How to Use Authenticity to Grow Your Personal Brand Online

Ever feel like your personal brand is just a jumble of buzzwords and empty promises? You're not alone. In this episode of Digital Coffee Marketing Brew, I sit down with Alan McLaren, co-founder of Strata Originals Co, to unpack the art of authentic personal branding.


Alan's approach is refreshingly different. Forget about chasing viral trends or crafting the perfect elevator pitch. Instead, he advocates for a deeper, more meaningful strategy that starts with self-discovery and ends with genuine connections.
Uncovering Your Superpower


Alan shares his unique process for helping CEOs, executives, and entrepreneurs identify their true strengths:

• The power of external perspective in self-reflection
• Why honesty with yourself is crucial (and often challenging)
• How to move beyond surface-level branding to uncover your authentic voice
Content Creation That Resonates


Once you've identified your unique strengths, how do you share them with the world? Alan breaks down his approach:

• Treating your content strategy like writing a book (without the pressure)
• The power of video in building authentic connections
• Why perfection isn't the goal and what is
Building Trust, Not Selling


Perhaps the most valuable insight Alan shares is his perspective on "selling" through personal branding:

• Why traditional sales tactics often backfire in the digital space
• The long game of relationship-building (and why it's worth it)
• Real examples of how authentic connection leads to business opportunities


This conversation is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to develop a personal brand that truly reflects who they are. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your existing strategy, Alan's insights will help you approach personal branding with intention and authenticity.
"Your personal brand shows up in the room before you do, and it stays there when you leave." - Alan McLaren

Ready to discover your superpower and share it with the world? Tune in to this episode and learn how to build a personal brand that's uniquely, authentically you.