Personal Branding Strategy

In today's hyper-connected world, your reputation precedes you – both online and offline. Whether you like it or not, your prospective clients, leadership-level hires, investors, and partners are all Googling your name. How do you ensure that what comes up reflects you properly and consistently, while serving your business at the same time? Welcome to the world of personal branding strategy..

At Brand of a Leader, we believe a personal brand has nothing to do with an online persona – it is the process of defining and promoting what you stand for as business owner and a leader (often, a thought leader)!. It is a strategy that allows you to serve your business as a modern leader: supporting the marketing function of your organization by attracting higher caliber clients and positioning your firm as an industry expert, by creating portability for yourself for future pivots (including an exit), and for allowing you to inspire and make an impact at scale. Confused by the sea of terms? Let’s unpack them together. Whether you came upon this page while searching for "personal branding for executives," "personal branding strategies," “personal branding examples,” or simply "what is personal branding," this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to craft a winning personal brand strategy unique to your own needs and the goals of your business.

What is a Personal Brand?

Gone are the days when you could hide behind your business, build and scale it, and stay out of the spotlight. Today, fellow entrepreneurs, clients, and employees (current and prospective) actively search you up online to understand who you are and what you stand for. With 82% of people more likely to trust a company when its senior executives are active on social media, and with 77% of consumers more likely to buy when the CEO of the business uses social media, your impact on the perception of your organization is more significant than ever. A well-defined personal brand ensures that there is consistency in what they find and that your digital presence effectively aligns with your business goals. Whether or not we like it, a modern leader - especially a CEO - is expected to support the organization through his or her personal brand presence.

Think of it like this: Your personal brand is your image in today’s marketplace. It is a compelling narrative that captures attention, sparks interest, and ultimately, supports the continued success of your business.

What is personal branding?

It is the strategic approach that defines who you are, what you stand for, and how you want to be perceived. So, "How does a personal brand lift your reputation?". In building a personal brand you can position yourself as a leader in your industry, which in turn builds trust and a strong reputation.

How to Build a Personal Brand?

Developing a strong personal brand strategy requires introspection above all. When we take clients through our proprietary brand discovery process, many of them refer to it as a form of business therapy. Strong personal brands are not artificially built - they are in fact uncovered.

Here are some of the key steps:

Defining Your Brand Angle: What concept can you “own” that will express who you authentically are while also differentiating you from others? You arrive at it by answering some of the following questions: What are some of the themes and patterns that keep emerging throughout your life’s journey? What are your core values? What do you stand for? Why do you do what you do? Clarity on your "why" is the foundation of an individual branding strategy. This forms the bedrock for all your personal branding efforts.
Identifying Your Target Audience: Who are you trying to reach? Understanding their needs, aspirations, and preferred communication channels allows you to tailor your message for maximum impact. A well-defined personal branding plan example can guide this process. We always recommend including a secondary target audience: one that is not connected to your transactional goals, but serves a humanizing purpose. For many of our clients this secondary audience is the younger version of themselves. For others, it’s a demographics-driven community. For instance, if you are a tech entrepreneur, your primary target audience might be potential investors and partners in the tech industry. Your secondary target audience could be aspiring young tech enthusiasts, to whom you can offer mentorship and advice, thus humanizing your brand.
Crafting Your Story: Every strong personal brand is built off a story. Weave together your brand angle, experiences, achievements, and passions to create a narrative that resonates with your audience. We confess: most of our clients tear up when we craft their brand stories and read them out loud. And that’s the goal: no matter what personal branding techniques you use to craft yours, it must evoke emotion both in yourself and within your audience.
Selecting the Right Channels: Where does your target audience spend their time? Leverage a strategic mix of social media platforms (LinkedIn is today’s must for any Founder CEO), as well as offline platforms (think of your leadership meetings, daily huddles, CEO forums and any other places where your personal brand is on display) in a way that feels manageable and is also authentic. . This is a crucial part of your personal marketing plan and overall individual brand strategy.
Maintaining Consistency: Building a strong brand takes time and consistent effort. As we always say: it is a process, not an event. Consistency is key in personal branding management.

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Brand of a Leader: Your Partner in Personal Branding Success

At Brand of a Leader, we're passionate about empowering GenX Founders and CEOs to realize and express their greatness through the power of personal brand development. We offer a comprehensive suite of services including:

Executive Personal Branding
Personal Brand Management
Personal Branding Marketing
Professional Branding and Development
Branding Roadmap and Strategy

Ready to Chart Your Course to Success?

Don't settle for a generic digital presence. Partner with us and craft a powerful personal branding strategy that propels you towards your entrepreneurial aspirations. Our team of brand strategy experts will help you define your personal brand, and guide you on how to develop a personal brand that resonates emotionally with your target audience. Book a call today! Let's discuss your unique goals and develop a personalized brand roadmap to help you lead your space.