How to Grow Your Personal Brand on Social Media From Scratch (Even If You Have 0 Followers)
If you think you need a fancy camera or a perfect niche to build a strong personal brand, then you are “Wrong”.
Hundreds of thousands of people want to build a strong personal brand or at least have an outstanding online profile, but there are very few who actually create or maintain an exceptional one. They just keep overthinking or doubting themselves, and never have the online profile they desired. If this sounds like you, then relax, every creator you admire, from Bhuvan Bam to Ranveer Allahbadia, started with a shaky, low-quality video that no one even knew existed. If I’m being honest, then an outstanding online profile is not about “perfect content,” it’s about consistency. If you are willing to put yourself out there, even in imperfection, despite the fear of being rejected or made fun of, then this guide will show you how to actually grow from zero without faking anything.
What Is a Personal Brand (in Simple Words)?
Your personal brand is how others perceive you. As entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk notes in a 2019 article about personal branding, “Your personal brand is your reputation. And your reputation in perpetuity is the foundation of your career.” (Forbes).
A personal brand is not only for businesses or big people. Check this out (DSMN8):
- 28% of hiring managers say the most effective resources for finding candidates are their online profiles
- 98% of employers conduct background research about candidates online
- 82% of people are more likely to trust a company when its senior executives are active on social media
- 92% of people trust recommendations from people, even if they don’t know them, over brands
Iman Gadzhi turned personal challenges into a powerful social media presence that seeded a profitable agency, evolved into high-ticket online courses, and leveraged cinematic launch campaigns. His journey shows how disciplined content, strategic reinvestment, and brand control can fuel rapid growth and diversification. (Founders Hut)
Step 1: Pick Your “One-Liner Identity”
Suppose you are on a plane and out of curiosity, your seat partner asks you, “Who are you?” or “What do you do?” Most people would say, “I’m an accountant” or “I run a small business”. Instead, you could say something that the other person not only remembers but is also more curious about you.
Keep it simple: who you are + what you talk about + for whom (It’s totally on you, you could customise it any way you like, this one is the most basic one)
Examples:
- “I’m a BBA student turning social media into a lead machine for family businesses.”
- “I build quick websites that help small brands actually get noticed online.”
- “I help people tell their story online without boring anyone to death.”
Who you are → “I’m a BBA student” / “I build” / “I help people”
What you do → “turning social media into a lead machine” / “build quick websites” / “tell their story online”
For whom → “for family businesses” / “small brands actually get noticed” / implied “without boring anyone”
Exercise:
Pick three things you like to do.
Decide for whom you do what you do.
Combine those two and make three different “One-Liner Identity” introductions.
Step 2: Choose ONE Platform to Start With
Many people often try to master all platforms at once, but actually, this is the fastest way to burn out, get bored, and quit, saying, “I don’t have a good camera.”
Here is a quick comparison of YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn (Vincent Liao)
YouTube | ||
For in-depth insights & SEO (2nd largest search engine) | For brand visualisation, exposure, and quick insights | For networking and building thought leadership |
Optimal Format: 10-15 minute educational content & bts vlogs | Optimal Format: Reels & Video carousels | Optimal Format: Authentic Image + good copy & carousels |
ROI: Authority building and evergreen lead generation | ROI: Trust building and exposure | ROI: Direct lead generation and partnership opportunities |
As I mentioned earlier, do not post on all platforms simultaneously; take one step at a time. Master one platform and then move to the other.
Step 3: What to Post (Even If You Don’t Feel “Expert Enough”)
People go blank when it’s time to post something, even I went blank when I decided to write a blog. But then I asked GPT, and it gave me 5 topics; I chose one from them after doing a little research on all five. In your case, go on whatever platform you have chosen and list down 5 trending content, and choose one to work with. If you’re still blank, then these 3 types of content will get you started.
Three basic types of content :
Document your learnings:
Pick up something you want to learn, start learning it and document the whole journey from knowing nothing about it to being well-versed in that field. It can be anything, like fitness, cooking, reading a book, or even documenting your business journey.
Share your opinions/experiences:
Think about what you did last, saw a movie? Give your opinion on it. Visited a hotel? Give your opinion on it. Used your laptop? Give your opinion on it. Anything you did or used, give your opinion on it.
Teach basics you already know:
Just like you are searching on the internet to build your personal brand, someone in the world might be searching for something. This type is very broad if you’re curious. If you know math, teach it on camera. If you know how to run ADS, teach it on camera. You can teach anything you know, from a basic origami craft to quantum science, if you know it.
Post with clarity:
Plan your content. Don’t just post blindly; make a 6-day content plan and act on it. This simple thing will save you a lot of time and give you a lot of clarity to work with. Because you will have a topic to create content on every day, you just have to work on it
The Ugly Truth People Don’t Tell You
People always see a Lambo and say Wow, but only a few can understand how hard the other person worked to have it. You may not see any growth in a month or two, and that’s where people quit. You have to be patient with yourself and your content.
“Most growth happens as a result of many small steps. The key is to keep taking them.” — Dan Sullivan (quotlr)
Now you have the guide and clarity on where and how to start. If you wait to be ready, then you have to wait your whole life.
The best and fastest way to success is “to start and not stop until you have it”.
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” – Ernest Hemingway (snhu.edu)
Truly a nice blog. The way you’ve crafted is really good. I never thought you could write this much better about this topic as it’s realistic and a huge problem because even an influencer who have followers in millions are facing such issues about what to post and what to work with. I found this one realistic and bit different from other blogs because it’s personally related to my life and somewhere.. every middle class person can relate with it because the biggest question arises in the mind is that from where they can start? And that’s true that most of the people quit just because they didn’t get the response in a short term. But the patience is must. And agreed with your blog. Sending you goodlucks for your future.
Thank you.