How to Build a Personal Brand That Works for You

In today’s competitive professional landscape, your personal brand is one of the most valuable assets you can develop. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader in your field, or someone just starting their career, defining and nurturing your personal brand can significantly impact your visibility, credibility, and opportunities.?

I recently had the privilege of learning from Nina Christian , founder of NinaChristian.com , and the team at Australian Marketing Institute a session that completely reshaped how I approach personal branding. Inspired by these insights, I wanted to share some key takeaways that I believe will benefit anyone looking to build a strong, authentic personal brand.?

Here’s a breakdown of the core lessons I learned that can help you elevate your own personal brand

?1. Balancing Authenticity and Professionalism?

One of the most important lessons I learned from Nina is the fine line between authenticity and professionalism in personal branding. In the age of social media, it’s easy to feel pressured to share every aspect of our lives. But it’s not about revealing everything it’s about sharing the right things.?

The Challenge of Oversharing?

While authenticity is essential, oversharing can harm your brand. There are two types of oversharing that can hurt your credibility??

Intense Vulnerability Sharing too many personal details or struggles can make your brand seem unbalanced or overly emotional. People may disengage if they feel overwhelmed by too much personal information.?

Overemphasis on Fun/Frivolity While sharing aspects of your personal life, like family moments or hobbies, is important for relatability, focusing solely on these aspects can dilute your professional image.?

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The Sweet Spot Wise Disclosure?

Nina Christian emphasizes a wise disclosure strategy sharing enough personal information to make your brand relatable and authentic, but without detracting from your professional identity.?

The key is to disclose selectively sharing personal insights or experiences that highlight your values, your purpose, and your expertise, but always in a way that resonates with your audience and adds value. This is where the concept of the Power Combo ? comes in. By combining what you do, who you are, and what you care about, you create a multi-dimensional, relatable brand.?

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?2. What Does It Mean to Be Professional??

Being professional doesn’t mean hiding your personality behind a corporate fa?ade. Instead, it’s about showing the value of your work while remaining approachable and authentic.?

Guarded and Unrelatable?

A common mistake in personal branding is focusing solely on professionalism in a way that makes you appear distant, unapproachable, or unrelatable. If your content is purely about the technical aspects of your job, your audience may find it hard to connect with you on a human level.??

One-Dimensional Branding?

If your content revolves only around the "work you do," it might come across as one-dimensional. This can make your personal brand feel rigid, lacking personality, and, over time, it may not engage your audience as effectively.??

A strong professional brand adds value, showcases expertise, and still allows your audience to see the person behind the work. Nina highlights that a great personal brand integrates expertise with humanity, offering both wisdom and relatability.

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?3. Human Marketing Be Unique, Be Empathetic, Be You?

Marketing isn’t just about promoting products or services it’s about promoting people. Your personal brand should feel like a conversation, not a monologue.?

Be Unique?

The best brands stand out because they are different. Don’t try to imitate someone else’s path. Your experiences, values, and even your failures make you unique. This authenticity will attract like-minded individuals and create more meaningful connections.??

Take Gary Vaynerchuck as an example. He has built a massive personal brand by staying true to his unique voice bold, direct, and unapologetic. His authenticity is what sets him apart from others in the business world.?

Be Empathetic?

Empathy plays a huge role in human marketing. Understanding the needs, struggles, and goals of your audience allows you to connect with them on a deeper level. Personal branding isn’t just about you it’s also about the value you bring to others. Nina emphasizes the importance of putting yourself in your audience’s shoes if you can relate to their challenges, your brand will become more trustworthy and credible.?

Be Yourself?

Finally, the most important advice be yourself. The best personal brands come from people who are unapologetically themselves. Don’t try to present a version of yourself that you think others will like. Authenticity shines through when you allow your personality, quirks, and passions to take center stage.?

4. The Common Area Strategic Branding Decisions??

Nina Christian also guided us through a strategic thoughts that can help clarify your personal brand vision. Reflecting on a few key questions will help you align your personal and professional life with your brand goals?

- What do you want to be known for??

- How are you commercializing your brand??

- What are your long-term objectives??

- What resources can you draw on (network, knowledge, skills, etc.)??

- What comes most easily and brings you joy??

These questions are vital to building a brand that is both sustainable and aligned with your long-term goals. For instance, if you enjoy writing, perhaps sharing thought leadership articles or starting a blog could become a core element of your brand strategy. If public speaking energizes you, seek speaking opportunities to amplify your visibility.?

5. Find Your Power Combo ???

One of the most powerful insights from Nina’s session was the concept of the Power Combo ?. This is the intersection of three things?

- What you do Your professional expertise, skills, and knowledge.?

- Who you are Your values, personality, and interests.?

- Something you love A passion or activity that excites you beyond your work.?

By aligning these three elements, you create a personal band that is authentic, sustainable, and engaging. It’s not about choosing one over the other it’s about finding the balance that works for you.?

Take Oprah Winfrey as an example She combines her background as a media mogul (what she does), her genuine empathy and authenticity (who she is), and her passion for empowering people (what she loves). This Power Combo ? is what makes her brand so powerful and enduring.

6. Real-Life Example Richard Branson?

Richard Branson is a textbook example of someone who has built a personal brand around his unique Power Combo ?.??

- What he does As the founder of Virgin Group, Branson is a successful entrepreneur and businessman.?

- Who he is He’s adventurous, innovative, and a risk-taker. He’s also deeply committed to social causes, which makes him relatable and authentic.?

- Something he loves Branson’s passion for adventure whether it’s ballooning, sailing, or space travel has been a defining element of his brand.?

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Branson doesn’t just talk about his business success he’s an advocate for change and sustainability, and his personal brand reflects his broader values and passions.?

7. Marketing Theories to Support Your Personal Brand?

Here are a few marketing principles that can help guide your personal branding strategy?

The Power of Storytelling

Human beings are wired for stories. Storytelling is one of the most effective ways to engage and build trust with your audience. Share your journey, the challenges you’ve faced, and the lessons you’ve learned. This will make you more relatable and memorable.?

Social Proof Building

a personal brand isn’t just about self-promotion it’s about showing others that you are trusted and respected in your field. Collect testimonials, endorsements, or case studies that demonstrate the impact of your work.?

Consistency

Consistency is key. Your audience should always know what to expect from you. From your visual identity (headshot, logo, colors) to your tone of voice and message, everything should align with your brand values.?

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8. Easy Wins for Building Your Personal Brand?

To get started, here are a few easy wins you can implement today?

1. Audit Your Online Presence Google yourself what do you find? Does it reflect the image you want to project? If not, refine your social profiles, blog, or website to align with your desired brand.?

2. Engage Your Audience Respond to comments, share posts, and join conversations. Personal branding is about relationship-building, not just broadcasting.?

3. Create and Share Valuable Content Regularly share insights, articles, or resources that showcase your expertise and align with your values. Be consistent in offering value to your audience.?

Conclusion

Building your personal brand is an ongoing process, but the rewards are immense. By balancing authenticity with professionalism, embracing your unique Power Combo, and applying human-centered marketing principles, you can create a personal brand that resonates with others and propels your career forward.?

Thank you to Nina Christian and Australian Marketing Institute for providing these transformative ``insights. I hope they inspire you to take your personal brand to the next level.?

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