Welcome to episode 137 of the Testing Peers podcast!

This time, join  Callum Akehurst-Ryan, Russell Craxford, Chris Armstrong and David Maynard as we discuss Personal Branding and Social Media.

In this episode, the Peers discuss the importance of personal branding and the role social media plays in shaping professional identity within the testing community.

The conversation explores how each of the hosts approaches their own personal brand, the motivations behind building one, and the ways in which visibility and authenticity can influence employability, reputation and connection. The group also considers the evolution of social media platforms, how algorithms influence engagement, and how to use these platforms effectively while staying true to personal values.

Key discussion points include:

• The link between personal branding and professional opportunities
• Developing an identifiable and consistent online presence
• Balancing authenticity, tone of voice and self-promotion
• The impact of algorithms and how to navigate them
• Choosing the right platforms for your goals, from LinkedIn and YouTube to community spaces such as the Ministry of Testing Club [https://club.ministryoftesting.com/]
• The idea of defining your brand through a single theme or “word” [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-your-word-finding-perfectly-describes-you-career-dan-ashby-1sv2e/?trackingId=xoBbDkUiRfmqX6GsXR2U7g%3D%3D]

The hosts share their experiences of what has worked for them, the challenges of maintaining consistency, and the benefits of intentionality in developing a recognisable and trustworthy online identity.

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