EP318: Data-Driven Branding: How to Build a Personal Brand That Gets Clients with Danielle Smyth

In this episode of The Savvy Scribe Podcast, host Janine Kelbach welcomes Danielle Smyth, founder of Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing, to explore the power of data-driven branding. Together, they dive into strategies for building a compelling personal brand that attracts clients—especially for freelance writers and service-based professionals.

How to Build a Personal Brand That Gets Clients

Key Topics Covered:

• Building with Strategy, Not Just Style:
  Danielle shares how her company leverages data to guide marketing efforts that focus on client acquisition, not just social media metrics.

• Realistic Marketing Timelines:
  Understand the timeframe needed to see results—expect 3+ months for new efforts, and up to a year for purely organic strategies.

• Ad Strategies That Work:
  Learn why Google Ads often outperform Facebook and LinkedIn for service providers and B2B marketing.

• Crafting a Strong Personal Brand:
  The importance of consistent messaging, niche specialization, and showing up as a professional to stand out in a crowded market.

• Avoiding Freelance Pitfalls:
  Danielle emphasizes the need for freelancers to “think bigger” and present themselves as business owners, not just writers.

• Navigating SEO in the Age of AI:
  With Google’s AI overviews changing the search landscape, traditional SEO is still valuable but evolving. Local SEO and visible bylines offer practical alternatives.

• Effective Client Acquisition Strategies:

  • Getting published on high-authority websites

  • Using newsletters like Substack to build a following

  • Leveraging LinkedIn and direct email outreach

About Danielle:

Danielle is a marketer with a focus on content and SEO. She owns Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing LLC and serves clients across many industries as a data-driven marketing consultant. She works with her team to provide a personalized approach to each client’s needs. She has a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University and a Bachelor of Arts in History and English from Gettysburg College. She also earned a digital marketing certificate from Cornell University.

Actionable Takeaway

Audit your brand presence—your site, logo, content, and messaging—for alignment and consistency. Get external feedback to sharpen your positioning.

Connect with Danielle Smyth:

Learn more about her services at Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing or follow her on LinkedIn!

More Episodes to Level Up Your Personal Brand:

• EP316: Brand YOU: Build a Freelance Biz That Feels Like Home
• EP315: From Passion to Personal Brand: A Writer + Yogi’s Approach to Standing Out with Ray Slater Berry
• EP212: The 5-Step Process to Help You Uncover Your Brand Voice and Stand Out From Your Competitors and How to Implement It With Clients with Gillian Hill
• EP111: How to Build a Brand That Attracts Your Ideal Client with Moriah Riona
• EP103: Building a Business as a Writer with Ires Alliston