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I published my first Substack article when people were still saying, "What is Substack?"

I remember the puzzled stares when I said to some pals that I was publishing there. "Why LinkedIn or Medium and not?" they'd ask.
Flash-forward 6 months — that same blog post generated me three client referrals, 2 podcast interviews, and 500 loyal email readers.

Here's the truth that I learned: Being an early adopter within personal branding is not cool. It's savvy.

When you’re early to a platform, you’re not just using it. You’re helping shape it. You’re creating attention, not competing for it. And that puts your brand in a powerful position.

Why Early Adoption Works in Personal Branding
Let’s break down the advantages:

  1. Less Competition, More Visibility
    On new platforms, algorithms are usually kinder. They want content. They want creators. And they push your posts to more people — especially if you’re one of the few talking about a niche topic.

  2. Instant Credibility as a Thought Leader
    The early adopters on Clubhouse ended up being the moderators that everyone followed. The Threads early adopters already have thousand-follower audiences. Why? Because humans naturally trust those who "saw it coming."

  3. Space to Experiment Without Stress
    New platforms are playgrounds. You don't need sleek visuals or perfect copy. You can experiment, fail forward, and build your voice — before the big brands move in.

My Story: Threads, Substack, and Saying Yes Early
When Threads launched, I committed to posting once a day for 14 days. I didn't think about the content too much — I just rolled up and created value. A week later, someone DMed me:
"I've been following your content since Day 1 on Threads. Can you help me with my branding?"

It wasn't the best post that caught people's eyes — it was the early consistency.

Same with Substack. While others waited to see if it would catch on, I began writing. Not only did I develop an audience, I wrote SEO-optimized articles that perform well on Google even today.

Tips to Become an Effective Early Adopter
Want to beat the crowd to new platforms and establish your brand before the masses arrive? Try these tips:

  1. Don't ask permission — If a new platform aligns with your values or audience, experiment now.

  2. Repurpose with intent — Repurpose your old content, repackage it, and experiment with engagement.

  3. Be rough, not refined — Early adopters are forgiven for being raw. That rawness creates loyalty.

  4. Leverage platform features — All-in on their new features. Platforms reward users who leverage their new features.

  5. Engage like crazy — Comment on posts, engage in rooms, answer DMs. Engaging is the name of the game when it comes to exposure.

Early Adopter Does Not Equal Early Exiter
There are so many creatives who get all excited about a new platform but vanishes after a month. Staying the course is your strength.
Stay put. Grow up with the platform. Gain trust while others try.
The Bottom Line?
Your brand won't be everywhere — but must be somewhere to begin.

Place yourself early, communicate with purpose, and you won't only have a personal brand — you'll have influence, authority, and staying power.

So what's the next platform you're leaping on?

Let me know in the comments — or tag me when you post there. I'll be with you.