What is considered too much oversharing in your content?

This is something my clients have been asking me for years, especially those who are developing a thought leadership platform. 

And the answer I give is the same, ‘It depends.”

Yeah, not the favorite answer to receive, however, personal sharing is a personal preference and you have to consider the audience you’re sharing it to, and who you want to attract and who you want to repel. 

Now, is it absolutely necessary that I share with the whole world that I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan? And if you were to ever take a road trip with me in my minivan, it’s highly likely you’d get the entire rendition of her Era’s Tour... probably not (unless you’re a fellow Swiftie, in which case I just became highly relatable to you 😉).

But it all comes down to one word—RESPECT (and now you’ve got Aretha Franklin singing in your head all day!). Here’s what I mean:

Relatability: Share personal stories and experiences that resonate with your audience.

Expertise: Clearly present the solutions to your audience's pain points, showcasing your knowledge and skills.

Simplicity: Communicate your message in a clear and concise way that’s easy to understand.

Pain Points: Understand and articulate the specific challenges your audience faces.

Engagement: Ensure your content is relatable and speaks directly to your audience’s needs and desires.

Conviction: Present your solutions with confidence, ensuring your audience trusts you and believes in their ability to achieve results.

Targeting: Know your audience deeply and consider how your content can also reach a broader audience.

This RESPECT framework helps you strike the perfect balance between being relatable and authoritative in your content. 

But there are different formulas to use based on who you are, who your target audience is, and the solution you are providing for that audience. Below are some formulas that we teach our clients to use in their content creation:

Personal Storytelling with a Purpose: Ideal for long-form content that connects deeply with your audience by sharing meaningful experiences and actionable advice.

Micro-Stories and Quick Wins: Perfect for short-form content where you deliver relatable, bite-sized insights that engage and provide immediate value.

Empathy + Expertise: A balanced approach for both long and short-form content, where you address pain points and offer solutions, blending personal insights with professional authority.

Authenticity + Boundaries: Best for maintaining a professional image while sharing enough personal content to be relatable without oversharing.

These formulas are just the beginning. Finding the right balance in your content can be both fun and informative, without leaving you guessing on whether or not you overshared or left your audience wanting to hit the snooze button.

Here’s a fun challenge—can you guess which formula I used in this article? Write it in the comments or send me a DM and let me know which one you think it is. 😉

If you’re curious about how to implement these strategies in your own content or want to dive deeper into any of these formulas, stay tuned for upcoming newsletters or —feel free to DM me. 

And if you found this article helpful, don’t keep it to yourself! Share it with your network so they can start creating more impactful content too.

Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark is lovingly referred to as America's Favorite Digital Disruptor. She doesn't just live, breathe, and sleep digital marketing, she embodies the constant shifts and pivots needed to create long-lasting businesses and brands in the online space. She's a 4x LinkedIn Top Voice (Digital Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Social Selling & Lead Generation), Award Winning Podcast Host (Globally ranked top 3% most listened to podcast), International Speaker & Author, and a Top 20 Women Disruptors To Look Out For In 2023.

Her company Influence Builder is all about bringing the human element to the online tech and digital space. Specifically focused on helping the lesser-known experts, influencers and thought leaders, Influence Builder shows them how to break out of the noise, create powerful platforms, and thriving businesses so they can spread their mission and message to the world. This is the bridge where disruptors disrupt and build with authentic influence. Contact Danielle and her team about how they can grow your platforms, your audience, and your bottom line at info@influencebuilder.com.