How to Build a Personal Brand as a Consultant

👎 Personal Branding Gets a Bad Rap. Here’s How to Do It Without the Cringe. We’ve all seen them… the “assets first, message second” selfies, the crypto bros flaunting rented Lambos, or the influencer who feels like they’re starring in their own reality show. It’s 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴. If you’re building a personal brand, how do you avoid coming off as… well, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯? Here’s my 7-point “No Cringe” Personal Brand Checklist: 1️⃣ Start with your audience. Anchor yourself in service. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨? If you keep your audience front and center, it’s near impossible to become self-serving. 2️⃣ Ask, “Why would anyone read this?” If it doesn’t educate, inspire, entertain, or validate your audience, it’s just noise. 3️⃣ Lead with gratitude and the story behind the glory. No one cares that you hit 15,000 followers. But they 𝘥𝘰 care how you got there. Context connects. 4️⃣ Embrace vulnerability. Share your journey—the wins and the 𝘰𝘩-𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. It humanizes your brand. 5️⃣ Use a “buddy ego-check.” I kick every post to my team for an “ego sniff test.” If it’s too me-focused, it’s back to the editing room. 6️⃣ Watch your pronouns. “You” is gold. “I” is a red flag. Speak to your audience’s experience, not your own. 7️⃣ Kill the hype. Avoid infomercial language like “totally awesome” and “the very best.” We’ve all been around the internet long enough to spot overhyped nonsense. 💡 Pro-tip: Personal branding isn’t about selling—it’s about 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨. Keep your focus on your audience, and you’ll build an authentic brand that actually connects. 💬 Which of these 7 tips do you think is most overlooked—or hardest to stick to? I’d love to hear your take! 👇

I took my personal brand seriously 6 months ago. 6 things I wish I knew when I started: 1. Stop Trying to Be an Expert from Day One When I started, I thought I had to be perfect. The truth? No one expects that. People don’t connect with perfection. They connect with progress. • Share your journey • Talk about your failures • Let people see you figuring it out That’s how you build a brand people actually relate to. 2. Pick 2–4 Content Pillars—Not 10 Early on, I posted about everything: • Marketing • Branding • Mindset • Productivity • Personal growth My audience had no idea what to expect. And neither did I. I learned that being too broad confuses people. Narrowing down to 2–3 core topics changed everything. Now, people know what to follow me for. And that clarity builds trust and loyalty. 3. Engagement Isn’t Optional I used to think I could just post and log off. Big mistake. Commenting on other people’s content is the cheat code to faster growth. When you leave thoughtful comments, people notice you. When you do it consistently, they remember you. Spend 15–20 minutes a day engaging. It’s the simplest way to grow without even posting. 4. Use Your Analytics Like a Roadmap For months, I posted whatever felt right. Sometimes it worked—sometimes it flopped. (Most of the time it flopped) But when I started tracking my data, I saw patterns. I knew which topics hit hard. I knew when my audience was most active. Data doesn’t lie. Your analytics will show you what works. 5. Stop Selling Before You’ve Built Authority Early on, I tried pitching too soon. And the response was… crickets. People don’t buy from strangers. They buy from those they trust and respect. Focus on giving value first. 6. Your Profile Is a Sales Page At first, I thought my profile was just an online resume. It’s not. It’s your landing page. • Have a crystal clear headline • Speak to pain points in your about section • Show off your services in your banner Once I optimized my profile, people started reaching out. My profile went from a static page to a lead magnet. If you’re just starting to build your brand, remember this: Your journey won’t be perfect. You’ll make mistakes. But those who: • Stick with it • Learn from their data • Build trust Will always come out on top. P.S. What's your biggest struggle growing your personal brand?

I’ve built a 7-figure agency. (With no fancy business degree.) But I’ve helped hundreds of executives and CEOs dominate online. Here’s exactly what I’d do if I was starting my personal brand from scratch: Rule 1 → Find Your One Thing Building a strong brand starts with clarity. Ask yourself: → What do I want to be known for? → What am I obsessed with? → What expertise or experiences can I share every day? When you have clarity: → Your message cuts through the noise. → Your audience knows exactly why they’re following you. → You attract the right opportunities. Get specific about your niche. The internet is big enough for specialists to win. Rule 2 → Tell Your Story Your story is your brand. People don’t follow logos—they follow humans. Here’s what to share: → The failures that taught you everything. → The small wins that got you here. → The systems, processes, and lessons you’ve built along the way. You don’t need a Netflix documentary—just be real. Show up authentically, and people will trust you. Rule 3 → Simplify Your Content Strategy All content has a purpose. Here’s how I break it down: → 40% Awareness (to get people in the door) → 40% Value (to teach and inspire) → 20% Offers (to turn followers into clients or customers) Too many people wing it with their content. A simple strategy works better than guessing every day. Rule 4 → Commit to the Game Your first post? Probably ignored. Your 10th post? Still no comments. But here’s the truth: Your 50th post could change your life. Consistency beats everything. Show up daily, and the internet will reward you. The best part? You don’t need a huge budget, fancy tools, or a million followers to make this work. You just need: → Clarity in your niche. → Consistency in your content. → Commitment to the process. Anyone can start. Most people won’t stick with it. Will you? P.S. Comment "Brand Plan" if you want my full content guide that breaks down how we've generated 50M+ organic impressions this year for the CEOs and Executives we work with.

I had believed that working hard and delivering quality results would be enough in building my career. Until seven years ago, when I was strategizing on how to achieve a goal of mine to secure a job in the US. I realized that without a relevant network or a clear and engaging way to present the value I bring, I wouldn't be able to differentiate myself.   Until then, every job I had accepted was because someone else came to me. Flattering? Sure, but it wasn't always aligned with my aspirations. And when I started thinking about it back then, I wasn't really sure what that was. Building a personal brand was a new concept for me, but I had always been passionate about personal development. So, seven years ago, I set out to build and communicate my brand intentionally and consistently, and I started helping others to do the same. Telling your own story helps design your career and create a life you love to live. Learn some concrete steps from Jill Avery and Rachel Greenwald in their HBR article:    💛 Define your purpose: Explore your mission, passion, and strengths, and think about whom you want to make a difference to and how. Knowing your purpose will help you communicate your brand effectively. 💛 Audit your personal brand equity: Catalog your credentials, do a self-assessment, and research how others view you. This step will help you understand where you stand and what areas you need to improve. 💛 Construct your personal narrative: Identify memorable and resonant stories that best convey your brand. These stories will help people remember and connect with your brand. 💛 Embody your brand: Pay attention to the message you’re sending in every social interaction. Your behavior should align with your brand message. 💛 Communicate your brand: Use speeches, social media, the press, and other channels to communicate your brand consistently. People should see a consistent message across all channels. 💛 Socialize your brand: Get influential people to share your stories. This step will help you expand your network and reach a broader audience. 💛 Reevaluate and adjust your brand: Do an annual audit to find deficits to fix and strengths to build on. This step will help you stay on track and adjust your brand to fit your goals and values.   Believe it or not but I find most people struggle with simply knowing what they want and being comfortable talking about it out loud. But once you do, it'll help you get what you want our of your life and tell the stories to help you get there. Remember, your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room. Are you intentional about what they say?    #PersonalBranding #Business #PersonalDevelopment #Careers #job https://lnkd.in/ecHGbfd2