Authentic leadership is one of the most powerful ways to build a career, grow a business, and create a lifelong legacy. The energy in which you show up speaks long before you say anything. Your vibe can attract or repel.

In a world full of constant Internet marketing hype and consumers that have negative experiences, people are looking for the real thing. People worldwide are searching for authentic leaders who care about helping solve problems and live a better life.

Access to social media has given us exposure to many different perceived views of success. Modeling your leadership approach on someone that seems successful is not the best strategy. You don’t see the complete picture of how they got there. What you see is not what you get on the Internet.

To create growth in your life and in the way you generate an income, you’ll want to show up powerfully but authentically. Here are three ways to build a powerful and authentic brand that allows you to consistently show up and create your legacy. Use these to live a life of success and leadership. 

1. Add value long before there’s consideration of a transaction. 

People can feel when all you want to do is sell to them. The needy sales approach often repels potential opportunities and keeps others from wanting to know what you offer. Authentic leaders lead with value. They offer consumers practical knowledge, expertise, and tangible content they can use long before there is a transaction. 

One of the best brand-building strategies is a value-first approach. You prove that you are a leader that should be paid attention to by the value you’re adding to consumers. Modern communication mediums mean that you can add value through social media, podcasts, videos, and various digital methods to publish content and help people. 

Leading with value draws outside consumers to your brand and creates raving fans. It builds a legacy as you help people that you’ll never even be aware of. The value-first energy you’ll put out will be magnetic and fuel growth.

“The most powerful and enduring brands are built from the heart.” – Howard Schultz

2. Make an impact through a results-focused approach. 

In the Internet marketing space, too much focus tends to be on locking in the sale. There are programs and courses whose sole purpose is to upsell the consumer into the next version of the offer.

Authentic leaders focus on results. They design offers and publish content that would bring a clear result for the consumer. They can’t vouch for how someone will take action, but they do their best to make sure there are practical ways to achieve results.

When your main goal is results, you show up powerfully because that stands above all of the noise and hype. Authentic leaders are teaching concepts and strategies that they have gotten results soon. A results-focused approach for yourself and with consumers will help build an elevated brand that draws others to you.

3. Show up consistently and earn attention. 

There are too many voices demanding attention without having earned it. Half the battle is showing up, but you have to do so with something relevant and powerful to say if you want to keep attention.

People are tired of hearing the same regurgitated version of content that’s shipped around from influencer to influencer. They want authentic and practical value they can use that doesn’t feel as if it’s motivated by sales.

The way you stand out is by being consistent and showing up with value in all the mediums your ideal consumers frequent. Consistency is one of the keys to powerful brand building. Set a schedule and a routine that incorporates time for creation but also time for interaction. Engage with your community and answer questions as time allows. There’s a reason why so many people are still tuned into Gary Vaynerchuk years later. 

The Internet and social media offer leaders the opportunity to make an impact, add value to lives, and generate income in a way that feels good to them. To leverage digital opportunities, focus on building an authentic brand.

There are many shady brand-building tactics such as buying followers, paying for PR, and paying for access. These brand tactics might work for a while, but they don’t build a sustainable brand.

Authenticity is power, and it’s a refreshing way to show up as a leader. Focus on becoming the best and most optimized version of yourself, and refuse to lower your standards. Consumers will see this, and it will draw them to you. Build an authentic brand, and you’ll command attention.