How to Build Your Personal Brand & Get Seen as a Woman Entrepreneur with KJ Blattenbauer. Episode 517
How to Build Your Personal Brand & Get Seen as a Woman Entrepreneur with KJ Blattenbauer
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If you have been trying to show up everywhere and still feel like no one really sees you, this episode will shift the way you think about visibility. KJ Blattenbauer is a powerhouse publicist who has spent her career helping women get noticed, get referred, and get paid. And she is not here to give you the fluffy version.
KJ breaks down why so many women struggle to put themselves out there. It is not vanity. It is a vulnerability. She explains why chasing exposure can actually hurt your authority and why the most important thing you can have in business is not a huge following. It is one clear sentence that tells people exactly who you are and what you do.
This conversation is part of the Smart Girl Summer series, and it delivers exactly what the name promises. Sharp. Practical. No fluff. Real strategy that actually works for real women building real businesses.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why women entrepreneurs struggle with self-promotion and the mindset shift that makes it easier
- How to craft the one-sentence message that gets you seen, referred, and hired
- The 4 foundational steps every woman needs to start building her PR presence (even if she has zero audience)
- The difference between chasing exposure and building authority — and why only one of them leads to sustainable business growth
- How to leverage a single podcast appearance or media hit 11+ different ways so it keeps working for you
- Why “be everywhere” is garbage advice, and exactly where you should show up instead
- What publicist KJ Blattenbauer says all press is NOT (and how to protect your reputation)
- Lessons from Blake Lively, the Kardashians, and Emma Grede’s masterclass book tour
Timestamps:
(01:45) — KJ’s one-sentence description of what she does (and why that sentence is the whole lesson)
(01:57) — Why women struggle with self-promotion, and what they need to hear instead
(02:36) — Serving from your gifts: reframing visibility as service, not ego
(04:04) — This isn’t just for founders. It’s for every woman who wants to stop playing small.
(04:36) — Most accomplished women aren’t lacking expertise. They’re lacking a clear narrative.
(05:06) — What do you really want? Getting quiet enough to figure it out
(05:35) — The power of the one-sentence message: how it works for clients, promotions, and pitches
(06:35) — How to figure out your message when you have multiple book ideas (or multiple passions)
(07:54) — PR myths KJ wants to set the record straight on
(08:52) — You don’t need a big following. You need one repeatable message.
(09:24) — The “be everywhere” myth — why it’s the worst advice in PR right now
(09:59) — What a one-breath message actually looks like (with real examples)
(11:00) — How your message compounds into authority over time
(11:46) — Live coaching moment: KJ helps Alli find her own one sentence
(14:59) — Why getting clear on your message is vulnerable, and what makes it so hard
(15:33) — The real reason people don’t write their book, don’t post, don’t pitch
(16:23) — DIY PR: the biggest mistake solopreneurs make, and the first steps to take instead
(17:09) — Find where your audience actually is (and stop wasting time everywhere else)
(17:37) — Clean your house. Consistency builds trust.
(18:28) — The 4-step framework for getting started with PR
(20:42) — KJ’s morning dog walk moment and the voices that told her she shouldn’t be “caught” resting
(21:33) — What success actually looks like (hint: it’s not the corner office)
(22:24) — Chasing exposure vs. building authority: what’s the difference and why it matters
(23:39) — How to leverage a media appearance or podcast in 11+ ways
(25:38) — “Won’t I annoy my audience if I post about the same thing too many times?” KJ’s answer
(26:39) — Authority is built AFTER the big attention getter, not from it
(27:32) — What KJ used to believe about PR that she no longer believes
(28:28) — PR crisis management: when to speak, when to walk away
(28:41) — Celebrity PR disasters: Blake Lively, the Kardashians, and the lesson
(30:15) — Why short-form social media has ruined our ability to think before we post
(34:04) — Rapid fire favorites: movies, books, and products KJ is loving right now
Links to great things we discussed:
- KJ’s Website
- KJ on Instagram
- KJ’s Show Recommendations – Sopranos & Billions
- KJ’s Movie Recommendations – The Devil Wears Prada & The Devil Wears Prada 2
- KJ’s Book Recommendation – Start With Yourself
- KJ’s Product Recommendation – Saint Jo
- Function Health
- Uplift App
- Wise Woman Era
- Alli on YouTube
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I hope you loved this episode! 🎉
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Take good care of yourself, and keep showing up with joy. Share this episode with a friend who might enjoy it too!
