EP138: How to Build a Personal Brand on LinkedIn

In this vibrant LinkedIn Live session-turned-podcast, Mari-Liis Vaher, creator of Powerful Marketers, is joined by two incredible marketing and communication experts from Sweden: Mai Peksén and Mira Thimmayya. Together, they dive into the human side of personal branding—how to build your professional identity on LinkedIn in a way that actually feels like you. This conversation is packed with real-world insights, memorable stories, and plenty of laughs! Practical Tips for LinkedIn Personal Branding: Start small: One post per week is still consistency. Engage: Comments are mini-posts and powerful conversation starters. Focus: Stay within your niche to establish credibility. Use video: Build trust faster by letting people see and hear you. Social proof matters: Ask for and give recommendations on LinkedIn. Timestamps: 08:00 – Be yourself (even in serious industries) 16:10 – Thought leadership tips 28:20 – Avoiding overwhelm and finding your consistency 37:40 – The STICKY Method explained 45:20 – Songs, quotes, and final takeaways Links: Connect with Mai Peksén: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maipeksen/  Connect with Mira Thimmayya: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirathimmayya/  Continue the Conversation in the Hub: Want more tips, templates, and training on personal branding and AI marketing? Join the Powerful Marketers Hub and use the promo code PODCAST for 1 month FREE.  

Many marketers are eager to use AI to work smarter, not harder—but often feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. In this episode, co-founders of Powerful Marketers, Mari-Liis Vaher and Laura Kukemelk, cut through the noise around AI in marketing. They reveal how to start small, stay strategic, and actually enjoy experimenting with AI tools. Plus, they walk you through the Powerful Marketers Hub’s 4-Week AI Marketing Challenge designed to guide you step-by-step without needing a technical background. 4-Week AI Challenge: Week 1: Build your custom GPT—your personal AI marketing assistant Week 2: Design social media carousels using Gamma (no design skills needed) Week 3: Repurpose blog posts into videos using Pictory Week 4: Automate repetitive tasks using Zapier and ChatGPT Quotes: "You have to approach AI as if you approach a new employee or a new assistant." - Laura Kukemelk “I Iove brainstorming with it because sometimes it has great ideas, but oftentimes I'm challenging AI as well. I'm telling it, why do you think like that?” - Mari-Liis Vaher "Right now we are in the AI bubble, so-called. So if you don't start and you think that it's going to go away, then I don't think it's going to go away." - Laura Kukemelk “We really want to make this as simple as possible for everybody because we know we need AI, but oftentimes we are too afraid of starting using it." - Mari-Liis Vaher Timestamps: 00:00:18 Overcoming fears of using AI in marketing 00:04:00 AI brainstorming techniques and use cases 00:08:50 Using C.R.A.F.T. for effective AI prompts 00:12:06 Custom GPTs for specific tasks Join the Challenge inside the Powerful Marketers Hub Create a premium account in the Hub and use the code PODCAST for your first month free. 

In today’s marketing world—where burnout is high and clarity feels rare—many professionals struggle to connect daily effort with long-term impact. So how do you rise above the noise, align your strategy with your goals, and grow without burning out? In this episode, co-founders of Powerful Marketers, Mari-Liis Vaher and Laura Kukemelk, reflect on their 10+ year journey and introduce the 5 Pillars of Becoming the Greatest Marketer of the World. This insightful conversation is inspired by the upcoming Greatest Marketer book and offers practical steps to help you regain control, build trust, and lead with intention. 💡 The 5 pillars are: Mindset Strategy Marketing Communication Leadership 💬 Noteworthy Quotes: “I believe that marketing is more important than sales. I know it sounds crazy or maybe even bold, but I think when sales is closing deals, then marketing beforehand builds these relationships and makes this deal even possible.” — Mari-Liis Vaher  “Allocate strategy and planning time to your calendar, especially at the beginning of any new project. Taking a few hours to create an actionable plan will make it much easier to execute and ensure you won't forget any important details that can happen when you are constantly running like a hamster in a wheel.” — Laura Kukemelk  "By creating a rhythm for your audience through consistent action is how you build know-like-trust in the marketplace.” — Mari-Liis Vaher “Repurpose, be smart and don't overwhelm your followers.” — Laura Kukemelk ⌛ Timestamps: 00:08:22 – Mindset and Personal Growth 00:16:06 – Importance of Planning and Strategy 00:28:45 – Marketing Execution and Misconceptions 00:38:27 – Power of Effective Communication 00:45:33 – Leadership and Delegation   🔗 Links: Download the Free Productivity Guide: https://powerful-marketers.com/productivity-guide Join the Powerful Marketers Hub: https://powerful-marketers.com/hub Join the Book Launch Team: https://powerful-marketers.com/book 🩷 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast for more insights on mindset, strategy, marketing, communication, and leadership. Leave a review and join the conversation inside the Hub.

In this episode of the Powerful Marketing Tips podcast, we dive into the world of next-generation marketing with two inspiring young marketers, Kirke Joost and Gerrit Lehe. Both guests share their unique journeys and insights into the marketing industry, highlighting their experiences and the challenges they've faced along the way. The conversation is facilitated by host Mari-Liis Vaher. Timestamps: 08:20 Building a marketing agency 12:00 Advice for aspiring marketers 16:11 Importance of community support (Free access to Powerful Marketers Hub!) 21:16 Offering feedback to next generation marketers 25:00 Ambitions for growth and teamwork 30:18 Final advice for aspiring marketers Noteworthy Quotes: "Even if your dream is so delusional, you're going to end up near it, because you're working the hardest. And you're hoping for it. So just be delusional." — Gerrit Lahe "The hardest part is starting. And after that, the only way is up. Even if it doesn't work out, you get experience." — Kirke Joost “Even if you have doubters and no-sayers, just prove them wrong.” — Gerrit Lahe "On social media, everything is surface level and there’s a lot of fuss. In the Hub, everything is organized and you can go through the materials and actually learn. " — Kirke Joost Links: Connect with Kirke and Gerrit: https://www.kirkejoost.com/  Join the Powerful Marketers Hub: https://powerful-marketers.com/hub/ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast for more insights on marketing, networking and building relationships. We'd love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and join the conversation inside the Hub. 

In this episode, Mari-Liis Vaher hosts a lively discussion with networking experts Frank Agin and Terry Bean about the challenges of building trust and relationships in the digital era. The trio delves into the importance of genuine connections and the art of communication, especially amidst the overwhelming nature of online interactions. They share personal insights, techniques for effective networking, and practical takeaways for listeners seeking to establish meaningful relationships. 💭 Main Topics Discussed: The evolution of networking and how technology has changed relationship building The significance of trust in business relationships Common pitfalls in online communication and ways to counteract them Practical tips for building genuine connections Personal strategies for overcoming mental exhaustion and staying motivated 💡 Key Insights: Trust Building: "Do what you said you would do" — Terry Bean emphasizes this straightforward principle for establishing trust in business. Communication Challenges: Written communication can lead to misunderstandings due to tone misinterpretations, underscoring the importance of active listening. Intentional Connection: Mari-Liis Vaher mentions that building relationships should be purposeful and not merely a numbers game of online connections.  Less is More: Frank Agin advises focusing on fewer relationships but investing more time and effort into them for deeper connections. 🗣️ Notable Quotes: "The best way to build trust in business is to deliver what you promise." — Terry Bean "We have two ears and one mouth for a reason." — Mari-Liis Vaher "When it comes to building relationships and building trust, really nothing has changed. All technology allows us to do is to do it farther and faster." — Frank Agin ⌛ Timestamps: 02:40 - 06:59: Introductions of the guests 07:00 - 11:40: Insights on technology's effect on networking 12:00 - 15:05: The importance of intentionality in relationships 23:15 - 29:00: Personal stories on networking experiences 30:00 - 32:10: Discussion on values and commonalities in networking 39:50 - 42:55: Key strategies for building connections 🔗 Links: Connect with Frank Agin: Website: https://frankagin.com/ LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/frankagin Connect with Terry Bean: Website: https://trybean.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/terrybean Join the Powerful Marketers Hub: https://powerful-marketers.com/hub/ Get early access to the book The Greatest Marketer of the World: https://powerful-marketers.com/book/ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe for more insights on marketing, networking and building relationships. We'd love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and join the conversation inside the Hub. Let’s turn today’s overwhelm into tomorrow’s trust!

Many agencies think their biggest struggle is revenue. In reality, the real challenge often lies in profitability. Without understanding their true costs and margins, agencies can fall into the trap of chasing more clients without improving their bottom line. In this episode of the Powerful Marketers podcast, Mari-Liis Vaher, co-founder of Powerful Marketers, sits down with Marcel Petitpas, CEO and co-founder of Parakeeto. Marcel specializes in helping agencies track the right metrics to improve profitability and make data-driven decisions. 💭 Key discussion points: 1️⃣ Why profitability matters more than revenue? 2️⃣ The Four MVPs Process (minimum viable problem, point of view, process, product) 3️⃣ The Channel Maturity Model 4️⃣ When to add a new channel to your marketing activities? 5️⃣ How to build effective funnels?   🔗 Links mentioned on the episode: Free Toolkit for agencies Parakeeto Foundations Course New Book: “Software as a Science: Unlock Limitless Recurring Revenue Without Losing Control” by Dan Martell, Matt Verlaque, Johnny Page, and Marcel Peptitas  Get in touch with Marcel Peptitas and Parakeeto: Parakeeto website: www.parakeeto.com    Marcel’s website: www.marcelpetitpas.com     Personal Social Media handles: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-petitpas-20059588/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcel.petitpas/     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencyprofitability    Company Social Media handles: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getparakeeto/     Twitter: https://twitter.com/Parakeeto    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@getparakeeto    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parakeeto   💡 Submit your own marketing challenge or topic you'd like for us to discuss in a future episode: https://powerful-marketers.com/podcast/ 🌟 Join the Powerful Marketers Hub for in-depth discussions on marketing, sales, leadership, and more: https://powerful-marketers.com/hub/  #marketing #marketingpodcast #marketingtips #marketingstrategy #marketingchallenges  

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the skin care industry, particularly in the realm of natural products, brands face unique marketing challenges and opportunities. This podcast episode with Mai-Liis Kivistik, the creator of MaiWistik, highlights the journey of a skin care entrepreneur navigating the complexities of entering new markets and exploring local partnerships for growth. This strategy enhances brand credibility, fosters customer loyalty, and ultimately drives sustainable business success. Listen to the full interview, hosted by Mari-Liis Vaher, the creator of Powerful Marketers, for valuable insights and tips.   💬 Key discussion points: ➡️ Understanding Local Markets ➡️ Building Credibility and Trust ➡️ Cost-Effective Marketing Strategies ➡️ Embracing E-commerce Opportunities   🔗 Links: Connect with Mai-Liis Kivistik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mai-liis-kivistik/ Discover MaiWistik brand: https://www.maiwistik.eu/ 💡 Submit your own marketing challenge or topic you’d like for us to discuss in a future podcast episode: https://powerful-marketers.com/podcast Discover podcasts and apply as a guest: https://www.listennotes.com/ Contribute to local media articles: https://www.helpareporter.com   🌟 Join the Powerful Marketers Hub for in-depth discussions on topics similar to this: https://powerful-marketers.com/hub/   #marketing #digitalmarketing #marketingpodcast #marketingeffectiveness #marketingtips #marketingstrategy #marketingcasestudy

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, constant notifications, and the never-ending demands of our work and personal lives. Many of us find ourselves multitasking, thinking we’re getting more done, but instead, we’re only draining our energy and lowering our productivity. In this Powerful Marketing Tips podcast episode, Mari-Liis Vaher from Powerful Marketers walks you through a unique concept: MIP Hour and what it can do for your productivity. The MIP Hour stands for Most Important Person Hour—and yes, that person is YOU. Just like how you’re instructed to put on your own oxygen mask first when flying, the MIP Hour is about prioritizing your most important task of the day without distractions, so you can work smarter and more efficiently. Timestamps: [00:02:00] The Dangers of Multitasking [00:07:00] Benefits of Single-Tasking [00:09:10] Using the Pomodoro Technique [00:12:46] Blueprint for MIP Hour   Download the MIP Productivity Guide: It includes step-by-step instructions for setting up your MIP Hour, tips for overcoming common challenges, and suggestions for making the MIP Hour a regular part of your routine: https://powerful-marketers.com/productivity-guide/    Join the Powerful Marketers Hub for inspiration, growth and support: https://powerful-marketers.com/hub/ 

In this episode of the Powerful Marketing Tips podcast, we delve into the lesser-known ways of measuring business growth and success with our special guest, Aditya Varanasi. Aditya, who spent 14 years at PepsiCo pioneering digital media strategies for brands like Cheetos and Lay's Stax, shares his journey from corporate America to founding his own business, Awarity, as well as key learnings that are relevant to all businesses. 💭 Quotes: "People need to see you an average of seven times before they take action.” (00:04:46) "Our mission is to make world-class advertising accessible to everyone." (00:07:37) "Think of your advertising strategy as a way to reach new customers in an efficient manner and stay with them throughout the customer journey." (00:10:50) "Stick with a plan that you feel like even if it's only 75% solid, stick with it. You'll see better results with that consistency than you will from just trying to change every week and not knowing if the change is meeting customer needs." (00:15:57) " If you neglect it and you say, I'm only going to do what I can measure to have immediate results, you're going to end up doing very little and your competition is going to build their brand over time." (00:21:24) ⌛ Timestamps: [00:04:46] Importance of Full Customer Journey [00:12:18] Simplicity in Advertising Messaging [00:14:32] Metrics for Measuring Advertising Success [00:21:14] Brand Awareness and Long-term Growth [00:28:37] Advice for New Business Owners   🔗 Links: Connect with Aditya Varanasi: Website: https://www.awarity.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adityavaranasi/ 💡 Join the Powerful Marketers Hub to connect with marketers and entrepreneurs from around the world: https://powerful-marketers.com/hub/ ⭐ Give feedback on this episode: https://powerful-marketers.com/podcast/ 

Feeling lost at sea with your marketing efforts? You’re not alone. Many businesses jump straight into action without a clear plan, leading to diluted efforts and subpar results. To reduce overwhelm and ineffectiveness in marketing, you must have a solid decision making framework. Don’t know how to get started? No worries, in this podcast episode, Mari-Liis and Laura from Powerful Marketers share the main steps that help you gain clarity and build an effective marketing strategy. 💭 Quotes: “When you are all over the place, you overwhelm yourself and also your potential customers.” (00:01:21) “The clearer you become with who you can serve and how you can serve them, the easier it is for those people to find you.” (00:02:31) "In a crowded marketplace, clarity is really what sets you apart better than anything else." (00:06:14) “And I know that marketing can feel like a puzzle, but it's actually quite simple because it is all about building this know, like and trust.” (00:08:34) “There are many little details that need to be clarified in order for your marketing to run smoothly. And also don't forget about the metrics table because you need to measure what is happening and what is working, what is not.” (00:11:42) “A successful strategy takes time to yield results, right? So stay committed and be ready to adapt changes if needed." (00:13:40) ⌛ Timestamps: [00:02:14] Clarity, Focus and Their Impact on Marketing Success [00:07:41] Strategy Building Tool: Step 1 (Gaining Clarity) [00:10:10] Strategy Building Tool: Step 2 (Client Journey Flywheel) [00:11:09] Strategy Building Tool: Step 3 (12-Month Marketing Plan) [00:12:03] Strategy Building Tool: Step 4 (Metrics) 🔗 Links: Download the Strategy Building Tool + 12 Month Marketing Plan: https://powerful-marketers.com/12-month-marketing-plan/ Join the Powerful Marketers Hub: https://powerful-marketers.com/hub/  Please give us feedback on this episode: https://powerful-marketers.com/podcast/