In a crowded digital space, having a strong personal brand can open doors, build trust, and help people remember what you bring to the table. I’ve worked with professionals and business owners who had the right skills but struggled to get noticed online. The good news is, building a standout personal brand doesn’t require being famous or flashy. It starts with clarity, consistency, and real connection.
1. Define What You Want to Be Known For
Before designing logos or picking colours, take a step back and ask yourself: what do I want people to associate with me? It could be a skill, a point of view, or the way you solve problems. For me, it’s combining digital strategy with design that drives real results. Knowing this helps guide what I post, how I show up online, and what projects I say yes to.
This clarity shapes everything. Without it, your brand will feel scattered. Take some time to write it down. Keep it simple. You can always refine it as you grow.
2. Use Your Real Voice
People connect with people, not corporate jargon. If you’re friendly and informal in real life, let that come through in your content. You don’t have to sound like a polished speaker or a marketing expert. You just need to sound like yourself.
When I started sharing online, I tried to sound “professional” in the traditional sense. It came off as dry. When I shifted to a more honest and conversational tone, people started responding. They shared posts, left comments, and reached out. That made all the difference.
3. Show What You Know
A lot of people feel stuck because they think they need to be experts before they share anything. That’s not true. Your brand doesn’t grow from perfection, it grows from contribution.
If you’re learning something new, document it. If you just finished a project, talk about what you did and how it went. If you’ve picked up tips that helped you solve a problem, share them. I’ve found that the most engaging content is often the simplest — clear takeaways, helpful advice, or even honest reflections.
4. Keep Your Visuals Clean and Consistent
Design matters, even for personal brands. You don’t need to be a graphic designer, but having a consistent look helps people recognize you. That could mean using the same profile photo across platforms, sticking to a few colours and fonts, or posting with the same layout each time.
5. Focus on One or Two Platforms First
There are a lot of places you could be online, but trying to be everywhere can lead to burnout. I recommend choosing one or two platforms where your audience is most active and where you’re comfortable showing up.
For me, that’s LinkedIn and my portfolio site. LinkedIn gives me space to share work, ideas, and connect with other professionals. My website lets me showcase deeper projects and skills. I still use Instagram from time to time, but I don’t try to do everything at once.
6. Be Patient and Stay Active
It’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t pick up quickly. I’ve been there. Some posts get attention, others barely move the needle. That’s normal. The people who build strong personal brands are the ones who keep going.
You don’t need to post every day. You just need to stay visible. That could be weekly updates, blog posts once a month, or sharing your thoughts after finishing a project. Every time you show up, you remind people what you do and why it matters.
7. Don’t Wait for Perfect
Perfection slows people down. I’ve seen it in clients, and I’ve felt it myself. “I’ll post when my website is ready.” “I’ll launch when my portfolio is perfect.” Meanwhile, time passes and no one knows what you’re working on.
Start where you are. Share what you have. Adjust along the way.
Final Note
Your personal brand is not just about design or content. It’s about trust. When people see your work, hear your voice, and feel your consistency, they’re more likely to believe in what you offer. That’s how relationships grow. That’s how opportunities start.
The online space is busy, but it’s not too late to stand out. Show up with value, speak with clarity, and stay real. That’s what people remember.