In this episode, Simi Awokoya, a career and Personal Brand Coach for Women of color in corporate and entrepreneurship shares her expertise on leveraging LinkedIn to attract high-ticket clients. She emphasizes the importance of branding your LinkedIn profile and discusses the differences between LinkedIn and Instagram, highlighting the professional and thought leadership aspects of LinkedIn. She explains how to create content that resonates with your target audience and shares her own journey of growth and progress on the platform using the help of Brand Revenue Lab. Additionally, Simi discusses the use of brand archetypes that she’s learned inside the program and offers practical advice for getting started on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn has become a powerhouse platform for professionals looking to build and enhance their personal brand. Simi Awokoya, an expert in personal branding and LinkedIn strategy, shares her journey and the critical decisions that helped her master her personal brand with confidence. In this enlightening podcast, Simi reveals the rebrand strategies, ideas, and solutions that transformed her LinkedIn presence, making her a sought-after voice in her industry.

The Need for a Personal Brand Rebrand

Simi begins by discussing why she felt the need to rebrand her personal LinkedIn profile. Recognizing that her online presence needed a fresh, cohesive identity that reflected her evolving career goals and professional values, she embarked on a strategic rebranding journey. This decision was driven by her desire to stand out in a crowded market and to connect more authentically with her audience.

Defining Your Brand Identity

A key part of Simi’s rebranding process was defining her personal brand identity. She shares how she took a deep dive into her professional experiences, skills, and passions to craft a unique brand persona. This involved identifying her core values, mission, and the unique value she brings to her network. By clearly defining her brand identity, Simi was able to create a strong foundation for her rebrand.

Crafting a Compelling LinkedIn Profile

Simi discusses the specific changes she made to her LinkedIn profile to reflect her rebranded identity. This included updating her profile picture, banner image, and headline to create a visually appealing and professional appearance. She emphasizes the importance of using high-quality images and a consistent color scheme that aligns with your brand. Additionally, Simi revamped her summary and experience sections to highlight her expertise and achievements in a compelling narrative.

Creating Engaging Content

Content creation is a cornerstone of Simi’s LinkedIn strategy. She shares how she developed a content plan that showcases her knowledge and thought leadership. By posting regularly and sharing valuable insights, Simi was able to engage her audience and establish herself as an authority in her field. Her content strategy includes a mix of articles, posts, videos, and engagement with her network’s content, ensuring a dynamic and interactive presence.

Leveraging LinkedIn Features

Simi highlights the importance of leveraging LinkedIn’s features to maximize visibility and engagement. She discusses how she used LinkedIn’s publishing platform to share long-form content, participated in LinkedIn groups to connect with like-minded professionals, and utilized LinkedIn Live to host webinars and live sessions. These features helped her expand her reach and build a stronger network.

Networking with Intention

Building a strong network on LinkedIn requires intentionality. Simi talks about her approach to networking, which involves connecting with professionals who align with her brand values and career goals. She shares tips on how to personalize connection requests, engage in meaningful conversations, and build mutually beneficial relationships. Her networking strategy is focused on quality over quantity, ensuring that each connection adds value to her professional journey.

Showcasing Social Proof

Simi underscores the importance of showcasing social proof on LinkedIn. She discusses how she actively sought recommendations from colleagues and clients, and how she highlighted endorsements and testimonials on her profile. By presenting tangible evidence of her expertise and positive impact, Simi reinforced her credibility and trustworthiness.

Measuring Success and Iterating

To ensure the longevity and effectiveness of her rebrand, Simi adopted a strategy of continuous improvement. She shares how she regularly reviews her LinkedIn analytics to measure the success of her posts and overall engagement. By analyzing this data, she identifies what works and what doesn’t, allowing her to refine her content and engagement strategy. This iterative approach ensures that her personal brand remains relevant and impactful.

Overcoming Challenges

Rebranding on LinkedIn comes with its challenges. Simi candidly discusses the obstacles she faced, including managing time effectively and dealing with negative feedback. She shares the solutions she found, such as setting clear boundaries for LinkedIn usage, scheduling dedicated time for content creation, and developing a thick skin to handle criticism constructively.

Connect with Simi below:

Simi’s website: https://coach-simi.com/personal-brand-accelerator
Simi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simiawokoya/
Simi’s Email List: https://coach-simi.com/email
Simi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachsimi/