Do I really need a personal brand?

Short answer: Yeah. You probably do.

“But why?!” you might ask next. You may argue you have no interest in being a “thought leader” or acting like a LinkedIn bro. You might think this is just another trend, the hottest buzzword that won’t be relevant in a year.

I’m sorry to break it to you, but personal branding isn’t going anywhere any time soon. So it’s time to get with the times and start working on yours if you don’t have one yet!

Without a personal brand, it’s a lot harder for people to hire you, refer you, or work with you, because they don’t know what you do or what you’re about.

And no, most people don’t already have one. I sure didn’t.

Wait, what even is a personal brand?

It’s not a logo. It’s not an aesthetic. And it’s not just for influencers.

A personal brand is the way people perceive you professionally. It’s what someone would say about you if your name came up in a meeting you weren’t in. It’s the vibe your LinkedIn profile gives off. It’s the reputation that follows you from job to job – what you’ve done, how you talk about it, and how it makes people feel.

And when you don’t have a personal brand (even if you’re not trying to be an influencer), finding a job, your next client, or getting referrals can be really, really hard. If nothing comes up when someone Googles your name, that’s a problem. I know this from recent experience.

I got laid off from my content marketing job at the end of 2024 after more than three years with the company, and when I tell you it hit hard, I mean it. I realized I had no online presence, no portfolio, no public proof of all the work I had done. I had the skills, sure. But no one knew. Because I’d never bothered to show them.

That was my reality check. Having a personal brand wasn’t just nice to have. It was an absolute necessity if I wanted to find another job or continue building my freelance business.

As an introvert, I had to put my big girl pants on and get over my fear of being “seen” if I still wanted a career in marketing.

Do I actually need a personal brand?

Honestly, anyone building a career or a business needs one. Especially if you’re:

Job searching or pivoting
Freelancing or starting a business
Hoping to attract aligned clients or collaborators
Tired of getting passed over or misunderstood
Working in a field where layoffs are common (so, most of them)

Even if you’re not trying to be a content creator or public figure, you still need a professional presence that tells people what you do, what you’re good at, and how to work with you.

Because job security doesn’t really exist anymore. And a personal brand is the closest you’ll ever get to career insurance.

Signs you don’t have a personal brand yet

You probably don’t have a personal brand if:

You Google yourself and nothing relevant comes up
You freeze when someone asks, “What do you do?”
You’re frequently rewriting your bio or LinkedIn headline
You keep getting work that doesn’t feel aligned with your goals

If you’re reading this, I can bet you $5 at least one of these resonates with you. Venmo me if I’m right! 😜

You don’t have to become an “influencer”

I know most of us hate the idea of becoming one of those “LinkedIn Influencers,” but you don’t have to do what they do! This is your personal brand – so you do what works for you and your career or business goals.

It’s just about publicly sharing your wins, things you’re working on, problems you’ve overcome and the solutions you’ve found. Basically, like keeping a diary for your professional ventures.

You don’t need to record your morning routine or set up a tripod to do timelapse while you’re working, if that’s not your thing. Seriously. Just focus on sharing something that could help someone, share something new you learned, or celebrate your recent wins! It sounds a lot harder than it is. Once you find your groove, it’ll become second nature.

How to build a personal brand (even if you’re starting from scratch)

Here are some things I found helpful as I was learning how to create my personal brand:

1. Get clear on what you want to be known for.

Pick 2-3 things that feel true to you. For me, it’s branding, content strategy, and astrology (yes, really). Everything I post ladders back to one of those content pillars. Try to pick one that’s more personal to you to humanize your brand more. You don’t just work, work, work. Let your fun side shine too!

2. Share your wins publicly.

If you worked on something you’re proud of, say so. If you had an insight or solved a problem for a client, share that (get permission first). You don’t need to humblebrag. Just talk about it. We won’t know how brilliant you are unless you show us.

3. Make your stuff easy to find.

Have a website, a portfolio, or at the very least a Linktree or Beacons.ai (or something similar – here’s the one I started with), and a couple pinned posts to act as CTAs on your profile(s). Give people a place to go when they’re curious about working with you. You don’t even have to spend a lot at first. I’m the queen of working with what I’ve got – if you need more tips on this, just let me know!

4. Speak in your actual voice.

This one’s big, especially since all of us have all kinds of AI at our fingertips now. Stop trying to sound “professional.” You can find your brand voice by saying things how you’d actually say them. You’ll attract better opportunities when people feel like they actually get you. And if you do use AI for any of your brainstorming or copy, please make sure to always edit for accuracy and tone. There’s no point in creating content if it’s going to sound just like everyone else. (I say that with love!)

5. Keep showing up, even if it feels awkward.

Because it will feel super awkward at first. That’s fine. The point is to start building a presence that reflects the real you, not some watered-down version you think people want. So show up, embrace the cringe, and start reaping the rewards that come with people actually knowing who you are. Yay!

How I built my personal brand after getting laid off

When I finally decided to “build my brand,” I tried creating this new persona I thought people wanted to see. It felt very weird and people could probably sense it too. So I quickly pivoted.

Then, I did what I should’ve done from the start – amplified what was already there. I started out slowly toning down the “professionalism” and just speaking like my human self. Then I started adding in some of that Capricorn dry sense of humor people really love (😏), and then I was finally brave enough to show up as my true self: the marketing girl who does astrology.

I’ve been obsessed with astrology since I was a kid, and I’ve recently enrolled in a certification program that’s had me deep in my studies. I’ve been falling in love with it more and more. I’ve seen how so much of astrology can be applied to your branding and marketing efforts.

So I stopped hiding those parts and started leading with them. That’s the lane I carved out. It’s authentic, it blends both my passions, and it’s working.

People book me for brand and content strategy, but I also get to bring in chart insights when it fits. I love that I get to blend the two worlds now, and use every tool in my toolkit to help people show up online and connect with their audience.

TL;DR: If you want people to remember you, you need a personal brand, like yesterday

But don’t stress. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Go ahead and start showing up as you, on purpose, with intention.

I’m rooting for you! And if you need one on one guidance, I’m more than happy to help.

Book Branding Session

Want help figuring out what you want to be known for? I offer brand and content strategy sessions (and yes, we can bring astrology into it if you’re curious). Book a call or slide into my inbox at hello@tyanamckamie.com if you’re ready to finally build your brand on your terms.