Voices of Search: Episode Summary – "Personal Brand Building With AI"
Podcast Information:
- Title: Voices of Search // A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
- Host/Author: I Hear Everything
- Description: Dive deep into the ever-changing world of content and search engine marketing. Discover actionable strategies and learn ways to gain insights through data that will help you navigate the topsy-turvy world of SEO.
- Episode: Personal Brand Building With AI
- Release Date: March 18, 2025
Introduction to Personal Brand Building with AI
In this enlightening episode of the Voices of Search podcast, host Jordan Cooney from Pre Visible engages in a deep discussion with SEO expert Stefan Spencer about the pivotal role of personal branding in the digital age, especially when augmented by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Building on their previous conversation about leveraging AI for creating linkable assets, this episode shifts focus to how individuals can harness AI to cultivate and enhance their personal brands.
The Critical Importance of Building a Personal Brand
Jordan opens the discussion by emphasizing the significance of understanding the value behind personal branding, particularly for those early in their careers.
Stefan Spencer underscores this by stating:
“[04:31] ...your personal brand is the only brand that you have from cradle to grave. At some point if you have a business, you have something that you will part with. Because it's not a business if you can't sell it...your personal brand you get to keep after you have that exit.”
Stefan elaborates that unlike a business—which can be sold and left behind—a personal brand remains with an individual throughout their career and beyond. This enduring nature makes personal branding essential for long-term relevance and adaptability in an ever-evolving marketplace influenced by AI advancements.
Personal Branding for Employees vs. Entrepreneurs
Jordan raises an important question about the applicability of personal branding for individuals employed within companies or agencies, not just entrepreneurs.
Jordan Cooney asks:
"[07:20] ...if you're not an entrepreneur or you don't have, you don't have the ambitions to run your own company, is it still important as an employee in a company?..."
Stefan Spencer responds affirmatively:
"[07:53] I think so, assuming you want to stay employed...with AI, there's a risk of being overshadowed unless you build a personal brand that showcases creativity and adaptability."
He emphasizes that in a landscape where AI can perform tasks efficiently, personal branding helps individuals distinguish themselves through unique creativity, diverse expertise, and intuitive problem-solving—qualities that AI cannot replicate.
Leveraging AI to Build Your Personal Brand
The conversation delves into practical strategies for using AI to enhance personal branding efforts.
Jordan Cooney shares his insights from working with an AI startup in the construction industry, highlighting AI’s transformative potential:
"[09:58] ...if you can apply this to construction, you can apply this to just about anything..."
Stefan Spencer outlines three pillars essential for personal brand expansion:
- Experience: Building breadth and depth in one’s field.
- Creativity: Demonstrating outside-the-box thinking.
- Intuition: Showcasing intuitive decision-making that AI lacks.
He provides actionable advice:
"[11:25] ...use AI to take your existing content, such as podcast interviews or YouTube videos, and transform them into comprehensive materials like long-form blog posts, ebooks, and online courses."
Stefan suggests leveraging AI tools like 11 Labs for voice synthesis and Midjourney or DALL·E for imagery to create rich, multifaceted content that enhances a personal brand.
Overcoming the Mental Block to Start Building Your Brand
Jordan addresses a common hurdle: the mental block that prevents individuals from initiating their personal branding journey.
Stefan Spencer introduces the concept of "Eat the Frog," inspired by Brian Tracy's productivity principles:
"[17:55] ...the thing that you're procrastinating, just do it first thing. Eat the frog."
He advises listeners to prioritize significant tasks that drive personal branding forward over less impactful activities. Additionally, Stefan emphasizes the importance of discernment and focusing on the most impactful 5-6% of efforts that generate the majority of results:
"[19:45] ...it's more important what you say no to than what you say yes to. There are a lot of good ideas, but those good ideas will keep you from your greatness."
Practical Steps to Initiate Personal Brand Building with AI
To help listeners start their personal branding journey, Stefan recommends:
- Start Small: Implement tiny habits and gradually build upon them.
- Consistent Content Creation: Engage in regular activities such as a "30-day YouTube challenge" or securing podcast guest appearances.
- Repurpose Content with AI: Use AI to convert video content into blog posts, ebooks, and other formats to maximize reach and engagement.
- Enhance Visual Appeal: Incorporate AI-generated imagery to make content visually engaging and maintain audience interest.
He emphasizes leveraging AI tools to transform basic content into comprehensive, multi-format resources that establish authority and maintain audience engagement.
Stefan Spencer concludes:
"[23:26] ...use AI tools that are designed for podcasts to turn the transcript into a blog post and have table of contents and episode summary and timestamps... leverage AI to take those videos and turn them into something that's way more substantial."
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
As the episode wraps up, Jordan and Stefan reiterate the importance of taking actionable steps to build a personal brand. They encourage listeners to utilize AI as a powerful ally in creating and disseminating content that not only showcases their expertise but also sets them apart in a competitive digital landscape.
For those eager to delve deeper into Stefan Spencer’s insights, links to his LinkedIn profile, podcast website (markitngspeak.com), and personal website (stefanspencer.com) are available in the show notes.
Notable Quotes:
- "[04:31]" – Stefan Spencer on the enduring nature of personal brands.
- "[07:53]" – Stefan Spencer on the necessity of personal branding for employees.
- "[11:25]" – Stefan Spencer on leveraging AI for content transformation.
- "[17:55]" – Stefan Spencer introducing "Eat the Frog" principle.
- "[19:45]" – Stefan Spencer on the importance of discernment in personal branding efforts.
- "[23:26]" – Stefan Spencer on using AI tools to enhance content substance.
Resources Mentioned:
- Stefan Spencer’s Websites: markitngspeak.com, stefanspencer.com
- AI Tools: 11 Labs, Midjourney, DALL·E, Cast Magic
- Books: Eat the Frog by Brian Tracy, Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, Atomic Habits by James Clear
For more insights and strategies on SEO and content marketing, subscribe to the Voices of Search podcast and visit voicesofsearch.com.