participant in my own life.

Overthinking stuff is the best way to stall action or to get a lot of action in the wrong direction. Overthinking things really stomps out serendipity. So, don't overthink things. Be genuine. Be yourself. Trust yourself. You can be intentional, but do not overthink because you're going to get stuck. Don't fall for that.

Be intentional but don't over think it! BOOM!

Be in control of your own trajectory!

Be genuine, be yourself, trust yourself... and... Don't get stuck!

Have you enjoyed today's journey? Let us know, use that hashtag #mpb2b on whatever platform you are joining us on.