We were lucky to catch up with Cheldin Barlatt Rumer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cheldin , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I am an immigrant (Sierra Leone, West Africa), I am a mother (Sydney Rachel, age 12, and Chase Rogers, age 5), I am a former Division I Athlete (Field Hockey and Track and Field – La Salle University, Philadelphia), I am an Adjunct Professor (Temple University, Philadelphia – Personal Branding). I am a relentless entrepreneur passionate about connecting remarkable women to inspiring stories.

In 2009, I created a digital agency (i-g creative) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that aided small business owners – primarily women – with social media campaigns, publicity, graphic design, and web development. In early 2013, I conducted mock publicity interviews with one of my “shyest” clients. She was extremely nervous about attending a local morning show, and I was committed to helping her FIND HER VOICE. Often the most talented people have the most difficulty sharing their stories and promoting their businesses.

I have always been an extrovert, so speaking confidently in public has always come easy. Watching my talented client struggle and frankly “whisper” about her passion and, therefore, business sparked an idea that soon would become my mission. SCREAM YOUR DREAM™.

At that moment, I determined that my life’s goal would be to help talented professionals not whisper their wishes but to SCREAM THEIR DREAMS! On that day, THIS IS IT NETWORK™ was born. I began producing my daily digital talk show that provides small business owners, industry leaders, and brand influencers a fun online platform to “comfortably” promote their businesses, products, and services while sharing lifestyle news and celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit.

Building this self-funded platform and online community has been challenging and has required endless dedication, countless sacrifices, and unshakable grit. I believe that there is a strong need for a digital outlet that authentically shares the entrepreneurial journey of these extremely hard-working and brave individuals.

After interviewing over 1,000 professionals, I received requests from dozens of guests asking me to assist them in producing independent digital programs, instructional courses, and engaging promotions; that support their individual businesses and personal brands. I jumped at the opportunity to help these gutsy women share their unique talents with their growing communities.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Cheldin Barlatt Rumer is the CEO and Executive Producer of THIS IS IT NETWORK™, a global female, minority-owned, digital streaming platform. Each day THIS IS IT NETWORK™ shares inspiring stories with a diverse community of female leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs through educational entertainment. This inclusive and engaging content consists of online video programs and lifestyle blogs hosted and written by various captivating personalities and professionals.

Rumer uses her magnetic personality, unmatched energy, and industry expertise to promote the accomplishments and ambitions of her international guests while captivating her global audience of remarkable women. Through a layered media strategy, she intentionally caters to her community’s multifaceted lives, both personally and professionally.

Through her SCREAM YOUR DREAM™ online courses and in-person classes, she provides participants with the measurable tools and tactics needed to clarify their personal brand, share their brand stories, and generate results.

As an immigrant from Sierra Leone, West Africa, a former Division 1 athlete, a mother of two, an adjunct professor, a personal branding expert, and an author, Rumer works diligently to encourage her audience to no longer whisper their wishes but to scream their dreams.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Personal branding is EVERYTHING. As an Adjunct Professor who has taught Personal Branding to collegiate undergraduates for close to a decade, I rely heavily on personal branding as a key tool in building and strengthening your reputation within your industry or market. The importance of PERSONAL BRANDING.
PERSONAL BRANDING is what people say and think about you in your absence.
– Cheldin Barlatt Rumer

Personal branding is the art of creating a professional identity that sets you apart from others in your industry. It’s about crafting a unique online and offline persona that showcases your strengths, values, and expertise to build recognition and trust among your audience.

In today’s digital age, personal branding has never been more important – whether you’re an executive, freelancer, or entrepreneur. Let us help your SCREAM YOUR DREAM™. Contact me today to learn more about our personal branding workshops and courses. Log on to https://thisisittv.com/screamyourdream for more information.

Here are some reasons why PERSONAL BRANDING is essential:

1. Builds credibility: Personal branding establishes you as an expert. It helps to create trust by showcasing your knowledge, experience, and achievements to potential clients or employers.

2. Sets you apart: In today’s competitive market, personal branding helps set you apart from others who may have similar qualifications or experiences as yours. Communicating what makes you unique and different from everyone else can be the factor that makes them choose you over other professionals in the industry.

3. Provides opportunities: Your personal brand can open doors to partnership opportunities with other businesses or brands whose values align with yours – bringing new opportunities for networking, collaborations, sponsorships & speaking engagements.

4. Strengthens Relationships: By building relationships with your audience through consistent messaging on social media platforms focused on sharing quality work/products and expertise through content creation will help support longer-term engagement & loyalty with clients/followers

5. Increases visibility: Through a successful personal brand strategy, including engaging multimedia content pieces such as photos, videos & graphics that showcase who you are as well as what services/products can offer, increasing visibility across platforms leads to increased leads/referrals

Personal branding is an important way for professionals to establish themselves within their respective fields and help their businesses thrive over time while standing out in the competition and raising their market value.

With social media platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram at your fingertips, you should leverage these platforms to connect with your community personally and professionally. These digital channels allow us a more significant reach and help drive revenue growth. Personal branding is a cornerstone of any successful career or business. #screamyourdream

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

References and referrals have been my best source for gaining new clients. In the world of business, references and referrals can be invaluable. They not only help businesses grow but also help to establish trust and credibility within a particular industry. If you are a freelancer or entrepreneur, developing a solid network of trusted clients who can refer you to others needing your services is essential.

Here are some reasons why references and referrals are so essential:
1. Establishing credibility: When someone refers you to a potential client, it establishes trust and credibility. If someone they trust speaks positively about your work, it makes it easier for them to view you as trustworthy. This can be particularly useful when trying to secure new clients.

2. Cost-effective marketing: Referrals can be an incredibly cost-effective way to market your business. Unlike traditional advertising methods like billboards or social media ads, referrals typically do not cost anything except for the initial effort put in by the person referring you. This can save significant money that would otherwise be spent on marketing.

3. Increasing sales: Referrals have been proven to increase sales significantly. People are much more likely to purchase from someone they know and trust than strangers off the street. Good word-of-mouth recommendations can help bring in new clients and lead to repeat business.

4. Building relationships: Networking is vital in any industry, and developing solid relationships with clients can help lead to more positive outcomes. Building genuine connections with people can create lasting partnerships that will benefit both parties in the years ahead.

5. Better quality leads: When potential leads come through referrals, they tend to be better quality than those from other sources like advertising or cold-calling campaigns since they already have some familiarity with your work.

References and referrals are invaluable tools for any entrepreneur or freelancer looking to grow their business while establishing themselves as credible professionals. Building solid relationships with clients and colleagues can lead to more significant opportunities, increased sales, and the ability to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Always treat your clients with respect and go above and beyond at every opportunity, as the key to being referred is by providing exceptional service.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thisisittv.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisittv/
• Facebook: http://Facebook.com/thisisittv
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheldinbarlatt/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/thisisittv
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thisisitnetworkusa
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisittv

Image Credits
Alison Palma Photography: https://www.alisonpalmaphotography.com