Friend: Social media is a scam!
Ajay: Where’s that coming from?
Friend: I have been trying to build my personal brand. But my posts don’t get reach or recognition and I barely have any followers. How did you do it, Ajay?
Ajay: Definitely not overnight. Tell me what your process has been.
Friend: I have profiles on all major social media platforms and whenever I have free time I post some content.
Ajay: If you want my honest opinion, that’s not a very systematic approach. What you do in your free time is a hobby. Building your personal brand is not a hobby. Its serious business.
Friend: So, how should I go about it?
Ajay: First you need to be clear why you are doing this. Whats your motivation? Is it because everybody around you is doing it or do you have a better purpose? If you dont have a purpose, your motivation is bound to fizzle out half way.
Friend: I should look into that.
Ajay: Once you know your purpose you will have a clear idea about how much to invest in it.
Friend: In terms of money?
Ajay: Mostly in terms of your time. When you have that kind of clarity you will also have some idea about how long it might actually take to build your brand. Remember, we are talking about years here.
Friend: Funny to think that I got frustrated in a few weeks!
Ajay: Knowing your end goals is also important. You need to ensure your posts are in alignment with what you desire to build. Adopt a more targeted approach and know what kind of audience you are looking at.
Friend: Okay.
Ajay: Above all, decide how badly you want to do this. Because here, consistency is the key. And if you are already doing a lot of things, you might have to sacrifice a thing or two for this. You need to ask yourself if you are ready for that.
Friend: Got it!
Ajay: I would say have a project manager attitude towards building your personal brand. Don’t expect windfall gains. Know your goals and see how well your progress, however small it may be, compares against it. And then give yourself a pat for those small victories.