How to Create a Personal Brand

The idea of a “personal brand” gets a bad rap these days, but it’s an essential part of building an online presence. Here’s how to do it right.

In the age of Instagram influencers, the concept of a “personal brand” might be more misunderstood than ever before. Some people think personal branding suggests someone who is inauthentic in their daily or digital life.

However, nothing could be further from the truth. When done well, a personal brand reflects your authentic self in a way that translates online, so people who’ve never met you get a sense of who you are.

In fact, you already have a personal brand. It’s expressed in the things you do, the clothes you wear, the art you like, and the way you live your life. The trick is to figure out what your brand is and how to communicate it to other people. Here’s what you need to know.

Who Needs a Personal Brand?

Personal branding, as a concept, isn’t as new as you might think. Some people would argue it’s been around as long as the modern concept of business. There was a time when personality drove people’s shopping decisions: you bought from people whose character—or brand—you liked.

But with the growth of massive companies, the “personal” part disappeared for much of the 20th century. Personal branding never played a role in people buying Coke products or Dawn dish soap. However, the digital age has brought personality back into the mix of how we do business.

Today, personal branding is vital for anyone who wants to use their online presence as a way to grow in their career. This can include artists, editors, designers, teachers, and many others. Once, customers would have stepped into your shop or studio to get to know you. Today, they find you online, and will probably never meet you in person. Personal branding takes the place of a personal meeting to show them what you’re all about.

To decide whether you need a personal brand, take a close look at how you use online spaces and where you plan to take your career. If you use social media purely for entertainment and staying in touch with friends, you might not need a personal brand. But if you use social media to get new clients or connect with potential customers, you probably do need one. If you ever plan to launch a business or become freelancer, you should also have a personal brand—it’s never too soon to start working on it.

What Makes a Good Personal Brand?

Many people feel an aversion to the concept of personal branding because they think it means being fake. However, the only thing that can make a personal brand successful is authenticity.

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