This episode is a little different than usual.

Instead of hosting, I'm sharing a conversation where I was a guest on The Personal Brand Blueprint podcast with Dave Polykoff.

We go beyond the typical "tips and tactics" and get into what's actually changing in personal branding right now—from AI and content creation to credibility, trust, and what it really takes to stand out today.

We also talk through my own journey—from working on brands like Coca-Cola and Apple to building my own platform—and how my thinking on personal branding has evolved along the way.

In this conversation, we cover:
• Why having a "show" can accelerate your personal brand
• How I grew my YouTube channel—and what most people get wrong
• The shift from expertise → expression → trust
• Why "proof" is becoming the new currency of personal branding
• The role of AI in content creation—and where it helps (and hurts)
• How to think about content strategy without overcomplicating it

This is a more free-flowing, behind-the-scenes conversation—less structured, more real—and a good look at how I think about building a personal brand in today's landscape.

If you're trying to stand out, build credibility, or grow your platform, there's a lot in here for you.

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🎙 Original podcast: The Personal Brand Blueprint with Dave Polykoff

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📩 Want help building your personal brand or positioning yourself as a thought leader?
Learn more: www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

Today's episode is a little different.

Instead of a traditional interview or solo breakdown, I'm sharing the audio from a recent keynote I delivered called "Leading in the Age of AI: How Leaders Stand Out Today."

AI is changing how work gets done—but more importantly, it's changing how leaders are evaluated.

When everyone has access to the same tools, the same information, and even the same AI-generated insights, the question becomes:

How do you actually stand out?

In this talk, I share a simple but powerful shift:
Your personal brand isn't built on how much content you create—it's built on the quality of your ideas and how consistently you develop and share them.

You'll hear:
• Why most people struggle to come up with meaningful ideas
• Where strong ideas actually come from (hint: it's not social media)
• A simple system for capturing and organizing your thinking
• How to use AI to process your ideas without replacing your perspective
• How to turn everyday thoughts into content that builds your reputation

This is a practical framework for leaders, creators, and professionals who want to stand out in a world where everyone can "sound smart."

If you've ever felt like you're creating content but not building real authority… this episode will give you a different way to think about it.

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🎤 Interested in bringing this talk to your organization or event?
Learn more: www.brandonbirkmeyer.com

Ever feel like someone is talking… and just won't stop? Or worse—have you ever caught yourself doing it?

In this episode, I break down why rambling can quietly damage your personal brand—and what to do instead if you want to come across as clear, confident, and engaging.

Based on real-world conversations at meetings, conferences, and networking events, this episode shows you how small communication habits can make a big difference in how people perceive you.

If you want to improve your communication skills, build a stronger personal brand, and leave better impressions in every interaction, this is a must-listen.

00:50 Three Ways It Hurts

01:00 Be Clear Not Confusing

02:22 Stop Being Selfish

03:14 Respect Their Time

04:47 Prep Your Talking Points

06:04 Pause And Ask Questions

07:41 Small Talk Has Value

08:45 Wrap Up Key Takeaways

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter

How to Maximize Conferences: Pre-Event Prep, In-Event Strategy, and Post-Event Follow-Up

We all know that conferences can feel awkward without a plan. Today we discuss the three-part framework to get more out of any event: pre-event, during the event, and after the event.

00:31 Why Events Feel Awkward

01:04 Three Phase Framework

01:43 Pre Event Research

03:06 Reach Out Beforehand

05:25 During Event Strategy

10:07 After Event Follow Up

12:40 Long Term Networking Mindset

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter

Five Fast Ways to Build Credibility in Your Industry. Today we talk about five fast, accessible ways to build credibility and reputation in any industry without becoming a full-time creator.

First, write original LinkedIn articles regularly (e.g., weekly) to develop a clear perspective and demonstrate thought leadership rather than relying on AI-generated posts.

Second, join a local industry group or association to build relationships and stay informed on trends.

Third, attend events—both local meetups and major conferences—to learn, network, and gather ideas to fuel future content.

Fourth, turn your ideas into a speech or training and volunteer to present at group meetings; record the talk and repurpose clips for LinkedIn.

Fifth, create a simple speaking pitch (title, description, key takeaways) to approach meetings, podcasts, publications, and other opportunities, building a searchable portfolio of proof.

00:00 Fast Credibility Framework

01:32 Tip 1 LinkedIn Articles

05:36 Tip 2 Join Associations

07:05 Tip 3 Attend Industry Events

08:40 Tip 4 Create a Talk

11:10 Tip 5 Build a Pitch

13:23 Wrap Up Five Steps

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter

Six Ways to Get Paid for Your Knowledge. This is how personal brands make money and grow.

Today we talk about the best way coaches and creators can make money by sharing their expertise. We dive into six common revenue models including:

• Services (coaching, consulting, freelancing, agencies, audits, VIP days)
• Products (digital courses, templates, guides, physical books/journals/merch, and AI-enabled software/apps)
• Ads (sponsorships, brand deals, newsletter/podcast ads, YouTube AdSense)
• Deals (licensing/certifications, white-label training, syndication, brand licensing)
• Events (hosting retreats/masterminds/conferences or paid speaking/workshops)
• Subscriptions (paid newsletters, Patreon, memberships, masterminds)

00:00 Why Getting Paid Matters

01:34 The SPADES Framework

02:03 Services First Revenue

03:55 Scalable Products

07:11 Ads and Sponsorships

09:11 Deals and Licensing

11:24 Events and Speaking

13:30 Subscriptions and Recurring

15:27 Wrap Up and Next Steps

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter

Today, we talk to PR strategist and author Lauren Cabello about how nonfiction entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders, coaches, and speakers can use book PR to build a personal brand and sustained momentum rather than relying on Amazon sales alone.

We dive deep into coordinating a book launch strategy, turning every placement into reusable marketing assets, how podcasts drive more sales, the value of traditional publishing for bookstore distribution, the changing landscape of AI search for authors, and building launch teams.

• Learn more about Lauren at: https://laurencobello.com/
• Get PR help from Lauren at: https://leveragewithmedia.com/

00:48 What Author PR Includes

02:40 Building a Launch Plan

04:03 Keeping Momentum After Launch

05:06 PR for Speakers and Coaches

07:06 Earned Media vs Podcasts

09:04 Timing and Lead Time

12:03 Publishing Choices and Deals

12:33 When to Hire a Publicist

20:46 Three PR Needle Movers

25:41 Future of Book Promotion

32:16 Traditional Publishing Benefits

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter

How to Name Your Online Channels: Handles, Domains, and Brand Consistency.

The episode explains how to choose and manage brand names across online platforms like LinkedIn, social profiles, YouTube, podcasts, newsletters, and websites.

00:00 Naming Your Online Brand

01:09 Claim Handles and Domains

03:01 Show Names and Searchability

04:21 Generic Plus Unique Words

06:12 Different Names for Different Places

08:19 Marketing Beats Clever Names 1

0:35 Simple Naming Checklist

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter