What is Personal Branding? 32 Ways To Brand Yourself

How would people describe you if you weren’t in the room?

Your personal brand and other characteristics will determine whether you are seen as respectable, a fraud, honest, credible, etc.

Whether you’re trying to build a strong personal brand, or want to learn some new tips, this is your hub for personal branding tips and insights.

We’ll be covering the following topics (click on a bullet point to jump to that section):

What is Personal Branding?

Personal branding is the process of creating and showcasing your personal value.

Personal branding involves crafting an image that represents what you’re offering to the world, whether it’s a product or service, experience, mindset, expertise, talent, ability to solve problems – anything you have to offer!

The concept of personal branding has been around for centuries. Monarchs, politicians, and celebrities have always crafted their personal image to increase the value of what they were offering.

Personal branding is about leveraging your strengths to create unique value in a way that feels authentic.

What Does Personal Branding Do For Me?

People are no longer judged by their job titles or qualifications when it comes to deciding whether or not to work with them.

We all want to work with people we’re inspired by, and this is true for companies as well as individuals.

Personal branding allows you to communicate what you have to offer and who you are so that those around you can determine if they want to support your endeavors.

What Does Personal Branding Look Like?

What is Personal Branding on a Large Scale?

Oprah Winfrey and Steve Jobs both crafted far-reaching images that transcended their products.

They become brands in of themselves, with legions of loyal fans who were keen to purchase anything they had their name on.

What is Personal Branding on a Small Scale?

Personal branding doesn’t have to be grandiose, it simply involves being mindful of what image you’re projecting to the world.

Photos on social media are very telling about someone’s personality and values – do they drink alcohol or take drugs?

Do they spend their time partying or sitting quietly by themselves with a book? What is your home like? How do you dress on a daily basis?

By considering how you present yourself to the world, and why, you can begin building your personal brand.

What Does Personal Branding Avoid?

Personal branding should never feel inauthentic or like a mask that someone is hiding behind.

Some people go too far with personal branding, creating a character rather than a real representation of who they are.

Avoid this by keeping things authentic and always thinking of what you’re doing in terms of the effect it has on others rather than for your own personal gain.

What is Personal Branding Not?

Businesses already have branding, so when people refer to personal branding they shouldn’t be referring to business branding.

Personal branding is about allowing others to know who you are and what you stand for, whereas business branding is about creating an image that will sell your services.

Personal branding should not be the only thing someone focuses on in their quest to become successful.

It doesn’t replace hard work or offer any shortcuts when it comes to success; all it does is allow people to understand who you are so they can determine whether or not they want to work with you.

Before starting a business, doing a certain job, asking for a raise or applying for that dream project, take the time to craft your personal brand and ensure that your image is representing what you want it to – then sit back and watch as people flock to support you.

Why is Personal Branding Important?

Personal branding is important because it allows you to present who you are and what you have to offer in a clear and concise manner.

Building your personal brand can help people understand how your values, skills, and experience match up with their needs so they know where to look when the time comes for them to hire someone or contract out certain work.

Get started on creating your personal brand by asking yourself questions about:

• How you present yourself
• Why did you choose certain activities
• Whether or not this matches up with what you’re trying to say

Think about when others look at your social media profiles such as Facebook or Twitter, or photos you take of yourself – What do they see? What message are you trying to convey?

Once you’ve got an idea about your personal brand, don’t be afraid to use it.

Be mindful of what you post online and the photos you take of yourself; present a strong, positive image to the world that people can really latch onto and get behind.

Benefits of a Strong Personal Brand

Personal branding offers countless benefits, especially if you know what you’re doing.

For example, it can offer the following:

• You’ll become more confident in who you are as a person.
• It gives people an insight into how you tick and what makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd.
• It can give you the opportunity to build positive relationships that will last a lifetime.
• It can help people to gain more trust in who you are as a person because they’ll see how seriously you take your personal brand.

Personal branding is all about understanding yourself better and understanding others too.

After all, if you don’t understand yourself, how can you understand others and know what you stand for?

Successful personal brands have spent time developing their ideas, insights, and personal journey.

Having a strong personal brand offers many benefits to you and your professional/personal life – it’s not something that only benefits the business world.

When people know who you are, what you stand for, and what you’re trying to accomplish in life they can support you in your ventures by sharing your content, retweeting articles, or offering advice.

Having a strong personal brand allows you to attract like-minded people and supporters into your life and this can set you up for success in the long run.

It also gives others a chance to understand what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and how they can get involved if they want to.

It’s not just about increasing sales or making money, it’s about building a support network that you can all rely on.

Personal branding is something that everyone should engage in because it allows you to convey your image and values to the world without coming across as anything other than yourself.

It helps people get to know you better, allowing them to determine whether or not they’d like to work with you or support you.

It shouldn’t be something that takes over your life but it should be a focus, as it can give you the tools to attract success and increase your chances of making something great happen.

It’s not about being fake or trying to alienate those who don’t buy into what you’re saying; personal branding is just a way to present yourself so others can understand what you’re all about.

Authenticity is key when it comes to having a positive, effective personal brand. Make sure that who you are aligns with your business; this will allow you to attract the best clients and customers into your world which will result in more success.

Types of Personal Brands

There are 32 different types of personal brands. You can use these as template types of personal brands when thinking about what kind of personal brand you want to be seen as.

As a note, you can be a mix of these.

1. Altruists

These people are known for doing things for the greater good rather than looking out only for themselves.

They like to help people and make a difference in the world around them.

2. Entertainers

Entertainers want to offer fun, entertaining content that will take others away from their everyday lives even if just for a brief moment.

3. Humanitarians

These people want to promote the idea of being a good person, doing good things and bettering oneself.

4. Innovators

Innovators have ideas that help others improve their lives or make things more simple.

They like to build on existing ideas and concepts with a fresh perspective.

5. Leaders

Leaders stand out from the crowd, they are natural-born leaders that get things done.

6. Mavericks

Mavericks break the rules and do their own thing, they are independent people who don’t follow conventions or traditional methods of doing things.

They often go against the grain.

7. Mentors

These individuals offer support and guidance to others in an inspirational way.

8. Missionaries

Missionaries have a strong sense of purpose, they know exactly what they’re here to do and how their work can benefit others.

They also want to push boundaries and break new ground.

9. Pioneers

Pioneers are often the first in a field or industry that follows a new trend or idea.

They like to be the leaders and offer content that nobody else is.

10. Thinkers

These people have great ideas and want to better themselves by developing their thoughts into tangible, practical concepts.

They often have a high intellect and enjoy sharing what they know with others.

11. Visionaries

Visionaries see the world differently from others, they can see things that nobody else can and they know how to be innovative.

12. Careerists

These people are all about building a career and thriving in a professional environment.

They want to hold down a job that helps them develop, grow and prosper.

13. Community Builders

People in the community builder camp love interacting with friends and colleagues online, they enjoy being social and establishing bonds with others in their field or industry.

14. Coaches

Coaches are often motivated by helping others develop their talents or skills, they like to pass on what they know and help people get ahead in life or business.

15. Connectors

The connectors camp is all about finding the connections that matter and building strong relationships with other professionals.

They can read people well and offer advice accordingly.

16. Dependables

Dependables are all about getting the job done and ensuring that their work is as reliable as possible.

They enjoy being known as people who can be counted on.

17. Hipsters

Hipsters tend to be more cutting-edge and fashion-conscious than others, they don’t like following the crowd and often do their own thing.

18. Ideologists

These people tend to have a strong belief in something and follow these beliefs based on their moral code.

They are true to themselves and what they believe in.

19. Individualists

Individualists are often off the beaten path and want to do things that everyone else isn’t doing which helps them stand out from the crowd.

20. Boomerangs

Believe it or not, some people want to go out in the world and make an impact before returning back to their comfort zone.

21. Role Players

Those who fit into this category like taking on different roles for short periods of time, they enjoy working within a team and offering support.

22. Snipers

These people work best when they’re behind the scenes and enjoy putting plans into action without having to be recognized for their efforts.

23. Socialites

Socialites like getting out there and mixing with others, they want to get involved in networking events or groups that offer them an opportunity to meet new people.

24. Strugglers

People in the struggling camp often feel as if they’re on an up-and-down journey which can be quite tough.

They may struggle with their career or personal life but keep pushing through.

25. Selectives

Selectives are the kinds of people who like to pick and choose when they want to get involved.

They don’t want to feel overwhelmed or tied down so they only commit when it feels right.

26. Achievers

People in this camp work hard and push themselves in order to achieve their dreams, they thrive on success and recognition.

27. Actors

These people have a keen interest in theater and may enjoy putting on a show for others.

Similar to entertainers.

They’re always playing the part of somebody else which can be fun for them.

28. Adventurers

People in this camp love going out into the world and exploring new places, they often turn these experiences into stories or anecdotes that they can share with others.

29. Analysts

These people like to analyze the data and sort through the facts, they put together a clear picture in their heads which helps them to solve problems and make sense of things.

30. Champions

Those who fit into this category like taking on tough challenges and seeing these projects through until the end, they’re all about winning.

31. Charismatics

People who are charismatic enjoy being in front of others, they have great communication skills and are often very engaging when they get up to speak or present.

32. Debaters

Debaters are able to see both sides of an argument but tend to enjoy defending their own points of view.

Personal Branding Examples

Some examples of real-life personal brands include:

1. Elon Musk

You will find Elon Musk in almost every personal brand guide because he’s an entrepreneur who is all about making a difference.

2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

You might also find Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in your personal brand guide because he’s someone who can be seen as both an individualist and a team player.

3. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins makes for another great example because he’s built a brand that is all about offering positive solutions to people who are struggling.

4. Gary Vaynerchuk

Another example might be Gary Vaynerchuk because he’s someone who is constantly on the go and can’t stand doing things like “Netflix and chill”.

5. Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan makes for another great example because he’s someone who dropped out of college and didn’t follow the “traditional route” but has become very successful through his brand.

6. David Goggins

You might also find David Goggins in your personal brand guide because he’s someone who has made a name for himself by pushing his body and mind to new limits.

How to Build a Personal Brand?

Building your personal brand starts with making sure you have a unique selling point or USP.

For example, you might be a fashion blogger who is known for always championing positive body image and promoting acceptance and diversity.

You can then build your personal brand by staying true to this unique selling point while also working hard on making yourself more visible online and offline.

You can boost your online visibility through websites like YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and your own website.

People should be able to sum up your personality by the end of their first conversation with you.

It’s also important not to fake your personality because it will show over time and instead try to focus on building authentic relationships.

On top of this, it’s important to come up with a name for your brand. This can help you to control the conversation and drive it in the direction that you want it to go.

You might also try experimenting with different styles or presentations until you find something which works for you.

The final step is knowing what matters to you and staying true to yourself throughout this process.

To further explore how to build a personal brand, we have a full guide on it that you can find here → 18 Tips to Build a Strong Personal Brand

What is a Personal Branding Strategy?

A personal branding strategy is a plan that you put into place which makes sure that your brand appeals to the right people.

You’ll need to come up with a name for your strategy, this can be as simple as “The Jon Smith Strategy” or something more creative.

It’s also important to define the following:

• What do I want to achieve?
• What are my goals?
• Who are the best people to target with this strategy?
• How are they going to benefit from working with me?

When Should You Build a Personal Brand?

You can build a personal brand anywhere, anytime and it’s a great way to make the most out of every opportunity that comes your way.

For example, you might be applying for college or university and know that somebody is going to look at your LinkedIn profile before they even consider reading through your application.

Who Needs to Have a Personal Brand?

Anyone can benefit from having a personal brand as this will help you to stand out from the crowd and be remembered by people.

It might take time to grow your brand, but once it’s set up you’ll find that it takes very little effort to keep it going.

People who need to consider building their own personal brands include:

• College students
• University students
• Fringe workers
• Freelancers
• Entrepreneurs
• Business owners or executives

What’s the Future of Personal Branding?

The future of personal branding is totally dependent upon how well it can be adapted to suit different industries and sectors.

At present, it works best for people who are trying to make their way onto the ladder and establish themselves as an expert in the field.

Where Do You Go to Build a Personal Brand?

Building your personal brand starts with taking the time to work out what matters most to you.

Once you know why people should buy into it, then it’s just a case of focusing on spreading that message for all it’s worth.

This might require writing articles, blogging, creating videos, or getting involved with social media platforms.

The final stage is to take it beyond the online world and see how you can incorporate your brand into real-life situations.

For example, you might record a video in which you give advice on how to start a business and then create a series of podcasts in which you talk about specific topics related to the industry.

Not only will this help people who are trying to get an idea of what it’s like working with you, but it can also drive traffic back toward your website or landing page.

Tools to Help You Build a Personal Brand

• WordPress
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Google+
• Instagram
• Facebook

Skills You Need to Build a Personal Brand

There are many skills you need to build a strong personal brand. Here are the top 3 that we believe:

1. Communication Skills

A strong personal brand requires good communication skills in order to get your message across.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that this will help you to build relationships and strengthen existing connections with the people who matter most to you.

2. Time Management

The way that people choose to distribute their time can have a huge impact on their personal branding efforts.

For example, you might decide to write a blog post every week on a Friday afternoon.

If that’s of interest then a person who would read this more than once a month will have a more positive image of your brand than somebody who only encounters it every few weeks.

3. Creativity and Imagination

Personal branding is an art form in which you have to show how original and imaginative you are in order to attract the attention of people who are looking for your kind of business or services.

This can be anything from designing a unique logo, coming up with unforgettable slogans, or doing something that nobody else has thought of before.

How Do You Market Your Personal Brand?

Once you’ve worked out the best way to present yourself and put together a personal branding strategy, it’s time to work on how to market that message.

Marketing your personal brand is all about making sure that people can find you whenever they’re searching for somebody who has your particular skillset.

How do you make sure that this happens?

• You need to create a landing page on your website.
• Make sure that each of the platforms you use is properly promoted.
• Create regular blogs and allow yourself to be interviewed by industry experts in your field.

Once you’ve built up a good brand, it’s important for people to know that this is something you take seriously.

Building and maintaining a personal brand is all about the long-term and you’ll need to create content that will be just as relevant several years down the line as it is today.

Personal branding can pay dividends for anybody who has the skills and expertise to help others, but remember that this process takes time and effort.

• By updating your content regularly, you’ll be able to demonstrate that you’re proactive and are willing to go the extra mile.
• Ensuring that each of your posts is engaging will help people to understand what it’s like working with you.
• Whenever possible, talk about other experts in the field so that they might share your content with their own audience.
• Connect with people on other platforms so that you can establish your personal brand beyond the online world.
• Remember to take things slowly and don’t get too hung up about failing. As long as you’re willing to learn, you’ll pick up new skills along the way!

Additional Resources

Check out the additional resources we have on the subject of personal branding.

A Final Thought

When doing anything related to personal branding it’s essential that you remain authentic and true to your beliefs.

You want people to remember who you are without ever feeling as though they’ve been tricked.

• Personal branding is important in every industry, not just online
• It’s possible to build a brand quickly if you focus on the right things
• You need strong communication skills to be able to get your message across effectively
• Time management plays a crucial part in personal branding efforts – it influences how useful people will be able to find it
• Creativity and imagination are important if you want to build a brand that stands out from the crowd
• Personal branding is all about being yourself, not fooling people into thinking about who they are buying from or working with.

Frequently Asked Questions