Okay, here’s the deal. You already have a personal brand.
Wait, what? Yeah, you heard me. Right now, people associate certain things with you. The way you dress, talk, post on social media, it’s all branding. The only question is: Are you controlling the narrative, or is it controlling you?
If you’re here, I’m guessing you want to take charge. You want people to see you a certain way. Maybe as an expert. A thought leader. Someone people trust. Someone who can make money just by existing online. Sounds cool, right?
So, let’s get into it. I’ll walk you through how to start building a personal brand step by step. No boring corporate jargon. No weird, fake influencer vibes. Just you, me, and the truth.
Meet the Guy Who Mastered Personal Branding
Ever heard of Gary Vaynerchuk? You know, the guy who built a $200 million empire by yelling at people on the internet? Yeah, him. But before he was “GaryVee,” he was just a guy working in his dad’s liquor store. His big move? He started talking. A lot. About wine, business, marketing. He showed up online every single day. People started to trust him. His audience grew. Fast forward a few years, and now he’s one of the biggest personal brands in the world.
Today, he runs VaynerMedia, a digital agency working with giants like PepsiCo and Toyota. He sold Empathy Wines to Constellation Brands, co-founded Resy (later bought by AmEx), and was an early investor in Facebook, Twitter, and Uber. Oh, and he also started Flyfish Club, an exclusive dining club. All of this? It started with building a personal brand.
And guess what? You don’t need millions of dollars or a famous last name to do the same. You just need to follow these five steps.
Step 1: Find Your “Thing” (And Own It)
What do you want to be known for? No, really. What’s your thing?
It could be marketing. Fitness. Tech. Cooking. Doesn’t matter, just pick something and commit. Because if you try to be everything, you’ll be nothing.
How to Find Your Personal Brand Focus:
- What do people always ask you about? (That’s a clue.)
- What do you love talking about even when you’re tired?
- What skills or experiences make you different?
Let’s say you’re obsessed with productivity. You’ve figured out how to squeeze an extra two hours out of every day. You know how to plan, automate, and hack your schedule like a pro. That’s your thing. Own it.
Look at Ali Abdaal, a former doctor who turned his love for productivity into a YouTube empire. He didn’t try to be a fitness guru or a tech reviewer. He stuck to productivity. Now? He has 4M+ subscribers, a best-selling book, and a million-dollar business.
Pick your thing. Stick to it. That’s step one.
Step 2: Make Noise (Start Posting!)
This is where most people chicken out. They overthink.
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “What if people judge me?”
- “I don’t even know where to start.”
Stop. Breathe. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start.
How? Simple. Talk about what you know. Share what you’ve learned, what excites you, what frustrates you. Tell stories. Share opinions. Teach something. Make people feel something.
Take Gary Vaynerchuk. He started posting wine reviews in 2006. No fancy camera. No expensive setup. Just him, a table, and a glass of wine. He did over 1,000 episodes. That built his name. Now? He runs VaynerMedia (worth over $300 million) and owns brands like VeeFriends and VaynerSports.
Your first post won’t be perfect. Post it anyway.
Step 3: Be a Human, Not a Robot
Nobody likes a “corporate-speak” influencer. You know the type. The ones who sound like they copy-pasted from a marketing textbook and make you want to take a nap.
No. Just… no. The Secret? Talk Like a Human. Inject your personality into your content. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re blunt, be blunt. People connect with realness, not robotic perfection.
Boring LinkedIn Post:
“Networking is a crucial element in career development. One must leverage professional connections to achieve growth.”
Real Human Post:
“You know what’s awkward? Trying to ‘network’ without sounding like a desperate salesman. Here’s how I made legit connections without being weird.”
See the difference? One sounds like a textbook, the other like a human.
Take Gary Vaynerchuk, he doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He swears, rants, and talks like a real person. That’s why people love him. Personality wins. Every time.
Step 4: Be Everywhere (Even If You’re Nowhere Yet)
Let’s say you’re just starting out. You have, like, 12 followers. Should you give up? No. You act like you already have an audience.
Ever notice how the loudest voices online aren’t always the smartest? They just show up. A lot.
How to Get Noticed (Even If No One Knows You Yet):
- Drop valuable comments on big creators’ posts (people actually read comments).
- Jump into conversations, Twitter threads, LinkedIn discussions, Reddit debates.
- Engage like a normal person, not a salesy bot.
- Share insights even if nobody is watching yet.
It feels weird at first, like talking to an empty room. But that’s how everyone starts. Gary Vee? He was posting wine reviews for years before people cared.
The internet rewards persistence. Be everywhere, and people will eventually notice.
Step 5: Sell Yourself Without Feeling Sleazy
“Personal branding” isn’t just about getting attention, it’s about turning that attention into opportunities.
If you do this right, people will start coming to you. Jobs. Collaborations. Speaking gigs. Even money. But here’s the catch: nobody likes a pushy salesperson.
How to Sell Without Being Annoying:
- Show results, not just opinions. (Example: “I helped my client get 10K followers in 2 months.”)
- Teach, don’t preach. (Example: “Here’s exactly how I do XYZ.”)
- Use testimonials. (Example: “This person followed my advice and doubled their sales.”)
People don’t like being sold to, but they love buying from someone they trust. Build that trust, and selling won’t even feel like selling.
Why Personal Branding Will Change Your Life
Listen, this isn’t just about looking cool online. There are real, life-changing benefits of personal branding.
- More career opportunities: Job offers, clients, partnerships, they’ll start coming to you.
- Higher income: People trust brands more than random strangers. That means more $$$ in your pocket.
- Stronger connections: You’ll attract like-minded people who actually vibe with your values.
- Freedom: When people know you, you don’t have to chase opportunities. They come knocking.
And the best part? You’re in control. You don’t need permission. You just need to start.
How to Build a Personal Brand on Social Media (5 Steps)
Alright, let’s talk about social media. This is where the magic happens. If you’re not online, you basically don’t exist. But don’t worry, I’ll show you how to build a personal brand on social media without feeling like a cringe influencer.
1. Pick Your Platform
Don’t try to be everywhere at once. You’ll burn out. Choose one or two platforms based on what you’re good at:
- Twitter/X: Perfect for quick thoughts, insights, and industry hot takes.
- Instagram: Best if you’re visual and love storytelling.
- LinkedIn: If you want to build business credibility, this is the place.
- TikTok/YouTube: Great if you love video content and have some personality.
- Medium/Substack: Ideal for long-form content like deep insights and personal stories.
2. Post Consistently
You don’t have to post every day, but 3-5 times a week is the sweet spot. Don’t overthink it—just show up and share:
- A quick insight from your industry.
- A behind-the-scenes of your work.
- A personal story that connects with your audience.
- A lesson you’ve learned.
The key? Consistency over perfection. Some posts will flop. Some will take off. Keep posting.
3. Give More Than You Take
Want engagement? Engage first. Instead of just pushing your content, do this:
- Comment on other people’s posts. (Not just “great post”, add something valuable.)
- Share someone else’s content and add your own thoughts.
- Answer questions in your industry.
This builds goodwill. And guess what? People will start paying attention to you.
4. Show Your Face
Nobody connects with faceless accounts. People connect with people.
- Use a real profile picture (not some abstract logo).
- Post photos and videos of yourself, yes, even if it feels awkward.
- Let people see your personality. Be funny. Be serious. Be you.
5. Keep Going (Even When It Feels Pointless)
The first few months? Dead silence. You’ll post, and nobody will care. Keep going.
- The first 100 followers are the hardest.
- The first viral post won’t come overnight.
- The moment you think about quitting is when things usually start working.
Stay consistent. Stay patient. And soon? You’ll have a personal brand that people actually recognize.
The One Thing That Separates Winners from Quitters
You wanna know the real secret to personal branding? Most people give up too soon. They post for two weeks. Get five likes (three from family, one from a bot). No viral moment. No overnight fame.
So they quit. Meanwhile, the people who keep showing up? They win. Every. Single. Time.
Because personal branding isn’t luck. It’s persistence. The ones who stay consistent, improve over time, and push through the silence? They’re the ones who build real influence.
Final Thoughts: Start. Right. Now.
Still wondering how to start building a personal brand? Here’s the truth, you already have one. The only difference is whether you’re shaping it or letting it shape itself.
The benefits of personal branding are massive, more career opportunities, higher income, stronger connections. And the best part? You’re in control.
Not sure how to build a personal brand on social media? Start small. Post. Engage. Show up. Keep going, even when it feels pointless.
Success won’t happen overnight. But if you stay consistent, you’ll wake up one day with a brand people actually recognize.
