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Ever wonder where the trends we love come from? They have to originate somewhere, afterall. When it comes to social media, they can usually find their origin story in the hands of The Visionary Outsider.
If you took the “What Type of Anti-Hero Social Media Marketer Are You?” quiz and landed on The Visionary Outsider, you already know this: you don’t fit in. And maybe it’s never felt like a superpower before, but I’m here to tell you it so IS.
While most people chase trends and try to game the algorithm, The Visionary Outsider is strategically positioning content in a way that others can only emulate. They’re thinking outside of the box, blazing a trail of their own.
The Visionary Outsider doesn’t need to try to stay on top of trends because they’re the ones starting them. And while that can leave them with a feeling of ‘not belonging’, it’s only because they’re so forward-thinking they can’t find a box to fit themselves into. And in this case, being more interested in what’s coming than what’s popular is the best way to stand out from the crowd.
Inside the Mind of The Visionary Outsider
The Visionary Outsider Anti-Hero Social Media Marketer is the strategic, forward-thinking trailblazer. You don’t create content to join the conversation because you’re busy creating content that will BE the conversation starter for the next five or 10 years.
When it comes to marketing, you aren’t fueled by applause, but rather by the impact you’re having on the world around you. And that impact takes time.
You’ve never been the loudest in a group, but when you do speak, your ideal audience takes notice. You have an unshakable, quiet confidence in what you’re doing, and understand that the path forward includes thinking outside of the box.
I’ve had a couple of Visionary Outsider moments in my social media career, even though I identify most with The Honest Realist.
- In 2018, I was trying to sell a chatbot development service to my small business audience. It was a great service, and I had a couple of products delivered. However, I was too early in the game. Meta was changing the rules all the time. People didn’t trust chatbots yet and business owners were scared to engage. Fast forward to 2024, and everyone is implementing some form of chatbot on their Facebook and Instagram. Imposter Syndrome got me, and I quit this project too soon.
- In 2023 I started encouraging people to learn to use ChatGPT. I hosted webinars, gave away prompts and systems to use for blogging and social media. Again, I was too early. People weren’t ready. But they sure are now! So now I’m diving in again, updating my online course with Custom GPTs and even making some free. The Visionary Outsider in me is going to stick with this one and bringing you along with me.
Where The Maverick is bold in execution, The Visionary Outsider is bold in perspective. Where The Satirical Marketer calls out the present with snark, The Visionary Outsider skips straight to what’s next.
Your Natural Behaviours On Social Media
You may not be the loudest one on social media, but when you make a move, you make waves in your industry.
- You share ideas that feel a little ‘too early’ to some, if not most, of your audience.
- You’re unshakable in your conviction, so you stick with it when others might give up on an idea or wait for it to be more mainstream.
- You see patterns others miss and connect dots that haven’t shows up on your competitors radar yet.You aren’t out there regurgitating trends, instead you find better ways of conveying the same idea.
- You’re a forward-thinker, so you’re not looking at the past to figure out your way forward.
- You’re strategic in how you use your time online, so you have impact when you do post.
- You’re a trailblazer. When you start something, others are quick to follow.
- You naturally lean toward big-picture predictions and long-form ideas that require a little work to get going. And you’re not one to dumb things down, which puts you at the head of the pack when it comes to thought leadership.
Your insights might not get instant traction, but give them time. People will come back to them when they finally catch up. (See my two examples above 🙂 )
While The Rebellious Innovator is busy testing new tools, you’re asking whether those tools serve your vision or distract from it. And while The Honest Realist is busy showing people what they’ve done so far, you’re creating conversations with your audience that will have traction for months, if not years, to come.
Your Strategic Edge
Your strength is your foresight, combined with your unshakable confidence in what you have to share.
You understand where your industry is heading and you aren’t afraid to speak about changes you see coming before they’ve been confirmed. There is power in not being afraid to be first or to say the things that others don’t want to say.
At your core, you’re driven by purpose, rather than performance metrics, which means you aren’t easily swayed by the initial push-back that comes with being the first to try something new.
And because you’re inherently strategic in your methods, you aren’t moved by the latest trend unless you can find a way to improve upon it.
Your focus tends to land on the systems you have in place, leading to long-term planning and execution. Which means when others might bail on an idea, you see it through the very end because it serves a greater purpose than just ‘going viral.’
Potential Pitfalls
Just like arriving at an event too early, when you’re working in the future, you’re often alone. It’s easy to feel like your work is floating in the void and when that happens, the temptation is to water it down…make it friendlier. Safer. Trendier.
Don’t.
You are not The Reluctant Expert, pulling back because you’re unsure. You are The Visionary Outsider, forging ahead because you’re sure, even if others aren’t. YET.
Here are some things to keep in mind while you’re out there building the future:
- Depending on your personality, you might feel so much pressure to make your ideas digestible that you don’t post at all.
- Sometimes you may stray a little too far from your niche in pursuit of what’s new and exciting. While it’s important to chase your passion, it’s equally important to remember why people followed you in the first place.
- You may end up over-educating your audience while trying to convince everyone of your perspective, instead of just sharing and letting it happen naturally for the right audience.
- You may try to convert the masses because you know your ideas are going to be a hit, instead of focusing on those who are ready to say yes, right now.
Your Social Media Strategy, Anti-Hero Style
Build your strategy like a lighthouse, leading your audience to shore as a beacon of knowledge and value. Don’t worry about chasing attention. Focus on consistency, clarity, and long-term value. You are the signal.
Use platforms that don’t punish depth, like newsletters, LinkedIn, private communities, or yes, the next platform that hasn’t even launched yet (are you on Bluesky yet?).
Create content that:
- Maps where your industry is heading rather than focusing on trends.
- Calls out systems that are failing by showing how they could be better.
- Offers a reimagined way forward, so your audience can benefit from the way you think about your industry.
- Makes people feel smarter for following you.
- Builds frameworks and models others will reference later.
And while you may be driven to constantly move forward, don’t be afraid to hop on the occasional trend or two. It’s a quick and easy type of content that can leave you with more time to focus on what’s coming next.
Try This Tactic: Low Effort, High Impact
Create a “Future Snapshot” series.
Start with this post format:
“It’s 2029. Here’s what I’m seeing…”
In one version, describe what your industry looks like if everything stays the same. In another, describe what it could become if your vision took hold. Add a call to action that invites others to help build that future with you.
You can repeat this format quarterly to showcase your thought evolution and build a digital library of predictions that age like prophecy.
As a Visionary Outsider Anti-Hero Social Media Marketer, you’re not just ahead of the curve; you ARE the curve.
Strategy Isn’t Optional, Even When You’re Creating The Future
You’re not out there trying to copy what’s already working well for other people. You’re finding tactics that pay off in exponential dividends in the long run.
But without a strategy, there’s no way to tell if all your effort in social media is actually paying off.
That’s exactly why the Social Media Strategy for Anti-Heroes Course was created. To help my students take all the tactics that are working for their business and build the consistency needed to succeed online.
Are you ready to build your social media strategy based on your personal strengths? Find out more here.
