The Top 3 Myths About LinkedIn Personal Branding—And How to Avoid Them

There’s a lot of noise around “personal branding,” especially on LinkedIn. Everyone’s got their own opinion on what you should do.

But let’s be real—most of the advice out there? Myths.

I’ve seen people fall into the same traps over and over, and honestly, it’s holding them back from building a strong, authentic presence.

So, let’s clear the air.

Here are the top 3 myths about personal branding on LinkedIn—and how to avoid them like the plague:

Myth 1: Personal Branding is Just Self-Promotion

Reality check: If you think personal branding is all about hyping yourself up, you’re missing the point.

Personal branding is NOT about shouting, “Look at me!” It’s about sharing value—helping others with what you know.

Your brand isn’t about you—it’s about how you serve others. When people trust you to add value, they’ll come to you for solutions. You become the go-to person, not because you’re loud, but because you’re helpful.

How to avoid this myth:

1. Provide value, not noise. Your posts should solve problems, not just showcase wins.
2. Engage, engage, engage. Don’t just post—join conversations, answer questions, be there for your audience.
3. Be real. Share your stories, and your lessons (yes, even the failures). People trust you more when they see the real you.

Myth 2: You Need a Huge Following to Build a Brand

Spoiler alert: It’s not about the numbers.

I’ve seen people with 1,000 followers create more impact than those with 10,000. Quality beats quantity. Every. Single. Time.

A smaller, engaged audience will do more for your personal brand than thousands of followers who don’t care. Relationships and trust are what build a solid brand—not vanity metrics.

How to avoid this myth:

1. Focus on engagement, not follower count. Talk to the people already in your network. Build real connections.
2. Consistency > Virality. It’s not about one big hit. Show up regularly with thoughtful, value-driven content, and you’ll win over time.
3. Speak to your niche. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Your audience will find you when you offer them exactly what they need.

Myth 3: Everything Needs to Be Perfect Before You Start

Nope. Nope. Nope.

Perfection is overrated—and waiting for it is the fastest way to get stuck. You’ll never have the “perfect” LinkedIn profile, post, or strategy. And you don’t need to.

What matters is starting. The truth is, that personal branding is a work in progress for all of us. It evolves, grows, and changes as you do.

How to avoid this myth:

1. Start now, and improve later. Don’t overthink it. Just get your ideas out there and refine as you go.
2. Share the journey, not just the wins. People relate to your progress, not perfection. Show them you’re learning, and they’ll learn with you.
3. Experiment. Try different types of posts, stories, and formats. Figure out what works best for your brand along the way.

Here’s the Bottom Line:

Personal branding on LinkedIn isn’t complicated, but if you believe the myths, it can get messy.

Forget about perfection, huge followings, or self-promotion. Instead:

• Provide value—serve your audience with useful content.
• Engage with the people who matter—quality connections over quantity.
• Just start—don’t wait for everything to be perfect.

The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see your personal brand grow in ways you didn’t expect.

What’s the biggest myth about personal branding you’ve come across? Let’s talk about it in the comments! ??