Build Your Personal Brand - Quick Guide

Author

Jasiel Martin-Odoom
July 07, 2024

SDS 042: Build Your Personal Brand - Quick Guide

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Many founders think, “If you build it, they will come.”

And sometimes they do come, but what if they don’t?

In a world full of startups, having a strong personal brand can make you stand out. It can bring the right people and chances to your door.

That’s where personal branding comes in. Your personal brand is like your calling card. It shows who you are, what you believe in, and how you are different from others.

So, how can you build a real personal brand that connects with your audience? Here are three tips for you.

Define your core values: Think about your values as a founder. What drives you? What principles are important to you? When you know your core values, you can add them to your personal brand. This makes a true and interesting story that attracts like-minded people and fits with your startup's mission. For example, @docneto, founder of Wella Health, focuses on using data to build company, community, and country. He has over 23K followers on X who could be future customers or partners. 

Craft your story: Every founder has a unique story. Sharing your story is a strong tool in personal branding. Talk about your journey, your wins, and even your failures. Be open and honest, as real stories connect with people more deeply. Create a narrative that shows your passion, skills, and the impact you want to make. Your story is what makes you different from the rest. @tosinolaseinde, founder of Money Africa and Get Ladda, has built a following of over 260K on X and LinkedIn by sharing her story. If you want to hear more about her journey, listen to the recording of Tosin’s session on Bi-weekly office hours with Marge & me.

Leverage social media: In today's digital age, social media is a treasure for personal branding. Pick the platforms that your audience uses and start sharing useful content. Talk with your followers, offer insights, and show your expertise. Being consistent is important. Let your personality show – it makes you relatable and memorable. A bit over two years ago when I decided to leverage social media, I chose to use X because my target audience of emerging founders are more likely to be active there. Fast forward two years, I have gone from 10 followers to over 10K followers.

My two pesewas:

The value of building an audience is clear. We are more connected digitally, and founders should join this trend. So, as your team works on building a product and getting customers, think about building your own audience to help your startup grow. Now that you know about personal branding, we will talk about networking in the next issue.

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If you only read one thing this week, read this...

Why is it worth your time? This report shares important data, insights, and expert views to help you understand Nigeria’s shadow economy. If you want to build a company that addresses the informal economy, you should check this report out.

That's all for today. As always, thank you for being an engaged reader.

I'll catch up with you in two weeks with more actionable insights.

Jasiel

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