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Personal Branding
Build Your Brand
Influencer Marketing
Brand Strategy
Social Media Branding
ARTICLE #103
Table of contents
How to brand yourself on social media? A detailed guide
Personal Branding
Build Your Brand
Influencer Marketing
Brand Strategy
Social Media Branding
Personal Branding
Build Your Brand
Influencer Marketing
Brand Strategy
Social Media Branding
Written by:
5 min read
Updated on: August 29, 2024
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Many entrepreneurs see social media as a loudspeaker for product launches and promotions. Yet there’s another angle that often slips under the radar: using these same channels to cultivate a powerful personal brand. By presenting insights in your own voice, you are more likely to earn trust and spark engagement—far beyond what a faceless corporate feed can achieve.
Data even shows that employees’ personal posts can reach 561% more people than an official brand account. It’s a reminder that real, human voices attract more attention in a crowded digital space. If you are aiming to raise your profile, boost credibility, and amplify your impact, social media might be your most overlooked ally.
Many entrepreneurs see social media as a loudspeaker for product launches and promotions. Yet there’s another angle that often slips under the radar: using these same channels to cultivate a powerful personal brand. By presenting insights in your own voice, you are more likely to earn trust and spark engagement—far beyond what a faceless corporate feed can achieve.
Data even shows that employees’ personal posts can reach 561% more people than an official brand account. It’s a reminder that real, human voices attract more attention in a crowded digital space. If you are aiming to raise your profile, boost credibility, and amplify your impact, social media might be your most overlooked ally.
Define your brand identity
Define your brand identity
Your online identity starts with self-reflection. Ask yourself: What do I value, and what do I want people to associate with my name? From career achievements to personal stories, it’s the unique combination of qualities, experiences, and aspirations that helps you stand out.
Find your unique selling proposition
A strong USP revolves around who you serve, how you add value, and which skills set you apart. Create a short, clear statement addressing your:
Target audience: The people you aim to influence or assist.
Value: How you improve their lives or businesses.
Market: Others in your field (colleagues, peers, or competitors).
Superpower: That one thing only you offer—maybe it’s a creative twist, a unique approach, or an uncommon life story.
Your online identity starts with self-reflection. Ask yourself: What do I value, and what do I want people to associate with my name? From career achievements to personal stories, it’s the unique combination of qualities, experiences, and aspirations that helps you stand out.
Find your unique selling proposition
A strong USP revolves around who you serve, how you add value, and which skills set you apart. Create a short, clear statement addressing your:
Target audience: The people you aim to influence or assist.
Value: How you improve their lives or businesses.
Market: Others in your field (colleagues, peers, or competitors).
Superpower: That one thing only you offer—maybe it’s a creative twist, a unique approach, or an uncommon life story.
Select the right social media platforms
Each platform has its vibe and user base, so it’s smart to focus on the channels that suit you best. Going all-in on every single platform usually leads to burnout.
1. Instagram: Ideal if your brand hinges on visuals—think fashion, food, or fitness. Stats show that the engagement rate of Instagram is four times higher than Facebook's.
2. X (Twitter): Good for real-time insights, short updates, and building a voice in tech, media, or public affairs. Almost 53% of users visit the platform to get the latest news.
3. LinkedIn: Built for professional networking and thought leadership. Great if you want to reach B2B clients or partners. LinkedIn is perfect for B2B industries, professional networking, and career development. It has over 1 billion members in 200 countries.
4. YouTube: A strong option if you are into tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, or interviews, especially if video-based teaching is your niche.
5. TikTok: Perfect if your brand skews younger, or you enjoy creating short, punchy videos with the potential to go viral.
6. Facebook: The heavyweight platform with multiple content forms (live streams, video, text). Brilliant if you want a broader but more general audience. Statista’s 2024 report states that Facebook has surpassed 1 billion registered accounts and currently has more than 3 billion monthly active users.
Each platform has its vibe and user base, so it’s smart to focus on the channels that suit you best. Going all-in on every single platform usually leads to burnout.
1. Instagram: Ideal if your brand hinges on visuals—think fashion, food, or fitness. Stats show that the engagement rate of Instagram is four times higher than Facebook's.
2. X (Twitter): Good for real-time insights, short updates, and building a voice in tech, media, or public affairs. Almost 53% of users visit the platform to get the latest news.
3. LinkedIn: Built for professional networking and thought leadership. Great if you want to reach B2B clients or partners. LinkedIn is perfect for B2B industries, professional networking, and career development. It has over 1 billion members in 200 countries.
4. YouTube: A strong option if you are into tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, or interviews, especially if video-based teaching is your niche.
5. TikTok: Perfect if your brand skews younger, or you enjoy creating short, punchy videos with the potential to go viral.
6. Facebook: The heavyweight platform with multiple content forms (live streams, video, text). Brilliant if you want a broader but more general audience. Statista’s 2024 report states that Facebook has surpassed 1 billion registered accounts and currently has more than 3 billion monthly active users.
Update your social media accounts
More than 5 billion people use social media around the world, and an average person uses 6.7 different social networks every month. This highlights how social media is adopted across locations and age groups. But out of all these accounts, not all will help you brand yourself. You need to identify the usefulness of each platform and start working on building your online presence.
Audit your current presence
Before ploughing forward, note which platforms you are already on. Assess whether they fit your brand vision. If an account is collecting dust and doesn’t bring real value, it might be time to scrap it.
Polish your profiles
Profile Photo: Ensure it’s professional, or at least clear and consistent across channels.
Bio: Keep it brief yet punchy. Mention your main expertise, your purpose, or a hint of personality.
Achievements and links: Flaunt accomplishments that reinforce your credibility, and provide website or portfolio links if relevant.
More than 5 billion people use social media around the world, and an average person uses 6.7 different social networks every month. This highlights how social media is adopted across locations and age groups. But out of all these accounts, not all will help you brand yourself. You need to identify the usefulness of each platform and start working on building your online presence.
Audit your current presence
Before ploughing forward, note which platforms you are already on. Assess whether they fit your brand vision. If an account is collecting dust and doesn’t bring real value, it might be time to scrap it.
Polish your profiles
Profile Photo: Ensure it’s professional, or at least clear and consistent across channels.
Bio: Keep it brief yet punchy. Mention your main expertise, your purpose, or a hint of personality.
Achievements and links: Flaunt accomplishments that reinforce your credibility, and provide website or portfolio links if relevant.
Create compelling content
Even the most active social media strategy crumbles if your posts are bland. You need content that’s interesting enough to spark likes, comments, or shares.
Use storytelling
Whether you are explaining how you overcame a career hurdle or sharing a customer success tale, stories foster an emotional link with your audience. Think about the everyday challenges or funny slip-ups your readers might recognise from their own lives.
Content calendar and scheduling
Map out what you’ll post and when. This reduces last-minute scrambling and keeps your feed consistent. If you are juggling multiple time zones, use a scheduling tool that automates posting at the perfect hour. That way, you can focus on quality.
Even the most active social media strategy crumbles if your posts are bland. You need content that’s interesting enough to spark likes, comments, or shares.
Use storytelling
Whether you are explaining how you overcame a career hurdle or sharing a customer success tale, stories foster an emotional link with your audience. Think about the everyday challenges or funny slip-ups your readers might recognise from their own lives.
Content calendar and scheduling
Map out what you’ll post and when. This reduces last-minute scrambling and keeps your feed consistent. If you are juggling multiple time zones, use a scheduling tool that automates posting at the perfect hour. That way, you can focus on quality.
Engage with your audience
Posting is only half the puzzle—social media thrives on two-way dialogue.
Ask questions: Prompt your followers for advice or feedback. People love to weigh in.
Respond promptly: Whether it’s a comment on a new article or a message from a potential collaborator, timely replies show you value your community.
Support others: Interact with content from peers in your field. A quick like or relevant comment can go a long way.
Use hashtags and keywords
Hashtags group your posts into trending conversations, while keywords raise your visibility in search results.
Hashtags: Choose a mix of broad, topic-specific, and branded tags.
Keywords: Weave relevant words into your post captions, blog entries, or social bios. But do it naturally—keyword stuffing feels fake and can annoy your readers.
Connect with influencers in your sector
Influencers aren’t limited to celebrities with millions of followers. So-called micro-influencers can have tight-knit communities that trust their recommendations.
Identify potential allies: Who aligns with your niche?
Reach out: A friendly, personalised message often works better than a generic request.
Posting is only half the puzzle—social media thrives on two-way dialogue.
Ask questions: Prompt your followers for advice or feedback. People love to weigh in.
Respond promptly: Whether it’s a comment on a new article or a message from a potential collaborator, timely replies show you value your community.
Support others: Interact with content from peers in your field. A quick like or relevant comment can go a long way.
Use hashtags and keywords
Hashtags group your posts into trending conversations, while keywords raise your visibility in search results.
Hashtags: Choose a mix of broad, topic-specific, and branded tags.
Keywords: Weave relevant words into your post captions, blog entries, or social bios. But do it naturally—keyword stuffing feels fake and can annoy your readers.
Connect with influencers in your sector
Influencers aren’t limited to celebrities with millions of followers. So-called micro-influencers can have tight-knit communities that trust their recommendations.
Identify potential allies: Who aligns with your niche?
Reach out: A friendly, personalised message often works better than a generic request.
Monitor and evolve your brand
Use social media metrics to find out how well your social media strategy is performing. You can do it with the help of different tools.
Reach: How many people see your content?
Engagement rate: Likes, comments, or shares relative to your follower count.
Follower growth: The speed at which new people flock to your page.
Click-through rate: How often viewers click any links you include.
Adapt to feedback and trends
Check how people react to your posts or stories. If a certain topic gets them buzzing, explore it more. On the flip side, if you sense disinterest, pivot to something fresh. Also, keep an eye on new formats or emerging platforms—early adopters sometimes gain the biggest head start.
Maintain Consistency
Regular activity helps you stay top of mind, but don’t overwhelm yourself by posting on every platform daily. Strike a balance: you want to keep quality high without driving yourself frantic. If you are juggling multiple channels, consider automating certain tasks or spacing out your posts thoughtfully.
Use social media metrics to find out how well your social media strategy is performing. You can do it with the help of different tools.
Reach: How many people see your content?
Engagement rate: Likes, comments, or shares relative to your follower count.
Follower growth: The speed at which new people flock to your page.
Click-through rate: How often viewers click any links you include.
Adapt to feedback and trends
Check how people react to your posts or stories. If a certain topic gets them buzzing, explore it more. On the flip side, if you sense disinterest, pivot to something fresh. Also, keep an eye on new formats or emerging platforms—early adopters sometimes gain the biggest head start.
Maintain Consistency
Regular activity helps you stay top of mind, but don’t overwhelm yourself by posting on every platform daily. Strike a balance: you want to keep quality high without driving yourself frantic. If you are juggling multiple channels, consider automating certain tasks or spacing out your posts thoughtfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 pillars of personal branding?
According to Jill Hauwiller, the 7 pillars include Purpose, Values, Clarity, Strengths, Energy, Legacy, and Ownership.
What is the ABCD of personal branding?
It’s Appearance, Behaviour, Communication, and Digital Impression.
What is the golden rule of personal branding?
Identify your unique strengths, leverage them wisely, and present yourself as a capable authority in your niche.
Final Thoughts
Social media shifts faster than the weather, and staying visible requires more than a casual post or two. A well-structured plan—ideally guided by a capable team—can help you keep your brand on course. By putting these personal branding tips into action, you’ll shape a standout identity, open doors to fresh opportunities, and keep your career moving in the right direction. After all, if you won’t brag about your genius on social media, who will?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 pillars of personal branding?
According to Jill Hauwiller, the 7 pillars include Purpose, Values, Clarity, Strengths, Energy, Legacy, and Ownership.
What is the ABCD of personal branding?
It’s Appearance, Behaviour, Communication, and Digital Impression.
What is the golden rule of personal branding?
Identify your unique strengths, leverage them wisely, and present yourself as a capable authority in your niche.
Final Thoughts
Social media shifts faster than the weather, and staying visible requires more than a casual post or two. A well-structured plan—ideally guided by a capable team—can help you keep your brand on course. By putting these personal branding tips into action, you’ll shape a standout identity, open doors to fresh opportunities, and keep your career moving in the right direction. After all, if you won’t brag about your genius on social media, who will?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 pillars of personal branding?
According to Jill Hauwiller, the 7 pillars include Purpose, Values, Clarity, Strengths, Energy, Legacy, and Ownership.
What is the ABCD of personal branding?
It’s Appearance, Behaviour, Communication, and Digital Impression.
What is the golden rule of personal branding?
Identify your unique strengths, leverage them wisely, and present yourself as a capable authority in your niche.
Final Thoughts
Social media shifts faster than the weather, and staying visible requires more than a casual post or two. A well-structured plan—ideally guided by a capable team—can help you keep your brand on course. By putting these personal branding tips into action, you’ll shape a standout identity, open doors to fresh opportunities, and keep your career moving in the right direction. After all, if you won’t brag about your genius on social media, who will?
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Work with us
Click to copy
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FOR® Industries
We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
Click to copy
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Click to copy
New York, NY
ny@for.co
Click to copy
Miami, FL
mia@for.co
Click to copy
Dubai, UAE
uae@for.co
Click to copy
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Click to copy
Lagos, NG
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Copyright © 2024 FOR®