branding yourself assignment

10 Simple (& Effective) Steps to Brand Yourself And Get Noticed

Take control of how people see you. Check out this step-by-step process to build yourself up into your dream brand!

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Creating a personal brand is all about being purposeful about how other people see you. Crafting a personal brand will set you up for more success with others.

What is a Personal Brand?

A personal brand is your online representation and how you promote yourself. Your personal brand is the combination of the personality, authority, and expertise you showcase for others to see. A great personal brand gets the message across to your audience and complements your business or career.

When creating a brand, you need to consider

• the type of content you are creating
• your target audience
• how you present it

Consider my brand, for example. Head on over to the front page and you’re greeted by the big on-stage picture:

Science of People is targeting the modern professional. We create content that’s all about career, relationship, and personal improvement.

Scroll down and you’ll see a picture of me and a blurb that explains more of what we’re about:

As you can see, the use of various elements helps highlight my personal branding. I want to give off the feelings of excitement, professionalism, relatability, and friendliness—the perfect blend of charisma.

No matter how well versed and knowledgeable you are, without personal branding, no one is going to notice.

How Do You Create a Personal Brand?

Your brand should be geared toward one simple goal—to be known as a credible and reliable expert. This goal applies whether you’re

• a content creator who streams video games
• an entrepreneur selling a gadget
• a chef creating food-related content
• an Instagram influencer

And yes, it helps if you have experience and knowledge. You can even have unique personal branding that attracts a niche crowd—it all depends on your target audience.

For example, Nerd Fitness is a brand that applies to, well, nerds. And this is all over their branding. They call out to their people.

Here’s how to get your branding on point—one step at a time:

Build a Future Bio

Your bio is a short blurb that’s usually hidden in the “About Me” section of your website or social media profile.

But it’s also one of the most important elements of your brand.

You’d be surprised at the number of people who want to learn about your personal story, and you’d be even more surprised to know that nailing your bio can be the make-or-break for how your brand stands out.

Once you know how you want to be portrayed, everything you create afterward will be much easier (we’ll get to the creation part in a bit).

We’re going to build our future bio:

First, head on over to LinkedIn. Scour your favorite famous people and check out their “About” sections. Here, we’re going to use our favorite Shark Tank star, Kevin O’Leary , as an example:

As you can see, there’s a whole lot to read here. But if you haven’t built your brand up, you probably don’t have a lot to say. No worries!

Since we’re building up a future brand, write out your bio as if you’ve already succeeded in your company or business.

Imagine what you’ll have accomplished a year, 5 years, and 10 years from now—the products you’ll have sold, clients you’ll have achieved, and awards/recognitions you’ll have won.

And remember, it’s not about what you look like but more about the messages you send and their reach, your core values, your skills, and your beliefs.

And then write it all down!

Great. Now we have a goal to aim for. You can cut down on the “future” aspect and post your bio online now—even a short 2- or 3-sentence explainer can be good enough for now.

And speaking of online, let’s take things public.

Create Your “You” Space

Once you know there’s some demand, let’s create a space about you.

What are YOU really about, and what type of image are you trying to portray? Is it

• professional?
• authoritative?
• self-deprecating?

The first step is to get to the drawing board and list all the adjectives you want to be associated with. This is your “You” space and these are the traits you want your audience to remember you by.

Try this exercise: “When people think about me, I want them to describe me as…”

____________

Create Your Digital Presence

Whether it’s your website, social media account, or YouTube channel, you should try to create a presence that lets people see the true you in the most convenient way possible.

Here at Science of People, we target many different forms:

• social media

If you haven’t started yet, then start with one avenue first. But the important part is to make it digital—we’ll go over how to produce A+ content in the next step.

Create Golden Content

Content is King. To give this a little more perspective, consider this: 55% of management professionals have a habit of reading online content (whether it’s in long-form ebooks or shorter “lunch” articles) every single day.

And all it takes is just one bad article for your brand to be tarnished forever.

To truly stand out, you’re going to need some awesome content.

But not just any content.

Have you ever read a blog post where the tips sound something like “Stay positive; staying positive will keep you happy and it’s important for your life”?

One word: boring!

To create golden content, your content needs to stand out above the rest. Whether you’re

• approaching a standard topic with a unique angle:

• creating the most comprehensive guide out there:

• creating unique statistics that people want to share:

Your content needs to stand out above the rest.

This is the Golden Content approach—and this is the approach you should take with every piece of content you write.

And remember, the more effort you put in, the more poised for success your brand becomes. Need more ideas? Try the next step…

Spot the Trends

Before you even start branding, you’ll want to know if there’s demand for it.

After all, you could have the best hair-removal-from-the-shower-wall tool out there, but if nobody wants it, then who cares?

One way to get noticed (in the right way) is to keep an eye on Google Trends .

You can even try sending out an online survey, creating polls in online forums, or asking your closest friends (for their honest opinions!).

Activate Your Socials

Almost every millennial and every Zoomer is well versed in social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and yes, even TikTok.

In 2016, the estimated number of people using social media was 2.65 billion , and recent studies suggest that there will be over 3.98 billion social media users in 2022.

So pick and choose the social channels that will engage your audience the most.

For a good idea on which social media channel to use, check out this article: Which Social Media Channels are Best for Your Brand’s Marketing Goals?

When you think you have published enough content in your own space, it’s time to reach out. 

This means collaborating with other influencers and brands and asking them to give you a shout-out.

If you’re branding yourself in person, try attending as many networking events and relevant summits in your industry as you can.

If you’re branding yourself online, try online networking, or write up an outreach email and start pitching.

If you don’t like to stand on others’ shoulders, get in touch with a journalist. They are always eager for a good story. Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and Muck Rack are great places to start. 

Yes, these services usually cost money; however, with the right pitch and valuable enough information, you can get published eventually. If you’re presenting something new, they might even offer you money to get published by them!

Play the Response Game

Creating awesome content doesn’t stop at your website or social media.

After you have posted your golden content, try the response game: go to different spaces and share your thoughts down in the comments.

For example, you can participate in comment threads on Quora or Reddit related to a subject you are knowledgeable in and offer valuable insights to those involved.

Be subtle, though—give people an indirect reason to want to check out your brand. You can subtly mention you have explained this in more detail on your page/channel/website.

Practice this on newsjacking posts, YouTube videos, or public debate forums where an interpretation is being discussed.

Hit a Wall? Pivot!

Many artists and marketers think of rebranding or pivoting as a failure, but that is not the case. Think of it like repainting the Death Star. Perhaps you paint it in rebel colors to infiltrate a system and destroy a specific planet that shall not be named here.

Or you just painted it black because… why not?

No matter what your goals are, rebranding is a way of reevaluating how you share your work and who you share it with. Start from the top of your potential-brand list and work your way down, choosing the one that reflects your mood or personality best.

Or work with another brand, like Staying Cool did—they managed to repurpose their unused apartments and partner with Alex Claridge, chef and owner of a restaurant called Wilderness, to bring customers a dine-and-sleep luxury experience!

Be careful, though. Don’t paint your Death Star pink and turn it into a laughingstock or rebrand yourself so many times that you end up losing your identity.

Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift to make the magic happen.

Don’t Give Up!

Back in the day, people used to say “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” In the 21 st century, this analogy has changed quite a bit. Now they say “Facebook wasn’t built in a day.” 

Take, for example, the biggest brands out there—Apple, Facebook, Nike, Microsoft, Amazon. All of them took years to build their brands and even more years to spread them throughout the globe.

So keep on learning how to brand yourself as an artist, a musician, a subject matter expert, or just yourself, and don’t give up! It’s just a matter of time before you find your spotlight, stand out, and get noticed. For more great reading, check out our article: 12 Amazing Tips to Stand Out (Professionally & Personally) .

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10 Essential Personal Brand Assessment Questions

Personal branding is becoming increasingly important in today's competitive job market. It's no longer just about having a great resume and impressive skills; it's about defining and showcasing your unique qualities and attributes that set you apart from others. To effectively build a personal brand, you need to conduct a thorough self-assessment to understand yourself better and align your brand with your goals and values. In this article, we will explore the ten essential personal brand assessment questions that will help you gain insights into your personal brand and guide you in developing a strong and authentic presence.

Understanding the Importance of Personal Branding

Before delving into the questions, let's first understand why personal branding is crucial for career growth. Your personal brand is what sets you apart from others and helps you make a lasting impression. It influences the way people perceive you, both professionally and personally. By crafting a strong personal brand, you can establish credibility, attract opportunities, and build a network of like-minded individuals who resonate with your values and goals.

Personal branding goes beyond just having a polished resume or a well-crafted elevator pitch. It is about creating a cohesive and authentic identity that reflects who you are as a professional and as an individual. When you have a strong personal brand, you become more than just a name on a piece of paper or a LinkedIn profile. You become a recognizable and memorable presence in your industry.

The Role of Personal Branding in Career Growth

Personal branding plays a significant role in career growth by shaping your professional identity. It allows you to stand out in a crowded marketplace and positions you as an expert in your field. When you have a well-defined personal brand, it becomes easier to communicate your unique value proposition to potential employers, clients, or collaborators. Your personal brand becomes your professional reputation , and it can open doors to new opportunities for advancement and success.

Imagine attending a networking event where everyone is dressed in similar attire and has similar qualifications. How do you differentiate yourself? This is where personal branding comes into play. It helps you showcase your individuality and highlight what makes you unique. By leveraging your personal brand, you can make a memorable impression on others and leave a lasting impact.

How Personal Branding Influences Public Perception

Your personal brand is not just about how you see yourself; it's about how others perceive you as well. When you invest time and effort in building a strong personal brand, you control the narrative surrounding your professional identity. By proactively shaping the way others perceive you, you can ensure that your brand aligns with your goals and values. Personal branding allows you to present yourself in a way that showcases your strengths and expertise, creating a positive and memorable impression on others.

Think of personal branding as your personal PR campaign. It is about strategically managing your image and reputation to create a favorable perception in the eyes of others. When you have a strong personal brand, people are more likely to trust and respect you. They see you as someone who knows what they're doing and can deliver results. This can lead to increased opportunities, whether it's getting hired for a new job, attracting clients for your business, or being recognized as a thought leader in your industry.

Furthermore, personal branding allows you to build credibility and establish yourself as an authority in your field. When you consistently deliver value and showcase your expertise, people start to associate your name with quality and reliability. This can lead to word-of-mouth referrals, media opportunities, and invitations to speak at industry events. Your personal brand becomes a powerful tool that helps you stand out from the competition and position yourself as a go-to resource.

The Concept of Personal Brand Assessment

Now that we understand the importance of personal branding, let's dive into the concept of personal brand assessment. Personal brand assessment involves taking a step back and critically evaluating your strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals. It enables you to gain a deep understanding of yourself and identify areas for improvement or alignment within your personal brand.

When conducting a personal brand assessment, it is essential to reflect on your strengths. These are the unique qualities and skills that set you apart from others. By recognizing and understanding your strengths, you can leverage them to build a strong personal brand that resonates with your target audience.

Furthermore, personal brand assessment also requires an honest evaluation of your weaknesses. Identifying areas where you may be lacking or need improvement allows you to develop strategies to overcome these challenges. It is through addressing these weaknesses that you can grow and develop as a professional.

The Definition and Purpose of Personal Brand Assessment

Personal brand assessment can be defined as a process of introspection and evaluation to gain insights into one's personal brand. Its purpose is to understand your current brand positioning and identify areas where you can refine or enhance your brand to align better with your goals and values.

During the assessment, it is crucial to evaluate your values and ensure that they are aligned with your personal brand. Your values serve as the foundation of your brand and guide your decision-making process. By assessing the alignment between your values and your brand, you can ensure that you are presenting an authentic and consistent image to others.

Another aspect of personal brand assessment is examining your goals. Setting clear and specific goals allows you to focus your efforts and work towards achieving them. By aligning your personal brand with your goals, you can create a compelling narrative that showcases your aspirations and ambitions.

The Impact of Personal Brand Assessment on Professional Development

Conducting a personal brand assessment can have a profound impact on your professional development. When you take the time to evaluate and analyze your personal brand, you gain clarity about your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

Self-awareness is a key outcome of personal brand assessment. By understanding your strengths and weaknesses, you can make informed decisions about your professional development. This self-awareness allows you to identify developmental opportunities and take steps to enhance and leverage your brand effectively .

Moreover, personal brand assessment enables you to adapt to changing circumstances. As the professional landscape evolves, it is crucial to stay connected with your personal brand and ensure that it remains relevant. By continuously assessing your personal brand, you can identify emerging trends and make necessary adjustments to stay ahead in your field.

In conclusion, personal brand assessment is a vital process for individuals who want to build a strong and authentic personal brand. By evaluating your strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals, you can gain a deep understanding of yourself and identify areas for improvement. This assessment has a significant impact on your professional development, allowing you to leverage your strengths, address your weaknesses, and stay connected with your goals.

The 10 Essential Questions for Personal Brand Assessment

Building a strong personal brand is essential in today's competitive landscape. It allows you to differentiate yourself, showcase your unique qualities, and make a lasting impact. To assess and enhance your personal brand, ask yourself these ten essential questions :

Question 1: What Are Your Core Values?

Your core values are the guiding principles that define who you are and what you stand for. They shape your behavior, decisions, and interactions with others. Reflect on what values are most important to you and how they align with your personal and professional goals.

For example, if one of your core values is integrity, you may prioritize honesty and transparency in all your actions and communications. This value will be reflected in your personal brand as you build trust and credibility with others.

Question 2: How Do Others Perceive You?

Getting feedback from others is crucial in understanding your personal brand. Seek honest opinions from colleagues, friends, and mentors about how they perceive you. Their insights will help you identify any gaps between how you want to be seen and how others currently perceive you.

Consider conducting a 360-degree feedback assessment, where you gather feedback from individuals at different levels and roles in your life. This comprehensive approach will provide a well-rounded perspective on your personal brand.

Question 3: What Makes You Unique?

Identify your unique qualities , experiences, skills, or perspectives that set you apart from others. Understanding your uniqueness allows you to leverage it to your advantage and differentiate yourself in a competitive landscape.

For instance, if you have a rare combination of technical expertise and creative thinking, you can position yourself as a problem solver who brings innovative solutions to the table. Emphasize these unique qualities in your personal brand to stand out from the crowd.

Question 4: What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?

Take stock of your strengths and weaknesses. Assessing your skills and areas for improvement helps you identify areas where you can excel and areas where you may need to invest in further development.

Consider conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of your personal brand. This analysis will help you identify opportunities for growth and areas where you can leverage your strengths.

Question 5: What Is Your Vision for Your Personal Brand?

Having a clear vision for your personal brand is essential. Define what you want to achieve, how you want to be seen, and the impact you want to make in your professional and personal life.

For example, if your vision is to become a thought leader in your industry, you may focus on creating valuable content, speaking at conferences, and actively engaging in industry discussions. Your personal brand will reflect this vision as you establish yourself as an authority in your field.

Question 6: How Do You Want to Be Perceived?

Consider how you would like others to perceive you. Do you want to be known for your expertise, leadership, creativity, or innovation? Defining how you want to be perceived will guide your actions and communications.

For instance, if you want to be perceived as a collaborative team player, you may actively seek opportunities to work with others, share credit for successes, and demonstrate your ability to build strong relationships. Your personal brand will reflect this desired perception.

Question 7: What Are Your Goals for Your Personal Brand?

Set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for your personal brand. These goals will provide a roadmap for your personal brand development and allow you to track your progress.

For example, your goals may include increasing your online visibility by regularly publishing blog posts, expanding your professional network by attending industry events, or securing speaking engagements to showcase your expertise. These goals will shape your personal brand strategy and help you achieve your desired outcomes.

Question 8: How Consistent Is Your Personal Brand?

Consistency is key in personal branding. Assess if your brand message, visual identity, and online presence align with your goals and values consistently. Consistency builds trust and helps you establish a strong and recognizable personal brand.

Review your social media profiles, website, and other online platforms to ensure they reflect your personal brand consistently. Consider using a consistent color palette, font, and tone of voice to create a cohesive brand identity.

Question 9: How Authentic Is Your Personal Brand?

Authenticity is crucial for a successful personal brand. Evaluate if your brand accurately represents who you are at your core and if it resonates with your values and beliefs. An authentic personal brand attracts genuine connections and builds long-lasting relationships.

Ensure that your personal brand reflects your true self and is not a facade. Authenticity will shine through in your interactions, content, and overall brand experience, allowing you to build trust and credibility with your audience.

Question 10: How Do You Measure the Success of Your Personal Brand?

Defining metrics for measuring the success of your personal brand is essential. Consider what indicators, such as increased visibility, networking opportunities, or career advancements, would signify the success of your personal brand.

Regularly track and analyze these metrics to gauge the effectiveness of your personal brand strategies. Adjust your approach as needed to ensure you are continuously progressing towards your goals.

Final Thoughts on Personal Brand Assessment Questions

By answering these ten essential personal brand assessment questions, you will gain valuable insights into your personal brand and be equipped to refine and enhance it. Remember, personal branding is an ongoing process, and regularly assessing your brand will ensure you stay aligned with your goals and continue to grow both personally and professionally.

About the Author

Hi, I'm Justin and I write Brand Credential. I started Brand Credential as a resource to help share expertise from my 10-year brand building journey. ‍ I currently serve as the VP of Marketing for a tech company where I oversee all go-to-market functions. Throughout my career I've helped companies scale revenue to millions of dollars, helped executives build personal brands, and created hundreds of pieces of content since starting to write online in 2012.

As always, thank you so much for reading. If you’d like more personal branding and marketing tips, here are more ways I can help in the meantime:

• Connect with me on Instagram , TikTok , and LinkedIn .
• Get my Personal Brand 101 Course
• Sign up for my Brand Credential newsletter
• Check out my latest Medium articles
• Read my free book, “ The Personal Brand Blueprint: A No-Nonsense Guide to Personal Branding in the Age of the Creator ”

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Get inspired and learn from the effective personal branding examples of people like Bill Nye, Shaun White, and Charli Marie.

Design and build a custom portfolio website, visually, within 21 days.

Success is often built on strong personal branding — because it immediately tells us who a person is and where their expertise lies.

Personal branding isn't limited to those in the public sphere. Regardless of who you are, you can showcase your talents. We've curated a list of excellent examples of well-defined personal brands to inspire your own.

What elements make up a personal brand?

The best personal brands are created by people who have specific knowledge gained through experience in a certain field. 

The idea of launching a personal brand is to help others in the most authentic way possible. Given that we live in the attention economy, many people are in need of valuable insights from others who have done the work themselves. Chances are, if you’ve spent a long time in a particular field, you’ve amassed a lot of knowledge.

Effective personal brands offer:

• Specific knowledge of an industry or topic 
• A unique point of view
• An authentic personality
• A consistent content creation schedule

Let’s go over some of the best personal brands that have all of these core qualities.

19 of the best personal brand examples in 2023

Here are our top picks for the best personal brands right now:

1. Aaron Ward

Aaron Ward is an entrepreneur whose passion is to help creators create and sell digital products online.

At the core of his personal brand is a beautiful portfolio website, made in Webflow. The site shows off a few companies he’s worked with — Medium, Red Bull, and Spotify just to name a few.

Aaron also has a blog and YouTube channel where he teaches others how to grow their personal brands on social media. A nice blend of personality and content creation allows Aaron to stand out in a sea of personal brands — giving him leverage to grow into a thought leader in the social media space.

If you’re thinking about starting a content business, Aaron is an example of someone you should check out.

2. Charli Marie

Charli Marie was a student of design when she started a Tumblr dedicated to the pop punk band Fall Out Boy. This fan page was created from a love for the band and a desire to connect with other like-minded fans. Her popularity on Tumblr led to a t-shirt brand of her very own.

Charli wrote about the rise and fall of her t-shirt business . She doesn’t focus on the momentum her company lost, but instead frames it as an important step in her journey as a designer. For those with a creative idea that appears to serve no other purpose than scratching a fun itch, Charli’s Tumblr story inspires follow through — you never know what opportunities a fan page for your favorite pop punk band could bring.

Today Charli works remotely for Convertkit, hosts a successful YouTube channel , and has made a life for herself full of travel and fun. Her upbeat personality and design skills are central to her personal brand. She serves as another fantastic example that there’s more than one path to success.

3. Mark Manson

Mark Manson is an internet entrepreneur and best-selling author. Mark has created an impressive personal brand for himself,  reaching over one million people per month through his website and blog.

Mark is a great example of a personal brand done right because he first started growing an audience on his blog. Over time, he wrote books about self-improvement around topics that his blogging audience loved — allowing him to top the charts as a best-selling author.

With the success of his books, Mark also launched a subscription service — another form of monetization on his website . He also branched out to other social media platforms, like YouTube, and started creating content around topics he’s written blog posts and books about.

If you want to be an author or writer, Mark Manson is someone you should definitely look at for inspiration.

4. Alice Thorpe

Alice Thorpe describes herself on her YouTube channel as a “freelance graphic designer stumbling through life one pixel at a time.” Alice isn't afraid to poke fun at herself, and this self-referential tagline is a perfect introduction.

She produces a lot of content for designers on YouTube and on her own website . She’s the kind of expert that never talks down to her audience. Alice combines her casual, funny style with her expert skills to create entertaining and informative content. 

An important part of a brand's identity is voice. Think about the voice behind brands like Apple, Progressive, and McDonald’s — you can probably imagine a specific tone and style for each one. How brands speak to their target audience gives us a sense of their personality. Much like those big brands, Alice does a great job of consistently communicating her personality through all her fantastic content.

5. Nesha Woolery

Nesha Woolery's site greets us with "Hey designer lady!" — speaking directly to the audience she hopes to reach. With skills in project management and organization, Nesha offers online courses, videos, and articles targeting women in design. She offers a specialized service to a specific demographic with a light, breezy design that complements her own personal brand aesthetic.

6. Gary Vaynerchuk

Like many people with a strong personal brand, Gary Vaynerchuk has a great coming up story — turning the family liquor store into a ecommerce empire. 

Gary's story has humble beginnings with hard work and dedication leading him to success. He embodies authenticity and self-determinism. When creating content on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn, he positions himself as someone who’s grounded and wants you to achieve success on your own terms. He is also the co-founder of VaynerMedia.

A strong identity gives people confidence in what you do. It’s the reason we reach for brand-name products at the supermarket — we know what we’re getting. No surprises. The product’s value and selling points are proven and well-known. Your own personal brand should be just as recognizable.

7. Bill Nye

Bill Nye may be known for his bowties and science-dad jokes, but beneath the veneer of his popular appeal is a man who values increasing awareness and appreciation of science. His enthusiasm for reason and objective thinking are as important to his personal brand as his skills as an entertainer.

His stage persona is the affable, goofy, nerd. His background as a mechanical engineer elevates him from a TV persona blowing up test tubes full of colorful liquids to a trusted expert.

While his site promotes his books and online store, most of the content is science-related and accessible — even to those who’ve never donned a lab coat.

8. Brian Dean

In a world full of SEO “experts”  with the supposed power to increase your web traffic by 100% in a matter of weeks, it's difficult to know who to believe.

Brian Dean is an internet blogger and the real deal when it comes to Google SEO. With thorough content, testimonials from actual people, and an absence of sketchy ads, his website positions him as a credible expert. His personal brand is all about trust.

9. Tony Robbins

Love him or loathe him, it would be hard to find anyone unfamiliar with Tony Robbins and his brand of financial self-help thanks to his prolific output of books, seminars, and other content. And of course let’s not forget about his charisma, energy, and that mouthful of beautiful teeth.

If you haven't been keeping up with him, your brain might still conjure the 1990s version of Tony in all of his loud, energetic glory parading in front of his adoring fans. But his identity changed with the times. He’s no longer screaming in full volume — he’s more sophisticated and subdued. His current website doesn't position him as the boisterous self-help guru of the past, but instead as a financial teacher for the current climate.

Mirroring the site’s dark color palette, Tony dons professional attire, so he looks more like someone in tech than a bellowing prophet of self-empowerment. His site showcases a personal brand that’s contemporary and relevant, eschewing the flash and pizzaz of the past.

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10. Melyssa Griffin

Melyssa Griffin defines her mission as helping “heart-centered high achievers grow their income and impact online.” This summary communicates who she is, appeals to entrepreneurial aspirations, and connects on an emotional level.  

Her about page further reinforces her personal brand when she says, “I believe you deserve happiness, respect, and love. And I’m determined to give you the tools to create those feelings in every crevice and cranny of your existence.” She delivers on this message with expertise and spunk woven into her quality content. She's also a great example of a personal brand that was grown through a blog.

11. Shaun White

By the time Shaun White was 7 years old, he was sponsored by Burton Snowboards. He’s remained on the cusp of innovation throughout his career, flinging himself from the lips of halfpipes, spinning in ways no other snowboarders ever have. 

His brand is about going higher and faster than anyone else. Shaun’s brand — like many professional athletes’ — is founded on the brilliance of what he can do with his body. Shaun’s snowboard line relies on the strength of his personal brand as an Olympic athlete. Without his branding, the snowboards could easily be overlooked. 

14. Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss made his mark in the world of financial self-help with his book, The 4-Hour Work Week . His brand is about the smart subversion of traditional employment and empowering people to defy convention and blaze their own paths to success.

Even for those rolling their eyes at the notion of a four-hour work week, there’s a lot of great advice in his content. His personal brand is that of a savvy disruptor. For those on a non-traditional career path, Tim positions himself as both a leader and teacher. He is also the host of The Tim Ferriss Show – a podcast for personal growth and business .

13. Roberto Blake

Roberto Blake is the embodiment of entrepreneurial achievement. He runs his own agency, Create Awesome Media, has published over 1,200 videos, and develops lessons to help those driven by creativity and independence.

His site design is full of his creative energy, personality, and intelligence that will inspire any designer to put in the time and effort to build a career around their true passions.

14. Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart’s brand touches so many different pursuits. She’s a great cook, has an eye for interior design, knows how to design a garden, and can handle basically any task related to home aesthetics. There’s a consistency in what she creates whether it’s a recipe for chicken pasta or a palette of paint colors — her sense of delicate sophistication is a part of everything she makes.

Where some people with established brands may put a bit less effort into their web presence, Martha does the opposite. She’s not known to take it easy. Her site is full of recipes, DIY projects, entertainment ideas, and other lifestyle-related content all oozing her personality. Her ongoing output keeps her brand going strong today.

15. Casey Neistat

Casey Neistat’s site design consists of whitespace and a few outbound links, because he’s “not entirely sure what purpose a website would serve someone like me so this page is here to redirect you to more interesting places.” Even if you have no idea who Casey is, the message is clear — he’s not one to follow conventions.

With over 11 million YouTube subscribers and an impressive social media following, Casey’s videos are enough to communicate his personal brand of rebellion. It’s apparent that he’s driven by instinct and intelligence. He’s spent his career overachieving, pushing against those who’ve told him he can’t do things. He’s a vlogger (video blogger), founded the media company Beme, and has received praise from big-name outlets like Forbes.

His content is unapologetic in its brashness and he’s driven by the mantra, “Do what you can’t.” He’s spent his life pushing against the haters and triumphed over negativity through brute force. He encourages his audience to go after what’s important without hesitation.

16. Mindy Kaling

As a writer, actor, and producer, Mindy Kaling has made so many of us laugh. She’s established herself as someone whose creative output is about smart comedy that punches up against Hollywood and societal norms. Her personal brand is multifaceted and isn’t limited to labeling her as a writer, feminist, or actor. Even though there are so many aspects to what makes Mindy amazing, her brand offers a clear idea of who she is and what matters to her.

17. Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish is equal parts awkwardness and ego. She can be infuriating and likable all within ten seconds of an interview. Her music flirts with experimentalism while still being within the lines of pop sensibilities. 

Her official website embraces this vibe with a mashup of styles ranging from handwritten scribbles and blurry photos to script text and glam photos of Billie. Her personal brand of quirk is almost anti-brand — it’s what makes her music and aesthetic easy to recognize.

18. Adam Enfroy

Adam Enfroy is a blogger who has amassed over 500,000 monthly readers in just a few years of launching his personal brand.

Adam is truly an inspiration in the way that he approaches personal branding, because his motto is to “blog like a startup.” Taking his experience from helping startups grow, Adam applied the same startup marketing strategies to grow his own personal website.

Through his income reports, Adam shows how he’s making 7 figures just through his personal brand. Because he has created an audience through SEO blogging, Adam is able to monetize his blog through affiliate revenue, sponsorship revenue, and course sales.

Adam shows how fast a personal brand can grow simply through blogging like a startup. If you’re thinking about starting a blog for your personal brand, Adam is a great example to look up to.

Marketing the product that is you

No matter who you are, you can benefit from putting effort into your own personal branding. Don't laugh! Whether it's a portfolio, blog, or a dating profile, you're telling us who you are. Why not amplify all that’s awesome about you? Build your personal brand on your strengths. Sell yourself through authenticity and good intentions — show those interested all that you have to offer.

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Social Media Syllabus

• Teaching Students to Create an Online Personal Branding Strategy: Personal Brand Exercise for Students
• This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click a link and make a purchase, I will make a commission. Please read my disclosure for details.

Table of Contents

Online Personal Branding

Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about Mark W. Schaefer’s new book: Known: The handbook for building and unleashing your personal brand in the digital age . For example, Ai Addison Zang reviewed it.

[Read book reviews I’ve written about Schaefer’s other books: Return on Influence and Born to Blog ]

With all the buzz about personal branding online, I’d like to share a personal branding assignment example below. I started incorporating it into my Public Relations Principles class last semester.

The assignment is based on the assignment Dr. Karen Freberg presents in her book A Roadmap for Teaching Social Media [Read my review of Dr. Freberg’s book ]. But first, some thoughts.

My Struggle in Teaching Personal Branding

Personal branding is something I’ve struggled to successfully bring into my classes. When I first started teaching social media at Shepherd University, I had a personal branding project. In short, students developed a personal branding plan. Then, throughout the semester, the students worked on executing the plan. For example, one student started a video gaming blog focused on retro RPGs. At the end of the semester, students  presented their outputs and their results in brief presentations.

I loved the idea. But, I found that students didn’t take too well to it. Most students didn’t put the time and concentration into the project that I had hoped. A number of students didn’t do much of what they planned to do such that at the end of the semester they didn’t have too many pieces of content – whether that was video posts or blogs – to show for it. I wanted to know why the project didn’t succeed as I had hoped. So I asked. Several students expressed some skepticism as to the value of what I was trying to get them to do. And, some simply didn’t want to have an online presence.

That was in the fall of 2012. After that experience, I pulled back quite a bit on online personal branding. And I’m sad to say that, perhaps out of fear of it not going well again, I stopped requiring my students to do online personal branding. I didn’t so much as require students to participate in a Twitter chat – though I certainly encouraged it as extra curricular activity.

In all honesty, when I reflect on my teaching over the last 5 plus years here at Shepherd, I think that not emphasizing personal branding in my classes is the one thing I wish I did better.

Personal Branding Exercise for Students

After reading Dr. Freberg’s book, I got the bug again about teaching students personal branding. I decided to start small with a project in my Public Relations Principles class. I first gave this assignment last spring as a final project in the class instead of the paper I used to have them write.

As I noted above, this project is an adaptation of the assignment Dr. Freberg puts forth in her book. I modified it down. The purpose of this project was for students to strategize how they would build their personal brands online.

The assignment is broken down into a few parts.

First, I provide students with Dr. Freberg’s checklist for personal branding. I encourage students to work through the list.

Next, I require students to identify a job or internship that interests them and answer some questions about how they relate to the position.

Then, I have students map out their personal brand. Lastly, students must create a LinkedIn or About.me profile branding themselves.

Because I gave this assignment late in the year, I did not ask students to build out a plan for building their personal brand nor did I ask them to have executed one. Rather, I asked them to start taking little steps towards executing a personal brand and provide me evidence that they are moving in that direction.

I’d like to grow this into something more where the students need to go out and truly prepare a detailed strategy and execute it for weeks or a few months  – similar to what I was originally doing in my social media class. I’m not sure where I’d fit this in as my social media class is pretty packed right now. But, I’m going to think about it further this summer, read Schaefer’s new book , and see what I can come up with.

If you’ve got tips or examples of how you’ve gotten your students to find success in personal branding, I’d love to hear them. Tweet me @mjkushin or comment on this blog.

Personal Branding Exercise Worksheet

You can see the personal branding assignment example below.

• Cheers! Matt

Next Steps: More Activities and Resources for Teaching Personal Branding

Personal branding and teach social media book.

A version of this assignment is available in Chapter 9 of my new book, Teach Social Media: A Plan for Creating a Course Your Students Will Love . The book provides educators an end-to-end plan for teaching a social media class.

More Blog Posts About Personal Branding and Social Media Influencers:

• A Quick, Interactive Activity for Introducing the Concept of Social Media Influencers

Recommended Reading about Professional Online Identities:

• Known: The handbook for building and unleashing your personal brand in the digital age . Read Ai Addison Zang’s review of Known.

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6 thoughts on “Teaching Students to Create an Online Personal Branding Strategy: Personal Brand Exercise for Students”

Matt, this is important work. I am also passionate about encouraging students (and everyone) to consider the opportunity to be intentional about your brand. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support you including skyping into your class, provides ding some slides, etc.

Mark, thank you so much for your comment and I look forward to reading your book. I will certainly be in touch. Thank you for the offer and for your support!

I have my social media marketing students do a longer personal branding assignment. My slideshare presentation is here:

https://www.slideshare.net/Denny5123/teaching-students-to-use-social-media-for-personal-branding-and-job-search

I hope this helps and would love to see what you end up doing in your class.

Denny, Thank you for the comment and for sharing! I greatly appreciate it.

Awesome blog. I am so happy I have stumbled upon it.

P.S. The assignement is not available: “This embedded content is no longer valid. If you are the owner of this content, please re-embed this content from SlideShare. Contact us if you have issues re-embedding your content.”

Thank you so much for your compliment. I truly appreciate it. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I apologize for this. It should be fixed now. If you run into problems, please leave me another comment or send me a Tweet @mjkushin.

Have a great day!

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Personal Branding Examples: 33 Stunning Examples to Inspire Your Business

• written by Kylie Garner
• filed under Business

Personal branding is so important in today’s business world.  With an ever-increasing number of entrepreneurs vying for a share of the market, creating a statement with your personal brand is more important than ever before. I’ve done some digging and collated an ultimate list of 33 stunning personal branding examples for you to study and draw inspiration from.

I’ve selected these top 33 awesome entrepreneurs in particular because of the unique way they communicate their own style and tell a story through beautiful personal branding photography and images.

Personal branding is about conveying your personality and your unique brand message directly to your audience. Each person on this list has taken the time to develop their own personal style along with knowing and understanding the market they are speaking directly to.

So while you soak up the goodness, think about your own personal brand identity and what message you want to communicate to your audience.

Side Note: These stunning photography examples are the work of some amazingly talented photographers around the world. I am currently in process of sourcing and crediting each photographer, if you are the photographer or know who is for any of the people below, please say hello ! I would love to hear from you.

33 Stunning Personal Branding Examples

Marie forleo.

Marie Forleo without a doubt sets the benchmark when it comes to exceptional personal branding. From her online photography to weekly videos, Marie’s online presence oozes with her quirky, fun and down-to-earth personality.

Why is Marie’s branding so effective? Because she knows exactly who her audience is and she effectively communicates her key message directly to them. Marie’s branding makes you feel as if you are right there with her sitting at a sidewalk cafe chatting over coffee. If you can make your audience feel like this, then you have nailed your branding.

Web: marieforleo.com

Denise Duffield-Thomas – Lucky Bitch

Denise Duffield-Thomas is another example of exceptional personal branding. Denise lives and breathes her brand which, clearly shows throughout her online presence.

Not many entrepreneurs can carry off ‘wearing’ their brand but Denise does and does it well. Her clothes and accessories often carry her unique ‘lucky bee’ pattern, along with her signature blue/green tones.

Denise uses these elements effectively throughout all her brand images, which leads to instant brand recognition. Denise’s personal brand is unmistakable regardless of which platform you find her on, and this is a key trait to personal branding done well.

Web: luckybitch.com

Emma & Carla Papas – The Merrymaker Sisters

Emma and Carla Papas are The Merrymaker Sisters and the hit of joy that you feel when you visit the online home of the ‘Merries’ is instant!

The Merrymaker Sisters have invested in high quality photos taken from various locations and the investment has paid off! The gorgeous images of these two fresh faced sisters show every single inch of their merriness.

Their joy, energy, youth and vibrancy shines through in every single photo. Stunning personal branding does not get much better than this!

Web: themerrymakersisters.com

Lisa Messenger – The Collective Hub

When looking at Lisa Messenger’s personal brand, straight away you get a sense of her style, passion and a woman who is not afraid to push boundaries. Lisa is a woman who knows her signature style, is confident within herself and is always on trend.

Her location shoots and the resulting photos are simply amazing! From her branding throughout The Collective Hub, to her books and her events, Lisa makes the most of each shoot repurposing the images across all platforms which results in a consistency like no other and a personal brand statement that sets her well apart from the rest.

Web: collectivehub.com/lisa-messenger

Sue Bryce is a phenomenal photographer and her own personal branding is absolutely stunning! Sue has dedicated 25 years to making women look and feel beautiful through photography and this shows not only in the portraits she takes, but through her own personal images.

Her branding features dark backgrounds which brings out her exquisite natural beauty. Sue has also created a sense of intrigue that makes you want to learn more about her. This is another example of personal branding done exceptionally well.

Web: suebryce.com

Melissa Ambrosini

Melissa Ambrosini is host of The Melissa Ambrosini Show, author of Mastering Your Mean Girl and owner of outstanding personal branding. Her signature image creates instant impact and communicates her brand message completely.

Melissa’s brand photography is very minimal. She uses no props and a neutral background, but WOW! They definitely create impact through unique poses and her unique style. This is one woman who has definitely found her superpowers.

Web: melissaambrosini.com

Yvonne Hilsz

Yvonne Hilsz’s personal branding is fabulously eclectic! Yvonne uses a selection of vibrant colours and styles that draws out her natural beauty and sets her apart from her competition.

With each professional image, Yvonne’s personality shines through. She uses power poses better than anyone I know and the result is a brand statement that is confident and luminous.

Web: yvonnehilsz.com

Michelle Bridges – 12WBT

Michelle Bridges has built a strong personal brand identity both online and offline. And it probably goes without saying… No one does personal branding while wearing active wear quite like the queen of fitness herself!

Michelle’s personal brand is a great example that shows why your brand images should always align with your brand message. Michelle is not afraid to show what she stands for through her brand images, and neither should you.

Web: www.12wbt.com

Jasmine Star

Jasmine Star is a photographer and marketing entrepreneur who has nailed her online personal brand. Voted as one of the world’s top 5 most influential photographers, Jasmine’s work speaks for itself. As too does the powerful brand she has created for herself.

If you consider your images as the opportunity to convey your personal brand without text… Jasmine Star is the absolute expert in creating imagery that tells a story without a single word.

Web: jasminestar.com

Majella McMahon – The Stylery Co

When it comes to style, confidence and looking good through personal branding… You can’t go past the beautiful Majella from The Stylery Co.

As a fashion stylist and image consultant, Majella has a knack for style and an eye for detail like no other.

And let’s face it, great personal images are not only about the right angle and good lighting, they’re about finding your individual look, your best style and presenting that to the world in all it’s glory.

Majella provides a perfect personal brand example that illustrates her unique styling talents. She looks absolutely fabulous in all her imagery and certainly commands a place on this list.

Web: thestyleryco.com

Dan Norris – WP Curve / 7 Day Startup / Black Hops Brewery

There is no denying that when it comes to entrepreneurs, Dan Norris is a name that springs to mind almost instantly! Dan is without a doubt a serial entrepreneur and to date has created numerous businesses, including: WP Curve, The 7 Day Startup, Black Hops Brewery and Create or Hate.

What makes Dan Norris’ personal branding so exceptional is how he has adapted his brand images to perfectly tie into each of his business ventures yet still maintains his own laid back natural style in each and every photo. I particularly love Dan’s Black Hops branding and cannot wait to see what he comes out with next.

Web: dannorris.me

Natalie MacNeil – She Takes on the World

Natalie MacNeil’s personal brand shows an entrepreneur who knows her target audience very well and speaks directly to them through her branding. Natalie MacNeil is the driving force behind She takes on the World, where she teaches women how to build a thriving and influential business and brand. She certainly walks her talk.

Natalie’s personal brand photography is first class. Her images are bright, cheerful and her message is clear. Plus nobody pulls off the professional look barefoot quite like Natalie MacNeil.

Web:   shetakesontheworld.com

Kylie Patchett

Kylie Patchett describes herself as “a barefoot, crazy curly haired mama”. A mindset coach for women, Kylie’s personal brand is bright and playful and bursting with confidence and pizzazz. Kylie’s personal brand image ties in perfectly with her key message and her brand photography ties in well with the overall look and feel to her online presence.

Web: kyliepatchett.com

Sarah Wilson – I Quit Sugar

Sarah Wilson radiates every ounce of what she stands for throughout her personal branding. Founder of the I Quit Sugar movement, Sarah has built her personal brand identity around her life and journey. Her images are all location shots that showcase her perfectly in everyday life.

A genuine and effective personal brand not only portrays a person’s character and personality, but it also allows the audience into elements of your life. Sarah Wilson pulls this off in a simple yet effective way.

Web: sarahwilson.com

Melanie Duncan

A strong personal brand should convey yourself and your personal message within second of the audience viewing it. Melanie Duncan’s personal brand does this and does it exceptionally well.

When looking at Melanie’s personal branding you feel not only style and class, but also opulence and confidence. All appealing qualities to any aspiring entrepreneur.

Melanie ties her images in nicely with the overall feel of her online presence, mixing a classy blend of black, white and gold. If Melanie is selling confidence, then consider me sold!

Web:  melanieduncan.com

Nat Kringoudis

Without a doubt, Nat Kringoudis takes a beautiful photo. All her brand images present a calm and confident presence, which is what you would want to feel from an expert who makes your “hormones happier than a Pharrell Williams song”.

Nat comes across as very relatable and her brand images tie in perfectly with the products and services she offers. Nat’s personal brand statement also shows that online branding does not need to be over the top to be effective.

Web:   natkringoudis.com

Hilary Rushford – Dean Street Society

As a personal stylist and brand mentor at Dean Street Society, Hilary Rushford showcases her talents perfectly through her brand identity. Every image is styled to perfection.

Through the outfits she wears, locations she chooses and the accessories she carefully selects, Hilary Rushford definitely has her personal style and personal branding down pat.

Web: deanstreetsociety.com

Bri Emery – Design Love Fest

Bri Emery has created a gorgeous example of a personal brand. She illustrates her love of fashion and design clearly throughout her website – Design Love Fest. Her images are unique, quirky and playful. And of course showcases her style perfectly.

The tones used in her brand photography tie in perfectly with her brand colours used throughout her online presence. This creates a beautiful consistency that makes Bri’s brand recognisable and memorable.

Web: designlovefest.com

Kate McKibbin – Secret Bloggers’ Business

Kate McKibbin’s motto is “No Fluff, No BS, Just the real strategies, steps and secrets”. Founder of Secret Bloggers’ Business, Kate’s personal branding images showcase her motto perfectly.

With the use of monochrome tones and pops of turquoise, Kate’s branding makes a unique brand statement. If you were looking to brand yourself in way that sets you apart from the crowd, Kate McKibbin’s would be an example to follow.

Web: secretbloggersbusiness.com

Nikki Elledge Brown – The Communication Stylist

Another classic example of someone wearing their personal brand effectively is Nikki Elledge Brown.

Nikki is a communication stylist and what better way to showcase this to her audience than by literally wearing words in her brand images. In fact, Nikki’s brand photos are a great example of thinking outside the square and creating a personal brand that is playful, cheeky and definitely memorable.

Nikki has also been very clever with her use of colour throughout her branding, keeping her portrait colours neutral and using colour on her website to make her brand really stand out.

Web: nikkielledgebrown.com

Emily London Miller

Emily London Miller is a renowned photographer that shows beautifully the power of gorgeous photos for both personal branding and a boost in your self-esteem.

Browsing through Emily’s gallery of same day transformations is enough to show the impact personal portraitures can make when done exceptionally well. If you truly think you cannot look amazingly beautiful whilst still being true to yourself, then you need to visit Emily’s website pronto.

When Emily says she knows what beautiful looks like… she’s not kidding!

Web: emilylondonportraits.com

Rachel Corbett – TV & Radio Presenter, Podcaster, Coach

Rachel Corbett is a self confessed ‘Media Swinger’. Rachel has exceptional personal branding that conveys warmth and authenticity that is often missing from personal brand images in the media field.

Straight away Rachel’s personality shines out through all her brand photography. A great example of bucking the trends of your industry to brand yourself individually to really stand out from the pack.

Web: rachelcorbett.com.au

Emma Isaacs – Business Chicks

Emma Isaacs is another great example of an entrepreneur who could easily take the corporate route with her personal branding, but instead she has chosen a more laid back attitude to her styling that only makes her more endearing to her audience.

Emma not only conveys her personality and style through her brand images, but she allows her audience into her personal world that shows glimpses of her family, her passion and her big heart.

If you think that business branding and personal branding have to be two different things, Emma Isaacs branding just proved this is not the case.

Web: emmaisaacs.com

I’m just going to come out and say it… Kris Carr’s personal branding is cool! From the vintage green pickup truck right through to the fun shots under the tree. Kris Carr’s personal branding tells a story and after viewing her profile it’s clear she has quite a story to tell.

From the seriousness of Cancer to her path to wellness, Kris maintains an upbeat positive attitude that is captured extremely well in all her brand photos.

Great personal branding builds a following and Kris Carr’s is definitely one to follow.

Web: kriscarr.com

Danielle LaPorte

Danielle LaPorte’s personal brand is impressive and definitely creates impact, in the best way of course!

Up close and personal would be the first impression you get when visiting Danielle LaPorte’s website and up close and personal is exactly what Danielle aims to achieve through her work as a speaker, poet, painter, writer and giver of #Truthbombs.

Danielle LaPorte’s brand represents a woman who is not afraid to live life on her terms. What do you want your personal brand to represent?

Web: daniellelaporte.com

I can’t quite work out how to describe Ben Angels branding… Cool, Calm, Collected… Smooth, Suave, Soulful. Or all of the above!

Ben has captured his personal essence perfectly in his branding through complementary tones, dark backdrops and perfect lighting used skilfully throughout his photography.

Ben Angel is a personal brand I won’t forget in a hurry.

Web: benangel.co

Leandra Brady Walker – The Cosmopolitan Hippy

I wonder how you would brand a Cosmopolitan Hippy. Actually there is no need to wonder, Dr Leandra Brady Walker… AKA The Cosmopolitan Hippy shows how perfectly. Her personal brand is a delightful mix of fun, playful, classy and elegant.

Who says you have to place yourself in a stereotypical box. Leandra Brady Walker’s personal branding is an excellent example of having a great presence without having to conform to one individual style.

Web: cosmohippy.com.au

Katrina Hillard

Confidence, energy and a great personal style. These are all statements that are made by Katrina Hillard’s personal branding. Katrina has used a mixture of simple portraits along with location shots to tell her brand story. Her images are bright and appeal directly to her target market. Well worth a spot on the top personal branding examples list.

Web: katrinahillard.com

Christina Guidotti

Christina Guidotti shows how effective it is to add bold colours to your branding images to relax the stuffiness that comes with corporate images. Choosing the right colours for your personal tones really increases the benefits and impact your images have.

Christina has provided a perfect example of how a relaxed corporate personal brand can be done this exceptionally well.

Web: christinaguidotti.com

Natasha Vanzetti

Natasha Vanzetti creates a stunning personal brand statement. Natasha has mixed up her photography throughout her website to show both her professional side and a little bit of flair. Natasha shows that you shouldn’t be afraid to try different poses to show your authentic self through your personal brand images.

Web: natashavanzetti.com

Margie Warrell

Margie Warrell presents a beautiful calming presence through her brand photography. Her photos are a perfect example of connecting directly with your audience at their level. Her images have a calming effect, almost like she is speaking directly to you.

Personal branding gives you the power to convey yourself in a clear, honest and authentic way and Margie Warrell’s branding has achieved all this.

Web: margiewarrell.com

Naomi Simson – Red Balloon

Naomi Simson is another example of an entrepreneur who wears their personal style well. Just like Denise Duffield Thomas, Naomi is rarely seen without her signature red colour being worn elegantly and with class.

Adding a touch of red makes Naomi’s brand recognisable both online and offline and sets herself apart from the stock standard corporate identity. She has maintained professional image but has added a hint of playfulness.

Web: naomisimson.com

Bree James – Pakmag / MOB Magazine

Bree James’ personal brand could be described as understated and gentle with calming qualities. Bree’s personality shines through as a quiet, subtle confidence. She is one to let her work and achievements speak for themselves, and they sure do!

Web:   breejames.com

There you have it. 33 Stunning Personal Branding examples. Each unique and gorgeous in their own way. I have no doubt you will be able to draw inspiration from each and every one.

The most effective personal brand examples hold 3 key qualities… They speak directly to their target audience, they communicate the message of the brand holder clearly and they are recognisable and memorable.

If these 33 examples show us anything, it’s that personal branding is just that… Personal.

Hi! I'm Kylie.

Journalist, Digital Marketing Specialist, Photographer and Single Mum of two neurospicy boys. I am well and truly into my 4th decade of life which I have officially called the “Fierce & Fabulous 40s Era”. 

Are you ready to find your REMARKABLE?

Kylie is a fractional cmo, journalist, digital marketing fanatic, ai nerd & quirky creative..

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Five Tips to Branding Yourself

Career Development

We’ve all been taught that a firm handshake, professional attire, and sound credentials are the makings for a good first impression.

Today, that’s no longer enough.

The advent of blogs, Facebook, and Twitter have enabled anyone and everyone to become known; connect in almost real time directly with clients, colleagues and friends; and build relationships across the globe. Now, making an unforgettable first impression  in-person  is no longer the only way to establish your brand. Yes,  your  brand.

While you may not be Nike or Disney, who you are and how you come across are really important to being successful. Our personal brands are in the spotlight everyday for everyone to see online. Are you putting your best foot forward? Maybe it’s time for some personal branding.

If you don’t brand yourself, someone else will, and the outcome might not be so favorable. Branding yourself keeps you current in your field, opens doors for you, and creates a lasting impression on potential and existing clients. By developing your own brand, you’ll have control over the initial perception people have of you.

“What is it that you want to be known for? Personal branding is how we define ourselves in the work space while also incorporating the personal elements that make us who we are,” according to Dawn Rasmussen, president of the Portland, Oregon-based  Pathfinder Writing and Career Services .

What Makes You, You A successful brand can go a long way with self-promotion, conveying loyalty, and offering consistency in the quality of the services you provide.

#1: Define your brand and become an expert . Take the time to do some soul searching and determine exactly who you are and what makes up your brand. Use words such as  collaborative, resourceful, flexible, forward-thinking, connected, visionary, diplomatic, intuitive, precise, enterprising, ethical, genuine and/or accessible  to describe your persona, culture, and outlook. Whether you’re looking to garner media attention, attract new clients or build your business, you should focus on becoming an expert in your field. Avoid establishing an expertise that's irrelevant to your mission, goals, and vision. You’ll just be wasting your time.

For example, if you know corporate tax accounting, it's probably not wise to brand yourself as a personal financial expert. Yet, remember that people want to hear about the professional  you , but they also want to understand your personality. Don’t be afraid to inject your personality into the conversation.

#2: Establish a presence.  You’re being Googled by friends, colleagues, and potential customers, so make sure your branded content is what people find when they Google your name. One way to do this is to build a basic online presence through your own website or blog.

For example, you can purchase your full name as a domain name (yourfullname.com). By developing either a static website or a blog under your domain name, you will own the first result for your name in Google and other search engines. This should be a separate site than your company's website. After purchasing your domain name, add your picture, a bio, your email address, and links to the rest of your presence (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter). This way, people can get in touch with you in their medium of choice. Claim your name before someone else does. While search engines will pick up on your social media pages, having your own domain will produce a more finite result.

#3: Generate brand awareness through networking.  You should be connecting with other young professionals in the accounting industry by using social networks and commenting on their blogs. Networking is one of the best ways to become known in the industry. By forming relationships with people in your audience, you can grow your business and your brand long-term.

#4: Remember the 3 Cs of branding . Clarity, consistency, constancy. Be clear in who you are and are not. Don’t sugar-coat your qualifications. Express your brand across all communications mediums. Determine where you want to fit in (industry and niche area of expertise) and then remain visible to your target audience.

#5: Get feedback from those who know you best—at work, at home, anywhere . The true measure of your brand is the reputation others hold of you in their hearts and minds. Notice how they introduce you to others. Ask them what your top brand attributes and core strengths are. If they can easily tell you, then you’ve succeeded in branding  you .

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