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Start with Your Personal Mission
The first thing Dennis asked me was, “What’s your ‘why’?” And honestly, that question hit me. Because if you don’t know what you stand for, it’s hard to build a brand that resonates. Dennis talked about how your personal mission should guide everything you create. For me, that’s been about helping others master social media and build something real for themselves.
Think about it: Your mission is the north star for your content. It’s what people will remember you for, whether they see your Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn.
Leverage the Power of Frameworks
One of the biggest gems Dennis dropped was this: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Use frameworks that already work. For example, his “Content Factory” model is genius. Instead of scrambling to post random stuff, he suggests creating a few pillar pieces of content (like a short video or blog) and then repurposing them everywhere.
Got a killer podcast episode? Chop it up into reels, tweets, and LinkedIn posts. That’s how you scale without losing your mind.
Focus on the Results That Matter
I’ll be honest—I used to think success was about followers. But Dennis reminded me it’s not about the numbers; it’s about the impact. Are your posts driving conversations? Are they leading people to your website or portfolio?
A huge tip he gave was tracking micro-conversions—those small wins like someone sharing your post or commenting, “This really helped me!” When you start seeing these, you’re on the right track.
Claiming a Google Knowledge Panel
Okay, let’s talk about the holy grail for personal branding: the Google Knowledge Panel. According to Dennis, the key to unlocking it is authority. Google needs to see that you’re legit, which means you need to show up on trusted platforms (like podcasts, news articles, or guest blogs) and keep your social profiles consistent.
One hack? Focus on owning your name. When people Google you, make sure your LinkedIn, Instagram, and other platforms come up first. And if you’re not already creating content on a topic you’re an expert in, start now.
Consistency Is the Name of the Game
Building a personal brand isn’t an overnight thing—Dennis made that super clear. But the people who win are the ones who stick with it. Show up, create value, and stay consistent. It’s as simple (and as hard) as that.
Final Thoughts My chat with Dennis reminded me that building a personal brand doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you focus on your mission, use proven frameworks, and stay consistent, you’ll be miles ahead of most people.
And hey, if you’re reading this and thinking, “Where do I even start?”—don’t overthink it. Just start sharing your story. You never know who’s out there waiting to hear it.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations.
He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications.
Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries.
Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.