By Nina Christian, marketing futurist and global marketing mentor
The rise of AI provides new opportunities for us to expand our personal brand and engage with our network more often, at scale, with greater personalisation.
Personalisation, however, is vastly different to connection.
At the heart of it all, effective personal branding remains the human connection – regardless of how sophisticated the tech is.
In our crazy-fast evolving landscape, creating a personal brand that resonates, influences, and leaves a lasting impact has never been more crucial.
This isn’t just about colours, logos, catchy-one-liners or even stated values; it’s about crafting a brand that embodies who you are and connects with others on a profound level.
The big opportunity right now is to become proficient in the integration of authenticity, strategy, and systems.
Together, these will support you in leaning into your own unique identity, influence, and impact.
As we move forward, the brands that will stand out are those that can combine cutting-edge technology with genuine human interactions.
Sounds good in theory, but applying is where most miss it.
So here are the five best ways I know to build a personal brand that people are naturally drawn to:
1. Embrace your true identity
Your personal brand starts with knowing who you are, what you stand for, and expressing it unapologetically and cohesively.
As I’ve explored at length in my book Marketing Me, this authenticity is the cornerstone of a brand that resonates with people on a deeper level.
2. Capture attention through connection
A powerful and connected brand is what people feel, and what their connection with you is at every single touchpoint. It’s not just about broadcasting your message, but creating meaningful interactions that leave a lasting impression.
A simple place to start is by subtly weaving select elements of your personal story into your brand in a way that feels natural and relatable. When people feel connected to you, they’re more likely to trust you and be influenced by your message.
3. Start with strategy
A lot of people over-complicate it, but it’s actually really simple.
What do you want to be known for?
Reverse-engineer everything from there and you’ll go from random acts of content and throwing spaghetti at the wall, to being focused and aligned and getting a better commercial return on your efforts.
4. High-calibre thought leadership
To truly stand out, you have to share compelling thoughts people are interested in. Because having thoughts that people actively follow is what makes you a thought leader, right?
This doesn’t mean churning out content for the sake of it, but creating relevant, perspective-shifting content that encapsulates your own, unique, original insights and ideas. Done consistently and well, it’s a superhighway to building authority and trust.
5. Set yourself up to be sustainable
It’s not enough to have sporadic bursts of activity; consistency is key. I would go as far as to say it’s the trump card at the moment.
The combination of brand and systems together consistently will give you that visibility. By developing systems that support your brand, you can maintain a steady presence and keep your audience over the long term.
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This is where personal branding is at right now, and if you jump on this now you’ll have a huge head start – as you build a brand that resonates, inspires, and leaves a lasting legacy.
Remember, it’s not just about being seen; it’s about being felt.
Following this approach, you can build a personal brand that not only stands out but also creates a meaningful impact for you as well as your audience.
See also: Nina Christian: Personal branding isn’t just about self-promotion
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Nina Christian is a Marketing Futurist, & Global Marketing Mentor who helps people do their marketing in a more human way.
She is a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM), Life Member and Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute & AMI State Chair (Vic) and for 20 years was director of marketing agency Braveda (Winner, Best Marketing Agency, Australian Marketing Excellence Awards).
Several years ago Nina saw the world of marketing shifting – this time as people became their own brands. With this, she created a new business as a thought leader, combining her expertise in brand building with personal positioning, resulting in a breakthrough praxis known as Marketing Me® which she delivers globally to business leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs.
She is the author of the book Marketing Me: Take Charge of Your Personal Brand and Make Your Mark on the World which helps professionals who want to market themselves authentically, but don’t understand what makes them truly unique and significant or have the confidence to express their value in a way that feels good.
Being a hands-on mum of five children, Nina Christian has developed a knack for simplifying complexity. As a result, her systems and processes are practical, accessible and impactful.