Branding November 15, 2020

How to Build Your Personal Brand

Your personal brand exists whether you're building it or not. Here's how to take control of the narrative.

Everyone has a personal brand. It's what people say about you when you're not in the room. The question isn't whether you have one—it's whether you're shaping it intentionally or leaving it up to chance.

Building a personal brand isn't about becoming an influencer or posting selfies with motivational quotes. It's about clearly communicating who you are, what you stand for, and the unique value you bring. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or climbing the corporate ladder, a strong personal brand opens doors that credentials alone can't.

Define What You Want to Be Known For

Start by getting clear on your core message. What topics do you want to be associated with? What problems do you solve? What perspective or experience makes you different from everyone else in your field?

Write down three to five themes that you want your name linked to. These become the foundation of everything you create and share. Without this clarity, your content will feel scattered and forgettable.

Audit Your Online Presence

Google yourself. Seriously. What comes up? Is it an accurate reflection of who you are and what you do? If not, it's time to clean things up.

Update your LinkedIn profile, review your social media bios, and make sure your online footprint tells a cohesive story. Consistency across platforms builds recognition and trust. Use the same headshot, similar language, and a clear value proposition everywhere you show up.

Create Content That Demonstrates Your Expertise

The fastest way to build authority is by sharing what you know. Write LinkedIn posts, start a blog, record short videos, or launch a newsletter. Pick the format that feels most natural to you and commit to a regular cadence.

Focus on being helpful rather than impressive. Answer common questions in your industry. Share frameworks or processes that have worked for you. Break down complex topics into simple, actionable advice. Over time, this body of work becomes proof of your expertise.

Build Relationships, Not Just Followers

A personal brand built on genuine relationships will always outperform one built on vanity metrics. Focus on connecting with people who share your values and interests—not just people who might buy from you.

Attend events, join communities, collaborate with others, and invest time in nurturing relationships. Comment on people's posts, send thoughtful messages, and look for ways to add value without expecting anything in return. These connections become your biggest advocates.

Be Authentic—It's Your Superpower

The most compelling personal brands are authentic ones. Don't try to be someone you're not or copy someone else's style. People can sense inauthenticity from a mile away, and it erodes trust fast.

Lean into what makes you unique. Your background, your quirks, your perspective—these are the things that make people remember you. Share your real experiences, including the messy parts. Vulnerability isn't weakness—it's relatability.

Stay Patient and Stay Consistent

Personal branding is a marathon, not a sprint. You won't see results overnight, and that's okay. The people with the strongest brands today have been showing up consistently for months or years.

Set realistic expectations and focus on progress over perfection. Every post, every conversation, every piece of content is a brick in the foundation of your brand. Keep laying them.

Your Brand Is Waiting to Be Built

You have something valuable to offer the world—you just need to start communicating it. Personal branding isn't about ego or self-promotion. It's about making it easy for the right people to find you, trust you, and work with you.

If you're ready to build a personal brand that truly represents you, we can help. From strategy to content creation, we'll work with you to create something that feels right and gets results. Let's get started.

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