How do you track whether your "personal brand" is growing? What are some metrics or even anecdotal evidence that anything you're doing is working?

At the large german logistics trade fair in 2018, my company was organizing "expert talks" on special topics in intralogistics also being broadcasted online live via youtube. On one topic "Digital Transformation" my former CEO was supposed to participate representing SSI. Unfortunately one of the founders of the company more than 25 years ago died a few days before and exactly this day, the funeral was scheduled. He immediately asked me to take over. As colleagues told me afterwards it was the most interesting, livy and enjoyable expert talk they have seen on the company's channel.

I'll focus on the Digital Realm:

Example of Leading Indicators:

1. # of Followers or Connections (LinkedIn)

2. # Impressions or reaction metrics to post (especially re-shares) / LinkedIn, Twitter

3. #Followe growth rate

4. #Breath of followers (by location)

Example of Lagging Indicators

1. # $$ monetization amount and % increase per post or publication (LinkedIn, Twitter etc.)

2. # or frequency of solicitations for contribution or roles aligned with primary brand message

3.  # of "look-a-like" online profiles. lol

Tracking the growth of your personal brand can be done using a combination of metrics and anecdotal evidence. Here are some ways to gauge its progress:

1. Social Media Metrics:
- Follower Count: Increasing followers on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn can indicate a growing audience.
- Engagement: Measuring likes, comments, shares, and retweets can show how much people are interacting with your content.
- Impressions: Analyzing the number of times your content is seen can indicate broader reach.

2. Website and Blog Analytics:
- Page Views: The number of views on your personal website or blog can reflect growing interest in your content.
- Time on Page: Longer average time spent on your content suggests that people find it engaging.

3. Email List Growth:
- If you have an email newsletter, tracking the growth of your subscriber list can be a strong indicator of brand growth.

4. Media Mentions and Interviews:
- An increase in requests for interviews or mentions in reputable publications can indicate growing recognition.

5. Speaking Engagements and Workshops:
- Invitations to speak at events or host workshops can signal a growing reputation in your field.

6. Anecdotal Feedback:
- Pay attention to what people are saying about you and your work. Positive feedback and word-of-mouth recommendations are valuable indicators.

7. Personal Goals:
- Measure your progress against your personal brand-building goals. Are you achieving what you set out to do?

8. Consistency:
- The consistency of your brand across different platforms and content can contribute to its growth. Consistent messaging and branding make you more memorable.

Remember that personal branding is a long-term endeavor, and results may take time. Regularly review these metrics and seek feedback to adjust your strategy as needed.

I would start with "to what end are you focusing on your personal brand"?  In coaching team members, I like the PIE model (Performance, Image & Expose).  Too many of us say things like, "I will let my work speak for itself." Noble but not very effective.  Here is a representative article on the PIE model, https://arrowheadconsulting.com/2021/02/24/the-p-i-e-theory-of-success-performance-image-exposure/

For a numeric metric, LinkedIn's own SSI score can be helpful to track as it is industry specific.  Although, designed more with Sales in mind, it does break down into four quadrants to show you how - on the LinkedIn platform - you are:

1. establishing your personal brand
2. finding the right people (although I suspect this is weighted towards decision makers in a budget / vendor selection role given it is a Sales tool)
3. engaging with relevant insights/industry posts
4. building relationships

And on the Gartner platform, the number of points you have and those spend is another metric to track :)

(you can get a snapshot of your SSI score via the following URL: https://business.linkedin.com/sales-solutions/social-selling/the-social-selling-index-ssi)