3 Myths Standing in the Way of Building Your Personal Brand
Your personal brand, when built correctly, transcends industries, careers, and job descriptions. When you consistently create and share content online (both personally and professionally), you give your followers a reason to engage with you not just because of what you know, but for who you are. In this digital age, it’s important to be intentional with your online presence and take pride in how you communicate with others online. There’s no better feeling than creating authentic content that is an accurate reflection of who you are offline as well.
As many benefits as there are to building your personal brand, there are myths that often inhibit people from sharing what they know online. I’m here to tell you that these myths are exactly that… myths. Let’s debunk some of the main fallacies I hear and why you shouldn't let them get in the way of your personal branding goals.
Myth #1: If you start building your personal brand, people will think you’re trying to become an influencer.
People aren’t thinking about you nearly as much as you are thinking about you. When you post consistently on social media and show up online as your true self, this is a tell-tale sign that you’re taking your career more intentionally which, in turn, brings you success while aligning with your most compatible audience.
Posting authentically on social media should be celebrated, not something to feel ashamed about. Showing up online is a big transition to go through and people often avoid stepping into this kind of leadership because they’re scared of how others may perceive them.
When you create purposeful content that is an honest reflection of who you are, no one will mistake your intentions for influencer content. People will see the real you, which is the most refreshing thing you can do. After all, aren’t we all craving authenticity that is lacking in our everyday lives?
If you’re posting content that is important to you and touches on what you truly value, people won’t think you’re trying to be an influencer. Because there’s no trying anywhere… you’re just being who you are.
Myth #2: You need an “aesthetic” lifestyle.
We’ve all seen the Instagram photos of people’s “work from home” set up. It usually consists of an office space that is squeaky clean, papers and pens that are neatly stacked on top of each other, and a Starbucks coffee cup filled to the brim. As glamorous as that sounds, this is often far from the reality of our workspaces we spend eight hours a day at. And that’s okay! People crave realness, not a fake fantasy life that you feel you have to put together. Your followers want to see you in your real house or office, hearing about the struggles that you face in your work day. They want to relate to what your day looks like, which is much more appealing than an aesthetic that influencers try to create.
However, it’s important to take pride in your working environment where you choose to do your best work. I recommend Carr Workplaces, they provide flexible short-term coworking space and office leases for people just like us. Whether you’re looking for a virtual business address, event space, or private office just for the day, Carr Workplaces is our go-to workspace.
Myth #3: People are too busy/don’t care what you have to say.
If you care what you have to say, others do too. You’re the first person you have to convince that what you have to share online is purposeful and valuable to your audience. To do that, you have to determine what’s most important to you. What do you value? If you don’t know the answer to this, you probably don’t know what to talk about online. If you want to determine your values, purpose, and story, Personal Brand Accelerator may be a great tool to help you with this process. PBA helps you discover your purpose, clarify your message, and communicate with confidence online.
