Thinkers360 2024 Predictions for Personal Branding are member-sourced from our opt-in B2B thought leader and influencer community with 100M+ followers on social media combined. The 2024 Predictions for Personal Branding are part of a series to provide actionable insights for business and technology executives.
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We asked a selection of our Thinkers360 global thought leaders and influencers about their predictions for Personal Branding in 2024. Here’s what they told us…
What are your predictions for Personal Branding in 2024?
Personal branding in 2024 is going to be more important than ever. We will see the rise of video being used to build thought leadership as well as connecting with others. While posting valuable content is essential when growing a personal brand, it can’t be the end-all and be-all. In 2024, engagement and community will be critical for those who really want to take their personal brand to the next level. It’s not a solo game. You must engage consistently with others and contribute to your community. We will see more and more individuals forming alliances and collaboration partners with other creators for a win-win scenario.
– Mandy McEwen, Founder and CEO at Mod Girl Marketing.
Personal branding came of age in 2023. Up to this point it was deemed as a nice-to-have concept. Now there is clear research / data / science backing the business case for a personal brand. With over 60% of the world’s population active on social media, it comes no surprise to anybody that the modern buyer, your employees, your future employees and your future investors are active on social media. So as a business if you want to sell, be the employer of choice in your business or seek investment you have to be active on social media. When I mean active, a personal brand is table stakes for all employees in business today. So what about the science? Data shows that start-up CEOs and businesses where the leadership team have a personal brand get significantly more backing from investors. This stands to reason because the modern investor is active on social media. Also in their book “the jolt effect”, reviewing a data set of 2 million, Matthew Dixon and Ted McKenna demonstrate why a personal brand, (they call it “buyer’s agent”) is defacto for sales. In fact if you don’t have one, it will impact your win rate the revenue your business can close.
– Timothy (Tim) Hughes, Co-Founder and CEO at DLA Ignite.
The Executive’s Guide to Personal Branding
Whether securing your first management position or stepping into a larger role, personal branding is vital to any stage of your career. Here are some best practices to utilize, even if your place within the C-suite is already justified.
A personal brand is no longer what others say about you when you leave the room. It’s what people know about you before you enter one. Personal branding is getting increasingly important, and in 2024, it will be a must-have strategic tool. The focus will shift from widespread visibility to targeted impact, where individuals will leverage their personal brand to influence niche communities more effectively. Personal branding will no longer be a passive digital footprint but an active, strategic tool for career advancement, thought leadership, and personal growth.
– Olesija Saue, Founder/Personal Branding Coach at Personal Branding Agency Maximizer.
We went through a phase when personal branding had a negative connotation. I think those days are finally over and in 2024 marketers finally realize this might be a central part of our efforts for three reasons 1) with a rise of deepfakes, we will turn to those we trust, 2) we may mistrust ads, but we trust thought leadership, and 3) with AI nipping at our skillsets and perhaps even our careers, being known and trusted may be the only way we can fight back.
– Mark Schaefer, Executive Director at Schaefer Marketing Solutions.
As we look ahead to 2024, personal branding is likely to continue evolving in response to the dynamic landscape of digital media and changing consumer behaviors. Trust, social media, social impact, new technologies and data privacy will be at the forefront of personal branding for 2024. Building trust will remain a priority, however, people are placing an even higher value on authenticity and transparency. Personal brands that prioritize genuine connections and openly communicate with their audience are the ones most likely to thrive. As new social media platforms emerge and existing ones evolve, personal brands may need to diversify their presence. This could mean exploring niche platforms or adapting strategies to fit the unique features of each platform. Personal brands will increasingly align themselves with social causes and advocate for positive change. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the values behind the brands they support, and personal brands that demonstrate a commitment to social impact may gain stronger connections with their audience. The rise of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies may lead to more interactive and immersive personal branding experiences. Effective storytelling will become more crucial than ever before to enable personal brands to capture attention and establish their positioning. Finally, with growing concerns about data privacy, personal brands may need to be more mindful of how they handle and protect user data. Building trust in terms of privacy and security practices will be crucial for maintaining a positive brand image. Successful personal branding in 2024 will involve staying adaptable, embracing emerging technologies, and staying attuned to the evolving preferences of your audience.
– Maria Papacosta, Co-Founder at MSC Marketing Bureau Ltd.
As personal branding has become mainstream across industries, and social selling a widespread norm, in 2024 it’s time to stand out. The more there are specialists creating content and actively building their personal brand, the more important it is to create a stand-out strategy, and reach for a thought leader status. And standing out doesn’t mean more content, but better content, smarter distribution, more creative content and perhaps new channels. 2024 is the year of omnichannel – it’s not enough to be active in one chosen channel like Linkedin, but to create content in other platforms as well. Choose them wisely, perhaps starting with those that you can recognize being used most by your target audience.
– Tom Laine, Head of Marketing/CMO at Manna Insect.
As we head into 2024, the continued evolution of and use of various AI tools in personal branding will go mainstream. Many people use AI to assist in content development whether analyzing data to include or writing initial drafts of content to support their personal brand. This trend will both continue and accelerate with people using AI to add more personalization to their brand, allowing them to create sub-themes to their main brand in support of various audiences. With this, concerns about authenticity in personal branding will grow so people will need to have a clear, accurate way to describe when and how they do or don’t use AI tools. People with very prominent personal brands will need to add even more alerts and be on the lookout for misrepresentation or fake content created in their brand voice. It will be an exciting time with lots of upside, but we still need to manage the risks to reputation and brand.
– Katrina Klier, Senior Managing Partner at Sage Strategy Group.
In 2024, personal branding is set to become a global dialogue, seamlessly bridged by AI and amplified through the power of podcasting. We’re entering an era where authenticity transcends borders, and empathy connects diverse cultures. As we harness AI’s analytical prowess and podcasting’s storytelling magic, our personal brands will not only reach wider, but resonate deeper, creating a universally connected narrative. This is more than branding; it’s about building a world of understanding and shared human experience.
– Grant McGaugh, CEO at 5 STAR BDM LLC.
– The impacts of AI on personal brand management –
Increased use of AI tools for photo generation, content production and primary care via digital platforms, among other applications. What can generate productivity gains, cost reduction and performance, on the other hand can compromise authenticity and authorality. This trend will bring with it the need for a lot of management attention to strike the perfect balance between benefit and what could harm the perception of value of a personal brand.
– Increase in PB in Companies –
Companies with more interested in working on the Personal Branding of their leaders, not just the main Executive. Understanding that the perception of value of a corporate brand involves the performance, conduct and perception of value of the personal brands that make the business happen.
– Storytelling as a practice for genuine connection –
The use of the storytelling technique to construct authentic narratives will be increasingly valued and used, as with the growth in the use of AI for content production, and the questioning by readers/audience about content produced to please algorithms or produced to Starting from an essence of the author, the technique applied to corporate brands, products and even personal brands must be increasingly growing with the impact of generating authentic connections.
– Daniela Viek, Founder and Director at Youbrand.Company.
Unlikely to change would be the need to remain relevant in this age of AI. Therefore, professionals and leaders would adopt the A-B-F Formula of effective communication to stay of mind and amplify their personal brands—but how? First, they would consider their audience to ensure their communication connects and generates trust. Second, they would prioritise the beacons by keeping their communication simple (so it’s believable), brief (so it can be retained), and clear (so it’s actionable). These beacons would make them unforgettable. Third, they would give timely, factual feedback to sharpen their credibility and boost results. When professionals and leaders incorporate my A-B-F Formula in their personal branding efforts, they guarantee their relevance and heighten their influence.
– Lucille Ossai, Bestselling Author, Founder, and Award-Winning Communications Trainer at Rethinking Business Communications Ltd.
In my practice as a mentor and consultant, I have observed that the term “Personal Branding” has become a very “buzz-wordy” catchphrase, often used without fully understanding it. In its purest form it invites us to ask ourselves, “How do I want to be known in the world—what do I stand for—and, how do I convey it in a manner that is unique, clear, AND memorable?” The answer to these questions is simple: First, create a vision statement that, in seven words or fewer, summarizes the essence of the aforementioned questions and learn to use it in a manner that tethers it to us and everything we think, say, and do. Our vision not only serves as our own North Star, it informs the world that we are here; we know who we are and what is ours to do. Marketing, at its best, sells the essence of the vision rather than a product or service. Second, create a mission statement that becomes a roadmap describing the actions we take to manifest that vision. Too many entrepreneurs are wandering aimlessly through the maze—trying to find their niche before they have a vision or a map to get them there. My prediction for Personal Branding in 2024 is that those who understand the meaning, value, and purpose of a vision-led life (business or personal) will thrive; they will arrive successfully at the finish line of 2024 far before those who have not created, embodied, and actualized their vision.
– Dr. Dennis Merritt Jones, Award Winning Author, Mentor, Keynote Speaker at DMJ Presentations LLC.
There is no denying the power of personal branding. We connect with people, their emotions, values and personalities and we trust people when they behave in a way we expect. Individuals, with strong personal brands evoke our trust because we know what they believe and recognise their unique expertise and authority. With social media, the growth of gaming, influencer marketing and the emerging metaverse our on and offline presences become more blurred and entwined. So how are we recognisable online? How do we want to be found and what do we want to be known for, stand up for and represent? To establish yourself in both virtual and actual spaces the creation of a personal brand is imperative if you want to make the decision yourself about how you will be seen and considered. However, personal branding in 2024 and beyond will not just be about establishing thought leadership and driving social selling through enhanced networking or a building block of influencer marketing. It will impact us all. We all need to think about how we appear online and the reputation we are building in these multiple environments. So, for a fresh new year approach, take a look at yourself online, are you where you want to be, are you saying what you want to be heard, are you known for what is important to you? Take steps now to be consistent, clear and committed to your values and beliefs and ensure you represent your true self. Then, harness your personal brand for your own goals – it might be building a business, driving leads, becoming an influencer, or just consistently being you.
– Julie Atherton MBA F IDM, Founder at Small Wonder Ltd.
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