Personal Brand and Networking that Open Doors (Online and In Person)

What it is (and what it isn’t)

Personal brand isn’t empty self‑promotion. It’s your reputation for consistently creating value — reinforced by trusted relationships.

Structures that actually work

LinkedIn with purpose

• Headline: what you do + for whom + with what outcome.
• About: 5–7 lines on problems you solve, results, and differentiators.
• Portfolio: 2–3 real mini cases (before/after, metrics, your role).
• Recommendations: ask colleagues and leaders to highlight outcomes, not traits.

Content that attracts opportunities

• One post per week: common problem → practical micro solution → invitation to discuss.
• Formats: checklist carousels, short case studies, lessons learnt.
• 30–60–10 rule:
  • 30% teaching,
  • 60% behind the scenes/process,
  • 10% social proof (milestones, testimonials).

Intentional networking (without being awkward)

• Map 20 target people (peers, hiring managers, recruiters).
• A cold message that works:
• “Kia ora [Name], I read your piece on [topic] and applied two ideas. Could I ask two quick questions about [subject]? I’ll keep it brief.”
• After you speak: follow up with what you tried and the outcome — it closes the loop and builds trust.

A sustainable weekly rhythm (30 minutes)

• Monday (10 min): add useful comments on three posts.
• Wednesday (10 min): publish one practical post.
• Friday (10 min): send two value‑first messages (no ask).

Mini plans by goal

• Career change: three learning posts + one small case + five new connections/month.
• Internal growth: one quarterly case study + short results talk to your team.
• Freelance: lean portfolio page, clear service packages, concise testimonials.

Reputation killers (avoid)

• Posting things you don’t deliver in real work.
• Asking before offering value.
• Going silent for months, then popping up to request a referral.