Over the last 13 months, I've grown from 4,000 followers to more than 360,000 on LinkedIn. The opportunities that have come my way as a result of that are nuts. When I first started posting consistently, people in my network who I hadn't spoken to in years suddenly reached out - they remembered I existed because they saw me posting regularly. One specific opportunity came when another ex-Goldman Sachs employee saw my growth and reached out. He was trying to use LinkedIn to build the visibility of his real estate investment and asset management business. That connection turned into a long-term consulting project and a friendship that I wouldn't have landed if I hadn't been consistently sharing valuable content. I even invited him to my wedding! This experience (and many similar ones) showed me the challenges of creating content that actually drives business results. That's what inspired me to start Saywhat, helping other entrepreneurs build content-led businesses on LinkedIn. For anyone looking to start building their personal brand, here are my top tips: Profile essentials: - Get a professional headshot of you smiling on a solid background (try InstaHeadshots for an AI option) - Write a clear headline that shows what you do with a bit of social proof, not a laundry list of experiences. Example: "I help entrepreneurs build LinkedIn audiences | Fastest Growing LinkedIn Creator in 2024" Content strategy: - Share actionable tips you wish you'd known 2-5 years ago in your career - Make advice concrete enough that readers can implement it tomorrow - Focus on solving problems your audience actually has High-performing post formats: - "[X] years of [industry] experience in 60 seconds" - "What I wish I knew 10 years ago about [your industry]" - "The exact [template/script/process] I use for [common task]" The real power of a personal brand isn't just the audience size - it's the quality of opportunities that come your way when the right people see you consistently solving problems they care about.
The most valuable thing my LinkedIn presence ever did? It connected me with my co-founder at Penfriend. I'd been putting out content about content (meta, I know) for about a year - just honest takes on what was working for me in SEO and content marketing. Nothing fancy, just "here's what I tried, here's what worked, here's what exploded in my face." One day I get this message from someone who'd been following my posts. She first became a client and then basically said, "I've been building this AI writing tool and your take on content processes lines up perfectly with what I'm trying to solve." I jumped on it, and the alignment was instant. She had the vision and the funding, I had the content strategy experience. Six months later, we launched Penfriend together. All because I decided to share my actual thoughts instead of the sanitized corporate nonsense that fills most feeds. If you're just getting into the personal branding game, here's what actually works: Make what YOU would want to read. Seriously. I just made content I would want to consume myself. And it works. Everyone else was busy copying each other or following some guru's formula, while I was just documenting my journey and sharing genuine insights. Start with one platform where your people actually hang out. For me, that was LinkedIn because I was targeting marketing folks and business owners. Post consistently about your specific expertise - not general platitudes. Show your work, share your failures (these get more engagement anyway), and have actual opinions instead of safe, boring takes that everyone agrees with. People want to connect with people. The AI thing isn't making it easier - it's making authentic human voices MORE valuable. In a sea of generic AI-written LinkedIn posts, the person who sounds like an actual human with real experiences stands out like a lighthouse. That's your advantage - use it.
In 2018, I was working for someone else, managing marketing for a portfolio of businesses in real estate, auto, and media. I had the wins. I had the experience. But I didn't have the visibility. No one outside of my immediate network really knew what I did or what I was capable of. And I wasn't exactly racing to change that. I told myself I didn't have time. I told myself it didn't matter. But what I was really doing was hiding. I wasn't ready for the spotlight. I was afraid of what people would think. I didn't want to ruffle feathers or be perceived the wrong way. And yet--I knew that if I didn't start telling my story, someone else would tell it for me... or worse, no one would. So, I started posting on LinkedIn. Nothing fancy. Just one post, in my voice, sharing my experience. Then another. And another. I started getting more intentional. I shared insights, lessons, behind-the-scenes strategy. I let people in. By the next calendar year, I had landed a new role as VP of Marketing in Martech. Then the DMs. The emails. Then people started reaching out asking, "How did you do that?" "Can you help me build a personal brand like yours?" "Can you show me how to get visible without selling out?" That was the beginning of something I didn't plan for--but I had prepared for without even knowing it. I took what I did for myself and started helping others do it too. Executives. Founders. Consultants. People who were great at what they did--but not always great at being seen for it. And it all started because I stopped waiting for permission. If you're at the beginning of your personal branding journey, here's what I would say: Start small. Be consistent. Tell the truth. You don't need to go viral. You just need to go visible. Because opportunities don't just find the loudest person in the room. They find the clearest one.
Several times, I have had clients tell me that they found me on LinkedIn because one of my posts resonated with them, or because they found my LinkedIn Learning courses. That's the power of a consistent, clear, and strong personal brand! When I share content online, I intentionally show up authentically so those who interact with my content can see the real me. It's a powerful way to connect and interact with others. A client once told me they'd been following my posts on LinkedIn for a while before reaching out to hire me. They felt like they already 'knew' me and my work from my content, which made the decision to reach out easier. For those just getting started, my advice is: clarity and consistency are everything! Know what you stand for and show up regularly. Online, share your perspective, your journey, and your expertise. You never know who's watching, or what doors might open.
My unhinged LinkedIn content directly led to a partnership with Ahrefs (a major SEO tool) that paid me to create content for their platform. When I started posting selfies, memes, and brutally honest rants about the marketing industry, traditional LinkedIn "experts" told me I was committing career suicide - but those polarizing posts caught the attention of tech founders who were tired of boring corporate content and wanted someone authentic to write for them. If you're starting with personal branding, focus on standing out rather than fitting in - the mistake most people make is trying to please everyone, which guarantees you'll be forgotten. Pick a narrow niche where you can be the obvious choice rather than one option among many - I specifically targeted tech CEOs who had exited previous companies and positioned myself as the "cringe LinkedIn ghostwriter" because that specific group appreciated my rebellious approach. The real secret is consistency over time - I posted for three years straight before seeing massive results, while most people quit after three months when they don't go viral immediately.
Landed a dream client after they slid into my DMs saying, "Your posts sound like you get it." They'd been lurking on my LinkedIn for weeks, reading my takes on marketing and brand voice, and reached out because it felt like a no-BS fit. My advice? Show up as you. Don't try to sound like everyone else in your industry--sound like a human with a POV. Post consistently, say something real, and trust that the right people are paying attention, even if they're quiet at first.
As a brand designer who has created a lot of personal brands, I have to say... Personal branding is everything. And the way I landed big opportunities was this simple: Sharing my journey and personal/business insights (on Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn). This has led me to precious and aligned collaborations with clients who truly resonate with my approach to design and, more importantly, to life and my personal values. I even include some of my areas of interest on my website: I'm that direct. By sharing more about me and my interests, my design process, my professional achievements, my story and background (e.g. how I dealt with burnout, how I've became an entrepreneur, how's my life as a parent) and my vision and concerns about the world, I've attracted amazing people and opportunities that align 100% with my mission and my personal values. I consider this a huge privilege. For those starting with personal branding, I recommend: - Don't be afraid of showing who you are. People connect with people, not with businesses. Be genuine in sharing your story and values. - Be consistent, with what you say and what you practice. Maintain a regular presence, build recognition. - Offer insights or content that benefits your audience.
Back in 2021, I was working on launching Mercha, and my personal brand on LinkedIn became unexpectedly crucial. I shared our sustainability journey - specifically how we were developing eco-friendly branded merchandise options when the industry was still largely focused on cheap, disposable products. This authentic content caught the attention of a sustainability director at one of Australia's largest retailers, who directly messaged me for a coffee chat that turned into one of our first major enterprise clients. What worked wasn't my follower count or fancy content - it was consistently documenting our real challenges in changing an old-school industry. My posts showing the behind-the-scenes process of sourcing ethical manufacturing partners outperformed generic business advice by 5x in engagement and led to meaningful connections. For those starting out, focus on your unique perspective rather than trying to be a generic thought leader. When I shared our frustrating experience of testing 14 different bamboo fabric suppliers to find one that met our standards, it resonated far more than broad statements about sustainability. People connect with honesty about the messy middle of building something. The most effective personal branding tactic I've found is speaking directly to a specific pain point. When I changed how I described my work from "e-commerce entrepreneur" to "I help marketing teams order branded merch without the endless back-and-forth emails," my inbound inquiries tripled. Specificity in how you solve problems attracts exactly the right opportunities.
One of my biggest client wins came directly from a single post I shared on LinkedIn about scaling a high-ticket funnel. I broke down the results, added screenshots, and kept it super real--no fluff, no fake urgency. That post brought in a DM from a founder I hadn't spoken to in years. Two weeks later, we were on a call, and I signed a $4K/month retainer deal. Personal branding works when you show your brain, not just your wins. I recommend posting consistently, sharing your thought process, and being specific about what you do and who you help. People don't remember generic advice--they remember useful, relatable insights. Start by documenting your experience. Share lessons from client projects, breakdowns of what worked and didn't, and real outcomes. You don't need to go viral to win, you just need the right people to trust you--and showing up consistently builds that.
Product Hunt was actually a game-changer for me personally. When we launched Social Status there, that single listing drove thousands of users to our site in days and continues to generate traffic years later. This visibility put me on the radar as someone building useful analytics tools, leading to speaking opportunities at industry events where I connected with brands like Facebook for their creative research webinars. My data-driven approach became my personal brand differentiator. By publishing comprehensive industry reports like our Facebook Retail Industry Report, I established credibility that's separate from but complementary to our product. This expertise-first approach led to invitations to collaborate with semantic analysis partners on advanced social metrics that go beyond basic sentiment analysis. For those starting with personal branding, I recommend providing substantial value upfront rather than self-promotion. When I analyze social platforms in my content, I focus on sharing actionable insights (like how LinkedIn pre-dates Facebook yet offers unique B2B opportunities) rather than vague tips. This specificity attracts serious marketers looking for depth. My biggest recommendation: focus on one platform initially, master its nuances, and commit to consistency. The social landscape changes constantly (it's like building on quicksand), but establishing yourself as someone who deeply understands even one aspect of it creates opportunities that transcend platform trends.
Podcast guest spot - Fractional CMO serivce This happened after a podcast I did on building remote teams. I was riffing about my "intern-first" approach, how I onboard people with zero experience and get them running campaigns in six weeks. Talked about SOPs, feedback loops, the emotional side of leadership. No pitch. Just stories from the trenches. About two weeks later, I got a DM from a founder who said, "That episode was like therapy. We've been hiring the wrong people for six months. Can you help us fix it?" Two Zooms later, I became their fractional CMO. That one podcast didn't just land a client, it gave them language for the problem they were trying to solve. If you're just starting with personal branding, don't overthink the strategy. Just ask: What conversations am I already having? What questions do people keep asking me? That's your content. Turn that answer into a post, a voice note, a short video. Show your thinking. Let people hear how you solve problems.
A while back, we posted a quick note on LinkedIn about how we were handling burnout in one of our dev teams. It wasn't overly polished, just a simple breakdown of what we tried, what didn't work, and what helped. That post got a DM from a startup founder going through something similar. A few conversations later, we ended up working together on a custom build. If you're just starting with personal branding, don't aim for perfection. Start small and stay consistent. Share what you're figuring out--not just what's fully solved. That's what people connect with. We've seen that showing up regularly, in your voice, matters more than chasing viral content. Even commenting on others' posts with your honest take builds visibility. It's not about being everywhere--it's about being real, often enough, in the right places.
As a founder who moved from Kenya to the US and launched Ronkot Design, I can point to one specific personal branding win that changed our trajectory. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I published a detailed analysis on our blog about how businesses could pivot digitally during lockdowns, sharing specific strategies based on my hotel marketong experience. This content got shared widely on LinkedIn where I had been consistently posting about data-driven marketing approaches. A struggling hotel development company (similar to where I had worked for a decade) reached out after seeing my thought leadership. They became our biggest client that year, citing my unique global perspective and industry-specific knowledge as reasons they trusted us with their digital change. For those starting with personal branding, I recommend focusing on content that demonstrates your unique perspective. My travels across different cultures directly influenced how I approach marketing - this cross-cultural lens became my differentiator. Create content that showcases your specific expertise (like my posts about branding without blowing budgets) and be consistent with your publishing schedule. The key is balancing polished professionalism with authentic storytelling. My most engaging content combines practical business advice with personal elements from my journey. Use your background story strategically - in my case, how moving from Kenya to Texas shaped my understanding of diverse audiences has resonated strongly with clients looking for marketing that works across cultural boundaries.
A number of years ago, I made a conscious decision to start showing up on LinkedIn -- not to sell, but to share. I brushed up my profile, made it engaging and bright and then started to focus on my target market, More recently, I have been posting tips to support National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers in developing their personal brands. It wasn't fancy. Just straight-up, practical info I knew providers in the sector would find useful. Over a few months, I started to get numerous inquiries. A business owner in a senior role at an NDIS-registered organisation reached out via DM. They'd followed my content quietly, found it clear and relevant, and wanted to chat. That initial conversation became a solid consulting engagement -- helping them review their LinkedIn personal brand and engage with their target market. The interesting bit? I didn't pitch or chase. The opportunity came purely from ensuring I had a powerful personal brand, showing up consistently, sharing value, and building trust over time.
A while back, I started sharing simple reflections on LinkedIn about what I was learning while leading a support team. Nothing overly polished, just real moments like what helped during a tough week or how I worked through a tricky situation. One of those posts got shared by someone in the SaaS world, and not long after, a founder messaged me. They had been quietly following and reached out for help with their customer support setup. What made the difference was showing up consistently without trying to sound like an expert. I just spoke from experience. For anyone starting with personal branding, do not wait until you have it all figured out. Start with what you know. Honest, small posts build trust over time. The right people are often watching quietly, and when they do reach out, it is usually because something real resonated with them.
Developing a personal brand has been critical in expanding my business and establishing valuable relationships. One significant example was when I posted about the value of personal branding in the photography sector on LinkedIn. It struck a chord with another entrepreneur who contacted me for guidance. This relationship resulted in a joint project that not only increased my network but also opened the doors to new clients. The main thing was being open and honest in sharing learning from my experience, which set me up as credible and enabled me to build people's trust. To anyone beginning, step one is to prioritize your story. Your own experiences, what you've struggled with, and the ways you've overcome them resonate with individuals. Share your process and your why for what you do. For instance, I constantly share about the struggles and bliss of motherhood, something that resonates with my style of photography. This resonance has helped me connect with my readers at a deeper level and get the kind of clients I want. Another key element is consistency. It's not perfection, but appearing regularly and interacting with your audience. Provide value, whether it's through educational content or by sharing your insights. Your brand will eventually become an extension of your true self, drawing in opportunities that resonate with your values and expertise.
AI-Driven Visibility & Strategic Positioning Advisor at Marquet Media
Answered a year ago
One powerful example is when my personal brand--specifically the consistency across my digital presence, media coverage, and brand voice--led to a contributor opportunity that opened doors to multiple speaking requests and client leads. Even though I'm not very active on LinkedIn, my online brand still worked like a well-positioned pitch. The editors had seen my thought leadership across platforms, noticed how I packaged my expertise through frameworks like PRISM and The Instant Pricing Fixtm and reached out directly. My advice to anyone building a personal brand is to start by clarifying what you want to be known for and make sure every digital touchpoint reflects that. You don't need to be everywhere--you just need to show up with clarity, intention, and consistency. Your personal brand isn't just how you look--it's how you make decisions, show up in conversations, and position your expertise in a way people remember.
During my entrepreneurial journey, my LinkedIn presence played a pivotal role when I was launching Ankord Media. By sharing insights about digital design and branding strategies, I attracted a tech startup seeking comprehensive brand development. They appreciated my posts on leveraging AI in brand positioning, which demonstrated a significant improvement in data-driven decision-making and user engagement. One instance where my LinkedIn content directly resulted in an opportunity came from documenting the rebranding initiative at Ankord Labs. Sharing the process of competitor analysis and A/B testing caught the attention of a competitive landscape research firm, leading to a collaborative project that expanded our market insights toolkit. For those starting with personal branding, I advise focusing on storytelling combined with actionable insights. Share narratives on how you integrated innovative tools or approaches in your business, supported by the real, tangible impacts they had. Authenticity and evidence-based storytelling can set you apart and attract opportunities precisely aligned with your expertise.
Absolutely! My Instagram presence directly led to an invitation to speak at Social Media Marketing World after one of the organizers finded my content about building authentic communities through story-driven content. That single speaking opportunity connected me with three major clients who collectively grew their revenue by 237% using my personal branding strategies. For those starting with personal branding, focus first on consistency in your content calendar rather than perfection. I've found that showing up regularly with value-driven content builds trust faster than sporadic "perfect" posts. Document your unique process rather than just sharing results. When I showed my behind-the-scenes approach to helping a client 3x their Instagram following through personality-led content, it resonated more than simply posting the impressive metrics alone. Start by defining your content pillars—the 3-5 topics that align with both your expertise and your audience's needs. This creates a framework that makes consistent posting less overwhelming while establishing you as an authority in specific areas rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
One of my most valuable personal branding wins came from consistently sharing data-driven marketing case studies on LinkedIn. After posting about our implementation of UTM tracking that improved lead generation by 25%, I received an invitation to speak at Funnel Forum's annual multifamily marketing conference, which ultimately led to their 2024 Visionary of the Year recognition. My background in fine art gives me a unique perspective on multifamily marketing. This blend of creativity with analytical thinking helped me stand out when I shared our video tour implementation strategy, which reduced unit exposure by 50% with zero additional overhead costs. For those starting with personal branding, focus on quantifiable results rather than general expertise. When I post about specific achievements like reducing our cost per lease by 15% through strategic ILS packages, it resonates more than broad marketing principles. People want to know exactly how you drive results. Don't be afraid to share failures alongside successes. My most engaged posts include challenges we faced implementing new marketing technologies. The multifamily industry appreciates authenticity - showing how you overcame obstacles builds more credibility than presenting a flawless track record.