New Year, New Goals: How to Align Your Personal Brand with What You Truly Want
The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on where you are and where you want to go, especially with your personal brand. Whether you're aiming for more followers or more business, the first thing to recognize is that these are two very different goals. And while it’s easy to say you want both, focusing on one will yield the best results—especially if you align it with your why.
Wanting Is Free, Action Is Not
It’s natural to set lofty New Year’s resolutions, but here’s the thing: wanting something doesn’t cost anything, but achieving it requires deliberate action. Before you start strategizing about gaining followers or generating leads, ask yourself: Why do I want this?
If your goal is to grow your follower count, take a moment to reflect on what’s driving that desire. Is it to enhance your influence on a foundation you’ve already built, amplify your message to reach more people, or even satisfy a need for validation? (Let’s be real, feeding your ego isn’t inherently bad or unhealthy—it’s human. What matters is acknowledging it for what it is.) On the other hand, if your focus is on growing your business, is it about achieving financial security, building a reliable stream of leads, or expanding your brand’s reach? Understanding your true motivation is key to creating a strategy that aligns with your goals and values.
Followers vs. Business: Two Very Different Strategies
Growing a massive following and generating more business may seem like overlapping goals, but they require entirely different approaches.
If You Want More Followers
To grow your following at scale, especially quickly, you’ll need to create content that appeals to a broad audience. Here’s how:
- Post Relatable Content: Viral trends, memes, and universally engaging ideas work wonders for capturing attention.
- Be Consistent: Platforms like Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube Shorts reward creators who post frequently and consistently.
- Engage Like Crazy: This is huge and it is a step I see a lot of content creators overlook. Commenting, responding to DMs, and interacting with other accounts will keep your audience coming back.
- Collaborate with Influencers: Partnering with others in your niche exposes you to new audiences.
- Use Paid Ads or Promotions: If rapid growth is your goal, investing in ads targeting your ideal demographic can amplify your reach.
The focus here is on entertainment and relatability. You’re aiming to stop the scroll and make people want to hit that “follow” button. But be prepared: larger audiences require more management, and a big following doesn’t always translate to loyal clients or sales.
If You Want More Business
If your goal is to generate leads, referrals, or revenue, your content strategy will look different.
- Speak Directly to Your Target Audience: Your content should solve their problems, answer their questions, and position you as the expert in your field. It is not as much about you anymore as it is about them.
- Showcase Results: Share testimonials, case studies, or before-and-after transformations that highlight your expertise.
- Focus on Quality Over Quantity: In business it is better to have a smaller, engaged audience of potential clients than thousands of casual followers.
- Call to Action (CTA): Every post should guide your audience toward the next step—whether it’s scheduling a call, visiting your website, or signing up for your newsletter.
- Invest in Email Marketing: Growing your email list can be even more valuable than social media because it allows you to stay in touch with potential clients directly.
This approach emphasizes trust, credibility, and nurturing relationships. You’re not chasing likes or views—you’re targeting people who are ready to work with you.
My Own Experience with Fear of Success
On a personal note, I’ve wrestled with imposter syndrome and a fear of success throughout my journey. In the past, I’ve set goals for growth but then consciously and subconsciously sabotaged them by avoiding the actions needed to succeed. Why? Because deep down, success can be just as intimidating as failure—it forces you to evolve, take on new responsibilities, and live up to your own expectations.
Right now, I’m very happy with the clients I have and the work I’m doing, but I’ve intentionally chosen to scale back. I know there are things I need to refine on the back end of my business before taking on more clients. That’s why you won’t see me running targeted ads or aggressively promoting my brand right now—I’m focused on building a stronger foundation so I’m ready for what’s next.
If you’ve ever felt that tension between wanting to grow and holding yourself back, know that you’re not alone. Success isn’t just about the external—it’s about preparing yourself internally to handle what comes with it.
The New Year Is the Perfect Time to Reflect
Whether your goal is followers, business growth, or something else entirely, take the time to reflect on your why.
- Why do you want more followers?
- Why do you want more leads or sales?
- What does success look like for you this year?
Once you’ve answered these questions, choose the strategy that aligns with your goals and focus your energy there. Remember, you can want all the things, but taking deliberate action on one will yield better results.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that clarity leads to action. Take time this January to get clear on what you really want and why. Then map out a strategy that fits your goals. Whether you’re trying to entertain and inspire a larger audience or generate more revenue and loyal clients, there’s no right or wrong—just the path that works for you, even if that is a little bit of both as you figure out which is best for you.
Let’s make 2025 the year you turn those goals into reality.
