In recent years, social media platforms have become a key way for entrepreneurs to build a personal brand. While these brands are essential for grabbing the attention of target audiences and gaining access to new opportunities, they can also be leveraged to take a business to the next level.
Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members discuss how entrepreneurs can leverage their personal branding to accelerate company growth across every channel. Read on to learn more about specific ways to take full advantage of a well-defined personal brand.
1. Define The ‘Why’
Entrepreneurs grow faster when their personal brand aligns with their mission. People follow purpose, not titles, so start by defining your “why.” When you lead with clarity, values and authenticity, you don’t just expand reach—you also inspire trust, attract talent and build a movement. – Paula Ferrada, Inova Healthcare System
2. Ground Your Brand In A Problem
Leaders often make their personal brand all about their company’s success, but when things get messy, their image crumbles. Ground your brand in the problem you care to solve, as values that outlast market cycles feel a lot more authentic and trustworthy. – Rytis Lauris, Omnisend
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3. Prioritize Boosting Visibility
Personal branding is a strategic asset. When founders show up with clarity and credibility, it accelerates trust across customers, investors and partners. One effective step is leveraging platforms like Intro or Minnect to offer direct access. Thoughtful visibility builds authority, which in turn drives measurable growth across all channels. – Khusniddin Muradov, Comston Technologies
4. Invest In Marketing
Whether it’s a personal brand or the brand of a business, the best way to leverage it is to market it. A brand only lives in the hearts and minds of others. A valuable brand is one that enhances the meaning of what you do, eliminates or reduces hassles or problems, or provides a product or service that meets a specific need. If it doesn’t do these things, then rethink the promise your brand is making. – Tom Daly, The Transformation Guild
5. Align Platforms With Specific Goals
Pick one platform for exposure, one for nurturing and one for conversions. The target audience will be different on each platform, as people use platforms with different intentions. For example, we use TikTok for exposure, YouTube for nurturing and Instagram for conversions on socials. TikTok is the best platform for testing creative angles or ideas, whereas Instagram content should be more refined and polished. – Willow Kai, Becca Luna Education
6. Be Authentic
Showing real wins, challenges and lessons humanizes your brand and builds trust, while also attracting clients, talent and partners. I don’t just talk business; I share wins, struggles and lessons honestly. Consistently share authentic stories and insights on the channels where your target customers spend time, especially LinkedIn and Instagram. – Sahil Gandhi, Blushush
7. Humanize The Business
Entrepreneurs can leverage personal branding to accelerate growth by showing the human side of their business. People invest in people, and when potential customers connect with the individuals behind the company, it fosters trust and relatability. One key step is sharing authentic insights and values across various social media platforms, as it helps build stronger connections and drives growth. – Ryan Whitefield, Revilo Property Group
8. Seek Public Speaking Opportunities
A personal brand is the most available growth engine, so use it! People don’t follow companies, but they do follow individuals with bold ideas and the courage to build. Your entrepreneurial story, values and vision can be a magnet across investors, customers and talent channels. Post, speak, tweet and build in public. The more real you are, the more trust you earn. In today’s world, trust scales faster than capital. – Victor Tay, Global Catalyst Advisory
9. Share Authentic Insights
Personal branding builds trust, which then drives growth. I recommend entrepreneurs consistently share authentic insights on platforms like LinkedIn. Doing this positions you as an industry leader, attracting customers, partners and talent. It’s not just about visibility; it’s about creating meaningful connections that propel your business forward. – Dustin Lemick, BriteCo
10. Create Bite-Sized Sharable Insights
Make yourself the algorithm by sharing sharp, opinionated content that earns attention and then directing it toward your business. One step to take is turning weekly founder insights into bite-sized posts across platforms. People buy from people, so build the brand they’ll trust first—you. – Sam Nelson, Downstreet Digital
11. Bring A Personal Touch
People buy into people—it’s human nature. If you’re trying to go from zero to one, bringing in a personal touch is necessary to building a stronger relationship with your customers. Founder-led brands can transition into huge corporate entities at a later date, but initially utilizing your personal edge to become someone who is believed and followed is a superpower. – Jake Lee, Magnet
12. Create Consistency Between The Personal Brand And The Company
Entrepreneurs can leverage personal branding by aligning their values, perspective and vision with their company’s culture and marketing strategies. One step they can take is clearly defining and communicating their personal brand to ensure consistency across all touchpoints, from leadership to customer interactions. This will create a more authentic and engaging experience. – Sara Khaki, Atlanta Divorce Law Group
13. Live What You Preach
Walk the talk! Representing trust, ethics and strong passion in everything one does helps clients associate those values with your business. For entrepreneurs, a personal brand is closely tied to the business brand. Ensuring that these values are consistently communicated across all channels is essential, both personally and professionally. – Meenal Aggarwal, Groots Valuation LLC
14. Be Transparent
I’ve built my personal brand on authenticity and keeping it real. I share my wins but also talk about the challenges, setbacks and low moments. I believe in sharing the full journey, including the good, the tough and everything in between. I’ve created genuine connections with my audience by being transparent. They see the human behind the brand, and that builds trust in me and my company. – Deepali Jamwal, Live2Dance LLC
15. Go Where Your Customers And Clients Are
Show up consistently where your customers and clients are, whether that’s on social platforms or blogs or in communities or forums. Choosing the right channel is the key to exposure and growth. Align your personal presence with business values so that when you write a post, make a comment or wear a branded T-shirt at events, your voice and story clearly reflect your brand identity. – Michael Podolsky, PissedConsumer.com
16. Create Videos Regularly
Establishing a regular video presence on social platforms, such as Instagram Reels, TikTok and LinkedIn, serves as a powerful strategy. Quickly gather followers and guide them to your business with brief authentic videos that demonstrate your professional skills or day-to-day business activities. – Tammy Sons, Tn Nursery
17. Establish A Consistent Calendar For Sharing Strategic Content
Create authentic thought leadership that resonates with all stakeholders’ values. Share expertise through strategic content that addresses their specific pain points. One vital step is to create a consistent stakeholder engagement calendar that aligns personal brand messaging with your company’s core purpose across all channels. – Kent Gregoire, Symphony Advantage
18. Leverage Storytelling
People love a good story. As an entrepreneur, your journey is unique. The first step is sharing why you started, what drives you and the lessons you’ve learned. When it’s personal, your audience connects more deeply and gets behind you and your business. It’s all about building trust and creating authentic connections. – Samuel Darwin, Sparkle
19. Document Your Impact
The key to building a durable personal brand is to stop chasing visibility and start documenting impact. It’s not about hype or platitudes. Identify what’s working, for whom and why it matters to your customers and to the world. The point isn’t to impress LinkedIn’s noisiest circles, but to build credibility with the people who matter, like your customers, team and market. Trust compounds, and so does growth. – Gabe Gladstein, Indigo Research
20. Maintain Honesty And Consistency
One thing that works is showing up with honesty and consistency. When entrepreneurs share real stories, lessons and values, people connect. That trust then carries over to the brand. Start by picking one channel, like LinkedIn, and speaking from experience. People don’t follow products—they follow people they believe in. – Somdutta Singh, Assiduus
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