Do CEOs need personal brands?

For as often as I post on social media, I hate it. I've always hated social media: not LinkedIn or Facebook (those are considered social media platforms too!) but the rest of them give me anxiety. Perhaps I have this tainted feeling towards social media because I started blogging in 2011. Between 2011-2015, .01% of people became famous for doing nothing. To become successful, you needed an idea and some serious grit. Now, doing nothing and becoming famous and wealthy seems like a future college degree.

Over the past 3 days, I embarked on an experiment on TikTok. I began with 6789 followers because I don't have time to post that often on TikTok. I don't dance in my real life (is grinding dancing? can I still use that word at 25?) and I certainly don't dance online. I was curious if I posted 5+ videos per day on TikTok if I'd go viral. If I gave into the social media hole and didn't focus on making money for 3 days, would I grow my numbers significantly?

As I've focused less on the "personal" Alexa Curtis brand and almost 100% on GrasshoppHer, posting my daily life is harder as I focus on GrasshoppHer social media.

I did go viral. Over and over. In 3 days, I went from 6K followers to 10.2K this morning. I'd prefer to go back to not posting that often but I'm nervous that would slow down the growth. How would I know unless I stopped posting if my new following would move on to another "influencer"? I got 1000s of comments, not many new Instagram followers, but many DMs about how I cold pitch, land sponsors and utilize my fake assistant.

I'm curious how other founders who sell products in the CPG space or founders who have created a product as we did with GrasshoppHer view having a personal brand. If I was already a millionaire, I am almost certain I'd rarely post on my Alexa Curtis social media pages besides LinkedIn and a private Instagram for friends & family.

For now, I make a living off of the Alexa Curtis brand still and I enjoy making connections through my university talks and social media engagements, but it's my job.

Social media has never been and may never be a hobby for me.

Stay fearless or die trying,

Alexa