If you’re serious about creating a personal brand that actually gets noticed, you can’t afford to treat social media like an afterthought. Social media is where your reputation, values, and voice get amplified—or ignored. No matter if you’re building your brand from scratch or trying to level up, having a solid plan for how you show up online is no longer optional. Here’s why:
Social media isn’t optional when building a personal brand
You can have the best personal brand strategy in the world, but if it doesn’t include social media, it’s like building a billboard in the middle of a desert. Social media is where people go to discover, learn about, and connect with others. It’s your direct line to your audience—without a middleman. If you want to control the narrative around who you are and what you do, you need a deliberate social media approach.
Choosing the right platforms: LinkedIn, TikTok or Instagram?
Not every platform is the same. If you’re focused on professional growth and networking, LinkedIn personal branding should be your priority, as it is the best platform for thought leadership, career storytelling, and industry-specific content. TikTok can be powerful for showing personality and behind-the-scenes moments, especially if you’re in a creative or entrepreneurial field. Instagram sits somewhere in between, great for visual branding and personal storytelling. Choose platforms based on where your audience spends time.
The dos and don’ts of showing up as a personal brand consistently online
Do: Post regularly. Share insights, wins, mistakes, and lessons learned.
Don’t: Only show highlight reels or disappear for months.
Consistency builds trust. Think of your online presence as a steady conversation, not a one-off performance. Show up in a way that aligns with your brand values and voice.
Personal branding strategy: blending value and vulnerability
How to use social media for personal branding? People connect with other people, not perfect polished personas. The strongest personal branding strategy strikes a balance: offer real value through your expertise, while also being honest about challenges and missteps. Vulnerability makes your content relatable and memorable, so don’t forget to use it when building your personal brand.
How I built my personal brand using content and connection
Social media became a game changer for me once I stopped thinking of it as a place to just “post content” and started using it as a tool for connection. In the video linked below, I break down what helped me grow my personal brand in a real, sustainable way:
What worked for me on LinkedIn and what totally flopped
What worked: Posting original takes on industry trends, writing honest reflections on career moves, and engaging with other people’s content thoughtfully.
What flopped: Generic posts, overly polished graphics with no context, and automated DMs. LinkedIn rewards realness and relevance. The more human and helpful my content felt, the better it performed.
Why engagement matters more than reach
A post with 500 views and 20 thoughtful comments is more valuable than one with 50,000 views and zero interaction. Engagement is what builds community. When people comment, share, or message you in response to something you post, that’s when real relationships start – and relationships make business happen, not just empty exposure. Focus less on going viral and more on starting conversations.
How being real (not perfect) attracted the right people
When I stopped trying to impress and started trying to connect, things shifted. I shared wins, sure, but I also shared doubts, pivots, and behind-the-scenes struggles. That authenticity filtered out the wrong audience and drew in the right one. Being real helped people see themselves in my story, and that’s what made the brand stick.
Creating a personal brand without a social media strategy is like launching a product with no marketing plan. You need to be intentional, strategic, and consistent.
