Why Founders Need To Build A Personal Brand

If you’re a founder, you’ve probably had people tell you to ‘build your personal brand’ more times than you’d like to admit. And while it does sound like an extra thing to add to your to-do list, it can actually be very important.

But here’s the thing: building a founder brand isn’t like being an influencer or just churning out LinkedIn posts. It’s about bringing a human element to your business, building trust and community along with it.

So, if you’re a founder toying with the idea of building a personal brand, here’s what you need to know…

What Does Building A “Personal Brand” Actually Mean?

Building a personal brand is all about giving your community an insight into who you are as the leader of a brand. People like people, so if they can put a face or personality to the brand, they are more likely to trust it.

Think about it as another asset to use to build your business. Your company can have its own channels and tone of voice, but yours should be its own distinct element. The more you let people into your experience of building a company, the more likely they are to want to support your journey.

What If You’re A Founder That Hates The Spotlight?

It’s fair enough. Posting your every thought on social media isn’t for everyone, and being a founder doesn’t automatically mean you like the spotlight or that you even have time to dedicate to it. And the hardest part? It’s not even something you can outsource, especially because the brand you’re promoting is you.

And the truth is, you should never do something you’re not comfortable doing. If you do want to dive head-first into brand building, you need to make sure you’re ready and committed. If you don’t, then now might not be the right time.

Why Founders Should Build A Personal Brand?

Now you might be thinking: isn’t this all just a bit of a vanity project? But the truth is there are actual tangible benefits to investing in founder brand building.

77% of consumers are more likely to buy from a company when its CEO uses social media according to Forbes, with 82% of those surveyed saying they trust companies more when their leaders show up publicly.

However, there are other benefits too, such as:

Reputation: A strong founder reputation is more likely to equal a strong brand reputation. Especially in the early stages before brand trust is established, people want to know there is a credible face behind the company. In these cases, it can be a great way to boost sales.

It helps with fundraising: Investors invest in people, so building a strong personal brand can help founders get noticed and show their company is in safe hands. In fact, 87% of investors say a founder’s personal brand influences their decision-making. (Vestbee).

It helps with recruiting: The best talent isn’t attracted by a brand they don’t yet know. People want to work for people they can learn from, so it can help draw in the right people to boost the business.

So, How Do Founders Actually Build A Personal Brand?

Building a brand as a founder isn’t just about churning out videos online, it’s about being consistent and intentional with what you post.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Identify Your Audience

Figure out who you want to reach, whether that’s investors, customers or future employees. Make sure every piece of content you make is geared towards them.

2. Pick 1 or 2 Channels

If you don’t like being on camera, then YouTube or TikTok probably won’t work. Pick 1-2 channels you want to engage with based on your audience, be that Instagram, Linkedin, YouTube, Podcasts, Newsletters, TikTok or X.

3. Start Posting

Don’t wait to get started. Bring people along for the journey, experiment with formats and see how people engage. Stay adaptable, have fun and don’t worry too much about getting it right the first time round – the brand will likely evolve with you.

But most importantly: be human! Everyone likes to hear from people they like or can learn from. Try not to sell yourself but genuinely take people along for the ride.

4. Have A Clear CTA

Think about what you want from your audience. Do you want them to become customers? Do you want them to subscribe to a newsletter? Book a call? Having that in mind will help shape your content.

Founder Brand Building: A New Business Asset

Investing your time in building your personal brand isn’t ego, it’s genuinely good for business.

With the right style of content, a bit of consistency and an audience in mind, you’d be surprised just how much your own channels can help you grow your company.

So, why not get started? You never know, a few month’s time and you could be the next Simon Squibb or Steven Bartlett.