Tips & tales- Building an Online Brand Master Class

It’s always a good day when I get a text message from the number saved as “Jason Wilson Madonna.” The message read:

After some text message banter, Jason invited me to be a guest speaker on a master class with theatre students from GSODA- Geelong Society of Operatic and Dramatic Arts, to present about building an online brand.

Ladies & gentlemen.. please take your seats!

I connected with Jason in 2012 when I started the Madonna Australia Facebook page and we have been friends ever since. Jason has always supported my social media endeavours- he has photographed the Madonna Australia events I have organised and I was also his modeling guinea pig for the launch of his business JW Photography & Video. Above all, Jason is a wonderful and treasured friend, aside from being able to share his love of Madonna with my equally obsessed self.

Jason and I at a Madonna Australia event

Despite having the gift of being able to speak under water, I always get nervous before public speaking and in particular teaching, which I have often done over the years. On this occasion, it was my first master class online where it was just myself presenting to the Brady Bunch-like Zoom video conferencing screen, made up of display squares of the fabulous GSODA crew.

Whether you are an artist, entrepreneur or business you are your own brand and it’s important to sell yourself as who you are and what sets you apart from others. Here are some key points from my Building an Online Brand Master Class with Jason that I would like to share:

• What is your brand?

You are your best sales person to promote and create the work you are seeking. Your online brand should clearly and consistently encompass what your brand is about across your website and social media platforms.

• What do you want to achieve?

All of your efforts should be focused on your ultimate goal. For me, everything I do or post online is part of my plan. This way, I am not wasting time and resources. Your goal may be to implement a social media campaign, to drive customers to your online store or to be cast in a certain production. I would think about what you want to work towards and achieve, thinking about the bricks you need to lay, brick by brick, to work towards your goal. And it’s a process… let me know if I can assist you by clicking here.

• What is unique about you?

You’ll always hear me ask “what is unique about you?” Have a think about what your skills are, what unique services or products you offer, what your passions and achievements are. What sets you apart from everyone else? Have the courage to write down your strengths and weaknesses and use your niche to the advantage of building your brand.

• Professional Vs personal social media

My recommendation is your social media should be professional and set up accordingly, complete with a bio, website and consistent content. Keep your brand and personal life separate. For example, keep content about family celebrations on your personal platforms and content relating to your brand or business, should remain on those specific platforms. It’s always a good idea to cross promote your brand on your personal platforms as your friends and family may like to subsequently support your professional platforms.

• Identify a mentor

I have been fortunate to have a wide range of people support my business endeavours and I encourage you to think about what mentors you too can identify to inspire you. Personally, I consider fellow professionals that I consider the best in their field as key personnel to my own development. They’re great at what they do and I aspire to emulate their level of work ethic and success. I’ve had a couple of mentors that I look up to that even after 20 years, I bounce ideas off or ask for feedback from, to keep me in check. I have even asked what they think my strengths are to give me confidence that I sometimes lack, just to give me a kick up the ass.

Similar to how I have worked with Jason and other entrepreneurs of the like, working with others, whether it is in a collaboration or an exchange of mentor support, the exchange is a two way street or as entertainment legend Jason Coleman (who I met during his time as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance Australia) once said to me, “it’s a win- win.” A win for both people involved is crucial- when I was working with Jason, I wondered what he would request in exchange for wearing an Ed Hardy leather jacket that I gifted him to wear on national TV. He explained he wanted nothing- “it’s a win-win.. I get to wear an amazing, on trend jacket and it's a win for you with product placement on national TV,” Jason said. On a side note, my experience working with Jason at the launch of Ed Hardy London (check out the video below) is one of my career highlights, as was singing Tina Arena songs with him on the London underground en route to rehearsals.

It's a win-win! Jason Coleman and I

You can’t expect people to just advise you, or support you and when they do, do not take this for granted- take the time to develop and nurture genuine connections to support each other whenever you can. I feel a blog about the “sense of entitlement” epidemic on the cards…

If you would like to learn more about my Building an Online Brand Master Class contact me by clicking here.

See you online!

Nicole xo

Thank you to Jason & the GSODA crew for the opportunity to be part of their master class 🎭

I see you!