Why Personal Branding Isn’t Just About You — It’s a Business Growth Strategy

Spoiler: It’s not about showing off — it’s about showing up.

Let’s be honest — “personal branding” is one of those phrases that can make people cringe. It can feel fake, self-promotional, even a bit try-hard.

But when it’s done right, personal branding is one of the most powerful tools for building trust, creating impact, and growing a business.

And it’s not just for influencers or individuals.

Personal branding is business strategy.

People don’t connect with logos. They connect with people.Which is why the smartest companies invest in building the personal brands of their founders, leaders, and teams — not just their products.

You only need to look at brands like Virgin (Richard Branson) or Gymshark (Ben Francis) to see that people follow people — and the trust and attention they earn carries over to the business.

Even inside big organisations, personal brands matter. Whether you’re pitching to investors, hiring talent, or winning new clients — people want to know who they’re dealing with.

So if you're building something — whether it’s a business, a message, or a movement — personal branding isn’t a vanity project. It’s a visibility strategy.

Why Most People Get It Wrong

Here’s the problem: most people treat personal branding like a performance.

They focus on:

• Looking impressive

• Posting frequently (without saying much)

• Sounding like everyone else

  
  

And then they wonder why it’s not working.

The truth is, nobody connects with perfection. They connect with personality, honesty, and relevance.

What they really want is someone who understands their challenges — and offers something useful, honest, or inspiring in return.

Here’s What Actually Works

It starts with a simple mindset shift:

Don’t try to be impressive. Try to be helpful.

Be the person who shows up, adds value, and expects nothing in return. The one who doesn’t shout for attention, but earns it by being useful.

That’s the difference between a forgettable online presence and a personal brand that builds trust and opens doors.

The Formula (Thanks to Daniel Priestly): Origin Story + Mission + Vision = Impact

This is the foundation. Forget templates and hacks. Focus on substance:

• Origin Story – What’s your lived experience? What have you learned that others might relate to?

• Mission – Who do you help, and how?

• Vision – What change are you trying to create in your space, industry or community?

  
  

When you lead with those three, your brand stops being a megaphone — and becomes a magnet.

Two Types of Personal Brand

You’ve probably seen both:

1. The Random PosterThey post inconsistently, talk about everything and nothing, and leave you unsure of what they do or stand for.

2. The Intentional BrandThey show up with purpose. They tell stories. They offer something of value. You know what they care about, and why it matters.

We’re here to build the second one.

What Does This Mean For You?

Imagine you’re a founder who’s navigated burnout. You don’t need a slick campaign — just share what helped you get through it. That one post could help someone who's on the brink and doesn’t know where to turn.

Or maybe you're part of a leadership team trying to attract top talent. A short story about what your company stands for, and why it matters to you, might do more than a dozen job ads.

That’s how personal branding builds credibility — by being real, not rehearsed.

From £500 to £30m — Read How Having a Great Story Can Help You Scale

Rutland Square Spirits didn’t just grow — it captivated. From arriving in the UK with £500 to building a £30m brand backed by Bollywood, founder Nishant Sharma shows what happens when a powerful personal story meets a global opportunity. [Read the full story here →]

Final Thought

Whether you're a solo founder or a global brand, personal branding isn’t just a tool for visibility — it's a vehicle for connection, trust, and long-term impact.

So instead of asking:"How many posts do I need to make to grow my audience?"

Start with: "How can I be genuinely useful to the people I want to reach?"

That’s where the real influence starts.