As you begin to build your personal brand you are left with the decision of which type of platform you want to use; Instagram (Imagery), Youtube (Video), Blog (Writing/Photos). Â You need to determine what demographic you want to attract and what your overall goals are. Is this just a hobby? Are you trying to score a job? Do you want to be a full-time influencer? This will help you decide which platform is best for you.
Start by looking at your existing strengths, if you’re a well-spoken charismatic individual who lacks writing skills maybe Youtube is the better fit for you, whereas if you are strong writer who is less comfortable in front of a camera then blogging could be a better fit.  However, I think it’s a great idea to use different platforms to help strengthen your weaknesses. Youtube can be a great way to get over your fear of public speaking and give self-confidence which you may be lacking.
Having a blog was one of the first real online platforms that started years ago, we started seeing people become famous and well-known from their blog and eventually referred to them as “influencers”.  We saw a lot of fashionistas using blogging as a way to showcase their personal style and provide styling tips. When Instagram came along audiences opted to simply follow and like bloggers photos but not actually read their blog posts, the newer generation has a shorter attention span and it is sometimes hard for them to sit and read through an entire blog post when they can just look at fashion imagery on Instagram.  However when Youtube started to become more of the norm for influencers (comedy, beauty, tutorials, etc.) a lot of fashion bloggers decided to switch/add Youtube as a platform to not only stay relevant but also to reach a broader audience. There’s no question that a fashion video on Youtube will get more views than a fashion blog post, when you post a video it’s in the Youtube realm and anyone can stumble upon it from looking in their “You might also like” section.
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What intrigues people about video over blogging is the fact that seeing a persons face and getting a real sense for who they are let’s your audience feel like they have a more personal interaction with you.  This can also be an asset with potential employers, you could be an exceptional writer but someone is more likely to work with or hire you if they know your personality and have a “face-to-face” interaction with you.  Youtube is a great way to let your personality shine and you can really present your knowledge and skills.
Now you’re probably thinking “which platform is best for me?”  I would recommend using both platforms to really optimize your reach, however, begin with managing one platform before diving into the next or else you might feel overwhelmed and won’t be able to keep up with all your content.  Choose the platform that will best assist you in your desired job/field. For example, if you want to be a fashion writer or work for a fashion magazine a blog might be better for you whereas if you want to get more into Public Relations, Marketing, or Advertising a Youtube channel might better suit you.  If you’re brave choose the platform that scares you the most to push yourself outside your comfort zone and attain a skill that was once your weakness, this can give you a competitive edge if you have proven to show little weaknesses.
My biggest advice is to not overthink it! I deal with this same problem of overthinking and trying to plan everything out but the truth is nothing will happen or move forward until you take action, start small and work your way up. Â A mistake people often make is trying to do it all, and trying to do it all at once. It might take time to find your niche and workflow but once you find it run with it!
Featured pic @georgiafowler Words Kristin Rouse
