If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, puzzled or just intimidated by the whole idea of personal branding, you’re not alone. As a branding photographer and visibility strategist, I’ve seen how myths and beliefs about personal branding can really throw people off. But once people realise that it’s not all about wanting to be an influencer or sharing every little secret of your life, it can be powerful and empowering to build a personal brand. Yes really!

In this post, I’m going to walk you through the five biggest myths about personal branding that I’ve come across. So whether you’re the person who cringes at the thought of self-promotion, or you’re just starting to dip your toes into the world of personal branding – this will help bust any myths that you may have heard.

We’re going to break down these myths and shine a light on the truth behind them.  My aim is by the end of this post that you feel a little more confident and ready to embrace your personal brand in a way that feels genuinely you.

I’m also going to be sharing images from the branding shoots I did with the brilliant business coach Karen Kissane in London this summer – you know I can’t share a post without gorgeous images to fill it!

 

Myth #1:  Personal Branding is just for extroverts

So, you know that friend who’s always the life of the party, the one who seems to effortlessly charm everyone in the room? It’s easy to think that personal branding is just for them. But personal branding isn’t just for those who thrive in the spotlight.

If you’re an introvert and more of a behind-the-scenes kind of person, personal branding is for you too. You don’t have to dance on TikTok to build a personal brand (unless you want to of course!) It’s all about sharing your story and your unique strengths. You can use your thoughtful insights, your deep expertise, and those meaningful one-on-one connections you’re so good at.

Personal branding is about being authentically you. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you’re the person who loves to write thoughtful posts on Substack or you just love dancing on Tiktok, there’s room for your wonderfully unique brand in this world.

 

Myth #2: You need to share your deepest secrets in order to build a personal brand

When we hear about authenticity in personal branding, it’s like there’s this unspoken rule that you’ve got to bare your soul to the world. But authenticity doesn’t mean turning your life into an open book for everyone to read.

Think about your favourite actors or authors. They share parts of themselves with us, but it’s not everything, right? It’s the same with personal branding. It’s about sharing stories and experiences that resonate with who you are and what you stand for, not airing out every detail of your personal life.

You can selectively share and pick stories from your life that you’re comfortable sharing and that highlight your journey, values, or expertise. It’s totally okay to have boundaries. Decide what’s off-limits and stick to it. Your comfort is crucial.  Share your passions, the lessons you’ve learned, and what drives you. It’s about connecting on values, not revealing secrets.

Personal branding is about finding that sweet spot where your professional and personal selves meet. It’s like making a new friend – you share and connect, but you also keep certain things just for you. Remember, authenticity is about being true to yourself, not about over-sharing. If you need help getting clarity on your personal brand and what you want to share and what you don’t, check out my personal brand clarity sessions.

Myth #3: You need to be constantly posting on social media to build a personal brand

It seems like the world tells us if you’re not posting every day or going viral, you’re not making your mark. I disagree! There are many people who have built compelling personal brands, who aren’t posting much on social media. Perhaps they have a podcast that their audience adores. Or maybe they have a Substack or newsletter that thousands of people gobble up every single week. Or they are the queen of networking in their industry/area and everyone knows their name.

Sure, social media is a fantastic tool, but it’s not the only one in your toolbox. There are so many other ways to put yourself out there.

It’s not about bombarding your followers with content. It’s about creating meaningful, quality interactions, wherever you choose to have them. Think of it this way: would you rather have a hundred superficial conversations or a handful of meaningful ones?

Myth #4: Building a personal brand will be expensive and time-consuming

I’ll be honest, if you want to build a well-known personal brand and fast, then it’s likely to cost you either money or time. However, most of the clients I work with aren’t trying to become Marie Forleo and certainly not overnight. They just want to be more visible in their area of expertise, so that they can attract more of their dream clients.

Think of it more as a journey rather than a sprint. It’s about taking small, consistent steps that fit into your life and budget. There are plenty of ways you can save yourself time and money, such as planning your content and repurposing it across different platforms. For example, I will be turning this blog post into a series of posts for social media and also into a podcast episode. If you have the budget, then of course there are faster ways to grow your personal brand such as investing in ads or hiring a PR consultant, but it’s certainly not essential to invest a huge amount of money in order to grow your personal brand.

Also make sure you’re engaging, not just creating. Building a brand isn’t just about putting out content. It’s also about engaging with others, networking, and building relationships. And often, this aspect doesn’t cost a thing except your time and genuine interest and can be extremely powerful.

Myth #5: Personal branding is all about self-promotion

There’s this idea that personal branding is all about shouting from the rooftops about how great you are and it’s just for ultra-confident celebrities or influencers. But in reality, personal branding is much more nuanced and relational than that.

Think of it as a two-way street. It’s not just about broadcasting your achievements or skills (don’t be that person!) it’s about building connections, contributing to your community, and adding value to others.

Personal branding is less about relentless self-promotion and more about establishing a meaningful presence. It’s about being known not just for what you do, but also for who you are and how you positively impact those around you. Doesn’t that make it feel so much nicer!

So there you have it, hopefully I’ve managed to debunk these common myths about personal branding and visibility  and helped you to see that personal branding is simply about cranking up the volume on your personality traits in a way that feels good to you and adding value to your audience so that you gain their trust.

I hope you’ve found this useful and enjoyed looking at Karen’s branding photos. Check out how these images were used on Karen’s gorgeous new website! Also, read what Karen had to say about the experience of working with me and why she’s likes to work with experts in this Instagram post (which got me a number of new clients – thank you Karen!)

If you would like more tips like this to help you gain the confidence to get more visible, sign up below to get my 12 page visibility guide and get my monthly emails with tips and inspiration.