In your opinion, who has amazing personal branding? What’s the X factor that makes this influencer stand out?
The following answers are provided by members of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
1. Gary Vaynerchuk
“I’ve always been impressed by Gary Vaynerchuk‘s online presence. He stands out because he understands that personal branding is all about attention. In order to grab peoples’ attention, you first have to go where their attention already is. And then you have to give them tons of value consistently over time in a memorable, relatable way. Gary is a pro at this.”
Jesse Lear, V.I.P. Waste Services, LLC
2. Neil Patel
“Neil Patel has built an incredible brand as one of the top marketers and social media gurus. He consistently produces high-quality content (articles, blogs, podcasts) for his audience of marketers and entrepreneurs. His information is applicable and actionable. He does partnerships very selectively, ensuring that everything he shares is on point and incredibly valuable.”
3. Tony Robbins
“Whether he’s talking at seminars or writing, Tony Robbins consistently relies on storytelling to create a strong human connection. Storytelling — the world’s oldest communication tool — allows Robbins to quickly engage and interact with his audience, earning him trust to deliver his messages that are all rooted in one thing: changing lives for the better.”
Obinna Ekezie, Wakanow.com
4. Marcus Sheridan
“Marcus Sheridan was the owner of a swimming pool company on the brink of bankruptcy in 2008, and is now one of the biggest names in inbound and content marketing. Much of his success can be attributed to his amazing personal branding. Marcus has been authentic since Day 1, staying honest about his struggles and what he did to get to where he is today: a key to standing out as an influencer.”
Dave Nevogt, Hubstaff.com
5. Sir Richard Branson
“Sir Richard Branson stands for hard work and integrity. In every expression of himself and his businesses, he has managed to communicate the same message to everyone who is watching — that he is approachable, that he will work hard, and that he is consistent. The key factor is his human touch. Despite his great success, Mr. Branson has managed to remain like the rest of us.”
Diego Orjuela, Cables & Sensors
6. Danielle Walker
“One of my favorite influencers is Danielle Walker from Against All Grain. She knows her audience, has fine-tuned what content performs best for her, and keeps the quality of her messaging consistent across all platforms. She sticks to her niche and is the best at it!”
Leila Lewis, Be Inspired PR
7. Lauryn Evarts
“Lauryn Evarts of The Skinny Confidential has impeccable personal branding. Lauryn’s X factor is that she has no filter and is authentic to her true self. In an industry that is heavily saturated, creating a voice that stands out is vital.”
Bryanne Lawless, BLND Public Relations
8. Darren Hardy
“Darren Hardy has amazing personal branding. The X factor is the photography, images and visuals he includes on his websites. They are top notch and definitely stand out.”
Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance
9. Mark Suster
“Mark Suster has built an impressive personal brand purely by educating entrepreneurs. As one of the premier venture capitalists in the country, Mark takes every opportunity to empower his followers with valuable and honest knowledge and perspective. His success comes from his ability to simplify complicated topics, like angel investing and startups, and the honest way he delivers his content.”
Andrew Thomas, SkyBell Doorbell
10. Benedict Evans
“I’m extremely turned off by any feelings of falseness in a business leader. Most “talking heads” in the media, politicians and business leaders don’t come across as truly knowledgeable or interested in their topics. Benedict Evans, of Andreessen Horowitz, is clearly the opposite. He passionately argues the vision of mobile and tech 24/7 and that reliability has built a tremendous brand for him.”
Brennan White, Cortex
11. Sheryl Sandberg
“Sheryl Sandberg stands out as a figure who has an amazing personal brand. Sheryl is authentic in the causes that she stands for, and consistent in the manner in which she supports them.”
