What Are The Ways to Build Authentic Personal Brand Online?

Editor: Pratik Ghadge on Feb 05,2025

Picture this: a consultant spends months crafting perfect LinkedIn posts—polished, jargon-heavy, and utterly forgettable. Then one day, they share a story about messing up a client proposal. The post goes viral. Why? Because built authentic personal branding isn’t about glossy façades. It’s about showing up as a human, flaws and all.

Whether you’re a CEO or a freelance illustrator, the digital world’s crowded. But here’s the good news: people aren’t drawn to perfection. They crave realness. So, let’s ditch the corporate speak and explore steps to build an authentic online presence that actually feels like you.

Step 1: Your Quirks Are Your Superpower (Yes, Really)

Remember that time you accidentally sent a client email meant for your best mate? Or your obsession with 90s boyband trivia? That’s gold. Personal branding for professionals often gets reduced to stiff “thought leadership,” but authenticity thrives on the messy, quirky bits that make you you.

Take Jamie, a financial advisor who posts TikTok videos comparing investment strategies to Love Island drama. His followers don’t just remember him—they trust him. Why? He’s not hiding behind a suit. He’s mixing expertise with personality.

Try this:

Jot down three “imperfect” traits or hobbies (baking fails, a niche passion for urban gardening).
Weave them into your content. A graphic designer might share their chaotic sketchbook alongside finished projects.
Use slang, humour, or pop culture references that resonate with your audience.

As the saying goes, “People buy from people, not logos.” Your quirks are the hook.

Step 2: Tell Stories, Not Sales Pitches

Ever scrolled through a profile that reads like a CV and felt… nothing? Exactly. Steps to build an authentic online presence start with storytelling. Think less “results-driven innovator” and more “Remember that time I cried in a brainstorming session? Here’s what it taught me.”

Stories stick. They activate the brain’s sensory cortex, making your message memorable. For example:

A nutritionist shares their struggle with disordered eating, not just client transformations.
A tech founder posts about their first failed app—complete with cringe-worthy screenshots.

Social media branding tips here are simple:

Use carousel posts to tell a visual story (before/after, behind-the-scenes chaos).
Drop audio notes or videos where your voice cracks or you laugh mid-sentence.
Share client/customer stories with their permission. Testimonials hit harder when they’re wrapped in narrative.

Step 3: Engage Like a Human, Not a Bot

business man showing personal branding aspects

Here’s the thing: algorithms love consistency, but audiences love connection. You could post daily Reels, but if you’re replying to comments with “Thanks for your feedback!”, you’re missing the point.

Built authentic personal branding means treating social media like a coffee chat, not a megaphone.

Try these tactics:

Reply to DMs with voice notes. (“Your question about SEO had me geeking out—here’s a 60-second rant!”)
Host unscripted LinkedIn Lives. No filter, no script—just real talk about industry pain points.
Celebrate others’ wins publicly. Tag that colleague who nailed a project or share a client’s success.

And hey, if you’re stuck for ideas, steal this move from TikTok: ask your audience for hot takes. (“Team Sweet vs. Team Savory breakfast—fight it out below. Bonus points if you tag a colleague.”)

Step 4: Consistency > Perfection (Embrace the ‘Cringe’)

Let’s get real for a sec: nobody wakes up feeling #blessed and camera-ready every day. Personal branding for professionals isn’t about curating a highlight reel. It’s about showing up regularly, even when your hair’s a mess or you’re doubting your expertise.

Consistency builds familiarity. Think of your favorite podcast host—you tune in because you know their voice, quirks, and rhythm.

How to keep it consistent without burning out:

Batch-create content one afternoon a week.
Repurpose old posts (a blog becomes a carousel, then a video script).
Schedule “low-effort” days: share a quick tip, a book quote, or a candid photo.

And if you miss a post? Own it. (“Ghosted you last week to deal with a toddler meltdown. Parentpreneurs, sound off below!”) Imperfection humanizes you.

Step 5: Audit and Evolve (But Keep Your Core)

Steps to build an authentic online presence aren’t set in stone. What works today might flop next year. The key is to periodically ask: “Does this still feel like me?”

Maybe you started as a fitness coach but now geek out over mental health. Maybe your audience has shifted. That’s cool! Evolution is natural—just anchor it to your core values.

Try a quarterly brand audit:

Sensory check: Does your feed sound and look like you? (P.S. Using your own photos vs. stock images adds texture.)
Voice check: Are you using slang that’s forced, or does it flow naturally?
Engagement check: Which posts sparked the most conversation? Double down on those.

Remember: authenticity isn’t static. It’s a vibe that grows with you.

Step 6: Don’t Just Share Wins—Show the Struggles Too

Think about the last time you were truly moved by someone’s post. Was it a perfectly curated success story, or was it a raw, unfiltered glimpse into their struggles? Chances are, it was the latter.

Here’s the thing: people don’t just connect with achievements—they connect with challenges, setbacks, and the behind-the-scenes moments that don’t always make the highlight reel. If you want to build authentic personal branding, let your audience see all sides of the journey.

Got rejected by a client? Share what you learned from it.
Launched something that flopped? Talk about what you’d do differently.
Feeling stuck? Be honest about it—chances are, others feel the same way.

Take Sarah, a content strategist who once posted about losing a big contract because she overpromised and underdelivered. Instead of burying the failure, she turned it into a lesson—and guess what? That post got her more leads than any of her polished success stories.

Step 7: Build a Community, Not Just an Audience

A personal brand isn’t just about broadcasting your message—it’s about starting conversations and creating a space where people feel seen, heard, and valued. The best brands don’t just attract followers; they build communities.

So, how do you make sure your audience isn’t just scrolling past your content but actually engaging with it?

Ask questions—Make your posts interactive. (“What’s one piece of career advice you swear by?”)
Highlight your audience—Give a shoutout to a follower who dropped a great comment or inspired your latest post.
Create shared experiences—Host a live Q&A, start a hashtag challenge, or share a behind-the-scenes moment that invites people to contribute their own.

Take James, a business coach who turned his Instagram page into a mini networking hub. Instead of just posting advice, he regularly tags his followers, asks their opinions, and even jumps into the DMs with personal voice notes. The result? A fiercely loyal community that engages with everything he shares.

The Catch? There Isn’t One.

Building a genuine brand isn’t a hack or a 30-day challenge. It’s a long game. But here’s the kicker: when you stop performing and start being, you attract the right people—clients who vibe with your humor, employers who value your honesty, and collaborators who trust your grit.

So, whether you’re a CEO or a solopreneur, social media branding tips boil down to this: Talk like a human. Share like a friend. Show up like yourself.

Now, go post that cringe-worthy first draft. Tag us when it goes viral.

Key Takeaways

Built authentic personal branding by flaunting quirks, not hiding them.
Steps to build an authentic online presence include storytelling, engagement, and consistency.
Personal branding for professionals thrives on vulnerability, not jargon.
Social media branding tips: Ditch the robot voice. Talk like you’re explaining your passion to a mate over pints.

And if all else fails? Remember: even Beyoncé had a Destiny’s Child phase. Growth > gloss, every time.

FAQs on Building an Authentic Personal Brand Online

1. How do I start building authentic personal branding if I’m new online?
Start by sharing your story, values, and expertise. Focus on connection, not perfection—people engage with realness, not corporate speak.

2. Can I be professional and still show my personality online?
Absolutely! Professionalism isn’t about being robotic. Inject personality, quirks, and real-life experiences to create a relatable and trustworthy brand.

3. How often should I post to maintain an authentic online presence?
Consistency matters more than frequency. Aim for meaningful, engaging content 2-4 times weekly, balancing insights, stories, and audience interactions.

4. What’s the biggest mistake people make in personal branding?
Trying to be someone they’re not. Authenticity attracts the right audience, while forced perfection feels fake and unrelatable.

5. How can I make my social media branding feel less forced?
Engage genuinely, use natural language, and share real experiences. Treat social media like a conversation, not a staged performance.

This content was created by AI