A simple search about personal branding, and you will find articles about colors, logos, and brand identity. They are all essential, but you must understand that personal branding is about the person behind the brand. People will connect with you and how you make them feel instead of your colors and or logo. That is why I am sharing these foundational values that have catapulted my brand, and it will do the same if you stick with it.

1. Be A Leader

Leaders inspire and motivate people to be better. They help their followers by being the first ones to experience whatever dangers are around. Then, they come back and share that with their people. That is what your content should be showing. You, as the leader, are setting the standard.

People are scrolling on social media looking for someone to follow. So become that leader they can follow. Think of your personal brand as the lighthouse on top of the hill and your leadership as the light shining them to safety. 

2. Rise above the negativity

The world is full of negativity, and actually, there is enough negativity on social media, from local news to people hating their 9 to 5. Hate, anger, and negative vibes can be seen and felt everywhere. Instead, be a beacon of light and a lighthouse.

Your personal brand should rise above negativity and spread positivity. Now I’m not talking about toxic positivity in which everything about your content is you happy, and you only share all your successes. But make sure that with the content you’re sharing, you embody positive qualities of life and put out good energy.

Imagine you’re at a gathering, and you’re with people who are super negative the whole time. You probably won’t stay long and are going to find some excuse to leave right away. 

Now imagine you’re at that same party, and you find a cheerful group of people who are always hunting the good stuff out of life. And no matter what they’re dealing with, they are always looking at ways to improve themselves. So you will feel good about being around, and you want to build your personal brand with that same positive energy.

“Your brand is a gateway to your true work. You know you are here to do something – to create something or help others in some way. The question is, how can you set up your life and work so that you can do it? The answer lies in your brand. When you create a compelling brand you attract people who want the promise of your brand – which you deliver.” – Dave Buck

3. Be You

When you walk out the door, you instantly sell people on who you are, whether you like it or not. From the way your hair looks, how you walk, and what you’re wearing, you are portraying your brand.

Instead of faking it to you make it, people are starving for a natural leader who can indeed be themselves. On social media, people are tired of the fake lifestyle and hype. Being yourself will naturally gravitate people towards your personal brand because they will feel they can be themselves with you. 

People want to be with someone comfortable and secure in themselves. Because honestly, when they meet you in person, they’re going to get the real you, and you never want to be known as a different person online than you are offline. So your personal brand online and offline should match whom you are by you being yourself.

4. Relationship > Money

People can tell when you’re all about the money and monetizing. And even more importantly, people can tell when you don’t care about them and care about making money. It’s called monetization breath.

A single relationship can pay you millions if you hold to the principle of people over profits. So for years, I focused on building relationships with people. And now, when I launch my products and services, I have a mega valuable community that I can ask for help. So many times, I don’t even have to ask; they come to ask me how they can help. 

Start Today! 

Building a personal brand changed my life, bank account, and what I believe is possible on social media. So start today with being a leader worth following. 

Rise above the negative by posting good vibes and being solution-focused. You are enough, and people want the real you, not a fake. So brush that monetization breath away and build genuine relationships with your followers.