• Half a million subscribers on YouTube

• A quarter million followers on Instagram 

• A multiple 7-figure online course business 

Sounds like the perfect life, right?

Yet, Vanessa Lau decided to leave it all behind.

Why, you ask?

Because she felt burned out and disconnected from her work. 

But now she's back, with a new mindset and a renewed passion. 

You can watch her spill the complete tea in this video. 

Back to today’s blog!

We’re taking a look at Vanessa’s extraordinary journey to social media success

She went from quitting her corporate job at L’Oreal to 

Working $12/hr as a coffee barista to

Becoming a multiple seven-figure business owner not just in sales but in profits 

In less than two years

Legendary!! I know. Let’s get into details:

1. Starting Journey as a Beauty Content Creator

Vanessa kicked off her digital career in beauty, inspired by her love for makeup.

But soon, the endless product buying and skin issues made the whole thing less fun.

2. The Transition to Content Creation and Lifestyle 

On realizing that beauty isn’t her vibe, Vanessa wasted no time and changed her niche. 

She started a YouTube channel to share her journey of quitting the 9-to-5 grind.

Gradually, she built a small, loyal community.

And then—boom!— a viral video takes things to the next level.

3. The Million-Dollar Business and Burnout

In no time, her strong social media strategy game turns into a booming business, hitting a million-dollar valuation. 

But with success comes the stress.

Despite outward success, she felt lost, overwhelmed, and caught in the “scale trap.”

It meant the need to grow and maintain her business led to burnout.

4. The Big Break and Reflection

Hence comes the bold step.

She hit the pause button and took a year off.

Lots of sleep and soul-searching later, she realized stepping back was exactly what she needed to reconnect with herself.

5. A New Approach to Creation

Making her comeback early this year, Vanessa has now developed a fresh mindset—

content should be fun, real, and in the moment.

Yet, Vanessa doesn’t advise her followers to dive directly into this mindset, because as she says

‘for most people, they won't learn this lesson until they actually get everything that they want until they get the promotion and they realize that career is not for them until they get that dream guy or dream girl and they realize that this is not the relationship that they want to be in until they buy that big ass house and they realize how empty they are’ 

So, what did Vanessa do to create a multi-millionaire business in the first place?

Lucky for you, we have cracked her secret sauce to success- 

Turning Your Audience into Co-Creators

Vanessa actively involves her audience in the creation of her brand and content.

She frequently asked her followers for feedback, content ideas, and even guidance on what they wanted to learn next.

This made her audience feel like they were part of her journey, keeping them engaged.

With this idea in mind, I bring you some cool personal marketing strategies for you.

3-Step Framework for Building an Engaged Community That Boosts Your Personal Brand

Here are key lessons on personal branding derived from Vanessa’s journey:

Step 1: Aligning Personal Perception with Public Perception

• Conduct a Brand Audit

  Regularly ask your audience what they think of you. Compare their views with how you see yourself to spot any differences.

• Refine Your Messaging
  Change how you communicate to match how you want to be seen. Use clear and consistent language and visuals that show your true self.

• Engage in Active Listening
  Keep track of feedback on social media and other sites. Reply to comments and critiques to show you value your audience’s opinions.

Step 2: Embracing the Pivot

• Regularly Reevaluate Your Brand
  Every once in a while, check whether your current brand still aligns with your evolving goals and values.

• Stay Open to New Opportunities
  Be willing to explore new paths, even if it means stepping outside your comfort zone. This could involve shifting your focus or adopting new platforms.

• Communicate Changes Transparently
  If you decide to change direction, explain why to your audience. Being open about your reasons builds trust and helps them follow your journey. 

Step 3: Establishing an Open Dialogue

• Create Engagement Opportunities
  Host Q&A sessions, polls, or live streams to invite your audience to interact directly with you. It helps build a sense of community.

• Be Accessible
  Respond to comments, messages, and emails promptly. Show your audience that you’re approachable and value their input.

• Encourage User-Generated Content
  Invite your audience to share their stories or experiences related to your brand. Highlight their contributions to strengthen the sense of community around your brand.

The Inside-Out Approach to LinkedIn Strategy

As the CEO of Notice Me(dia), where we help clients dominate their LinkedIn game, I spend my days crafting LinkedIn strategies that actually work. Here’s a fresh take:

Most people, when they're creating content, focus on what everyone else is doing. They ask:

• What’s trending?

• How can I jump on this bandwagon?

• Who else is killing it in my niche?

Sure, the data is great. Use it to test a small slice of your content. But here's the catch: this should never be your main strategy.

Your primary strategy should be this: Stop looking outward. Start looking inward.

• What are your goals? What’s unique about your business?

• What’s your unfair advantage?

• What are you genuinely passionate about?

HOW SHOULD YOU USE DATA THEN?

First, nail down your core strategy.

Then, use data to fine-tune. Adjust content formats, tweak structures, play with post lengths, and shift tones. But never lose sight of the real goal. And hint: it’s not about getting more likes or comments—it’s about driving revenue.

Here’s a real-world example: I helped a client secure a $250,000 purchase order through LinkedIn. No gimmicks, just solid strategy.

Focus on collecting meaningful data. Run polls, ask questions, dig deep into your audience’s pain points—the things that keep them up at night.

To wrap it up, remember:  Data told you that when you added 50 mg sauce rather than 25 mg, it performed better. Now, you might assume that sauce is directly proportional to taste. Next time, would you put 200 mg sauce? No, right? It will ruin the whole thing.

I do believe Keeping it real and strategic is what’s needed- No gimmicks!

I firmly believe that reverse engineering the top leaders of the industry can create magic for your personal branding journey.

And that’s what I promise to bring to your life. Magic.

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Let’s meet next Thursday.

Your Big Brand Theory,