Every personal brand expert tells you to “tell your story” but none of them ever tell you how. 

If they won’t do it, I will. 

If you feel like “telling your story” is a vague term, here’s how to do it. 

It’s actually straightforward when you rephrase it into a different question, which is:

Why do you do what you do? Tell me everything.

People are curious. People want to know what motivates you. They want to hear about what led you to this point in your life that has led you to cross paths with them. 

Everyone has a why. 

Most people just don’t know how to talk about it unless asked the right questions.

How might freelancers brand on social media in a way that they love?

This is the question I’ve been trying to answer for the past few months. 

And finally, we’re onto something that might work.

But, in all honesty, it still is an experiment because we haven’t done it before. 

Our team at the Habit Factory is hosting a 21 day Content Club, designed just for freelancers to build their brand while growing with others. 

The first run is totally free, and starts this Monday. 

Sign ups are here.

We’d love to see you join if you’re up for the challenge. 

If you want to create content that performs, here’s the secret

Take a look at your posts up to 2 months ago, and see which got the most shares/comments/likes. 

If those select posts are constructive for your brand, do more of it. 

If it resonated with your specific audience, do more of it. 

That’s all.

Want to 10x your Content Writing Game?

Here are 2 books to help you understand what you can do to improve:

1. A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters: A Resource for Writing Headlines and Building Creative Confidence by Dan Nelken.

A practical read with exercises, examples, sprinkled with personal experience. 

  1. Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling by Matthew Dicks.
  2. Learn how to craft your words in a way that makes people lean in. 

However, reading books will only get you so far.

The real key to 10xing your content writing is to practice your writing and get feedback on it. 

Our team at the Habit Factory is launching a 21 day Content Club this month.

Check it out and sign up for the list here

How I started my blog

Writing was always an interest of mine.

I’ll never forget the time I wrote a 20 page story for my 8th grade teacher when she only asked for 1.

To be fair, I was already 12 pages in when I realized there was a page limit. Might as well go all out right?

Fast forward a few years later, I found myself writing as a means of self growth and reflection.

Eventually I posted some of these onto Instagram, which didn’t do too well because Instagram isn’t necessarily a text-based platform.

Still, I needed a place to put my words so I bought a domain and published my daily posts on WordPress. 

However, the downside of WordPress is that it isn’t an awareness tool. If you want more attention for your stuff, you have to go to where the people are. 

That’s where social media comes in.

Fortunately for me, LinkedIn is a flexible professional platform that allows long+short text posts, photos, and videos on the feed. 

Now I publish all my posts onto LinkedIn (+ more).

I treat it as part of my blog, and I get to talk and meet with some cool people.

Frequency helps with improvement

The other day I found myself making jelly for the first time with agar agar. 

The results were a little different from what I expected. 

It was too soft for a jelly, and broke down into tiny pieces that made up a jelly-like slush.

Eventually I found out that I didn’t add enough agar agar. 

But the point of this post isn’t about jelly desserts.

Instead, it’s this.

The trick with frequency is that the more times you try something, the better you’ll get at recognizing patterns.

You’ll learn to see what works, and what doesn’t. 

Alternatively, whatever you don’t try you’ll never learn from.

Something about me is that I used to be a fashion illustrator

I’d draw late into the night and dream about dresses all day.

Suddenly, my life changed.

No longer was I able to draw pretty girls in pretty dresses.

Instead, I now serve Hong Kong fast food to people in my city.

When I get off work, I pour the rest of my energy into helping creators understand how they can use social media for their business.

You’re allowed to change and explore your interests and passions.

How to take your brand game seriously

How most people approach social media:

  1. Post only when you feel like it
  2. Write whatever you want
  3. It’s a likes and followers game

How professionals approach social media:

  1. Show up to your platforms every day, because it’s your job
  2. Write in service to your audience, because it’s for them
  3. It’s a brand and community game