This episode explores the pivotal role of personal branding for both executives and their companies. Guest Loreta Tarozaite shares her insights on how leaders can leverage their personal brand to build authority, enhance visibility and boost their organization's reputation. 

What You'll Learn:

• How personal branding builds thought leadership and credibility for executives

• The value of video content for enhancing personal and corporate brands 

• Tips for overcoming fears of public speaking and being "on camera"

• Strategies for engaging authentically on social media as an executive

• The importance of continuous innovation in marketing strategies

• Best practices for elevating your presence on LinkedIn

• Advice for hiring the right talent for your growing brands

• Examples of executives with strong personal brands, like Gary Vee and Richard Branson 

• Insights on humanizing corporate brands and storytelling

Episode Summary

In this insightful episode of Let’s Talk Marketing with Katya Allison, she is joined by Loreta Tarozaite, a marketing expert with a rich background in journalism and business storytelling. Loreta shares her journey into the marketing world, emphasizing the transformative power of video content and the critical importance of personal branding for executives. She also provides valuable advice on proactive hiring practices and adapting marketing strategies to stay relevant.

Key Points Covered

1) Loreta's Journey into Marketing

• Transitioning from journalism to marketing.

• Leveraging storytelling in business.

  2) The Importance of Personal Branding for Executives

• Building authority and visibility.

• Enhancing the company's brand through executive presence.

  3) The Role of Video in Business and Marketing

• Video as a powerful communication tool.

• The impact of video content on LinkedIn.

  4) The Value of a Proactive Hiring Approach

• Anticipating future needs.

• Effective onboarding and finding the right talent.

Key Takeaways and Insights

Takeaway 1: The Role of Video in Business and Marketing

Loreta Tarozaite emphasized the significance of video content in business and marketing. Transitioning her skills from journalism to business storytelling, she highlighted how video content allows businesses to effectively communicate their stories. She also discussed how video content is a valuable asset within the broader marketing strategy.

"Video was just one part of the vehicle within the big marketing picture," stated Tarozaite. "I will always have my love and passion for video. This is the core vehicle I always go to as a pitch but not everybody is comfortable to be on video." She explained the impact of video on LinkedIn, stating, "LinkedIn is still very low on actual personal brand type of content. You know. And I think these old Corporate... are much more reluctant in adopting these new strategies."

Takeaway 2: The Importance of Personal Branding for Executives

Tarozaite stressed the importance of executives establishing a strong personal brand, not only for their own professional credibility but also for the visibility and authority of their company. She explained how executives' active online presence can increase their company's brand recognition and trustworthiness.

"First of all, [personal branding] builds authority, simple as that. Authority and visibility to you by extension to your brand," said Tarozaite. She later added, "I have noticed you know that whenever I publish a video, it was just that much more impactful than the post itself because it's... it's a voice. It's you."

Takeaway 3: The Value of a Proactive Hiring Approach

One of the key insights from the conversation was the need for businesses to anticipate their future needs and allocate enough time to find the right talent. Tarozaite advised businesses to start looking for new hires well before they are actually needed, allowing for a smoother transition and more effective onboarding process.

"Hiring people is difficult but so allocate time, not when you actually need that service, look a little bit more in the future," recommended Tarozaite. "What will you need in three months in the growth of your business and start preparing for that now. So that in three months, you have the right resource in place."

Insights Surfaced

• Personal branding for executives can build authority and visibility, which can benefit the company's brand.

• Video content, especially on LinkedIn, can have a significant impact on personal branding.

• It is important for executives to show their human side, share their journey, and express their values through their personal brand.

• Hiring the right people is challenging and requires testing potential hires in action.

• Marketing strategies need to be continuously updated and innovated as what worked in the past may not work now or in the future.

Key Quotes

• "Our goal is to not make them look or sound bad. Our goal is to actually help them be their true selves on camera."

• "Personal branding for executives builds authority and visibility, which can benefit the company's brand."

• "The goal that I normally have is just to get them out there. First of all, just do it."

• "Hiring people is difficult but so allocate time not when you actually need that service look a little bit more in the future."

• "Don't think that whatever worked a year and a half ago is going to work right now or in the future."