In the quest to carve out a distinctive personal brand, we turned to seven personal branding experts for their wisdom. Highlighting the importance of traits from embracing originality and standing out to attracting the right audience through clarity, Co-Founders and Brand Managers weigh in on the key characteristics that define a strong personal brand.
- Embrace Originality and Stand Out
- Maintain Consistency Across Platforms
- Show Up Consistently Over Time
- Define Your Brand with Why
- Authenticity Ensures Memorable Branding
- Be True to Yourself and Values
- Clarity Attracts the Right Audience
Embrace Originality and Stand Out
Originality defines a strong personal brand. In a crowded market, being original helps you stand out and makes your brand memorable.
Originality highlights your unique qualities and perspectives. It’s about being true to yourself and showcasing what makes you different. This authenticity resonates with audiences, builds trust, and creates a lasting impression. Don’t be scared to be different or even somewhat weird. Weird is memorable and helps you stand out.
At our UI/UX agency, we focus on originality in our work and branding. Sharing unique design processes and client stories creates a distinct identity. For example, showing how our design solutions addressed specific client challenges highlights our expertise and creativity.
To build a strong personal brand through originality, share your unique experiences and insights through blog posts, social media, or speaking engagements. This distinguishes you from the crowd and builds trust with your audience.
Juan Carlos Munoz, Co-Founder, CC Creative Design
Maintain Consistency Across Platforms
One trait that defines a strong personal brand is consistency. Consistency ensures that your messaging, appearance, and values are reliably presented across all platforms and interactions. This reliability helps build trust and recognition among your audience.
When your brand’s voice, visual identity, and content remain uniform, it becomes easier for people to understand and connect with what you represent. Consistency reinforces your brand’s identity, making it more memorable and trustworthy, ultimately leading to a more robust and enduring personal brand.
Steven Picanza, Co Founder, ANEWBrand
Show Up Consistently Over Time
Consistency. Admittedly, authenticity is tied with consistency for the strength of a personal brand. But after guiding thousands of professionals to build their personal brands, one thing separates the good from the great: showing up as the same person day in and day out, even when you don’t see immediate rewards. You will always reap the investment over time.
Kait LeDonne, Personal Branding Expert
Define Your Brand with Why
The script is all too familiar, repeated every time you introduce yourself.
“Hi, my name is so-and-so, and I am currently the ABC of XYZ,” you say.
But what happens when you move on? Who are you then? Every day, we define ourselves by what we do or what we’ve done. We are a Marketer or a Creative Director. A Strategist.
Some of us know how we do it. We are hard workers. Team players. Responsible. We get things done. But how many of us know WHY we do it?
WHY is the essence of a brand, be it a business or personal.
Resumes, CVs, and LinkedIn profiles are a rearview mirror to what you’ve done in the past. But not your whole story.
Personal branding is not self-promotion, chest-pounding, attention-seeking, or “Me, Me, Me.” It’s about telling others what you stand for and how you stand apart. It’s a lifelong investment that’s not tied to any one job or title. And whether you’re changing jobs or shifting careers, the strength of that brand will determine how well you transition and succeed. How do you craft a personal brand?
- Share Your Story. A strong brand depends on a strong story that’s human and personal. It confirms a truth that deepens our understanding of who we are as human beings. Take your audience through a moment in time that was significant for you.
- Use Creative Tension to Be More Interesting. Have you ever met someone who’s friendly, trustworthy, and earnest, but nothing more than that? Being one-dimensional is boring. We fall in love with people who are a crazy mix of contradictions that makes them instantly more memorable. We are infinitely fascinated by the paradox of humanity. Be fascinating.
- Make Your Point of View Your Point of Difference. We live in a world of Likes, Hearts, and Followers. Having a strong opinion expresses your aspirations, hopes, frustrations, and dreams and lets others know who you are with conviction.
- Live Your Brand Consistently. Your personal brand is not some jacket you reach for when you’re headed out the door. It’s who you are all the time. Every time you make a phone call, send a text or email, attend a meeting, or give a presentation, you’re branding yourself. Consistency says you will be the same brand wherever I find you.
Remember, it’s not what you do or what you’ve done—but who you are.
Robin Albin, Founder, Brand Strategist & Sherpa, Insurgents
Authenticity Ensures Memorable Branding
One trait that defines a strong personal brand is authenticity. Authenticity is the cornerstone of a powerful personal brand because it builds trust, credibility, and a genuine connection with your audience. When you are authentic, you present yourself in a way that is true to your values, beliefs, and personality, rather than trying to conform to external expectations or trends.
Authenticity allows you to stand out in a crowded market by showcasing your unique voice and perspective. It enables your audience to relate to you on a personal level, fostering loyalty and engagement.
Brenda Benitez, Digital Marketing Manager, Brenn The Marketer
Be True to Yourself and Values
Drawing from my experience managing the branding for both of these companies, I think that one of the biggest things that defines a strong personal brand is authenticity—being true to yourself and your values.
By being authentic to who you are and presenting a version of yourself that resonates with others, you are providing a level of consistency that will build loyalty and trust. If you present a version of yourself that is designed to please others, eventually, there will be a crack in the surface, and then trust will be hindered. By presenting the authentic you, you’re allowing your brand to be memorable and relatable.
This is the same in design and personal branding—for companies and individuals. Authenticity is the key to establishing a strong and enduring presence that won’t waver.
Floss Kelly, Brand Director and Co-Founder, TileCloud
Clarity Attracts the Right Audience
Clarity in personal branding is about clearly and precisely communicating who you are, what you stand for, and what you offer. It means having a well-defined message that audiences can easily understand and remember, which attracts the right audience.
A clear personal brand helps others quickly know your unique value proposition. People need more time to decipher complex messages, so straightforwardness is key. When your brand message is clear, it becomes easier for people to remember and recognize, which strengthens your presence in their minds, making you more memorable.
Elsie Achieng, Director of Paid Media, Reactionpower