Stage 1 of 6 · 7 lessons · ~2 weeks
Your niche and story
Decide what you want to be known for, who it is for and which of your real experiences prove it. A clear niche and proof of work do more than any posting trick.
Start: Real branding versus influencer habitsLessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order
Do this
- Finish this sentence: "I help [audience] with [problem] through [your skill or experience]."
- Pick one main topic while you have under 10k followers, with 2 or 3 sub-themes around it.
- List 5 things you have built, fixed or learned the hard way; they are your proof of work and your first posts.
- Write down 3 values your content should show, such as honesty, clarity or helping beginners.
- Find 10 people in your niche whose work you respect and note what makes their content useful.
- Write a short list of what you will not do: invented stories, engagement bait, promoting things you have not used.
Start with
- GuideFreeLearn In Public
Shawn Wang (swyx)
The short essay behind sharing what you learn as you learn it, the core of a credible brand
Also worth your time
Before moving on: A one-paragraph positioning statement naming your audience, the problem you help with and your proof, plus 10 post ideas taken from your own work.
Real personal branding is telling true stories from your own work, helping others and letting results speak. If you catch yourself chasing numbers, amplifying others more than using your own voice, or accepting paid posts you have not reviewed, you are drifting into influencer habits.