Personal media brands

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Personal media brands

that deliver ...

New.

Loyal.

Customers.

Download Playbook

Our latest blog posts

Overcome your fear of the 'S' word

The most common fear business owners whisper to me is this: "I want to sell my product or service. But I don’t want to be, you know… [eyes dart left, then right] "salesy." ...more

How To

July 01, 2025•3 min read

If I had to look for a job today

I would do it differently. It was 2019 when I sent scores of “seeking‑new‑opportunities” emails -- my first job search in a decade. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't worry so much about the damn res... ...more

How To

July 01, 2025•4 min read

3 ways owners can earn trust, new customers

Trust isn’t something you ask for. It’s something you earn -- over time, and we know this because we asked consumers*. And this is what they told us. ...more

How To

April 17, 2025•0 min read

Our latest blog post

Overcome your fear of the 'S' word

The most common fear business owners whisper to me is this: "I want to sell my product or service. But I don’t want to be, you know… [eyes dart left, then right] "salesy." ...more

How To

July 01, 2025•3 min read

Your story is the key to your personal media brand

Your authentic story proves people can trust you with their business ... if it has these 3 elements:

Your expertise.

Your results.

Your values.

STEP-BY-STEP

Building your brand story

Discover

We start by defining the three essential elements of your story: your expertise, your results and your values.

Next, we form a crystal clear, concise vision of what value you create for your customers.

Then we spotlight examples of the value you have created for your customers.

Finally we share your 'why' -- the personal values that led you to provide this unique product or service.

The Discovery analysis outlines what your storylines will be based on.

Blueprint

In Blueprint, we craft a comprehensive content road map based on your Discovery.

This outline includes recurring storylines across text, audio, video, or images that play to your media strength and showcase your expertise.

Say your message is best suited to text -- we define the storylines and the right form for you (ie. blog posts, quizzes, emails, landing pages, social posts, white papers, e-books, how-to articles).

Then we map a custom distribution plan which defines the platforms, cadence and other recommended amplification methods.

Build

Now we're ready to tell your brand story and offer more than two decades experience building all essential digital content forms:

Blog Posts

Short-, Long-form Videos

Social Media Content

Podcasts

Email Campaigns

Infographics

E-books

White Papers

Webinars

Interactive Content

How-To Guides

We can build it for you, train you to do it yourself, or employ a build-train hybrid.

Distribute

Consistent timely publication signals professionalism and builds trust. Delivering your story to the right audience, in the right place at the right time, every time matters.

As does monitoring content analytics. Optimizing your content and its distribution based on performance is the key to accelerate growth.

We can distribute it for you, train you to do it yourself, or employ a distribute-train hybrid.

Connect

The point of building an authentic personal brand is to create deep, authentic enduring connections.

People need a simple, easy way to connect and start a relationship with your brand.

One of the most successful methods is a lead-magnet email funnel, which converts browsers into connected fans.

We handle the complete funnel development, landing page, user journey, automated messaging and data capture that builds your customer list.

Coach

One-on-one coaching sessions focused on your specific needs.

We unpack your biggest challenges and provide real-world actionable guidance on personal brand, content strategies, user engagement, as well as how to acquire, connect and grow your customer base -- plus all challenges related to those.

"Unless you have a story to tell, you can't persuade people."

-- MICHAEL LEWIS, NYT BEST SELLING AUTHOR

Your story is the key

to your personal

media brand

Your authentic story proves people can trust you with their business ... if it has these 3 elements:

Your expertise.

Your results.

Your values.

PHASE 1

Listen & Learn

Not everyone will be a good fit for this program. So before we start any plan, we perform a detailed 1x1 needs analysis to learn about you, your brand, your previous successes, failures, current challenges and goals.

PHASE 2

Discover & Blueprint

Next, we define your unique expertise, track record and core values -- then develop story lines (via text, audio, video, images) that convey your expertise and position your brand as the most trusted resource.

PHASE 3

Build, Distribute

& Connect

We then build a content library (or create templates that let you DIY), map a distribution plan that reaches your target audience and give them easy access to connect with you.

SERVICES

How we build your personal media brand

PHASE 1

Listen & Learn

Not everyone will be a good fit for this program. So before we start any plan, we perform a detailed 1x1 needs analysis to learn about you, your brand, your previous successes, failures, current challenges and goals.

PHASE 2

Discover & Blueprint

Next, we define your unique expertise, track record and core values -- then develop story lines (via text, audio, video, images) that convey your expertise and position your brand as the most trusted resource.

PHASE 3

Build, Distribute

& Connect

We then build a content library (or create templates that let you DIY), map a distribution plan that reaches your target audience and give them easy access to connect with you.

Bright Trail's

90-day personal media brand

Discover
Blueprint
Build
Distribute
Connect

Our 5-step framework starts with a content blueprint built around your three story pillars; next we create your media brand content in text, image, video or audio formats; distribute it to the right people and platforms; and offer them exclusive access to your expertise.

Download Playbook

Years of media-tested tactics, applied to your business.

Bright Trail founder Jim Thompson has grown digital audiences for some of America's biggest media brands including Fox Interactive, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter and Gary Vaynerchuk's personal brand.

"Over two decades, I learned from watching business owners waste time and money on quick-fix marketing tactics that didn't work.

Hope is not a strategy - going viral, becoming an influencer, waiting for paid campaigns to be profitable.

The answer is your personal media brand -- a source of trusted, valuable, personal guidance that makes people's lives better.

And it starts the day you decide to tell your authentic story."

ABOUT US

Years of media-tested tactics,

now applied to your business.

"Over two decades, I learned from watching business owners waste time and money on quick-fix marketing tactics that didn't work.

Hope is not a strategy - going viral, becoming an influencer, waiting for paid campaigns to be profitable.

The answer is your personal media brand -- becoming a source of trusted, valuable, personal guidance that makes people's lives better.

And it starts the day you decide to tell your authentic story."

Bright Trail founder Jim Thompson has grown digital audiences for some of America's biggest media brands including Fox Interactive, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter and Gary Vaynerchuk's personal brand.

TESTIMONIALS

What our clients think

TESTIMONIALS

What our clients think

Walter Gordillo-Cruz & Mir Shithil

POSTURE UP

ERGONOMIC PRODUCTS

"Jim is a true fountain of knowledge. He took the time to understand our brand and vision deeply, asking insightful questions that helped us define who we wanted to be. In just 30 minutes, he outlined a plan that was attentive to our goals and created structures that guide our content for weeks and months. He’s connected us with key people that have opened up new doors. We’re lucky to have Jim as an integral part of our journey.."

Sarah Coan

UNLOCKABILITY

INDIVIDUAL LEARNING SPECIALIST

"I would describe Jim as a genuine coach who offers a broad skill set, keen insights, and knowledge to support any business or organization. His expertise makes the next steps clear and accessible by creating actionable processes.."

Joe Valenti

RE/MAX INSTYLE REALTY

REALTOR

“Working with Jim at Bright Trail to create the Central Jersey Real Estate Podcast has elevated my personal brand in a way that’s 100% authentic to me -- it creates value and provides a service for current and future homeowners. It couldn’t be a better fit.”

Kate Bradley Chernis

LATELY.AI

SOCIAL AI CONTENT PLATFORM

“Jim gets it, he understood Lately's DNA from Day 1 -- then grew our LinkedIn reach (+89%), clicks (+227%), comments (+514%) ... in just 120 days, we went from playing checkers to playing Grandmaster chess."

Mike Pallad

MODERN LUXURY

LUXURY LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER

“Jim’s expertise and execution has been incredibly valuable to us, not the least of which has been the outstanding work on the strategy and execution of Modern Luxury’s national website and network relaunch.”

PLANS & PRICING

The right plan to grow your business

Brand Launch

Discovery
Blueprint
Timeline @ 2 weeks
Starting at $1,100

Brand Create

Build
Distribute
Timeline @ 4 weeks
Starging at $2,900

Brand Reach

Connect
Timeline @ 6 weeks
Starting at $4,600

Coaching

Package

1x1 coaching
2x monthly
$700 / mo.

Website

Package

Custom website buildout
Timeline @ 4-6 weeks
Coming Soon

Visual Branding

Package

Complete visual identity
Timeline @ 3 weeks
Coming Soon

PLANS & PRICING

The right plan to grow your business

Brand Launch

Discovery
Blueprint
Timeline @ 2 weeks
Starting at $1,100

Brand Create

Build
Distribute
Timeline @ 4 weeks
Starting at $2,900

Brand Reach

Connect
Timeline @ 6 weeks
Starting at $4,600

Coaching Package

1x1 coaching
2x monthly
$700 / mo.