Does Building a Founder Brand Really Work?

Read this if you’re questioning the impact

This post originally appeared in my thought leadership newsletter for founders, Leading Out Loud.

A couple years after I graduated from college with a degree in journalism, I decided to learn how to code. Python, specifically, in case you were wondering.

I signed up for a free course and got to work. I struggled big time, but not for the reason you might expect.

The biggest reason I struggled to keep up with those lessons was because I couldn’t see the tangible impact right away. I kept wondering when I’d get to a point where I could actually turn code into results. Ultimately, I stopped doing those lessons, so I never got my answer.

Publishing content as a founder is similar. In the beginning, it’s easy to wonder if your words will have a tangible impact. It’s easy to look at your progress a few weeks in and decide that your time is better spent on something else. It’s easy to never get started because the results don’t feel guaranteed.

But something starts to happen when you stick with it. And I’m not talking about posts every day and hours spent on this stuff. More like one thoughtful post a week on one channel where your audience spends the most time.

When you keep showing up and sharing content that resonates with the audience(s) you want to reach, the right people will take notice.

• Your ideal customers or users will finally feel seen and understood.
• Great job candidates will realize that your company is exactly what they’ve been searching for.
• Investors will get to know who you are and what you’re building on a deeper level.
• You’ll make it easy for people to invite you onto podcasts or feature you in articles about your industry

I know these things because I’ve seen them happen. Again and again and again.

So my message to you this week is simple, but it’s also hard at first: keep showing up. The results are coming.

Liked reading this? I publish thought leadership and storytelling tips for founders every week in my newsletter, Leading Out Loud. Subscribe here.