Personal Brand Examples: It’s All About You

Have you ever had someone tell you that something is just “your vibe”? Something that you would do, or something that you would like? The real thing to consider here is, does your business have a “vibe”? Is there something that someone could see, hear, or otherwise interpret to be something that represents your business?

The truth is that a personal brand is all about you. What you are like, what beliefs others might hold about you, and your overall “vibe”. The core elements of a personal brand—such as your values, purpose, and visual identity—are essential in defining how you are perceived.

What makes you unique is not just your skills, but also your experiences and the way you present yourself. Developing a personal branding strategy helps you define and communicate your unique value to your audience. Sharing your unique story is a key part of building a memorable personal brand that stands out.

The What and Why of Personal Brand

The Harvard School of Business executives define personal brand as, “…the amalgamation of the associations, beliefs, feelings, attitudes, and expectations that people collectively hold about you.” To break it down a little further, your personal brand is essentially how other people perceive you. What thoughts do you want to come to their mind when they think of you, and what is unique about you? Developing a strong personal brand identity that reflects your values and goals is key to shaping these perceptions. Answering these core questions is what will allow you to define your personal brand.

Defining your personal brand is the first step to marketing yourself–– whether it be for a job interview, a business interaction, or your own small business and clientele. To build a personal brand, focus on intentional actions such as authentic self-presentation, networking, and sharing your story to connect with your audience.

Once your personal brand is defined, you can market yourself properly. If you need help bringing it to life visually, Big Red Jelly’s brand design services cover everything from logo design to full brand identity systems. Establishing and growing your personal brand are the first step to this because you, your personality, are what make you unique. YOU are the differentiating factor. A personal website serves as a central hub for showcasing your brand, achievements, and expertise. Managing your digital footprint across all online platforms is also essential to ensure your brand remains consistent and professional.

If you are a nail tech, there are lots of other nail techs out there. Why should they choose you? The power of establishing your personal brand launches you into a world of opportunity.

Authenticity in Your Personal Brand

A personal brand means nothing if it’s not authentic. It’s important that how you market yourself aligns with the values you uphold.

It’s easy to see how inauthenticity could quickly lose its hold in a marketing world. If you advertise yourself as a high-tech company, using the latest advancements and updates, your customers would not expect to see you working from a vintage laptop.

This does not mean that your resources define your personal brand. It does mean that you need to market to your strengths, your values, and all the things you can authentically hold.

Authenticity starts with self-awareness of aforementioned values. Identifying your core values is essential, as they form the foundation of your personal brand. What aspects of you, your brand, or even your business practices are most important to you? Brene Brown, renown public speaker and writer, created a massive list of values that can help you to define for yourself what you want people to see in you most.

A fun challenge to try with this list is to take the full list and narrow it down to 20 values that are most important to you. Then, narrow it down to your top 10, then top 5, and even your utmost important value. This exercise can give you some added insight to what is most important to you in your brand and business. Sharing your own story and highlighting your professional experience can further communicate authenticity and build trust with your audience.

Knowing your personal values can help you to define your personal brand because it tells you where your priorities ultimately lie. Then, you can create messaging that portrays these priorities.

Clear as Mud?

A critical piece of defining your personal brand is making it coherent. You know your priorities, but does the average reader understand them when they see your content? Maintaining a consistent message across all platforms is essential, as it reinforces your identity and builds trust with your audience.

This is something often missed by creatives in the world of marketing. If you are focused on quality and that is a major value of your brand, it’s important that your messaging highlights what exactly is quality and why it is more quality than competitors. This is why an ice cream company will show the slightly melty, creamy scoops of ice cream in their ads–– they want you to see the quality of the product. However, if they were advertising the creamy quality of their ice cream while showing a b-roll of an interaction with a top-notch cashier, the messaging gets fuzzy. Are they telling us about their high-quality customer service, or about their great product?

In the creation of your content, be sure to know what message you’re trying to send. It is possible to send too many messages at once––even if they are all positive! Crafting an effective elevator pitch can help you quickly communicate your brand to others with clarity and impact.

When considering who your message is for, identify your target audience and tailor your messaging to their needs and interests. This ensures your communication is relevant and resonates with the right people.

To keep your audience engaged, focus on delivering valuable and relevant content that encourages interaction and sustained interest.

Bobby Gallegos also suggests having a Personal Brand Statement, and gives some examples for inspiration. It’s important to remember that when you are sharing any kind of statements, they represent your brand. They are another way that someone is exposed to your brand and its previously determined values, so they need to align as such.

Personality in Your Personal Brand

The next aspect to consider in your personal brand is whether or not it will draw attention and set you apart. It’s important that your personal brand resonates with the right audiences and gets you at the forefront of their minds. Showcasing your unique personality is key to differentiating your brand and establishing credibility in your field.

Some of this has to do with how you send your message–– if you are someone who posts videos or advertises with your own face, there is already some distinction for you as a person. However, what about you sets you apart? Your face,  your hair, clothing? The coloration behind you? Think about the last time you drove down a highway. Now think of the billboards you likely saw. . . which ones stood out, and why? Sharing personal stories can make your brand more memorable and help you connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Naturally, there are good and bad examples to this aspect of personal brand. You can get people’s attention by wearing a giant, extravagant costume, but it’s important to remember the impressions this might give to audiences. For better or worse, that advertisement or campaign can come to define you, or your brand. It is memorable, but doing something purely for shock value may not be in line with what your personal brand is.

With that in mind, it is very important to make sure you have your personality in your content and marketing tools. Creating content that reflects your brand helps reinforce your message and engage your audience. As a content creator, you can build authority and connect with your followers by consistently sharing valuable insights. For example, a graphic designer can use their portfolio to attract the right clients by showcasing their skills and targeting their ideal audience. Incorporating graphic design elements is also a powerful way to visually express your brand’s personality. You, your wording and tone, your appearance, and choice of coloration are all part of your personal brand. Especially if you ARE the business–– therapists with individual practices, hair stylists with their own studio, authors trying to self-publish–– your personality and policy is at the forefront now, united under your personal brand.

Conclusion: You are Your Brand

There’s an incredible strength in being your own business, with your own personal brand. A strong personal brand helps you stand out in the market, establish credibility, and attract opportunities such as clients, followers, or collaborations. Personal branding is important because it builds trust and enhances your reputation, making it easier to connect with your audience and grow your business or career. By focusing on building credibility and trust, you can foster long-term relationships and recognition in your industry.

Personal branding also plays a key role in supporting career growth and achieving both your professional and personal goals. Aligning your brand with your personal goals and well-being can lead to long-term success and resilience. Additionally, engaging in philanthropic efforts, like those of Oprah Winfrey or Bill Gates, can enhance your personal brand’s authenticity and impact by demonstrating a commitment to social good.

Want to know how YOU can elevate your personal brand? Reach out to Big Red Jelly today for a personal consultation–– or, check out our portfolio first.