Once upon a time, Personal Branding used to be a strategic move. Now it almost feels like a survival skill in a world where everyone’s a “thought leader” and nobody’s quite sure “why.”
“I tripped on a paperclip at 9:00 A.M. at work the other week. Face planted so hard on the floor like Humpty Dumpty. But I learned 10 lessons on leadership that day.”
It was a post I came across on LinkedIn the other day. It had over 1k+ Likes, around 200 Comments, and 20 Shares.
Meanwhile, you’ve been sitting in front of your laptop with 10 tabs open. You’re working on a draft for the nth time, it feels like. “Should I say ‘thrilled’ or ‘excited’ to announce …?”
You’ve got game. The skills, the experience, and the receipts. But not quite the full nine yards; your visibility and recognition are still on the fence, waiting.
If you recall, there was a blog written before on “Think You Can’t Stand Out? Think Again—Here’s Your Very Own Personal Branding Blueprint.” This blog will be a recycled version of that. Yes, you heard that right.
And to reiterate, you’re not boring, irrelevant, or too late to the show. It’s just that you haven’t built your brand that reflects how damn good you actually are amigo.
So let’s fix that today. With all but 6 moves, you’ll be on your way to standing out without having to dance on reels (unless you want to?) or pretend to be a thought leader when you’re just trying to finish your To-Do list. So, let’s get right into it, shall we?
- Find Your Superpower
… Even if it’s unusual.
We don’t mean find ways to locate Superman’s home planet, Krypton. But your own superpower here on Earth.
You see, your personal brand starts where your quirkiness meets your genius. Not everyone can juggle client calls, code in Python, and bake sourdough bread by evening. But you can. Well, maybe not the sourdough by evening, but you get the drift right?
Take this real-world example. Look up April Dunford, an author, keynote speaker, and positioning expert. Her personal brand? Ohh, she makes boring B2B positioning make sense and so fun. That’s her superpower: demystifying complexity. Her work is all about dry humour meeting deep insights, and moreover, her niche is crystal clear.
So What Can You Do?
Approach like so: “What do people always come to me for?” The answer to that is likely your superpower in disguise. Bring it out and own it. Put it in your bio, your posts, and your pitches. Be loud and proud about it.
- Master Your Online Presence
Like how Master Oogway mastered Kung Fu.
Your LinkedIn page isn’t hiding behind tempered glass in a museum; it’s up, front, and center.
While your website acts as your digital handshake, your social media presence is free marketing 24/7/365.
Here’s a solid example for you. Take Justin Welsh, who built a 7-figure business using only his laptop and LinkedIn. By consistently posting, his content holds the same vibe and provides the same value every single time. He never backed down, and today people trust him because he shows up every day like clockwork.
So What Can You Do?
Reexamine your LinkedIn bio this time with a magnifying glass. Check if you’re telling people what you actually do or if you’re just spewing corporate buzzwords. Then, start showing up online at least 3x/week, share insights while you’re at it, ask leading questions, and even post about a lesson you just learned.
- Tell Your Story
Yes! Even the embarrassing bits.
You see, the majority of people today building their brands online come to realize this: people don’t connect with just credentials anymore.
Rather, they connect with your stories and personal experiences. Especially the ones where you’ve fumbled, got scarred for life, and succeeded in figuring it out anyway.
A prime example would be Ali Abdaal, a doctor-turned-youtuber, who grew an incredibly loyal audience by simply sharing how he left the medical field. He went further into what scared him and how he built the right kind of systems that worked. It’s as easy as that. It’s not all about the “I’m successful now, haha.” No, it’s about the lemon sherbet bit at the center; that middle where the real gold lies, waiting to be found.
So What Can You Do?
Don’t just go about posting your wins nonstop. Throw in the nasty bits about the lessons from a lost pitch or that one job you lost after a fatal accident. You can also share about how freelancing helped you back on your feet, literally and financially. You want to be building relatability.
- Share the Gold Before They Ask For It
Give your audience value-packed deets like how Oprah gave away a Pontiac G6 (though there was a “promotional” catch to it) to every audience member in 2004.
People are more likely to remember the ones who help in one way or another over the ones who hoard.
Let’s take a look at this actual instance. Rachel Rogers, the founder of Hello Seven, shares playbooks on how she built her multi-million-dollar business as a woman of colour. She doesn’t gatekeep anything and her content always spreads like wildfire.
So What Can You Do?
Teach your audience about a proven framework you came up with. Share that one checklist you made over the weekend, or even the link to that tool that made your life easier. Keep it plain. People will remember who saved them time and will keep returning.
- Network Like the Human You Are
Remember this rule of thumb: Connection > Broadcasting.
If you see, one of the most underrated personal branding moves out here is just to be a decent person who talks to people.
One such concrete case would be that of Jay Clouse. He built his entire content creator persona and platform by engaging with fellow creators and artists first. His DMs to people were always tailored, and his comments were always thoughtful. All of this rewarded him and grew his reach exponentially.
So What Can You Do?
Comment thoughtfully on posts in the same manner you would talk to a friend. Send that message, and personalize it to say, “Hey, this post hit home. Thank you for sharing, it was incredibly insightful.” And if you’re plain awkward at networking events like some people are, no problem, do the things mentioned above and you’ll already be on your winning streak.
- Feedback Isn’t Bitter
Not all feedback has to be bitter like that one awful-tasting cough syrup. Sometimes feedbacks can be your protein shake.
Asking and receiving feedback is like inviting someone to rate your personality.
But in hindsight, it’s the fastest way to level up and ensure your brand isn’t accidentally giving off chaotic energy when all you intended was calm confidence.
For instance, Ann Handley, the digital marketing and content expert, regularly shares rough drafts, audience feedback, and how she refines her content. Her personal brand is polished (in a good way) because she embraces a growth-oriented mindset.
So What Can You Do?
Ask a close friend, “What do you think I’m known for?” or run a LinkedIn Poll asking, “What content from me do you find most helpful?” When you ask for constructive feedback this way, you’ll be able to chisel, shape, and grow your brand.
Final Thoughts:
As you now know, nobody can build a brand by simply imitating someone else’s highlight reel.
Their behind-the-scenes isn’t the same as what they portray online.
So you build a personal brand by being your very own behind-the-scenes documentary. Throw in context, color, and character. Basically, go all in.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you’re a spreadsheet guru or even a quiet strategist who turns chaos into clarity; just ensure your voice also has a seat at the table.
But first things first, let’s make sure people can actually see you.
Now quirky legend, what say you stop the doom-scrolling and brand up with these 6 bold moves.
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