Don't build a social media account. Build a personal brand instead.

[@VanessaLau]

This video is just the TIP of the iceberg. I actually quit THREE things that transformed me into a happier creator. No longer sticking to a niche is just ONE of them. 📬 Sign up for The Creator Journal to access this FREE article where I talk about why I stopped sticking to a niche, stopped being 'consistent' for the sake of it, and quit treating my content like a commodity: www.thecreatorjournal.co/p/3-things-i-quit-content

[@ForevaABBIEx3]

The link isn't working

[@LindyMonse]

​@@ForevaABBIEx3True, it's a 404 error when clicking on the link😊

[@VanessaLau]

@@ForevaABBIEx3 fixed!

[@8randomprettysecret8]

Humans change and evolve in all aspects of life over time. 💡

[@jerryGolddd]

another great video!!! you hit it right on the head! 5 years ago, AI was not prevalent. now, information is a commodity. dang youre a genius. i love these type of videos. i personally liked the growth videos before, and i cant help it...naturally i will always look for the value in videos, especially yours! i thank you very much so for the content :)

[@Fabiannysblog]

The key point to personal brand: Share more of the things you already love and enjoy, and not "some things" to create an image. Of course, sharing things you love will create an image too, but a genuine one. I'm loving you sharing this. Makes me feel we are friends already 🌸✨

[@VanessaLau]

Yes - one thing that's helped me in this season is recognizing that i'm building an online PORTFOLIO of who i am as a person. It's not about getting views, likes, etc. It's about building a feed that I feel represents who I am. My feed acts as a filter. Most times when I post things outside of my niche, it's not even about performance. It's about putting it out there so people know what I'm about.

[@Fabiannysblog]

@@JohnnyVichi I think our personal interests create our personal brand. Let’s say you’re a realtor, you can share about that and sell houses. As Vanessa says, what we share on Instagram Feed, in this case, is in order to build a portfolio that will give people who come to our account a glimpse of who we are, and the goal is to attract and connect with people who share the same interests.

[@ayvanna7770]

@@VanessaLauimportant to do things that align to you without thinking of the outcome just doing it with joy and love

[@ayvanna7770]

I love that so much

[@itsmikaylabarnes]

THIS IS THE ADVICE I'VE BEEN NEEDING!! "Pick a niche, stay in this field, don't be irrelevant to that niche...." it's overwhelming... thank you for this! truly and honestly! It's time to be ME!

[@DanielHYNg]

Omg Vanessa. This is so spot on. 2 weeks ago, YT has rejected my monetization application because of reused contents in my Shorts and Long Form Videos. I pivoted and talk about myself and interest. Being myself more than ever. I did a lot of Live videos. To my suprise, omg my views and watched hours sky rocketed. Yes, you are right, niching down is really outdated. I striped down to the simple plain me in the video. Nothing fancy, no video effects, no editing, no voice over, no studio shooting. Just plain simple.

[@SupremeHealthChannel]

I so resonate with this!!! At the back of my mind I always had the thought it’s about my values and value to others and 1:38 “my grandchildren will understand who I was/am”💚

[@the.digital.cat.]

I am finally seeing some success on social media and have been starting to wonder how I am going to have it last for the long term. Your advice was phenomenal and solidifies what I wanted to do all along - show ME and not just what I know. Thank you for the advice and tips!!!

[@kiotakarbo2326]

Do you like management agency

[@roberthenrypoet]

Funny you brought this up because I tweeted these thoughts yesterday: Remember, the world doesn't care about all of the vast elements of who you are; the world ( marketplace / social space ) just wants what it wants from you: It would prefer that you be a mountain that gets sanded down to a rock, then down to a shiny diamond for public consumption. And then, once the mountainous, and vast evergreens of who you are has been reduced to a rock, that gets cut down to a shiny diamond, eventually, this won't even be enough, and the world will bang it's hammer over and over on top of you just to see if you will break... ( It's better to grow slower and build a community than crash land due to hollow and repetitive engagement. Great video as always Vanessa!!! :) )

[@VanessaLau]

LOVE that anology. SO poetic too! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Very valuable.

[@MontanaGirlAdventures]

I've had a hard time picking a niche as I'm the kind of person that likes so many different things. My life is crazy and I'm kind of all over the place. You are the second creator that has said not to pick a niche. Thank you for your videos.

[@oxigen85]

There's some "I tried this or that for 30 days" channels and they're doing pretty well, maybe that's an idea for you

[@MontanaGirlAdventures]

@oxigen85 I will look into that. Thank you.

[@AlienaCai]

I love this new era of you ✨Learning from your videos everyday now. Also trying to build a personal brand here on KZbin, pivoting a little away from all the tutorial videos I've made hehe.

[@JuliaBoateng]

ah I love your content! You really helped me become a stronger designer! I myself am also trying to build my personal brand more 😅 we got this

[@MubarakAli-m8b]

Ok sweet gril

[@InspireHealthSystem]

Fantastic advice! 😊As an executive wellness & performance consultant, I definitely don’t want to be stuck to one tiny niche, like covering only weight loss… or focusing only on efficiency & productivity. I love it all, the mindset & psychology, nutrition, finance & peak performance, lifestyle & creativity, journaling & so much more. My personal set of passions adds a fresh perspective & makes my channel (& business) unique. Appreciate your ideas & feel inspired to implement them! ❤️

[@skzracha08]

True! When I look at your old content... I perceived you as every other content "expert" to whom I would subscribe for tips only. But now I have a TOTALLY different perspective of you... you now feel as a real HUMAN... with whom I can connect & bond with. And even though I'm a beginner in my career... I still absolutely relate to your mindset of exploring life with calmness... not chase success and money. Cuz then you're gonna end up having sleepless nights... bcuz you feel everyone else is going much faster than you and you're not enough (I totally relate to it!)

[@bellokhaeerat]

One of the key ways to stand out in the creator economy is to build a Personal Brand that people can vibe with and invest in by being true to yourself. Thank you so much for the valuable insights you shared in this video.

[@DefinedByAlex]

Spitting gems as always girl, glad to see that you're back

[@kolaaina2209]

Vanessa this is so insightful, I had my gaurd up when I first saw your video because I''ve always been the "niche down niche down niche down" marketing nerd but now I understand what I've been missing trying to build a personal brand. i forgot the social part SOCIAL MEDIA. Thank you so much for this reminder. You're right information is just a commodity these days. What can truly make you stand out is you

[@VanessaLau]

Yep! there's no problem with HAVING a niche, but i think with how things are evolving, staying relevant is going to take more than "sticking to a niche". It's about building an authentic relationship with your audience, and allowing people to get to know the person behind the information. Anyone can get info nowadays. Thanks for tuning in and watching the video with an open mind!

[@TheRealCelebrityDoctor]

Absolutely agree! 🌟 A personal brand goes so much deeper than just social media metrics-it builds trust, credibility, and long-term connections

[@MonsterDroiid11]

Yep i went thru hell when i abandoned Minecraft Content (which gave me 900k out of my 1.1 million subs) and i killed my channel in the process but the thing is that i really tried to build a personal thing, even then most of the views went away after that Went from 100k+ per video to 5-30k now 🫠 Idk gaming is so weird, some of the old subs are still there tho But yeah i kinda grew to hate the gaming community as a whole cause most of it is very toxic and i really have nothing in common with their worldview even tho i run a gaming channel lol I post more personal stuff on my socials but most of them dont get it (maybe its because they are way younger and dont care about my interests as a 32yo man) or just unfollow me all the time idk its hard but im still going after 15 years But yeah im happier now that i do whatever i want whenever i want.. tho i wish someday i can get an audience that truly gets me🥹 Great video as always!

[@VanessaLau]

Thank you for sharing your perspective! I can see how that process must have been tough. It probably felt like trying to turn a ship around during a storm. I can see how faceless channels similar to yours would have a more challenging time making a pivot beyond the niche. I'm really happy for you that YOU feel more fulfilled and using your other socials as an outlet. Even for me, I would say I use Instagram more for fun personal brand building, and my KZbin channel/Newsletter as a way to share my lessons and give back to the creator community. Sometimes it's helpful to have each platform serve various purposes!

[@MubarakAli-m8b]

Soo nice personal you see I give you too much enjoy ❤

[@EnricoIncarnati]

Great video. I think it's also super important to add context that you have built a core audience of people and proven success to a certain niche and now have the flexibility to go wider. Most people - simply put, aren't known and they need to prove they care about other people in a niche and go narrow, then go wider once people know you care about them, then they will care about you.

[@VanessaLau]

@@EnricoIncarnati thank you for watching!!! I actually think the “go narrow then go wide” is a bit dated. I think there’s MANY MORE creators now than ever before, so from the get go I think newer creators should be building their personal brands alongside creating content within a niche. Just taking the playbook from a lot of the creators on TikTok that have successfully reached more people - they’ve really allowed their personality to shine beyond the content from the jump. Information alone IMO isn’t enough anymore, people want to fall in love with personalities, characters etc. just my hot take though!

[@EnricoIncarnati]

@@VanessaLau fair point - that feels more for “influencer” people - given the playbook of most successful entrepreneurs being as specific as possible for most business owners who are looking to build a business, that’s the move first. I think you can inject personality within your content and find formats that work for you but when it’s specifically looking to build a business I think it’s a bit different. And sure, information is everywhere, doesn’t mean it’s always the right information.

[@SHEAwakeningOfficial]

​@@VanessaLauhi, i left building a business as i found it too masculine for my mental health (long story) but wanted to live from intentional purpose sharing what i love while helping others with things in place so if people are inspired to buy to get the results i do, then it's there. Is that considered or seen as an influencer?

[@Kenan-John]

You and your channel have become a major inspiration for me lately. I've been stuck in a cycle of research without actually getting much done in terms of content creation, but the way you're doing it now is brilliant and easy to understand. You convey information really well, and you seem really knowledgeable I'll definitely be sticking around for future videos, I wish I found your channel sooner!

[@TechieButterflySinger]

The whole “niche” thing never made sense to me and I’m so glad to hear you say this! 🦋

[@AurelieExplore]

I'm just starting my journey and this is the first time that hear something that makes senses to me and allows me to share my whole self and see this going long term ^^

[@Mv3Trader]

10:51 "I was very burnt out from that, to the point where I almost resented it" 💯 I felt this to my core! THIS has been my biggest struggle as a content creator, especially when the questions come off as just being too lazy to find a simple answer for themselves. Yea, those are easy to answer, but it gets old, FAST! And it goes back to attracting the type of people you would want to hangout with. I understand my perspective is a key reason I'm in the position to give advice on my primary niche, but I'm just not going to vibe like that with someone that can't do a 5 minute Google search for a simple question.

[@VanessaLau]

Yes, it's because we've trained your community to treat you like a Q&A forum. It's not their fault, it's just that we've normalized it. I mean, of course they'll just be asking you questions especially if your content is all information based, devoid of any emotion or personality. But once you open the doors of your other interests, the DMs definitely become a lot more interesting and fun. There's more variety, and if someone does ask you a question related to your niche, you'll now feel less resentful because not ALL your DMs are like that. Another thing I've learned is to have people meet you half way. For example, if they ask a question I've already covered, I'll just send the video and then say Watch the video first, and then lmk if you have any questions. If they dont watch the video, then that's on them, and no question will be answered. Sometimes you need people to meet you half way first in order for you to pour into them.

[@REVAssist]

This video projects how genuinely happy you are with what you do right now. ❤

[@yourlegacyfilmmaker]

I’ve always focused on building a lifestyle around me versus being a fact checker. At 13 years old my grandfather sat me down and said ‘as long as the people love you, you’ll never be out of work’. And developing myself as a character makes me be a better director and filmmaker for me and my clients.

[@MubarakAli-m8b]

I am also not working I this

[@MubarakAli-m8b]

I am long in Dubai

[@foundationaltruths6114]

As a new viewer, I just want to say thank you for sharing such detailed and HELPFUL content. I have searched everywhere and it seems people have the same generic content to sell a process I don’t think they’ve actually been through. It is incredibly nice to click on a video that delivers what you say it’s going to do. THANK YOU!

[@StephTalk_TV]

This works for me. I have an eclectic personality, style, and skill set. Finding (seeking) a niche seems weird to me. I have to love what I do and how I express myself.

[@evelienbijldoelgerichtecoa2775]

THANK YOU! Have felt like this for years, but I kept hearing that I had to stick to sharing things about my niche. But every time I shared things outside my niche, I was happier AND I got more engagement.

[@jmprofessor]

Awesome video, Vanessa! Thank you so much. My community started to grow recently, and now I feel like I want to show a bit more of myself outside my current niche (original relaxing guitar music). I want to make content about music education and other guitar music genres, though I don't know if I should create a new channel to do this. But I did not feel the confidence to do that before growing an audience. When I started two years ago I decided to follow the niche trend, and I'm glad I did because it worked and helped me focus hehe. Would you agree that the niche strategy might be good for beginners only?

[@MubarakAli-m8b]

Yes sweet gril ❤

[@SachisStudio]

Thank you so much for this video! I have been feeling burnt out and a bit resentful toward my channel lately and now it’s clear to me why it was that way. I think building the channel you actually like and the audience that care about you is so important, because IMHO the most important thing on KZbin is to actually keep making videos. Thank you for always giving us such insightful videos and now a glimpse to your personal life. I loved the prank video on your dad and watched it multiple times 😂

[@TheFinanciallySavvyGirly]

I totally get you! That's why I make videos about mindset shifts to achieve financial freedom rather than sticking strictly to financial topics. I don’t want to be boxed into a niche-I want to evolve with my community and explore new ideas together! Love the direction you’re going in, and by the way, your new haircut is 🔥!

[@CLNSL8]

Just followed you 😊

[@VanessaLau]

Omg I was immediately intrigued by your video about how to raise your aura! I love how you're more focused on creating a MOVEMENT rather than being known for tactics / strategies. Tactics/strategies can fall under the movement, but it won't box you in. Love that and congrats on exploring new ideas with your community. They are lucky to have you!!

[@TheFinanciallySavvyGirly]

@@VanessaLau Thank you so much! ❤

[@thehopefulbudgeter]

You are such a beautiful person inside and out. I’m watching all of your videos right now. I need to get on your level. ❤ I’m still so nervous with talking on my YT but your tips are super helpful. TYSM for helping people like myself.

[@movementcreatorTV24]

I love that you took time to showcase the importance of a personal brand. I used this in corporate to help grow companies grow and I am know showing my tribe how to create their personal brand and WHY they are more important than ever to grow a business for the long-run! Thank you 😊

[@JustAlyx]

Another great video, coach. I think the better we get at understanding people, the more successful we will be as content creators. If you can make people feel good about themselves, they'll forever be loyal to you and follow you wherever you go. No matter what you talk about. I appreciate you for making that point here. It's a very positive message but also extremely essential.

[@VanessaLau]

I agree. I think the moment we make connections to the things that are successful beyond typical content creation, you can draw a lot of best practices. Like in the video how I talked about friendships and fiction books. There's a lot of wisdom if you look for it! Thank you Alyx!

[@halleymastrolonardo]

Loved all of this! So helpful! I think this is why I’ve not been motivated to post recently. I’ve wanted to share more fun easy going videos about my life in general but felt like it didn’t go with my niche but this video just solved that issue for me. Makes it way easier and more fun to strategize about my personal brand. Thanks so much!

[@EliseRoseCrochet]

I love your honesty and how willing you are to share your journey! Thank you!! ❤

[@mariannerady1137]

I love the journey you are on now. I am still building up my courage to finally get my youtube channel up, this video was encouraging! Thanks from Germany

[@swasandswam]

Hey Vanessa, I've been following you for years and absolutely love your content and really admire you! I think you're the best in the game, you're always so genuine and your videos are easy to understand and really fun to watch too. That's why I kindly wanted to request a video: I'm an artist (digital & traditional art) and find it hard to implement a lot of advice, because the art business seems so different to me than any other niches. You have the artwork and then you have the artist. The artwork is usually not just a product you buy because you need it or because it solves a specific problem, you buy it because you just like it so you buy the painting or print. So I'm not sure how, I as a the artist, can put myself more in the foreground and build a brand with my art. I can see how sharing more of yourself would motivate people to get a certain service or product for other niches, but isn't it different with art? Someone may like me as an artist, as a person, but that wouldn't change whether they like my art or even if they do, decide if they purchase something. That's why I would love to request a video where you talk about implementing these kinds of things for artist and how things may be different for our niche (Maybe they aren't and I just can't see it yet!). Hope you have a lovely day!

[@melissaleger409]

I'm so happy you're creating this kind of content! Being fully you, being curious and creative. It's all so interesting, and you're on to something big. Love watching your story and how all of this unfolds.

[@VanessaLau]

Thank you Melissa for following along my journey, especially coming back from my sabbatical. Your support means a lot to me! Appreciate you :)

[@melissaleger409]

@@VanessaLau Omg, I appreciate YOU! This is such a valuable and needed deep dive into what happens with creators. Letting it all go was like pruning and how your growth will skyrocket. You've inspired me so much. I felt frozen, not knowing which way to go, as nothing felt like anything I wanted to say or share. Everything I thought of just felt so stale. Even if it was good, I still didn't want to share it. You have helped me see why I feel that way so clearly, and it's been such a struggle for so long. I cannot tell you how much it means to have your insight. You are also a master at organizing all of this and presenting it in such a beautiful package that is easy to digest. You're amazing Vanessa!

[@breathofglori]

I really had to come here and let you know how helpful your videos have been for me right now. Creating content online feels soo caging sometimes esp when you lock yourself into a niche! You put into words exactly what I’m going through and helped me process my own inner dilemma so thank you ♥️ I hadn’t found you until now but I love your authenticity and new content😊 It goes to show how vulnerability truly allows us to connect deeper with others! Keep going 🙌

[@suvendroseal1724]

Every business creator has such strong opinions on "having a niche" that I am no longer sure who or what is correct.

[@User-q8d9j]

I only trust the realistic ones and they all say you don't need a niche

[@Tchibazz-TV]

You can say this again😢... Oh you need a niche No dnt niche 😂😂😂

[@VanessaLau]

That's fair - what do you feel called to do? Also, to clarify, this video isn't about NOT having a niche, its about the dangers of ONLY posting content within your niche and failing to build a personal brand in the process.

[@carlasilva1774]

I get that question, but making niche the star of the show doesn't seem to be the answer. I remember all the niche channels that exploded in the last 15 years that just faded when they were no longer so trending - minimalism, raw vegan diet, keto, you name it

[@taramckenna2283]

I think it depends on what your goals are with creating content! What type of business do you want to build now, but also reflect on what your future self might look like and how that might change over time. That may help you to decide how niched down you want to be.

[@SacredCobra]

Thank you so much. I am in the transition to personal brand. I have pivoted from Divorce Coach, relationship coach, spiritual awakening coach. It has been a journey to pivot to just “ ME “ I am getting more authentic and you were the first creator to I try this to me while all partners and marketing pros still want me to just do divorce or relationship. I am about to walk away from a partnership because of this. Thank you

[@CrisF89]

Girl, your joy and genuine excitement are shining through! And I love reading your newsletters 💖

[@dennissanchez7590]

I’m a mindset focused person so I see the higher level thinking due to the perception shifts that you’ve gone through. You’re learning to appreciate yourself, instead of simply focusing on views. I like the “no captions” style because people will now be forced to focus on you instead of information. Information is cheap, but people connect at higher levels. Great transformation example through your experience.

[@AskAunet]

Thank you for this video! I had imagined (hazy visual in my brain) building a brand in this way but everyone is promoting the niche and I kept getting stuck on the niche. I would think but what if I want to change things up. Because its in my nature to always learn and grow. You did a beautiful job explaining this new pathway to building a brand. Thank you again!

[@Meloyadina]

I found you recently and I really find your videos so helpful, in a real life way. Thanks for this one!!

[@MiliVelikova]

Love the new hairstyle Vanessa, looks amazing on you! This was a really helpful video, love the books analogy - as someone who constantly grows and pivots, it's so hard to say consistent and talk about the same..this video was a breath of fresh air!

[@VanessaLau]

Thank you Mili!!! I'm glad you liked the analogy. We are in our character building era!!! And I agree, that's why i think it's important for people to get to know who you are as a person, your values, ever growing interests, so they can be accustomed to variety.

[@daveluna2]

I appreciate the video!! This new wave of personal branding rather than picking a niche has made it easier to create videos

[@MummyofFourUK]

Love this Vanessa! Your content has always been valuable but since you’ve come back it’s amazing! Please keep it up! The authenticity is everything. Off topic, but I LOVE the new hair xx

[@VanessaLau]

Thank you so much!!!! Filming videos have felt so much easier too. Just more chill, conversational. It's been a fun time. And thank you so much for the compliments on my new haircut!!!

[@yahayaoyinkansola8258]

A lot of what you have said here joins well with what Austin Kleon said in his book "Show your work", that we should share things of interests, that make our personality shine through, and we would attract other people with the same similar values

[@BevThorogood]

This video is brilliant Vanessa and just what I needed to hear. I have a small channel and I’m nearly 60. I really felt like anything I wanted to niche into put me in a box when I feel I have a lifetime of experience and stories to share. The bit I was missing was community which thankfully I’m just starting to find on KZbin because Ive tried to be wider in my content but always focused on Gen X Women with ADHD. I think the audience being the niche rather than the subject or topic is the way to go. Thank you 🙏

[@Lisalanaola]

I agree with this. I also think building a good reputation is just as important as personal branding. People need to know who you are. 🧡 good insight

[@VanessaLau]

I'm curious to know what your definition of a good reputation is!

[@Cofoworolar]

Awesome insight, been wanting to build a personal brand but I have been at a loss of where to even start, I have a cafe that bubble tea as part of the menu, awesome drink, thank you for always bringing it real, cheers.

[@tanvichauhan1]

This advice is stellar. As a new KZbinr starting out, I have battled with the idea of maybe creating more niche videos BUT THEN, something always kept telling me that will not be authentic. I don’t want to just create videos about one thing. That’s silly and boring and not why I am here anyways. Thank you for deep diving into why creating your own brand supersedes this whole “build a niche” thing EVERYONE talks about. It’s exhausting to hear that. Loved this radical refreshing thought. I am 900 subscribers right now 🤍

[@Neshavfrazier]

When I first started creating content, introducing myself as "an X"....it was a hard NAH, bih. And I would stop posting bc I could have been struggling and felt like a fake for teaching it. But because my target audience (solopreneur parents) want more calm in their in biz and home, I share more holistic videos. And I just share more of what I do for myself when struggling with their experiences. It's kept me more excited again. You look amazing too ❤

[@theregularhome]

Oh man I needed this. It’s so hard for me to grow my channel, been SUCH A STRUGGLE of slow growth. Luckily I’m stubborn as hell, but goodness… I just cannot niche. I’m just too into so many things.

[@elliechaneycreativity]

Thank you for sharing your story and the lessons you’ve learned Vanessa! After years of finding social media anxiety inducing I’ve finally started showing up as myself. It’s definitely hard sometimes when you have a tiny audience to believe that anyone cares and you aren’t making a fool of yourself. But ultimately I’m having so much more fun, overcoming my fear of visibility and love the new clients I’m finding through it! 😊

[@VanessaLau]

I love that Eleanor! Yes, there's a lot of glamour behind having a big audience - but it can also feel demanding and exhausting especially if you haven't built it with the right intentions, people, etc. You have 183 subs right now (not sure how many on IG) - but that is A LOT of people who've decided "I like your videos, I want to opt in!". How can you show these people what you're really about? And how can you attract people who are following you because they genuinely like what your'e interested in ,not just what you're pretending to be interested in because you're performing)? Anyways, food for thought. I'm rooting for you!!

[@elliechaneycreativity]

@@VanessaLau thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond! I did have a much bigger audience but I built it around niche and it ended up feeling suffocating and damaging my creativity. Starting again on both platforms has been SO humbling but as you say - I’m grateful for everyone who genuinely seems to like what I’m sharing now 😊 I’m loving your character building era too!

[@HiChinachannel]

Couldn't agree with you more then the question how to build a personal brand and make a living with it?Please share more with us.

[@ABiscuitandTea]

This video is so timely. Thank you so much Vanessa! I think this is exactly what’s been missing in my content and how I’ve been trying to pivot.

[@The.Pop.Finder]

It’s like you’ve lived my life but was actually successful. I grew my account on TikTok to 2M followers and actually started a viral trend which was the start of the Funko Pop community on tiktok. But i grew too soon on TikTok and because of that companies didn’t want to work with me yet because they didn’t know if TikTok was going to stay. Sadly I didn’t pivot and I kept milking that content till it completely dried up and I stopped getting views. When I plateaued, that’s when companies started to take tiktok seriously and it been really hard to get back into doing social media since I’ve been doing it for so long (12 years) and no success. If I just pivoted like some of the other people in the space I was in did, I would probably be doing my content full time instead of having to go back and waste my time and energy at a job

[@mariwhya]

I'm in the process of finally putting myself out there on social media and starting a personal brand. Thank you for breaking down the benefits and tips on how to go about doing so 😊

[@VanessaLau]

yeah, there's a lot more ways to build a personal brand, those were just some tangible easy examples. I may make another video about personal branding specifically in the future!

[@mariwhya]

@@VanessaLau It's definitely one I would thoroughly enjoy watching. I'm sure there's plenty of others who would soak up that information and benefit from hearing your personal take, experience, and stories on building a personal brand :)

[@estherezeani5773]

Vanessa I think this is really insightful but I do think it's easier to build a personal brand when you already have following. Do you think this would work for beginners too?

[@VanessaLau]

I don't believe in "once I have X, then I can do Y" mentality in this case. I think it's important to do both simultaneously from the get go. In fact, I actually recommend with playing with topics outside of your niche especially when you're starting because of the following reasons: 1. Test what you like and don't like creating 2. Open yourself to other opportunities you might not have thought of if you stuck to a niche Even for me, when I started, I wasn't talking about social media from the get-go. I talked about a variety of stuff. It just turned out that social media at the time was what hit it off for me, and so I "niched down" on that. That was 5+ years ago. If I could go back in time, I would have posted content around my interests IN ADDITION to whatever my niche was, just to build more dimension to my brand and also have more fun with my community.

[@ayvanna7770]

It's just limiting belief

[@NabuguziKiwanuka]

I'm legit screaming "I love you" because I have been so much against the idea that all you have to do with your social media is your expertise. I feel like it kills the aspect of socializing.

[@jessicaguevarapilates]

I've been struggling with "being stuck in my niche." This is exactly what I needed to hear today. :)

[@maluaragaoo]

Omg girl, this video is so necessary! Thank you for sharing!

[@federicacalandra9244]

Yes. This is what I am building for myself. You are the only one that talks about this, but it speaks directly to my heart. Yes, I think we would be friends in real life 😂❤

[@Norma447]

My advice to everyone is this : if you want to grow big this year especially in your finances. Be willing to make investments. Saving is great but investing puts you on a pedestal where you wouldnt have to worry about savings as you do now, thanks to my FA, my portolio is doing really great and I'm proud of the decisions i made last year.

[@Eric44620]

Net worth truly snowballs after $100k! Keep investing- regularly and you'll be blown away how much it can change in a few short years.

[@Bored55]

I ve been considering but haven't been proactive. Can you recommend your advisor? Could really use some assistance.

[@CONFI_rh]

Wow, you know her too Her Mentorship is crucial for beginners, and Isabella Mason guidance has been essential to my progress.

[@Margaret-g8s]

WOW! I'm happy to see the testimonies of Isabella, Seriously I was hopeless when I came across her just like this now I'm happy

[@Bored55]

I looked up her name telegram and found her page. I have already texted her and made an appointment to talk with her. Thanks for the information

[@d.white.creations]

years back, it used to be taught to decide on your long term goals to help decide if personal brand or product brand. if you want to sell the business in the future, don't use your name in your domain, etc... be careful about making it all about you. this is the same for offline as well. i think the folks starting in the last 5-6 years (maybe longer) built so fast that they missed the basics..

[@caelus2288]

Haven't watched yet but just wanted to say you sharing your journey the way you have been - all of it- has meant so much to me. I genuinely was happy and excited to see your new post today, and even if you never share anything again, I'm excited for you and your life

[@VanessaLau]

Aww this is so touching. Thank you so much for caring about me as a person. I appreciate you. Hope you ended up watching the vid and enjoyed it too! Have a great week ahead!!

[@buildyourmoxie]

You are the best Vanessa!!! Keep it up with the amazing content. I look up to you so much!

[@EmilyFangYuanyuan]

Love the new phase of Vanessa!! Hope you post more about how you show all aspects of your personality.

[@VanessaLau]

I've shared some ideas here in this video and I believe I also shared more ideas in this video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3uchpupZaqAi9E. More to come in the future!

[@edenlightworks]

Thank you! This makes a lot of sense and confirms my desire for.variety and being allowed to be me is a good thing even though strict niche experts would say i break the rules 😊

[@DavesWaysToMakeMoney]

Great video Vanessa! I like the point you made about how its unrealistic to talk about the same thing for decades. Its only natural for us as content creators to want to talk about or share different things outside of our niche. Many content creators that I follow do not stick to their niche and it doesn't stop me from watching their content. I also like that you share the things you enjoy doing outside of work. Thanks for giving me this idea. This is something that plan on doing too on my social media platforms

[@VanessaLau]

Love that! Exactly. The message is not to NOT have a niche, but it's the dangers of STICKING to it like no other. It's important to sprinkle aspects of YOU so people fall in love with you, not just your information. I love that you continue to support the creators you follow, in whatever season of life that takes them. Thank you Dave for leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts with us!

[@pldtzyxel]

You are so f*cking wise and insightful. Every minute of your video, and everything you say is gold. Thank you for coming back and sharing this.

[@riakhillan6555]

I am soooooo happy you started this new Business! My great wishes for you! ❤❤❤❤❤ God Bless You! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@VanessaLau]

Thank you! It's been fun! I love working with Leon and I really like how it's a physical product. I can use my personal brand to promote it, but it doesn't rely on me 100% to succeed. It's been a nice change!

[@8randomprettysecret8]

Appreciate your perspectives Vanessa! It’s mesmerizing seeing your growth throughout the years. Hanging in there these days. 🥺

[@VanessaLau]

Thank you! Yeah, the sabbatical did wonders for me and I do feel like I've come back more connected and stronger. Most importantly, a lot happier too. Thanks so much for sticking around for the ride and being a part of this journey as I find my footing!

[@mar_ink]

I am about to start my youtube journey and this video came just at the right time to me. Thank you Vanessa!

[@italyinkorea]

i think having a cause like something that you stand up for or like a charity that you support also helps A LOT.

[@kiotakarbo2326]

Do you like make a online management agency

[@italyinkorea]

@@kiotakarbo2326 I’ve worked for 2.

[@arigatoinvestor]

This is so true! Thanks for reminding us to build a relatable personal brand for fun and longevity!

[@happilyevernancy]

aww thank you for this video Vanessa! I love that you mentioned Harry Potter and character building because it’s one of my favorite books and I was wondering why do I like it so much! And it’s truly because of the characters! I think after a while I had stopped learning more about myself and embracing my interests because it felt like it didn’t fit into a “niche” and from then on I felt incredibly stuck and uninspired. I started feeling unsure about what my interests even are these days! I’ve been wanting to break free from these limiting thoughts and the urge to hide because I actually want to share & create 🥹

[@pastorrandy]

Hi again, Vanessa. I'm discovering this myself. I'm getting tons more views from livestreaming than from regular long-form videos.

[@VanessaLau]

Wow thats really cool! I'd love to get back into livestreaming again. Currently trying to stabilizing my new routine before I add more to my plate. But that's so amazing and inspiring. Congratulations!

[@MubarakAli-m8b]

​@@VanessaLauyes tell me know ❤

[@KimberlyEmerson-y9o]

Thank you for this. I'm working on creating a channel and a brand. This advice has really saved me from making the mistake of being one dimensional.

[@ShaySunshyne]

1st: LOVE your hair, so cute 😍 2nd: I’ve definitely been telling myself that I have to pivot & start integrating more of “me” in my content. Here’s my confirmation

[@VanessaLau]

HAH thanks girl!! I love it too! I kept playing with it during filming LOL, definitely an adjustment getting used to having hair right above my eyes lolol. THIS really is your confirmation! It's not meant to tell you NOT to have a niche, but have fun with it! Allow people to get to know you. The results can be amazing and freeing.

[@anag-navabi]

Thank you for this video. It's hard building a personal brand. I'm just gonna follow these points you mentioned.

[@Eligetsfit]

Thank you so much! I’m in the process of trying to establish more of a personal brand for myself - such perfect timing! And btw your hair looks fab💖

[@billiexnewland]

LOVE THIS!! i wanted to pivot a couple years ago and have lost SO MANY followers. im still trying to work through this two + years later and cant. it really sucks because people just dont care and dont want care that im not interested or invested in the things i used to be. and its hard because idk what to do... start from scratch... keep re-branding or what :( love your videos - always SO encouraging :)

[@billiexnewland]

also what do you do when you do get caught in this web... how do you get out of it?? ive been struggling wanting to quit because no matter what i do i keep losing followers on all paltforms :(

[@Megaman14]

Thank you for this video these are some of the things I am working on especially showing more personality in what I do I have friends that tell me to make sure I show it more I do get nervous at time but slowly working on it more thanks again

[@Layllen]

This is perfect and on time advice. I am brainstorming on what I want to create. I want to create longevity and have my audience invested in me. Thank you for sharing this.

[@VanessaLau]

You're welcome! You're starting to move away from an amateur mindset (how can I get views right now) and moving into an investor mindset (how can I build a personal brand that stands the test of time)

[@Layllen]

@@VanessaLau yes yes yes. At one point I used to share my life authentically then I took a break and when I returned to social media everyone was posting and selling something. I got discouraged and stopped posting. I have been praying a lot and your message was the confirmation I needed. You can do more than one thing and share that with your supporters. Your people will find you. Keep inspiring love.

[@AuthenticWe]

Gurrrl your glow up/blow out is peak level style in this video ❤

[@Sangeetalinggi-75]

THANKS A LOT DEAR.🙏 MUCH NEEDED... A BEGINNER KZbinR HERE. 😊 LOVE❤ & LIGHT🕯 ON YOUR WAY!

[@missjoycevega]

Love the new and refreshed you! 🥰 So glad you’re back. Excited to see more of your content :D

[@Master_Your_Moment]

I love this concept and the idea of storytelling is exactly what I had been researching and then boom, you post this.😮😂

[@MayaraAndStef]

This was a great video!! Thank you so much! ❤

[@forevergwladys]

Been here since you were at like 50K? It doesn't make sense for you to stay the same. I support each version of you, Vanessa - keep going!

[@chericobb_]

I’m in my character building era ❤ I love this analogy you broke down so well

[@MehakColorist]

That makes a lot of sense ! Do you think its necessary for a "Business" to share content that doesn't really cater to their niche and add a personal touch instead? If so, how do we not go overboard with it?

[@MakeupbyBethany]

It’s really hard thinking ppl will follow you for who you are vs what you can do for them…😢

[@SonicCloud7]

I Agree with you 100% Vanessa Lau. You are very "realistic" with your perspective. Good advice, thank you!

[@VanessaLau]

Thank you so much! Haha, im speaking from experience of the dark sides of sticking to a niche and also learning from my own business pivots. Appreciate you!

[@xiangxiadang]

I have both a social media business and a personal brand. I enjoy making personal content so much, hope to grow my pb in the future 😊

[@WineDineCaroline]

I love this and I feel like I’m ahead of the game for once to hear you explain it this way! I’ve got the personal brand down and the community that I actually want to hang out with, who do pay a lot to come to France and hang out with me, but I would love to be monetizing online without the in person element 😅

[@VanessaLau]

LOVE that!!! Trailblazer!! Must feel so good!!

[@imnoisy215]

this video is all what I concerned before. I love your story but it's hard to find life-connection to you :D Happy to see new version of Vanessa

[@AgingOnYourTerms]

I totally agree . I started my blog and channel to help people avoid the mistakes my family made by not planning for aging (outside of saving money for retirement). That is not a single topic discussion. So I threw the guru advice out the window on Day 1. My success will be measured by every like, comment, share, and subscribe.

[@VanessaLau]

Love that! What would you say your success is measured by now? :)

[@AgingOnYourTerms]

@VanessaLau I should have said 'is measured by' instead of 'will be'. I worked hard enough, and invested, to be able to walk away from Corporate America at the age of 55 after being laid off. I didn't start this as a side hustle, or main hustle. I started it as a philanthropic journey to give back. So, I guess I'm saying my success is being measured by all of the THANK YOUs.