Whose history is it?

Hi again!

I had a lovely time with truly wonderful people, and it made me feel so grateful for life. That’s the cheesy part—done.
Now, let’s dive into a fresh dose of this week’s Branding Donkeys overview! 🐴✨

➡️ Personal Branding: Who are you?

I don’t know how, but this week I got so many questions about personal branding. An ex-intern reached out, asking how I built mine and what the “magic ingredients” are. She’s doing a quick class presentation on someone with “strong personal branding” and thought mine was super clear. I’m so flattered! 🫠

But then, over the weekend at a networking weekend, I got the exact opposite feedback. People love reading this newsletter (thank you!), but they don’t know what I actually do or why they should book me. Auwch, mixed signals much? 🤷‍♀️

Btw, behind the scenes, I’m reworking the (currently not-so-professional) visual branding for this newsletter and my services. More news soon!!

In the meantime, my message is already crystal clear (for me): I humanize brands. I help brands go beyond product value to create emotional connections. I give your brand a heart and align your team and communication with it.

But back to that personal branding thing. At that same networking weekend, so many people brought it up—they’re clearly looking for help. And let’s face it, personal branding is key to your own sales. For ex. when you think of me, I want it to be clear: Ingrid = Emotional Branding. Do you already know what your expertise is—the thing that makes people immediately think of you? 

1. Define Your Core Message
   One clear message connects everything you do. Mine? “I help brands break through the clutter via emotional value.”

2. Be Consistent
   Branding is built over ( a looooong) time, not in a day. Stay consistent in your message across platforms and conversations. For me, my tone of voice reflects who I am—clear, no-nonsense, and a bit funny.

3. Be Authentic
   People sense when it’s real. I want my brand to reflect me: straightforward, inspirational, focused on results, with a touch of humor.

4. Show, Don’t Tell
   Don’t just say what you do—show it. My posts, newsletter, and examples of work let people see what I’m all about without me having to shout it.

5. Listen to Feedback
   Branding evolves. I value feedback from clients, colleagues, readers. It helps me adjust and improve. Got some feedback for me? Let me know!

6. Avoid Being Too Generic
   You can’t be everything to everyone. Focus on your strengths. I chose to be myself—fun and approachable in a B2B world. It’s refreshing for some, annoying for others. 😂 

Always remember, your personal brand should work for you even when you're not.

➡️ Building a narrative: Whose history is it anyway?

Of course, branding is also about building a clear narrative. And that fascinates me because narratives can also be fake. (Please don’t ever do that—always stay true to yourself, or for organisations, stick to your values!)

Take history, for example. It’s full of fake or incomplete narratives. 🤷‍♀️ Ever heard of Aspasia? Probably not, because history books barely mention her. Aspasia was an extraordinary woman in ancient Athens, known for her intellect, and influence. She was the partner of Pericles, Athens’ most prominent leader, but what’s truly fascinating is her role as a teacher and thinker. Some sources suggest that she hosted philosophical salons and even taught Socrates—yes, the Socrates. Her insights and rhetorical skills may have shaped the foundations of Western philosophy, and we don’t even know this!!

So why don’t we know her? Because history wasn’t written in her favor. Women, especially powerful and intellectual ones, didn’t fit the narrative of the time. Her contributions were either erased or downplayed in favor of the men she influenced. Aspasia’s story is a perfect example of how narratives can exclude important voices, and a reminder of why authenticity in storytelling—whether in branding or life—matters.

@femalequotient

Aspasia: the philosopher, thinker, and teacher who shaped Socrates himself—yet was erased from history books. 📜 Known for her groundbreaki... See more

Interesting video about this topic 👆

➡️ Social Media: What about TikTok?

I hear you thinking: Ingrid, why did you add a TikTok video to your Aspasia story? Why TikTok? Because—and this insight only came to me last week—TikTok isn’t just a social medium, it’s a content medium.

What’s the difference? Social media focuses on connection—likes, comments, followers—while TikTok focusses on content discovery. Its algorithm serves users videos based on interests, not connections, making it a platform where stories (even historical ones) can go viral, reach new audiences, and create curiosity in ways traditional social media simply can’t. (And damn, that’s exactly why someone as curious as me spends way too much time on TikTok. 😵‍💫)

It only just became clear to me.
And for all the brand owners reading, and making their plans for 2025, here’s the thing: TikTok is no longer the “new” platform. With more and more advertisers hopping on board, the “Early Entry Opportunity” window is closing fast. If you’re not on TikTok yet, now is the time to start.

➡️ New Trend (and Brandlove): Davai Dumplings

I don’t know what it is with this newsletter, but every topic smoothly blends into the next.
About TikTok - thanks to this ‘new’ content platform, there’s a new communication trend for brands: The Kardashian Method.

It’s about turning your brand into an ongoing story—just like the Kardashians turned their lives into a global empire. This communication format focuses on sharing behind-the-scenes moments, personal stories, and relatable content that keeps people hooked. I know, very GenZ’ish. It’s not about polished perfection but about creating an authentic, human connection with your audience. And that… is one of the trends in 2025.

A Belgian brand that’s absolutely nailing this is Davai Dumplings. Watch the video, and you’ll see exactly what I mean. The founder takes center stage as the protagonist, and the story completely pulls you in. It’s authentic, personal, and impossible to look away.

@davaidumplings

Broccoli lives matter #broccoli #foodwaste #vegan #veggie #dumplings #plantbased #foodtok

I feel like I’ve already written quite a bit here, with my glass of wine by the fire. So, it’s time to wrap things up and leave you with one final reading tip. Circling back to the beginning of this newsletter: What is your talent? What is your expertise? What will be your brand?

This weekend, I got a great book recommendation for diving deeper into this: Mijn baas kiest voor mijn talent by Luc Dewulf (Only in Dutch). Apparently, this book is all about understanding what you’re naturally good at and how to align that with your work or your brand. A perfect read if you’re looking to discover or refine your strengths! (The person who recommended the book to me said it was a life-changing read for them!)

Have a nice week!

X Ingrid