Business

Singing for Her Supper: Victoria Kennedy, Former Opera Singer Builds a 6-Figure Business

Published

4 years ago

October 27, 2020

As a creative entrepreneur, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trading hours for dollars. This is especially true when you’re just getting started with marketing and haven’t discovered a lead generation system that works for you.

While setting up systems can be challenging, you have skills you can leverage to build a lucrative business. All you need to do is put your creative skills to work building your personal brand.

From Opera Singer to High Powered Publicist

Before you roll your eyes and click away, consider Victoria Kennedy’s story. Victoria is a trained, professional opera singer. Singing with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, she toured all over Europe singing in castles and cathedrals. She even had a #1 hit single topping the iTunes classical chart in Europe.

Did all of this happen to Victoria by chance? No. She realized early on that unless she figured out how to get people to buy her music, she’d be singing for change in the park. So, Victoria set to work figuring out the P.R. world.

This turned out to be a smart decision. Not only did Victoria build a name for herself in the opera world, but also when the bottom fell out of her music career, she was able to pivot without skipping a beat. In fact, Victoria built her brand new business to six figures in less than nine months.

That’s right. When the government refused to renew Victoria’s work visa, she was forced to leave her fairytale opera tour and her career as a performer. But Victoria reinvented herself as a P.R. expert and now she’s helping others build personal brands too!

How to Build Your Personal Brand

The greatest benefit to building your brand through digital marketing and online P.R. is that there are no gatekeepers. Scaling your online business is totally in your hands.

Here are Victoria’s top five tips for growing and sustaining a monetizable brand:

1. Build a loyal fanbase.

As a performer, Victoria learned the most important credibility factor is having a loyal group of true fans. Thanks to social media platforms like Tik Tok, Facebook, and Instagram, digital marketers can release their work directly to their customers whenever they want. At first, consistency is key. Create authentic content that you know speaks to your true fans and they will find you. Once your audience is built, the sky’s the limit.

2. Collaborate with others.

Find other entrepreneurs and marketers to collaborate with. Earned media is a great way to market yourself. Find podcast hosts and others with a ready-built platform who want to share your expertise with their audiences. This will expand your reach quickly.

3. Use e-commerce to monetize your brand.

Whether or not you’re in a product-based business, you can come up with merchandise to sell. Get creative and think about what your true fans might want to buy from you if you had an online store full. Figure out how to use social media to direct your fans to your e-comm store and you’ll literally make money while you sleep.

4. Showcase your talent.

When you’re building a personal brand, that means you are the main attraction. So you’ll want to think of creative ways to showcase your talent. Sure, having a YouTube channel where you share testimonials and give prospects a front row seat to how you work is a great idea, but think outside the box too. Aim high and don’t give up on those big publicity dreams.

5. Get into top publications.

The final piece of the personal branding puzzle is at the core of publicity. Create some content, or better yet, find a talented publicist who can create content for you and get into some of the best publications in your industry. This is the fastest way to get featured where your customers are looking for you.

If you’re stuck trading hours for dollars, it’s time to invest in your personal brand. Victoria can show you how to grow a six-figure personal brand with a strategy that pays for itself.

Victoria Kennedy is the CEO of Victorious PR. Her team helps artists and performers build their personal brands without spending a dime on ads. Using what she learned about the P.R. world as an opera singer, Victoria grew her business from $0 to 6 figures in less than 90 days. She can do the same for your brand. Learn more about Victoria here: https://victoriakennedyofficial.com/

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

6 days ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.