Online Personal Branding Journey

How I Started My Online Footprint

In 2014, I started my blog, Into My Thoughts, on WordPress. Initially, it was going to be a blog about sharing my life and the journey I've been through. My daughter was four months old, and I had recently moved to Florida, so I was legitimately trying to figure life out. Everything was new but not exciting. This blog was a creative outlet for me.

Fast forward to 2018, I began blogging more consistently and started sharing my poetry on the blog. I realized that my blog could become a business. I learned about SEO, DA score, backlinks, and guest blogging on other blogs. And I came across freelance writing. So I could ghostwrite for other people’s websites and use my blog as a portfolio. I bought a freelance writing starting kit I found online that came with a book, which explained everything about freelance writing. The book showed me how to format a blog correctly, conduct research, where to find images for each post, and how to find clients. It was perfect! I was on my way to starting an online writing business.

The book mentioned that I needed a professional headshot for my portfolio, but I didn’t have the money to hire a professional photographer to take it. I vividly remember telling my husband, at around 11 pm, to take a picture of me in our kitchen (because it had the best lighting in our small apartment) with his iPhone. And here is that picture!

No makeup, I look so tired in this picture, and honestly, I put on this shirt and blazer and had my PJs on underneath. A few days later, I was able to get my first two clients! I helped these clients until the pandemic hit, and after that, my mental health took a toll, and I couldn’t continue.

The following branding pictures were taken in February 2021. Hubby and I wanted to take pictures for our first-year wedding anniversary. We took family pictures and incorporated my branding photos for my blog.

I felt awkward in front of the camera, and I didn’t know what to do because I had not taken branding pictures before. This time, our friend, who had recently started her photography business, took the pictures for us.

Then, in July of 2022, I self-published my poetry book, Words From the Heart. Of course, that meant more branding pictures.

I still felt a little awkward in front of the camera because I was starting to realize that when you take pictures, you sometimes have to do a little acting to get the good shots. For example, to get good laughing pictures, you sometimes have to pretend to laugh. Also, I didn’t have confidence in front of the camera either.

The following picture was taken during our family photo session, and I included some branding shots again. I used this for my blog and when I started this Substack. I have wanted my humorous personality to come through in the branding pictures, but I didn't know how to achieve that.

Then, in the summer of 2023, I began producing video episodes for my podcast. And when I went to record one of the first in-person interviews, I hired a videographer to take behind-the-scenes videos for the trailer of my YouTube channel. He also took a few branding photos, and this was the first time I had taken branding photos for my podcast.

Later that year, I attended a business conference and bought the VIP ticket. One of the perks was having professional branding pictures taken during lunch. I remember watching other attendees take their photographs and how comfortable they seemed in front of the cameras, as well as the various poses they struck. Things I could never do, and definitely not when others were watching me. I remember thinking, I wish I could be more comfortable in front of a camera.

Then I interviewed a photographer for my podcast, and she offered me pictures after we finished our interview. She caught me completely by surprise, and I got my branding pictures for my podcast!

In 2024, it was time to take family pictures again, and it was also the second year of my podcast, so I once again combined the two. Still, not feeling too confident in front of the camera, but I had a few pictures that I liked.

For the podcast's 3rd anniversary this year, I hosted an event to celebrate the milestone and all the other accolades the podcast had achieved. My photographer friend sponsored the pictures for the event itself, but during the event, she took pictures of me as well. I liked the pictures, but once again felt weird taking photos in front of people.

And finally, in May of this year, I took more pictures for the 3rd anniversary of the podcast, and it was the first time I felt confident and comfortable in front of the camera. I looked up different branding pictures online, followed various women entrepreneurs on Instagram, and took inspiration from their photographs. And for the first time during a photoshoot, I had a clear idea of the different poses I wanted to try.

During the photoshoot, I felt like I had a different energy than before. Like, I know who I am, what I stand for, and where I am going. But before, I felt like I was just winging it. I also think personal development plays a role. Because the more you grow personally, the more you grow professionally. Therapy has been incredibly helpful, my relationship with God continues to deepen, and I am living a more purposeful life.

When I received the gallery, I could see the difference in myself, and I was proud of the progress I had made. Seeing the growth from when I started back in 2019 to now, I am eager to see where I will be 10 years from now.

I’ve learned that establishing an online personal brand takes work. You continue to work within yourself, sharpen your skills, share your knowledge and experiences, while also being open to continuous learning. Nothing in this life is easy, and even those who make it seem like building their brand is effortless, trust me, there is more going on behind the camera lens.

Thank you for going down memory lane with me and for sticking by me throughout all these years. I don’t ever take it for granted.

With Love, Heidy