Imagine: You’re scrolling through TikTok for inspiration for your own posts. You’re brand new in your influencer marketing journey and want to develop a voice and style all your own, but it’s difficult considering how saturated the market has become.
You come across a video from one of your favorite influencers. In fact, you like and trust their opinion so much that you recently placed an order for a product that they recommended. In this video, however, the creator is addressing concerns from other fans who had bad experiences with the product you just bought. Turns out, the creator strayed from their core beliefs and recommended the product blindly. Now, the reputation they have built amongst their viewers for being honest about brands is strained. How could this have been avoided? Let’s dive in and discuss.
Define Your Core Values and Mission
The first step in building an authentic personal brand is to define your core values and mission.
Ask yourself what you stand for, what motivates you, and what you want to achieve through your influence. Identifying your core values will help shape your content and messaging, ensuring that everything you share aligns with your beliefs and purpose.
Stay true to your values, and your audience will recognize the sincerity of your brand.
Share Your Personal Story
An authentic personal brand is built on openness and vulnerability. Share your personal story, experiences, and challenges to create a genuine connection with your audience. Being vulnerable will help others relate to you and your experiences, but never share more than what makes you comfortable.
Relatable and humanizing stories not only allow your followers to understand you better, but also inspire them to feel connected and engaged with your journey.
Consistency Is Key
Consistency is a fundamental aspect of personal branding. Establish a consistent visual and verbal identity across all your social media platforms. Use the same profile picture, handle, and color scheme to create a recognizable and cohesive image. Consistency builds trust and makes it easier for your audience to identify your content in a crowded digital landscape.
Posting consistently, at least while you’re getting established, is also vital. People will become accustomed to seeing you on their For You Page, feed, etc.
Engage and Listen to Your Audience
Building an authentic personal brand involves active engagement with your audience. Respond to comments, messages, and feedback regularly. Show appreciation for your followers and acknowledge their support.
Additionally, listen to their needs, preferences, and concerns. Understanding your audience helps you tailor your content to meet their expectations, building a stronger bond and fostering loyalty.
Take our example creator from above, for instance. If they had taken their audience into consideration, they would never have blindly recommended a product from an unfamiliar brand. They strayed from their authentic persona that they had reeled people in with, and because of that, they are going to have to do some serious crowd control until they earn back their audiences’ trust.
This leads us into our next topics…
Be Transparent and Honest
Honesty and transparency are the pillars of authenticity. Be upfront about any partnerships or sponsored content. Share your genuine opinions and experiences with products or services, whether positive or negative.
Your audience will appreciate your honesty and feel confident that you have their best interests at heart.
Showcase Your Expertise
Establishing yourself as an expert in your niche is vital for building an authentic personal brand. Share valuable and informative content that showcases your knowledge and expertise.
Provide solutions to your audience’s problems and answer their questions thoughtfully. One example of this is the man on TikTok who gives out fatherly advice to his followers, offering life advice while also showcasing how to write a check. People absolutely love him for his authenticity and the value of his knowledge that he’s willing to share with many who did not learn these things from their own fathers. He discovered his niche, and he leans hard into it.
Demonstrating your authority within your field will solidify your reputation as a credible influencer.
Collaborate with Integrity
When collaborating with brands or other influencers, choose partnerships that align with your values and resonate with your audience. Avoid promoting products or services that do not align with your niche or may compromise your authenticity. Partnering with like-minded individuals and brands will enhance your credibility and reinforce your personal brand image.
Building an authentic personal brand is a continuous journey that requires self-awareness, dedication, and a commitment to staying true to your values. As an influencer, your personal brand is your most valuable asset, influencing how your audience perceives and engages with you.
