How many platforms should you choose for your personal brand?
Keep in mind: less is more when we speak about platforms.
In today’s digital landscape, the possibilities for building a community and establishing a personal brand online are endless. Yet, the question remains: How do you choose the best platforms for you, and how many should you actively engage with?
It’s time to break free from the trend-chasing mentality and find your happy place!
Feeling overwhelmed, are you? Are you paralyzed by the idea that you need to juggle a thousand platforms and spend a hundred hours a day creating content? If so, you’re not alone, and I have a solution for you.
Mindset: Stop trying to please everyone. Constantly fearing you’re missing out only stifles your creativity. If you want to excel at something, focus your energy there.
Strengths: Take a moment to reflect on your strengths. Are you passionate about writing, creating videos, speaking, or photography? Answer these questions honestly.
Audience: Understand your audience and where they spend their online time. Create a list of these platforms.
Passion: Which platforms do you genuinely enjoy using? Your choice should inspire and excite you.
Goals: Consider your primary objectives. Why do you want to create content, and what are your expectations from it? For instance, if your aim is to build professional connections, LinkedIn is a better choice than TikTok.
The golden rule:
Choose 1 long-form content platform + 1 short-form content platform.
Once you’ve achieved your goals on one platform and built a loyal audience, then think about adding another.
Let’s see the key opportunities!
Short-form content platforms:
Instagram: A versatile platform where you can showcase both your personal and professional sides. You can create lengthy carousels, and captivating Reels, connect through Stories, or share stunning photos.
Facebook: Ideal for posting articles, running a webshop, organizing events, or fostering a community within a group.
TikTok: Known for its user-friendly interface and vast user base, TikTok provides a unique opportunity to showcase your talents, expertise, or personality through engaging video content, connecting you with a diverse audience.
LinkedIn: Tailored for professionals aiming to build a personal brand in their respective industries, LinkedIn allows you to highlight your expertise, career milestones, and industry insights through a well-crafted profile. Connect with peers, industry leaders, and potential collaborators while sharing valuable content and articles to establish yourself as a thought leader.
X (Twitter): Through concise and engaging tweets, users can share their thoughts, expertise, and interests with a global audience. Building a strong presence on Twitter involves consistent, meaningful interactions and sharing valuable insights or entertaining content to establish your unique personal brand.
Threads: Similar to Twitter, this platform is integrated with Instagram.
Long-form content platforms:
Medium (or other blogging platform): An excellent space for publishing articles and essays across a wide range of topics. Medium’s engaged readership and distribution capabilities enable you to showcase your expertise and connect with genuinely interested readers.
Substack (or other newsletter service): Create and distribute your own newsletter to share unique insights, expertise, and content directly with subscribers interested in your niche. Substack also offers a monetization model, making it attractive to establish yourself as an expert or thought leader.
YouTube: With a vast audience, creators can display their talents, share knowledge, and express creativity. Consistently uploading engaging videos can attract subscribers, monetize content, and establish authority or entertainment in a chosen niche.
Podcasts: With a vast audience, creators can display their talents, share knowledge, and express creativity. Consistently uploading engaging videos can attract subscribers, monetize content, and establish authority or entertainment in a chosen niche.
Twitch: Known for live-streaming, Twitch is suitable for longer content formats like gaming sessions, live Q&A sessions, and creative streams.
LinkedIn Articles: Ideal for professionals and thought leaders to share in-depth insights and expertise.
In summary:
Be present on fewer platforms but know them thoroughly to achieve more. Choose one platform for short-form content and one for long-form content. When you feel you’ve excelled on one platform, succeed, and then consider adding another.