Using Video Content to Enhance Personal Branding

I've been emphasising on long-form content, and the single most important metric for success is "watch time." While short-form content has its place, YouTube's watch-time-driven algorithm presents the best opportunity for meaningful product integration and sustained brand visibility. My analysis of successful campaigns has shown that viewers are most engaged during specific windows of video content, and strategic product placement within these windows significantly impacts both brand recall and conversion rates. The data consistently demonstrates that the traditional approach of relegating sponsorships to the beginning or end of videos limits exposure and effectiveness. From my experience testing various placement timings, I've found the best approach for maximising exposure and retention is typically integrating the product within the first 40 seconds, with a secondary reinforcement at the 5-7 minute mark to maintain engagement and recall. This timing strategy helps ensure your brand message reaches the widest audience before potential drop-offs occur. Core Strategy Platform-Specific Approach YouTube Long-Form Focus: Prioritize 8-15 minute videos, as watch time is the key driver of algorithm performance. Strategic Short-Form: Use YouTube Shorts to tease or reinforce long-form content, serving as awareness drivers that maximize cross-channel engagement. Integration Timeline Early Mention (0-40 seconds): Introduce or tease the product naturally to ensure high visibility. Primary Integration (1:30-2:30): Provide a full product introduction, aligning it with the main content. Reinforcement (5:00-7:00): Include a secondary demonstration or mention to strengthen recall. Call-to-Action (Final 30 seconds): Deliver a clear CTA with an exclusive offer or unique code. Audience Retention Optimization Seamless Integration: Ensure the product naturally fits the creator’s style and content format. Content-Product Alignment: Align product features with the video’s theme for smooth, organic transitions. Performance Tracking: Use unique affiliate codes and tracked links to measure each creator’s impact. Why This Model Works? * Algorithm Alignment: YouTube prioritizes videos with higher watch times, increasing their chances of being recommended. Placing product mentions at key engagement points maximizes visibility. * Better ROI Tracking: Tracked links and codes provide precise attribution, making it easier to measure creator impact, optimize spending, and identify the most effective content formats. * Scalability: Continuous analysis of watch time and conversions enables a data-driven approach—scaling high-performing influencers while phasing out lower-performing ones for maximum efficiency. This approach not only aligns with YouTube's algorithm but also builds a scalable, high-impact strategy that maximises brand awareness, sustains audience engagement, and delivers measurable business results. Would love to know what strategies have worked for you!

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆. We shoot 60+ in a single session. Here's how: This isn’t a “show up and talk” type of shoot. Directing content is 80% psychology, 20% strategy. If the client’s not comfortable, the content’s already dead. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: 1. 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 → 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 We start with a custom intake form to understand the client’s voice, goals, and audience. Then we turn that into a strategic content plan, 5 content buckets, each with prompts to spark real conversation. 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁. 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗳. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹. 2. 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 Sometimes the client drops a fire take, but there’s no hook. So on the fly, we write one that fits. The client delivers it, and we splice it in seamlessly. You’d never know the difference. 3. 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 = 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 My ADHD earns its keep here. I push conversations toward hot, related topics the internet cares about. These tangents are where viral clips are born. 4. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 + 𝗕-𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 We log every clip live: timestamps, summaries, keywords. We’re also sourcing relevant info and B-roll while filming. Editors don’t have to guess. 5. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 Some of our best clients couldn’t even say their name on camera during the first shoot. Lights and pressure can kill confidence. Our job is to make it feel like a casual convo, not a performance. If you're trying to build a personal brand and want 2–3 months of content in one afternoon... This is how we do it. Link in comments to find out more.

The most overlooked growth strategy for B2B executives, leaders, and coaches... 🎥 Creating content that feels personal — but scales like crazy. One creator went from 3,000 to 140,000 subscribers (and made $15K+ from one video) not with flashy tricks — but with a story built for connection. Here’s how to make it work for your business, your brand, or your message: 🔹 1. Capture Attention with Purpose Before your story can connect, it has to stand out. Here are 3 proven ways to stop the scroll on YouTube: ✅ Lead with a tension-filled title. Think of it like a promise wrapped in a question. “I wasted 30 years learning this” makes you need the answer. ✅ Use emotion-first imagery. Skip the over-posed faces. A subtle, authentic expression (like reflection or quiet frustration) feels real — and people trust real. ✅ Embrace imperfection. Surprisingly, a thumbnail that feels homemade can build trust. It signals, “I’m one of you,” not a polished ad campaign. People aren’t looking for flashy — they’re looking for honest. And honest grabs attention in a sea of over-edited noise. 🔹 2. Tell a Microstory That Mirrors Your Audience Use the Microstory Blueprint — a 3-part structure that transforms a personal moment into a magnetic message: ✅ Mirror the Struggle Start with a feeling your audience already knows — doubt, burnout, pressure to succeed. When they hear it, they’ll say, “That’s me.” ✅ Reveal the Shift Now bring it in close. Share a specific moment from your own life when things clicked, broke down, or changed direction. Let them see you in it. ✅ Reflect it Back Out Zoom out and connect your moment to a larger truth — something your audience can carry into their life. When you use the Microstory Blueprint, your content doesn’t just inform — it resonates. You’re not sharing tips. You’re sharing transformation. 🔹 3. Focus on One Thing That Truly Matters Instead of trying to please everyone, focus on one meaningful message that speaks directly to one person who needs to hear it most. Inspired by the book The One Thing by Gary Keller, here are 3 tips to keep your content focused and powerful: ✅ Ask: “What’s the ONE message I want them to walk away with?” Strip away the extras. Clarity beats complexity every time. ✅ Speak to one person — not a crowd. Your video isn’t for everyone. It's for the version of you who needed help a few years ago. That’s who you’re talking to. ✅ Cut what doesn’t serve the One Thing. Every sentence, image, and moment should support the core idea. If it distracts, delete it. In the age of distractions, focus builds trust. And trust builds an audience. Final Thought: Executives and coaches often ask, “What’s the best content strategy for building trust at scale?” This is it. Tell one powerful story. Make one strong point. Aim it at one person who truly needs to hear it. Because one clear story, told well — beats 100 tactics told forgettable. ♻️ Share if this hit home

Your videos succeed or fail based on two things: 1.) MESSAGE 2.) DELIVERY Let’s break these down. For the MESSAGE, I’m looking at… how dialed in is it? - Are you speaking directly to your customer’s pain points, challenges, desires, and outcomes? - Are you expressing a unique POV? - Are you addressing the commonly asked questions they have? And here’s a BIG one: - What is the overall brand story you are communicating through your content? Assuming the message is good, I’d then look at the DELIVERY—this is where the message comes alive (or where it goes to die). How are you grabbing attention in the first one to three seconds? - Is there a strong hook—like a bold statement, an engaging story, or a value tease? - Once you have their attention, are you keeping it? - How long is your video vs. how long it needs to be? - Do you introduce new formats and environments? - Are you leveraging your personality and letting it shine through naturally? Good delivery isn’t about manufacturing a fake persona or copying someone else. It’s about being the real YOU in a way that keeps your audience engaged and wanting more. If you handed me your video today, these are the two things I’d immediately assess: message and delivery Nail both, and you’ll have content that builds brand and drives real revenue. ❤️ ABS Alex B Sheridan #contentstrategy #videomarketing #linkedinvideo

Struggling with lower LinkedIn impressions? Try video. Over the last 12 months, many creators are talking about: ➡️ Text posts getting fewer impressions. ➡️ Comments dropping. ➡️ Growth feeling slower. It’s frustrating — especially when you're putting in real effort. But there’s one format that completely changed the game for me: Video.🎥 When I first started posting video, I hated it. It was harder. It took more time. I didn’t like watching myself. But then I posted a simple National 401(k) Day video on 9/6/25. 📈 It hit 857,197 impressions. (That’s 17x better than my best-performing text post at that time.) Since then, every single one of my top-performing posts has been a video. Not most — every single one. And even though not every video "pops," I’ve built a library of short videos that drive impressions and followers every single day. Today, I’m sharing my 12-month results: ➡️ 18.4 million impressions ➡️ 12,425 new followers ➡️ Total followers: 18K+ (📊 I'll post the chart below for proof.) I know a lot of creators debate whether LinkedIn video is a trend... Or worry that engagement doesn't match impressions... Or argue that LinkedIn is "turning into TikTok." Here’s my take: 👉 It doesn't matter. 👉 Follow the data. 👉 Get your profile in front of more people. 👉 Build your brand. 👉 Grow your impact. If you have knowledge to share — tell your story on video. Not for the algorithm. For the audience you’re building. For the future opportunities you're creating. Video works. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s consistent. Let's keep pushing. 🚀 Do you watch videos on LinkedIn? Or do you prefer reading text posts with images? #LinkedInCreator #ContentStrategy #PersonalBranding #VideoMarketing #FinancialAdvisor