Over the holiday break I finished reading Top of Mind by John Hall over at Influence & Co. One of John's most salient points was about the importance of business owners, leaders, and executives actively participating in inbound marketing.
He says that one of the ways they need to participate is by cultivating a vibrant personal brand:
Debating whether to invest significant time and resource into your brand isn't really an option anymore. Simply put, it is nearly impossible to survive—much less—in this You Marketing landscape without a thriving personal brand. The most obvious motivation is for your own self-investment ... But it's valuable for more than what it can do for you alone. The evolution of personal branding has made it a necessary strategy for companies.
He goes on to contrast the extraordinary impact that Dharmesh Shah, the cofounder of Hubspot, has had in keeping Hubspot top of mind in the inbound world vs. Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga. Banga published once on LinkedIn in 2013, generated tens of thousands of views, and never posted again. What a missed opportunity.
The voices of business owners and C-Suite executives like you carry consistent weight. Like Dharmesh, you can consistently share your expertise, build trust with potential clients and customers, and make sure your company is top of mind when they're making a buying decision.
Here are three simple steps you can take as you start 2019 to invest in your personal brand, and lend your voice to the growth of your company.