Personal branding: how you can stand out in a noisy digital world

You’ve seen personal branding a thousand times across your many scrolls on the internet – influencers, athletes, the girl from your high school’s instagram. All of these people have a personal brand that they are trying to portray.

Okay, so why is it important and why should you care? If you’re looking to have a career in selling your name to push products, gain followers, etc., then listen up.

what is personal branding & why is it important?

A personal brand is the process of defining and promoting what you stand for as an individual. Your personal brand is a combination of the experiences, skills, and values that differentiate you from the rest.

Your personal brand determines what others think and say about you when you’re not there. It’s how you represent yourself in a digital and non-digital space. Creating a personal brand lets you show off your skills, experiences, accomplishments, and personal values. This is what makes you memorable to new clients or customers. 

Personal branding will elevate your profile to make it more visible and more recognizable to people doom scrolling. By sharing insights and valuable content about yourself and your industry, you can attract the attention of influencers, customers, clients, etc. 

What do you stand for? What do you want to be known for? What is your niche? These are all things that are considered when making your personal brand.

Okay, so how do you make a personal brand?

how to build your brandd

Sharing content, engaging in conversation, and displaying unique skills will reinforce your reputation as a credible resource. The more credibility you build, the more opportunities you will see and the more connections you will make. 

 Here are some simple steps to creating a personal brand:

define yourself/niche

Start by identifying your values, goals, and purpose. Figure out what you stand for and how you would like to be perceived. Remain authentic and genuine so that you create a deeper connection and become credible with your audience. Plus, being authentic from the start is way easier than having to backtrack later on.

find your target audience

Who do you want to reach? What are the age ranges and demographics you want to speak to with your branding? Figure out what those people care about and personalize your content for them (but remember to keep authenticity at the forefront… don’t compromise your beliefs to reach a certain audience).

communicate your brand

After planning out your personal brand, figure out which outlets are best for you. Make sure you create profiles on platforms you wish to be on. Take some new headshots, create a logo, and create a color scheme that can be used across all outlets. This will reinforce your brand and make yourself easier to recognize (hello cohesiveness 😉). 

Put together a portfolio. This is the best way to show off any stats about yourself/social media channels (like amount of followers, accounts reached, etc.), and for you to show off any content you’ve created on behalf of other companies. If you don’t have any work to show yet, that’s okay! Think of your portfolio as a resume on a prettier, more interactive scale. Highlight your work experience, interpersonal skills, and brag about yourself!

create content

Now it’s time to get to work (cue Britney Spears’ ‘Work Bitch’).

Expand your network and gain a following by creating and reposting content: blogs, social media posts, videos, resharing other creators’ work – you name it! It should reflect you as a professional and align with your personal branding goals. *There’s that authenticity again*

This portion is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s important to keep assessing and adjusting so that you stay relevant. As you grow, your brand should too. This will be a gradual progression, but if you stay consistent, you’ll see the results.

example of personal branding

For this conversation, we’re going to pull out some big names with personal branding that everyone has heard of or seen. While they may be viewed as controversial at times, these examples are the epitome of branding themselves.

Elon musk

Entrepreneur Elon Musk is a very successful example of personal branding. He has aligned his public persona with his innovative ventures such as Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink. He consistently displays himself as a pioneer in his field, using social media, especially X, to communicate with the public and build his brand. Musk’s blunt, sometimes controversial statements and dicey projects highlight his personal values of ambition, disruption, and futuristic thinking. This aligns with his brand of modern technology and innovative ideas. Elon Musk’s personal brand plays off the visibility and credibility of his businesses, attracting followers and media attention.

Like we said, these examples may be a little controversial, and this one brand is a little on the extreme end.

call her daddy / alex cooper

Someone on the more attainable end is Alex Cooper. You’ve most definitely seen her podcast, and if you haven’t, you’ve absolutely heard her name before. She is a great example of someone who built a personal brand, completely reinvented it, and is now a pioneer for branding her name in the media.

“Call Her Daddy” was one of the first completely unfiltered podcasts that broke all the rules. It was a raw and relatable outlet for young women. Cooper built her brand on authenticity and reliability by making listeners feel like they were just hanging out with a friend. She made “Call Her Daddy” into an extension of her personality. Her bold, confident, occasionally controversial persona is what keeps listeners hooked.

But, as Alex Cooper grew up, that meant her brand had to grow up too. This called for a major rebrand, including how the podcast was run, topics discussed, social media posts, and new cover art. By intertwining her personal brand within the podcast, she is now appearing on talk shows, collaborating with celebrities, and going on tours.

A strong personal brand sets you apart from the rest. By staying unique and sharing meaningful content, you can create an impression that furthers your success. Personal branding is everything.