Is MrBeast’s YouTube channel more valuable than his burger business?
Is the brand Virgin the powerhouse, or is Richard Branson’s name the real engine?
These aren’t trick questions. They point to one conclusion:
Your personal brand isn’t just an asset—it’s your leverage.
This isn’t about vanity. It’s about positioning. The market is shifting, and if you’re still hiding behind your business name alone, you’re leaving trust, visibility, and growth on the table.
Back in 2007, most business owners rolled their eyes at SEO.
For many, it was simply too technical, too weird, or just not worth it.
But for those few early adopters, fast forward a few years, and they dominated Google rankings, pulling in millions in free traffic, and solidifying a veritable digital moat around their brands.
That same moment is here again, but this time, personal branding is the new SEO.
As outlined in The Future of SEO, the game has changed. Search engines now reward authority, authenticity, and personality. Google and social platforms are tuning their algorithms toward real humans with real voices.
You’re no longer just optimizing for keywords.
You’re optimizing for trust.
And people follow brands they trust. They get invested in brands that make them feel good, seen, and understood.
If you’re not building your personal brand alongside your business, you’re leaving money on the table.
Ten years ago, brand-building meant hiring a designer, picking colors, and writing a catchy tagline.
Today? None of that matters without a human face and voice behind it.
Look at who’s winning:
These examples prove a simple truth: people trust people more than they trust companies.
That’s why personal branding now outperforms traditional branding, especially in digital environments.
So even if it feels uncomfortable. Even if you hate putting yourself out there. Do it. Be silly. Be contrarian. Be over the top or quietly compelling. But give your ideal customers a reason to get behind what you’re selling and share it with anyone who’ll listen.
One of the greatest personal brands is Taylor Swift. She’s built a billion-dollar empire. Has cultivated one of the most loyal fan bases. People don’t just listen to her music. They identify with her.
Her name and ideas have the power to boost economies, influence voter registrations, and command a global audience’s attention.
She’s a great example of a personal brand because she combines authenticity with strategy, reinvention with consistency, and storytelling with community building.
When you build a personal brand with intention, here’s what happens:
Now let’s be clear: you don’t need a million followers.
You don’t need to plan some elaborate campaign or spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get attention.
You just need the right 1,000 people who see you as a valuable, credible voice.
It’s easy to buy into the idea that you have to be a big personality to build a successful personal brand.
Maybe you’re not outgoing? It could be that you don’t love social media? You’re not alone. I’m naturally introverted too.
But I made the shift—not because I love it, but because visibility is a business function now.
And you don’t need to be the loudest person in the room.
Examples that come to mind are Neil Patel, Arianna Huffington, Dr. Becky Kennedy, Peter Drucker, and many, many more.
They’re quietly confident and thoughtful. While they might not get you up on your feet roaring your excitement, they get to the root of your problem, and each piece of advice feels reverential.
So if you want to build a personal brand that stands out, you need to:
That’s what builds a durable personal brand that feeds your business for years.
Think of your personal brand as the top of your funnel.
When you’re visible and helpful online:
This is especially true in today’s cluttered digital landscape. When your voice resonates, people seek you out. Not just your products.
This also solves one of modern business’s biggest headaches: networking.
I regularly go to networking events. From my own personal experience, I can say that traditional networking is broken.
You go to events, exchange cards, pitch awkwardly, and hope something sticks. More often than not, you leave with a bunch of business cards that will get stashed in a drawer in your office or thrown away.
But Networking Is Broken—Here’s How to Do It the Right Way shows a better path:
Build reputation equity before the first handshake.
When people know you through content, stories, and insights, networking feels natural. They already trust you and want to talk to you.
That’s the hidden advantage of personal branding. It makes relationship building easier before they begin.
If you're still relying only on keywords, backlinks, or ad spend, you’re leaving opportunity on the table.
SEO isn’t dead. But it’s evolving.
The new ranking factor is you. Your name. Your insight. Your story.
So here’s what matters now:
If not, your business might get out-ranked by someone with fewer resources—but more presence.
Q: What if I’m not an influencer?
You don’t have to be. Personal branding isn’t about being famous. It’s about being known by the right people.
Q: Do I have to post every day?
Nope. You just have to show up consistently and engage. Once a week can build massive trust over time.
Q: Isn’t personal branding just for online businesses?
No. Every business is now online. Even local businesses benefit from Google searches and digital word-of-mouth.
Q: What platforms should I be on to build my personal brand?
Wherever your audience spends time. One of the best ways to unearth this information is by talking to your customers. Ask them what channels they engage with. Where do they go to find community, gather information, Start with one platform. Build a rhythm. Grow from there.
Want to go deeper into how to build a personal brand that scales your business?
Listen to my conversation with Alex Brogan. He went from zero to 750K+ followers simply by sharing insights that actually help people.
We unpack real strategies that work—even in “boring” industries—and how to start without feeling fake or pushy.
Listen to “Personal Branding and Business Growth: Tips for Entrepreneurs with Alex Brogan” now
Your logo won’t get you on a podcast.
Your tagline won’t attract a business partner.
Your product won’t build relationships on its own.
You will.
Start small. Share what you know. Use your voice.
This is your second shot at SEO dominance—don’t miss it again.
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