How to Build a Personal Brand

Have you recently seen a lot of people coming up with posts on LinkedIn that have similar ‘positive’, ‘motivating’, and ‘suggesting’ tones, although with different niches? 

They are trying to do LinkedIn personal branding by showing up regularly and creating posts to announce some events, success, stories of other people, and their experience in a particular job or venture. However, ‘how to build a personal brand on LinkedIn’ is not as simple that you’ll publish many posts and hoping to wake up one day to find yourself to be a popular face on LinkedIn. 

It takes a good amount of consistency, a clear vision, and mission, building a community, good communication, and most important of all a solid strategy to build a personal brand on LinkedIn. 

But you should ask why it is important to have a LinkedIn personal branding strategy!

Here are some figures to help you.

• When it comes to getting a good ROI, 70% of marketers trust LinkedIn, making it the most reliable platform among brands – Hootsuite.
• Higher engagement rates.
• Higher conversion rates.
• LinkedIn beats the demographic factors and can target the audience by their jobs, and this is something marketers love about LinkedIn. 

With 67 million companies listed and 82% of B2B marketers reporting success on LinkedIn, having a LinkedIn personal branding strategy becomes important for you. 

In this blog article, you’ll learn why LinkedIn personal branding is important and how to build a personal brand on LinkedIn.

Who is LinkedIn personal branding for?

The LinkedIn platform is for anyone who wants to grow in their career and network with like-minded people. It’s a great platform for B2B networking and professionals and companies. 

However, you should try to build a personal brand on LinkedIn if:

1. You are a business owner or entrepreneur– LinkedIn is an excellent platform for promoting your business, reaching out to clients, and building partnerships. You should build a personal brand on LinkedIn to gain trust and credibility, attracting more business opportunities.

2. You are a thought leader or expert– If you are an expert in a particular field, LinkedIn allows you to share your insights and knowledge with a wider audience. 

This can help you build a reputation as a thought leader and influencer in your industry.

3. You are looking to network– LinkedIn provides opportunities to connect with industry peers, mentors, and collaborators. Building a personal brand on LinkedIn helps you create meaningful connections and expand your professional network.

Who else should try to be consistent on LinkedIn?

• If you are a student or recent graduate– Establishing a personal brand on LinkedIn early can set you ahead of other candidates. LinkedIn offers a platform to showcase internships, projects, and academic achievements, making it easier to get into the professional world.
• You are looking to enhance your career growth–  Professionals aiming for promotions or career advancement can benefit from a strong LinkedIn presence. By highlighting your skills, a
• You are a job seeker– A strong personal brand on LinkedIn helps you stand out to recruiters. You increase your chances of being noticed for job opportunities by showing your skills, and achievements.

Why you should build a personal brand on LinkedIn?

Here are some compelling reasons to have a LinkedIn personal branding strategy:

1. Build your reputation

Personal branding is important for building a strong reputation. A good reputation is one of your most valuable assets, and personal branding helps you achieve it.

Why does a good reputation matter? It’s not just about being liked; it’s about getting opportunities and reaching your goals faster than others. When you have a positive reputation, people want to work with you because they trust you’ll deliver great results.

Personal branding helps tell the world who you are, what you stand for, and your values. When these align with what others want, it makes you a desirable partner or hire.

Example–

Screenshot taken from profile of Neil Patel

Neil Patel, a well-known digital marketing expert, uses LinkedIn to share his insights and knowledge about SEO, content marketing, and digital strategies. His consistent and valuable content has helped him build a strong reputation in the digital marketing industry.

2. Create a community

LinkedIn is an excellent platform for creating and nurturing a professional community. You can participate in groups and discussions to connect with like-minded individuals and grow your network.

Example– 

Screenshot taken from profile of Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek, author and motivational speaker, has built a large community on LinkedIn by sharing his thoughts on leadership and business culture. His posts spark discussions and engage a wide audience.

3. Become a voice in your niche

LinkedIn personal brand can help you establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche and can set you apart from your peers. Regularly share your expertise and insights, and you can become a go-to voice in your industry.

Example–

Screenshot taken from profile of Brene Brown

Brene Brown, a researcher and storyteller, uses LinkedIn to share her research and insights on vulnerability and leadership. Her thought-provoking posts have made her a respected voice in the fields of leadership and personal development.

4. Opportunities for collaborations

LinkedIn provides opportunities for collaboration with other professionals and businesses. Building a personal brand can attract partnership offers and joint ventures.

Example– 

Screenshot taken from profile of Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk, a serial entrepreneur and CEO of VaynerMedia, often shares his entrepreneurial journey and business insights on LinkedIn. His strong presence has led to numerous collaboration opportunities with other business leaders and influencers and a massive over 6 million followers.

5. Attract leads

A strong personal brand on LinkedIn can attract clients and business opportunities. You can generate leads and grow your business with an effective LinkedIn personal branding strategy.

Example– 

Screenshot taken from profile of Melinda Emerson

Melinda Emerson, known as “SmallBizLady,” uses LinkedIn to share advice and strategies for small business owners. Her practical tips and resources have helped her attract leads and clients.

6. Build awareness for your business

LinkedIn personal branding is an effective strategy for increasing the visibility and awareness of your business. By building your personal brand on LinkedIn, you can promote your company and its offerings.

Example– 

Screenshot taken from profile of Vedant Singh Thakur

Vedant Singh Thakur, founder of My Content Cafe, uses LinkedIn to share insights about entrepreneurship, personal branding, and digital marketing. His brand not only promotes his thought leadership but also enhances the visibility of his venture.

12 Easy ways to build your personal brand on LinkedIn

1. Define the purpose of your personal brand on LinkedIn

What do you want to achieve with LinkedIn? What kind of personal brand do you want to present? How can LinkedIn help you reach your career goals? Understanding your purpose will help you use LinkedIn effectively, clearly communicate your value, and stay consistent with your brand message.

Are you aiming to coach sales professionals? Do you want to generate B2B sales and revenue? Are you going to launch a start-up and looking for clients and investors? Maybe you’re seeking a promotion or career change. Define your goals clearly and stay focused on them. This will help you make the most out of LinkedIn personal branding and ensure your efforts to build a personal brand on LinkedIn align with your objectives.

2. Optimize your LinkedIn profile

Once you’ve set your goals for LinkedIn, it’s time to create or optimize your profile. Start by ensuring all sections are complete, including your banner, profile photo, headline, summary/about section, work experience, skills, education, and additional sections like projects, awards, and publications.

A professional profile picture

Your LinkedIn profile photo is one of the most important parts of your profile. It should be simple and professional.  These tips will help your LinkedIn profile picture stand out:

1. Ensure your photo is a recent one and accurately represents you.
2. Use a high-quality photo that represents your brand.
3. Show a friendly expression with a slight smile.
4. Use good lighting and avoid cluttered backgrounds.
5. Keep your photo simple and professional.
6. Don’t include other people in your photo.
7. Choose a background color that complements your brand.
8. Make sure the photo is high-resolution.

A contextual LinkedIn headline

Tell your value– Clearly state what you bring to the table. Focus on your unique skills or achievements.

“Transforming Small Businesses with Data-Driven Marketing Strategies”

Be specific– Mention your specific role or industry to attract the right audience.

Example: “SaaS Sales Leader | Driving Growth with Customer-Centric Solutions”

Use keywords– Use relevant keywords to improve searchability.

Example: “UX/UI Designer | Enhancing User Experiences through Innovative Design”

Show personality– Add a touch of your unique approach to make your headline more engaging.

Example: “Creative Storyteller | Shaping Compelling Brand Narratives”

Include a benefit– Explain how your skills benefit others or solve a specific problem.

Example: “Financial Analyst | Maximizing ROI for Tech Startups”

Avoid clichés– Steer clear of buzzwords like “expert,” “guru,” “innovative,” or “results-driven.” Instead, focus on concrete achievements and specific skills.

Example: Instead of “Results-Driven Marketing Expert,” use “Boosted Client Revenue by 30% with Targeted Campaigns”

3. LinkedIn SEO to make your profile visible

Making your profile search-friendly is an important LinkedIn strategy for personal branding. Optimize it so that the right people can easily find you.

How to implement LinkedIn SEO:

Use keywords– Include keywords that describe your skills and experience throughout your profile. This makes your profile more visible to potential employers and clients.

Customize your profile URL– Create a custom URL with your name and relevant keywords, like /Joe-Rogan-Podcast, to improve searchability.

Use hashtags– Add relevant hashtags to your posts to reach a wider audience and improve the visibility of your content. This helps attract the right people to your profile and builds your personal brand.

4. Create a powerful LinkedIn profile summary

Your LinkedIn profile summary should focus on your work and expertise in your field and key accomplishments. It should be short, and crisp. Remember, your profile summary is the pitch for your personal brand on LinkedIn. 

Here’s an example-

I specialize in [key skills or specializations, e.g., “strategic project management,” “data-driven marketing strategies,” “financial analysis and modeling,” etc.], and I have a proven track record of [specific achievements, e.g., “leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget,” “increasing sales revenue by 30% year-over-year,” “streamlining operations to increase efficiency and reduce costs”].

Highlights- 

• “Successfully managed a $5M marketing budget, resulting in a 40% increase in brand awareness”
• “Led a team of 20 in the development of a new software platform that improved customer satisfaction by 25%”
• “Conducted in-depth market analysis to identify new business opportunities, resulting in a 15% growth in market share”

5. An effective LinkedIn background banner

Your LinkedIn banner is a great opportunity to gain attention and tell your brand story in an instant. Use the banner to tell your audience who you are and how you can help.

Here’s an example of an appealing LinkedIn banner.

Screenshot taken from profile of Ranveer Allahabadia

See what’s special about this LinkedIn banner?

• It has high-quality visuals.
• Fonts are appealing and easy to read.
• Highlights the brand message.
• It’s simple and crisp.

6. Build the right connections

Who you connect with is just as important as what you post or how good your profile looks. Don’t add people just to increase your numbers.

When you send or accept connection requests, focus on quality, not quantity. Having 10K random connections isn’t helpful and can hurt your personal brand. It shows that you aren’t clear about your goals or who you are as a thought leader. It can also lead to more spam messages and lower-quality posts in your feed.

Adding the wrong people can be frustrating because they won’t engage with you. They’re not your target audience. This is why it’s important to know your personal brand’s purpose and voice before you start building your network.

7. Share quality content

Sharing quality content is important to build a personal brand on LinkedIn. 

However, you can see a lot of people posting generic content that has been created and shared multiple times. LinkedIn prefers fresh and unique content that brings value rather than regular, overused ‘positive’ posts.  Create content that starts discussions, answers queries, asks questions and is the ‘voice’ in your industry. Most importantly, create content that shares with your content. 

8. Use multiple content types

You can use short posts to start discussions but mix in other content types to showcase your brand on LinkedIn. Try infographics, videos, articles, podcasts, and more. Using various content types helps you reach more people and build a strong personal brand on LinkedIn.

Create infographics

Infographics are eye-catching and convey information quickly. Use tools like Canva, Visme, and Piktochart to make them. Share on LinkedIn to engage your audience.

Make short videos

Short videos are engaging and highlight your skills. Tips for great videos-

• Keep them short and informative.
• Make videos with high-quality visuals.
• Make them interesting.
• Use keywords to reach your audience.
• Share in relevant groups and on other platforms.

Use images to make carousels

Carousels let you share multiple images in one post. Great for before-and-after shots and behind-the-scenes photos. To create, select ‘Create Carousel’ when publishing a LinkedIn post.

Write long-form articles on LinkedIn

Sharing long articles helps you reach a larger audience than your blog. Tips for writing articles-

• Do keyword research.
• Keep them under 1,000 words.
• Use subheadings for easy reading.
• Include images and videos.
• Add links to sources and reputable websites.
• Share your story to connect with readers.

Host Webinars and Podcasts on LinkedIn

Webinars and podcasts showcase your expertise. 

• Pick topics your audience cares about.
• Invite experts.
• Make it interactive with Q&A and polls.

9. Engage with your LinkedIn network

Remember to engage with your LinkedIn network! The more you interact with your audience, the more people will see your content and profile. This helps you get noticed by clients and decision-makers. Your activity will show up in their feeds, and you’ll be suggested as a connection on LinkedIn. You’ll also appear more in search results.

To engage well, like posts, share content that fits your brand, and leave meaningful comments. Focus on adding value instead of self-promotion or using too many hashtags (they don’t work in comments). How you engage shows who you are and reflects your personal brand.

10. Don’t miss opportunities to speak at public events 

Don’t miss opportunities to speak at public events to build your personal brand on LinkedIn. Display your expertise and build credibility in your field. Connect with attendees, organizers, and other speakers, leading to new opportunities.

Promote your speaking engagements on LinkedIn to reach a larger audience. Repurpose your presentations into LinkedIn posts, articles, and videos. Show your commitment to your field and willingness to share knowledge.

Interact in real-time, answer questions, and gather feedback. Focus on your communication and presentation skills to stand out.

Speaking at public events is a powerful way to build your LinkedIn presence and grow your personal brand.

11. Ask for recommendations

LinkedIn endorsements and recommendations can help you look more credible and trustworthy to your audience. They boost your authority on LinkedIn, making you more appealing to your audience.

Ask for endorsements and recommendations from people you know and trust. Also, give endorsements and recommendations to other professionals you’ve worked with or know well.

12. Be consistent on LinkedIn

Consistency on LinkedIn is important to build a powerful personal brand. 

Regularly post updates, share insightful content, and discuss with your network to stay visible and relevant. For example, if you’re a marketing professional, share weekly tips on the latest trends, comment on industry news, and participate in discussions. This consistent activity tells about your expertise, commitment, and passion for your field. 

Over time, this consistency builds credibility, attracts partnerships, and solidifies your name as an industry leader. 

FAQs

1. How to create a personal brand on LinkedIn?

To build a personal brand on LinkedIn, you need to create a strong LinkedIn profile by using a professional photo, writing a compelling headline, and profile summary, and detailing your experience and skills. Post regularly, engage with your network, collaborate with experts, and share valuable content relevant to your industry.

2. Is LinkedIn good for personal branding?

Yes, LinkedIn is excellent for personal branding, especially for entrepreneurs and B2B companies. It helps you benefit people with your skills, connect with industry professionals, and access opportunities for career advancement and business growth.

3. How do I 10x my personal brand on LinkedIn?

To improve your personal brand, consistently share high-quality content, engage with your audience, join relevant groups, network actively, and implement LinkedIn SEO by using keywords and hashtags.

You can also partner with personal branding experts to help you build your LinkedIn personal brand successfully.

4. How to make your brand stand out on LinkedIn?

Create a polished profile, create posts that are not repetitive and are fresh, engage with others’ content, using a custom URL, and ask for endorsements and recommendations from colleagues and clients.

Conclusion

LinkedIn personal branding opens a world of opportunities before you including, getting leads, collaboration with influencers, engagement with the audience, and a digital storefront that attracts clients. 

Share content that provides value to your audience and do not fall into the trap of getting into ‘popular’ discussions. Having your own opinion and a unique way of doing things will help you stand apart. Post consistently, optimize your profile, implement LinkedIn SEO, and engage with your audience regularly. 

However, this can be overwhelming when you have a business to take care of. That’s where My Content Cafe’s branding services enter the scene. Our personal branding services can help you:

• Place yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
• Differentiate between your work brand and personal brand.
• Grow your business.
• Collaborate with industry experts. 
• Get more clients.

Book a FREE consultation with our personal branding experts at (+91) 9109092024.