personal branding resume examples

Top 10 Personal Brand Statement Examples To Follow

Updated: June 11, 2024

Published: June 18, 2023

In a 2022 personal branding trends study, most respondents said they consider personal branding an essential component of work and their everyday life. 

It found that 75% of Americans trust someone with a personal brand, and 63% are likely to buy from someone with a personal brand. 

What is a personal brand statement?

A personal brand statement is a couple of sentences that highlights your unique skills and experience. It’s meant to be a quick introduction to people who discover you online because it summarizes what you can offer them.

Basically, it’s a catchphrase, tag line, or elevator pitch for you as a professional individual. While it showcases what you do professionally, you can also display your personality.

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Why leaders should have a personal brand statement

You make a better first impression.

As the saying goes, “You only have one shot to make a first impression.” The challenge for entrepreneurs is that you don’t always know when that opportunity arises, as many first impressions happen online.

When a potential client or investor hears about you, their first instinct is to look up your social media profiles. If you’ve got a clear and well-thought-out personal brand statement, you’ve got a better chance at making them stick around for second and third impressions.

You can establish yourself as a thought leader

Thought leadership is a powerful content marketing tactic that can help you reach bigger audiences and generate leads for your business. When you’re known as a leader in your particular industry, that automatically gives you a higher level of credibility. 

A personal brand statement can strengthen your thought leadership strategy by clearly stating your area of expertise.

You can create networking opportunities

Whether you’re looking for top talent, new clients, or potential investors, networking is half the battle. 

Personal brand statements make it easy for potential connections to understand exactly what you do and what you value. Without it, you may miss out on opportunities simply because they didn’t know that you had something relevant to offer them.

Best personal brand statement examples for leaders

“bilingual creative who lives at the intersection of business & design.” —chris do.

Source: Chris Do’s LinkedIn page .

Chris Do is a multi-hyphenate: a designer, creative strategist, public speaker, founder, and CEO of The Futur, an online education platform.

What makes it great : Because he wears so many hats, Do’s personal branding statement is better than trying to explain everything he does.

“Helping people find their zen in the digital age.” —Shama Hyder

Source: Shama Hyder’s homepage .

Shama Hyder is the founder and CEO of Zen Media, a marketing and PR firm. She’s also written a book about digital marketing .

What makes it great : Hyder’s brand statement is an attention-grabbing play on her company’s name and showcases one of her key values: making clients feel a sense of calm in a fast-paced digital world.

“Write better sales emails faster with our in-inbox coach.” —Will Allred

Source: Will Allred’s LinkedIn page .

Will Allred is the co-founder of Lavender, an AI-powered email software startup.

What makes it great : Brooklin Nash, CEO of Beam Content, shares, “In one sentence, Allred captures the entire focus of his social presence: to help salespeople write better emails faster while demonstrating his authority and sharing his product in the second part of that headline.”

“Keeping it awkward, brave, and kind.” —Brené Brown

Source: Dr. Brené Brown’s homepage .

Brené Brown has a Ph.D. in sociology and is the author of several books that cover topics like shame, vulnerability, empathy, and courage.

What makes it great : Dr. Brown’s personal brand statement embodies her mission statement of encouraging people to embrace their vulnerabilities by sharing her own.

“Empowering ridiculously good marketing.” —Ann Handley

Source: Ann Handley’s homepage .

Ann Handley is a digital marketing expert and bestselling author. Her company helps marketers get tangible results.

What makes it great : Sharon Jonah, creative director and founder of digital marketing agency Buzz Social, shares, “In four words, we understand what Handley does, how she does it, whom she’s speaking to, and how she speaks.”

“Still just a girl who wants to learn. Youngest-ever Nobel laureate, co-founder @malalafund and president of Extracurricular Productions.” —Malala Yousafzai

Source: Malala Yousafzai’s Twitter profile .

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel laureate and an activist whose fund aims to remove the barriers to female education around the world.

What makes it great : Her bio highlights her impressive achievements with language that makes her sound relatable. 

“Marketing. Strategy. Humanity.” —Mark Schaefer

Source: Mark Schaefer’s homepage .

Mark Schaefer is an educator, speaker, marketing consultant, and author. He’s developed corporate marketing strategies for brands like Microsoft, IBM, and AT&T.

What makes it great : “It’s subtle, concise, and creative. It describes what Schaefer does, what he focuses on, and his unique and distinguished approach,” says Omer Usanmaz, CEO and co-founder of mentoring and learning software Qooper. 

“Empowering successful women to take control of their finances.” —Jennifer Welsh

Source: Jennifer Welsh’s LinkedIn profile page .

Jennifer Welsh founded Money School, a digital course that teaches women about personal finance. What makes it great : Welsh’s strong personal brand statement says exactly what she does and whom she does it for. 

“Let’s make Excel the solution, not the problem.” —Kat Norton (Miss Excel)

Source: Miss Excel’s homepage .

Kat Norton (known as Miss Excel) became famous on TikTok for her bite-sized Microsoft Excel tutorials. She now offers Excel courses on her website.

What makes it great : Norton’s clever statement shows that she understands her audience's problem and highlights her personality.

“‘The Customer Whisperer.’ I help marketers discover the hidden reasons why customers buy so they can become un-ignorable.” —Katelyn Bourgoin

Source: Katelyn Bourgoin’s LinkedIn page .

Katelyn Bourgoin is a creator and serial entrepreneur who founded a branding agency, a mentoring platform for female entrepreneurs, and a restaurant consulting firm. She trains entrepreneurs to uncover what makes their products “un-ignorable.”

What makes it great : Bourgoin’s clever branding statement effectively tells marketers that she can help them understand their customers better and make their brands memorable.

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How to write a personal brand statement

Writing an effective personal brand statement can be tough because it requires you to be catchy yet compelling. It should give audiences all the necessary information in a sentence or two.

Here are some tips for writing your own:

Think about your unique value proposition

A unique value proposition (or unique selling point) is what makes you different. It tells people why they should try your product or service, network with you, or invest in your business.

Tip : Identify your core values, goals, and strengths.

If you don't know what those are, ask yourself:

• Why am I building my brand?
• What do I want my audience to know me for?
• How do I do things differently?
• Do I have a distinct skill set, experience, point of view, or passion?
• What value do I bring to my audience?

Keep it short and sweet

Your brand statement should be simple and easy to understand. 

The goal is to have someone look at your profile or website and immediately understand who you are and what you do, so keep it brief. Keep in mind that you don’t need full sentences either. 

Start by writing one to three sentences that outline what you do, for whom, and how you do it. You can also add a sentence about values. 

Then, look at different ways you can shorten them. Or pick out the most specific and impactful words and see what happens when you simply list them. 

Showcase your personality

Injecting your personality empowers you to share what you do without being bland or boring. Being authentic also helps attract like-minded customers, investors, and peers. 

At the end of the day, there are other people out there who may offer similar services or solve the same problems for your target audience. Your personality can set you apart.

“Don't be afraid to inject a bit of humor, quirkiness, and passion. It’ll help make you more memorable and help you stand out from the crowd,” says Usanmaz.

Ideally, you want customers to know what you do and get a little taste of what it will be like to work with you.

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10 Personal Brand Statement Examples to Inspire You

By Biron Clark

Published: November 11, 2023

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

Today’s job market and business markets are more competitive than ever. In order to succeed, you’ll need to set yourself apart with a good personal branding strategy.

And one of the first things you need to do when creating your personal brand is  establish a powerful personal branding statement. This short statement will be the foundation of all of your branding efforts moving forward, so it’s important to get it right.

In this article, we’ll look at tips for creating a unique personal branding statement , and 10 of the best personal brand statement examples to inspire you.

Let’s get started…

What is a Personal Brand Statement?

A personal brand statement is a one or two-sentence phrase that accurately sums up what you do and what you stand for. It’s essentially your unique selling proposition, the thing you do better than any of your competitors. Think of it as your slogan. The best personal branding statements are catchy, memorable, and attention-grabbing.

It’s worth creating a personal branding statement whether you’re a job seeker, freelancer, or entrepreneur. Anyone looking to network and stand out can benefit from having a great personal brand statement.

Coming up with the perfect statement is tricky, though…

It needs to be short while also conveying the value you provide to employers, clients, or customers. It should also have a certain level of intrigue that makes people want to learn more about you .

Your personal brand statement is the first thing people will associate with you, so take your time and come up with something you’re completely happy with.

So just what should a personal brand statement look like? It really depends on you and your personality, but below are some sample personal brand statements to consider.

Let’s say you’re a digital marketer . Your personal branding statement could be:

I develop powerful digital marketing strategies that help businesses find new customers.

Or if you’re a real estate agent you could say something like:

I can help you find your dream home for the price you want.

An effective personal brand statement is short and to the point, so choose your words carefully. Utilize words that evoke emotion and hone in on the one benefit you provide that people will be most interested in.

Don’t worry if you’re still not sure how to go about creating your personal branding statement. In the next section, we’re going to look at the best personal branding statement examples from around the web.

Creating a Personal Branding Statement: 10 Best Examples

It can be difficult to imagine what the ideal statement should look like on your own, so we’ve assembled some best personal brand statement examples from multiple categories. These personal branding statements have absolutely nailed it and are compelling, engaging, and extremely effective. 

Use the personal branding statement examples below for inspiration when coming up with your own.

1. “I help thought leaders write great books in just 90 days. 300 satisfied clients so far.”

– Mindy Gibbins-Klein

This personal brand statement follows a classic formula: “I help ___ do ___”.

The first blank is your ideal type of customer or employer.

Then, the second blank is the result you help them achieve. This can be their desired result/outcome of working with you, the main problem they need solved, etc.

We consider this basic “I help ___ do ___” formula as the go-to option for most job seekers, freelancers, consultants and coaches. 

This person then added a unique touch to their personal brand statement by including some social proof, where they said, “300 satisfied clients so far.”

Mentioning that you’ve helped many clients/companies succeed in the past is a great way of showing you’ll be able to help the next customer, too.

This next personal branding statement example uses the same general formula, so don’t worry if you don’t quite “get it” yet.

Here it is:

2. “I help manufacturing organizations improve their processes to reduce waste and grow profits.”

– Kent Blumberg

While this might appear a bit different than the first personal branding statement example we looked at, it’s also based on the, “I help ___ do ___” format.

(You could re-organize this to follow that formula word-for-word and say: “I help manufacturing organizations energize, focus and align their operations….”)

This personal branding statement does a great job of being specific in terms of the target customer, and result they’ll get by working with this person.

If you’re going to use this layout/formula for creating your own personal branding statement, you want to be narrow and focused, just like this example is.

So what type of employer or client can you help most? Large corporations? Growth-stage companies? E-commerce companies? That’s the type of phrase you want to use. In the example above, the target client is “manufacturing organizations.”

Then, the outcome/result of working with this person is also crystal-clear in this example: faster processing, less waste, and more profits.

Now let’s move on to some personal brand statement examples that get a bit more creative…

3. “Let’s build job-free income.”

– Nick Loper

Wouldn’t you like to have an income without having a job? Of course you would. That’s why Nick Loper’s personal branding statement is so effective.

Nick’s blog Side Hustle Nation discusses all the different ways entrepreneurs can build their own business and eventually escape the corporate grind. By using a term like “job-free income” he really zeroes in on exactly what his audience is looking to achieve, allowing him to immediately get their attention.

We love using the word “Let’s” because it shows that you’ll be partnering and working toward a common goal. At the time of writing this article, our own headline on our homepage uses this idea and says, “Let’s find your dream job”.

4. “Do you want more traffic?”

– Neil Patel

Ok, so this is more of a question than a statement. But every business and website wants more traffic, and Neil Patel has the knowledge and know-how to make it happen.

Neil is one of the world’s leading online marketers who is world-renowned for his SEO and traffic creation prowess. His personal branding statement is extremely simple, but it works because he has the reputation to back up his claim that he can, in fact, get you more traffic. Using a question is also a way to spark intrigue and curiosity.

There are no rules you  must follow when creating a personal branding statement. It’s okay to think outside the box and ask a question or do something different than the competition.

5. “Move well, eat well, think well.”

– Adam Cobb

This personal brand statement is another example of how you don’t always have to be overly sophisticated or clever. Sometimes simple is best.

Adam Cobb is a fitness and nutrition coach who aims to help improve lives through exercise, healthy eating, and spiritual awareness. So, his personal branding statement perfectly sums up exactly what he’s all about and how he can help you. If you can concisely describe exactly what you can do for people you’re sure to come up with a powerful personal branding statement.

Note that you could also adapt this to fit the go-to formula we looked at earlier: I help ___ do ___.

Here’s how it’d look: “I help people move well, eat well, and think well.”

Or you could even make it better-targeted and more narrow (as mentioned, it’s good to be specific/precise about who you can help). Here’s an example of how this personal brand statement could be narrowed further: “I help busy professionals move well, eat well, and think well.”

6. “Helping you build a big brand with your small business.”

– Kate Toon

Do you have a niche are a particular clientele that you service? Consider working that into your personal branding statement, as Kate Toon has done here.

Kate is a copywriter who specializes in helping small businesses reach a wider audience. She could have focused on her expert copywriting skills or her knowledge of SEO (search engine optimization). Instead, she speaks right to her target audience and tells them exactly how she can help them. Remember, it’s not always about what you can do, but also who you can do it for.

7. “Achieve social media mastery.”

– Mari Smith

Do you want to be great at something? Or do you want to be a master? Sometimes, it’s all about finding the right words in order to really make an impact.

Mari Smith rose to prominence as one of the leading authorities on social media marketing. She now provides expert training and consulting services to some of the world’s leading businesses. Mari could have promised to help people become a social media “expert,” “professional,” or “whiz.” But by saying she’ll help you achieve mastery of the subject she really sets herself apart from her peers.

8. “Create less content. (It’ll be fine! I promise!)”

– Brittany Berger

Sometimes by subverting expectations, you can really grab people’s attention. This personal brand statement is an excellent example of that.

Brittany Berger is a leading content marketer that uses a slightly different angle to get clients. She promotes actually creating less content, and instead focuses more on effectively using content to gain traffic. Wouldn’t you love to get better results with less effort? That’s exactly what Brittany promises. Adding “It’ll be fine! I promise!” also infuses a bit of personality into her statement, which helps improve its effectiveness.

9. “It’s time to unleash your epicness.”

– Felicia Hatcher

These days people want everything to be epic. So why can’t you be epic too?

Felicia Hatcher’s motivational speeches are legendary. As a former “C” student who secured $130,000 in free money for college, she helps show people how anyone can find success.

Her personal brand statement is another great example of how choosing your words carefully can make a huge difference in effectiveness. “Epicness” may not be a real word, but it tells you right away that Felicia is going to teach you things that no one else will, and probably have high-energy and enthusiasm for what she does.

10. “Be a unicorn in a sea of donkeys.”

– Larry Kim

If you’re ever unsure about what approach you should take with your statement, go for something completely unique and different to set yourself apart.

Larry Kim is a search marketing expert, and the founder of Wordstream and Mobile Monkey. His personal brand statement, “Be a unicorn in a sea of donkeys,” is completely different than anything used by his peers, and yet it perfectly conveys his message. Don’t follow the masses. Be different. Be special. This personal brand statement example is wildly creative and yet perfectly understandable.

Now It’s Your Turn

You’ve seen 10 of the best personal brand statement examples from real people and businesses. Now it’s your turn to create one for yourself. Consider your personality, what’s important to you, and the value you can offer, and come up with something that’s uniquely you.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

2 thoughts on “10 Personal Brand Statement Examples to Inspire You”

“Be a unicorn in a sea of donkeys” – Genius!

I’m not looking for a job, but I think that considering my personality is very important for me and my personal brand. Thank you very much for the suggestions.

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How to Write a Personal Brand Statement for Your Resume

• Bahasa Indonesia

If, as the wise adage goes, people don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses, then it should come as no surprise to learn that bosses don’t hire qualifications, they hire people.

When a company advertises for a position, they’re not simply looking for a set of skills. (Otherwise, they would’ve advertised for a robot). They’re looking for a human with a pleasant personality, a certain set of values, and the right attitude to add value to the company team.

And to find that right person, employers look to one specific place on a resume: your personal branding statement.

Personal branding is the packaging of your values, goals, and experience in a way that shows what unique solutions you can offer an employer.

Done right, your personal brand statement can make your resume stand out from the pile of sameness that floods your potential employer’s desk and put you first in line for that interview call everyone’s holding their breath for.

Why Most Resume Statements Don’t Work

How many times have you read the following phrases before, or something painfully close? 

• “energetic and ambitious individual" 
• “self-motivated and dedicated professional” 
• “works well under pressure” 
• “organized and detailed-oriented”

Many times, correct? You may even have a couple of these bland phrases decorating your own resume.

Now imagine how many times employers read these same commonplace phrases when sifting through hundreds of CVs looking for that special person for their company. And imagine also how un-special everyone sounds!  

The problem with these phrases is that they’re too general to be meaningful. In an attempt to describe themselves in a way that pleases everyone, most job candidates end up using generic phrases that appeal to no one because they communicate nothing fundamental about the person behind the resume. 

In order to craft a memorable and unique personal brand statement for your resume that shows employers why they should hire you (and not just your skills), you’ll have to dig deeper than superficial adjectives and communicate your true essence—briefly but convincingly.

3 Steps to Crafting a Memorable Resume Personal Statement

The trouble with crafting a unique and specific personal branding statement is that it can’t be formulaic. And so there’s no precise formula that everyone can follow.

Nevertheless, there are three basic elements that every successful personal resume statement should incorporate. These are the core consideration points for writing a unique and memorable statement about yourself:

1. Professional Values

Values play a big role in how we function in the world and in the decisions we make. None of us can work for very long in an environment that contradicts our core values.

If, for example honesty is one of your highest values, then you’d be miserable working for someone making money through deceit and manipulation.

What are your top professional values? What kind of conditions and environment allow you to perform your work at the best of your abilities and with the greatest happiness?

Do you value challenges in your work or a laid-back approach? Do you need creative freedom or do you perform best under guidelines? Do you value a strict timeline or are you better working with movable deadlines?

Write down a list of the values that you consider important, and then pick the one or two values that matter most to you. What value could you not work without?

There’s no right or wrong answer here. The important thing is to understand your true values so you can project them in your statement. If you do so successfully, you’ll appeal to employers who respect your values and can offer you a position where you feel fulfilled and appreciated.

2. Professional Goals and Aspirations

Finding a new job isn’t just about the present moment. Job seekers (not to mention employers) hope for a position that will last a few years. How would you like your career to progress in those few years (and beyond)?

Do you aspire to become the head of your department one day? Are you hoping to switch departments at some point in your career? Are you willing to be flexible with the tasks you perform or do you want to specialize on a very particular section of your industry?

Your professional aspirations directly speak to the value you can bring to an employer, and not just immediately, but also in the long run. A person who hopes “to manage the company’s creative department in the near future” appears much more valuable to a potential employer than a general “ambitious and energetic individual.”

Ambitious and energetic towards what end? Show potential employers how your specific professional goals and aspiration can benefit them in the future and they’ll be much more willing to give you a chance to get there.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What about in 10 years? What would you like to achieve professionally?

3. Past Experience In Relation to Your Goals and Values

Your resume will provide the details of your professional experience. What you want to do in your personal branding statement is showcase how specific past experiences reflect your core values and future goals.

Anyone can say that they’re creative, or organized, or ambitious, or systematic, or communicate well—but where’s the proof?

Think back on your professional career and pinpoint the moments that show how your creativity, timeliness, leadership skills, or your philanthropic nature added value to your past employers. What did you specifically accomplish in each situation that could have also benefited your future employer?

Resume Personal Brand Statement Examples

With your notes from the three steps above in front of you, you’re now ready to start putting together your personal brand statement. Although there’s no formula for a brand statements (because formulaic statements would defeat the purpose of personal branding), the important key to remember is that your resume personal statement should weave together all three of the elements we’ve uncovered in our exercise above.

To give you ideas on how you can structure a winning personal brand statement, let’s look at some personal brand statement examples and how they use each of the three elements:

Web Developer with extensive experience in wireframing and coding interactive websites and mobile apps for the startup world with a number of remote teams, who enjoys the fast-paced environment of the tech industry and being part of pioneering teams.

Values : Working remotely and being challenged. Goals : Work with innovative creative teams. Experience : Built websites and apps for startups working off site.

Having worked as a senior graphic designer for the last 7 years in ad agency organizing major campaigns and designing for multinational clients, I’m looking to offer my strong leadership skills to an innovating team working on cutting-edge design.  

Values : Design innovation and experimentation. Goals : Department/team leader. Experience : Agency world and campaign organization.

Having studied photography and video editing, I bring a unique understanding to my current work as a freelance animator for educational companies. As a strong communicator, I enjoy working on projects with deeper messages and strong morals.

Values : Communication and moral education. Goals : Switch departments from video editing to animation. Experience : Freelance projects and educational material. 

What’s Your Personal Brand Statement?

It’s your turn now to construct a succinct and powerful personal brand statement that will make you stand out from the competition and capture the attention of potential employers.

Consider these resume personal statement examples to work on putting together your own. Ask yourself how you'll weave your values, goals, and experience into a succinct and powerful personal brand statement for your resume? Give it a go in the comment section below!

We have a number of  professional resume templates  available for purchase on GraphicRiver—with advanced branding features and pro designs.

Editorial Note: This content was originally published on January 5, 2016. We're sharing it again because our editors have determined that this information is still accurate and relevant.

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9 Personal Brand Statement Examples To Help You Craft Your Own Brand

There's a lot that goes into building a strong personal brand . And one of the most important elements of a personal brand is a brand statement. Just like brands and businesses have a statement that says something about them and their values, you need a strong statement of who you are and what you can do.

It doesn't have to be a lengthy account of your entire life and career. In fact, a personal brand statement is often most effective when it's concise and to the point. Ann Handley's personal brand statement, for example, is just four words:

" Empowering ridiculously good marketing ."

It says all you need to know about her as a marketer and thought leader.

So, what makes a great personal brand statement? How do you even go about writing one? We share some of our favorite personal brand statement examples to inspire you.

9 Personal Brand Statement Examples To Help You Craft Your Own Brand:

What is a personal brand statement, 9 personal brand statement examples for inspiration, why is a personal brand statement important, what are the elements of a strong personal brand statement, how to craft your own personal brand statement, best practices for writing a personal brand statement, time to build yourself a brand, frequently asked questions.

Your personal brand statement is basically a catchphrase that says something about your expertise and what makes you unique. It gives people a quick glance into what you can do so they'll be able to understand how you can be of benefit to them. And if it's catchy enough, that's how people are going to recognize and remember you.

Think of it as your elevator pitch or your personal tagline. It should be memorable, concise, and impactful. It's usually just a sentence or a few words, but it can say a lot about who you are and what you offer.

Let's say you're a designer. Your personal brand statement could be "Designing wardrobe favorites. " It's short but tells the reader that you specialize in fashion design and have a knack for creating pieces that people love.

Similarly, if you're a marketer, your personal brand statement could be " I tell stories that sell." Again, it's quite short and sweet, but it gives a clear indication of your skills in storytelling and driving sales. We cover this in more detail in our personal branding 101 guide .

Next up, who might want to see your personal brand statement? It's usually recruiters and potential employees. However, clients also tend to judge your expertise based on the personal branding statement on your website or social media profiles. And let's not forget networking events and conferences, where your personal brand statement can set you apart from others. 

We have included personal brand statements of people from different walks of life to make this guide more comprehensive. These statements are meant to give you an idea of what your own personal brand statement could look like.

1. Madalyn Sklar

I’ve been hard at work on a new project that is quite a departure from my usual social media marketing content. It’s about something much more personal, #ChronicPain . Take a listen to my story. Maybe the info will help you or a loved one. https://t.co/6O0NoikvCB — Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar) December 1, 2023

Personal Brand Statement:

Host of the @KratomStory podcast 🍃 Previously known as the tattoo-wearing social media evangelist, Twitter Guru & Fearless leader of @GoGirlsMusic

Madalyn Sklar is a social media influencer and serial entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in social media strategy, community leadership, and digital marketing. She started her journey in 1996 with the launch of Cybersites Web Design, which was among the first-ever web design companies in Houston. She's also the founder of GoGirlsMusic, an online community that empowers and supports women in the music industry.

One of her most recent contributions to the digital world is the #TwitterSmarter brand with a podcast and X threads. The hashtag has become an international trend in which users share tips and strategies for success on X.

Why It Works

Madalyn's personal brand statement, right off the bat, tells you exactly what she is passionate about and who she wants to help. It's straightforward, energetic, and action-oriented. The use of powerful phrases like "rockstar results" and "just do it" captures the attention and motivates her audience to take action.

Her statement also mentions her motto, which is a key element in personal branding . It reflects her values and beliefs, which she not only lives by but also teaches to others. More importantly, she shows her specialization: Twitter. Yes, she's a social media guru, but she has a specific focus, which helps her stand out from the crowd.

2. Neil Patel

I'll never have millions of followers on social media. Sure, I have over a million followers on YouTube and over a million on Facebook, but I'll never have anything like a Tony Robbins, Gary Vee, or even a Kardashian. Why? Because my content isn't applicable to a wide… — Neil Patel (@neilpatel) July 21, 2024

Founder of @NPDigital. New York Times bestselling author, Forbes top 10 marketer, and creator of 1 of the 100 most brilliant companies by Entrepreneur Magazine.

Neil Patel is a well-known digital marketing expert, blogger, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. He started his career at the young age of 16, and since then, he has founded multiple successful companies such as Kissmetrics, CrazyEgg, UberSuggest, and NP Digital.

Neil's personal brand statement highlights his impressive achievements and credentials, backed by reputable sources like the New York Times and Forbes, immediately positioning him as an authority in his field and building trust with his audience. Plus, the statement shows his many roles, including entrepreneur, marketer, and author.

He follows a "show, not tell" approach by mentioning his marketing agency , NP Digital, and other achievements. Since the organizations that have recognized him as a top marketer are well-known and respected, his brand instantly gains credibility.

3. Noah Kagan

Noah Kagan personal website

Hola, I am the Chief Sumo at AppSumo.com, where we help entrepreneurs kick more ass. Before that, I was a cubicle monkey at Intel, #30 at Facebook and #4 at Mint. These are my stories on marketing, starting a business, personal improvement and productivity tips.

Known for launching AppSumo.com, a platform where businesses can find deals on software products, Noah Kagan is a prominent figure in the world of entrepreneurship and marketing. He is also a successful YouTuber, sharing business tips and insights on his channel. His personal brand statement comes from the About section of his website.

Noah introduces himself with a casual and friendly greeting, using the word "Hola" to create a sense of warmth and approachability. He states his current role as the Chief Sumo at AppSumo.com, again using a playful and unique title to show his creativity.

Next, he mentions his previous experience at well-known companies like Intel, Facebook and Mint, highlighting his impressive career journey. These mentions serve as the past experience section on a resume; they tell the reader that the person knows what he's talking about. Towards the end, he establishes himself as an expert in the fields of marketing, starting a business, personal improvement, and productivity.

Noah's personal statement works because it's not merely a list of his credentials. It also exudes his personal tone. Phrases like "Chief Sumo" and "kick more ass" are typically unusual in a professional setting. However, Noah uses them to show a more human and relatable side to his personal brand.

4. Melyssa Griffin

Melyssa Griffin personal website

I'm a former high school teacher turned entrepreneur who loves few things more than a good hug (my love language is Physical Touch, so I'm aaaaall for a tight squeeze), hopping on a flight to anywhere, and teaching people like you how to live an abundant and limitless life. 

Melyssa Griffin is a teacher-turned-entrepreneur who expanded her blog into a multimillion-dollar business in just three years. She shares her "secret sauce" for building a company in her online courses and mentorship programs. Her personal statement, even though not heavily focused on achievements, gets the right message across.

Melyssa's personal statement highlights her unique journey from a high school teacher to a successful entrepreneur, which in itself is an ode to her growth mindset. If she's done this for herself, she must know how to help others achieve the same growth, wouldn't she?

Like Noah, her statement also includes a human touch, as she mentions her love for a good hug. What makes her statement work is that she doesn't just list her achievements, but instead, she shares her passion for teaching and helping others. It makes the reader feel that she truly cares about them and is not solely focused on making money or gaining recognition. 

5. Sean Cannell

Sean Cannell personal website

Helping you build your influence with online video.

Sean Cannell is a YouTuber and entrepreneur who teaches his followers how to create a YouTube strategy for their businesses. He makes YouTube videos and creates online courses to teach his audience how to use video marketing to grow their influence and business.

Sean's personal brand statement directly addresses his target audience: individuals or businesses who want to build their influence with online video. He doesn't use "people" or "audience" but specifically says "you." That's a powerful word that makes the reader feel like he's speaking directly to them, which immediately creates a connection.

Despite being short, the statement clearly communicates what Sean does. It also carves a speciality for him—video—in the broader field of digital marketing. The specificity of his statement hits the mark.

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6. Jennifer Welsh

Empowering successful women to take control of their finances.

Jennifer Welsh is a financial coach and entrepreneur who teaches women how to invest in the stock market. Previously working as the Director of Employee Experience at Thrive Internet Marketing Agency , she has since founded several communities, including Money School and Audience & Income.

Jennifer's personal brand statement works because it's targeted towards a specific demographic: successful women. She doesn't specifically state that she teaches stock market investing but rather uses the word "empowering," which is indicative of a more holistic approach to finances. That helps her attract women who would be interested in Money School, her week-by-week strategy for debt repayment, budgeting, mindful spending, and stock market investing.

7. Nomadic Matt

Nomadic Matt personal website

I'm Nomadic Matt, the New York Times best-selling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and Ten Years a Nomad , and the founder of this website! And I'm here to help you save money on your next trip.

Nomadic Matt is a blogger and travel expert who has been traveling the world for over a decade. He has a successful travel blog where he shares his time-tested tips for travelers. Besides being the author of two best-selling books, he also offers guides to help people travel on a budget.

Matt's personal statement has quite a conversational tone to it, which works well in his industry. He starts by introducing himself and his accomplishments, immediately establishing credibility. He then uses inclusive language, saying, "I'm here to help YOU," which makes the reader feel personally addressed and creates a sense of connection.

His personal statement is effective because it addresses a common problem many travelers face: budget constraints. The prior mention of his best-selling works further solidifies his expertise in this area.

8. Ann Handley

Ann Handley personal website

Empowering ridiculously good marketing.

Ann Handley is a pioneer in digital marketing. She is also a writer and a speaker who helps other marketers scale up their marketing businesses to deliver exceptional results. Her simple tagline says that she empowers "ridiculously good marketing."

Ann's personal statement works because of how strong of a case it creates for her work. The use of "ridiculously good" shows that her work is not just good. She's setting the bar high, which is an excellent way to draw potential clients in.

This statement gives you an idea of just how good Ann is at her job. It also gives you a fair idea of how approachable and relatable she is because the tone is casual.

In a more descriptive explanation, Ann says that she inspires other marketers to "create marketing magic." This gives you the idea that she helps other marketers do something that they once thought was impossible.

9. Shama Hyder

Shama Hyder personal website

Helping people find their zen in the digital age.

Shama Hyder is a digital marketing expert and keynote speaker who helps people navigate the digital marketing world. She has also written several books, including The Zen of Social Media Marketing and Momentum: How to Propel Your Marketing and Transform Your Brand in the Digital Age. Her personal statement is sweet and short, but it speaks volumes about her work.

Shama's personal brand statement is effective due to its closeness to her brand. She uses "zen" quite strategically, playing on its double meaning: first, the idea of finding balance and second, using it to hint at her global marketing and digital PR firm, Zen Media. Entrepreneur Magazine has also named her the "Zen Master of Marketing," so her use of the term "zen" aligns well with her already established personal brand.

Another reason why this statement works is that Shama positions herself as someone who can help businesses find that balance in the midst of all the chaos of the digital age. The absence of mentioning how she does so leaves room for curiosity and encourages potential clients to reach out and learn more about her services.

Your personal brand statement serves several purposes. For starters, it helps you stand out from the crowd. It's a representation of your skills, personal values, accomplishments, experiences, and characteristics that make you unique. You can use this statement to search for jobs or network with industry professionals.

Moreover, a personal brand statement allows you to tell people who you are instead of letting them assume your identity. It gives you control over how others perceive you. Carl Jung , the famous Swiss psychologist, explains this quite well by saying,

" The world will ask who you are, and if you do not know, the world will tell you ."

Your personal statement helps you take charge of your brand and shape it in the way you want others to see it.

When creating an online brand or portfolio for yourself and your services, a personal brand statement also helps bolster credibility. According to a paper published by Sergey Gorbatov , a PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, personal branding sits

" at the junction of marketing, sociology, communication, psychology, organizational behavior, and some would claim even accounting. " 

So, it's not just a statement but a psychological, sociological, and marketing tool to help you succeed in your personal and professional life.

A strong personal brand statement has the following elements.

• Conciseness: You want it to be memorable and easy to recite, so aim for about 1-2 sentences maximum.
• Authenticity: Your personal statement should come from a genuine place and not be generic or fabricated.
• Clarity: Keep your personal brand statement simple. Avoid using jargon or complex language.
• Relevancy: Your personal brand statement should be relevant to your current goals and aspirations. It should also align with the industry or field you are targeting.
• Achievements/Accomplishments: Include your most significant and relevant achievements to exhibit your skills.
• Personal Brand Personality : Your personal brand statement should reflect your personality and values. Let your uniqueness shine through.

Let's look at how all of these elements are present in an effective statement, such as Debbie Levitt's . Here's her personal brand statement:

I'm The Mary Poppins of CX/UX. I fly in, find the true problems, improve everything I can, make the magic happen, sing a few songs, and fly away to the next project… or I can stick around! I'm dedicated to transforming companies, departments, teams, projects, products, services, and experiences by focusing on the full arc of the Customer Experience.

The first sentence instantly establishes Debbie's personality. She stays authentic, clear, and relevant by explaining what she can do for a company. Her statement is also concise and easy to remember. She shows her accomplishment by explaining that she can transform the "full arc of the customer experience."

Jason Hartman , entrepreneur, speaker, and author, provides a comprehensive approach to creating your personal brand statement. He says,

" There are three main factors to consider in the process of creating your brand: 1) Connection with your niche, 2) A shared worldview with your audience, and 3) That you be trusted as a source of information. "

Here's how to put these factors into practice.

Step 1: Identify Your Unique Value Proposition

What is it that you offer that sets you apart from others? What skills, achievements, experiences, and qualities make you stand out? This is your unique value proposition.

Michael Hyatt explains this well,

" Your brand is what sets you apart from others. It's what makes you unique and memorable ."

So, focus on what you do best.

Step 2: Define Your Target Audience

Your personal brand statement should be targeted towards a specific audience. Identify who your ideal customers/clients are and what you can offer them.

For example, Jennifer Welsh's main audience is women. So, as we mentioned earlier, her statement specifically mentions helping women. Similarly, Nomadic Matt addresses travelers, and Ann Handley talks to marketers.

Step 3: Express Your Core Message

Gary Vaynerchuk , CEO of VaynerMedia, explains how to really make your brand shine,

" The best strategy for building a personal brand is to be 100% 'you,' without watering down your personality in any way. "

That's what you need to do in your personal brand statement.

Use action words to show what you do. For example, Shama Hyder's personal statement,

" Helping people find their zen in the digital age ,"

uses "helping" and "find"—both are action words that show her core message of providing guidance in the digital world. Do the same in your statement by showing the impact you aim to make.

Step 4: Keep It Short 

We've discussed this earlier. Your personal brand statement should be brief and must focus on the key highlights of your unique value proposition.

Keep it to one or two sentences, and make every word count. You don't want your audience to lose interest halfway through reading or listening to it. Also, use active voice to make your statement more engaging.

Step 5: Revise

Go over your personal brand statement multiple times and make revisions as necessary. If it helps, get feedback from others who know you well and can provide honest opinions.

Your personal brand statement is not set in stone. It can evolve and change as your brand grows and develops. For example, you may start as a social media marketing tips expert and later expand to become a digital content creator . Your personal brand statement should reflect this growth and progress over time. 

We have a detailed guide discussing personal branding tips where you can learn more. 

Here are some quick tips to make your personal brand statement worth remembering.

Tailor the Message to Your Audience

Your brand won't be for everyone, and that's fine. Speak specifically to your audience so that they know you mean business. As Laura Busche , author of Lean Branding , explains,

" People relate to people, and if your brand feels like people, they'll relate to you, too. "

Be Authentic

In the same vein, make authenticity the central theme of your brand. Don't cosplay to be somebody you're not. Today's audiences can smell fake from a mile away, and they will quickly turn off if they don't trust your messaging.

Dan Schawbel , author of Promote Yourself , emphasizes this by saying,

" The only brand you can sustain is the one that is authentic to you ."

Authenticity will also help you stand out in a crowded market, as no one can replicate your unique combination of experiences and personality.

Show Where You're Heading

According to Jack Trout , an advertising executive,

" No one will follow you if you don't know where you are going. "

Saying "I'm an XYZ expert" isn't enough. You have to show what you're working towards and where you want to go. For example, in his personal brand statement, Chris Do , CEO of The Futur, says,

"I've run an Emmy award-winning motion design/brand consultancy for over 23 years. Now, I teach the world how to value themselves and communicate their value to others through open platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter."

He doesn't merely state his past accomplishments but also his current goals and direction, i.e. teaching others how to communicate their value. That gives his audience a reason to heed his message and follow him.

As we've repeatedly mentioned throughout this guide, your personal brand statement is concise, impactful, relevant, and authentic. Follow the tips we've mentioned to create a statement that best reflects your personal brand. If you need inspiration, the examples in this guide can serve as good models to guide you.

Most importantly, a personal brand statement is not something you write once and forget about. As you grow, it changes. The Harvard Business Review recommends an annual audit of your personal statement.

Jill Avery , a senior lecturer at the university, suggests:

" In addition to doing an objective self-assessment, you'll want to reengage your truth-tellers to uncover what your current image is in the minds of others and then make sure that it aligns with your goals. "

Keep this in mind to keep your personal brand statement relevant and effective. Check out our branding guide for more information. 

What are some examples of personal brand statements?

Your personal brand statement has to be strong, descriptive, short, and catchy all at the same time. Some examples include:

• “I help individuals reassess their life choices to discover their true paths to success.”
• “I develop sustainable business models and marketing strategies to fuel small business growth.”

How do you write a personal brand statement?

Creating the perfect and most effective personal brand statement can be tricky. Your personal brand statement is basically a catchphrase that says something about your expertise and what makes you unique. People reading the statement should know exactly what you can do and what you specialise in. You need to carefully choose the right words and arrange them the right way to get your message across effectively.

How do you write a personal statement for your resume?

Writing a personal statement for your resume is an important way to showcase yourself. Just like brands and businesses have a statement that says something about themselves and their values, you need a strong statement of who you are and what you can do. People reading the statement should know exactly what you can do and what you specialise in.

What is a well-written personal brand statement?

Your personal brand statement should be concise and reflect your abilities. Some examples of well-written personal brand statements include:

• “Empowering ridiculously good marketing.
• “Content marketing evangelist.”
• “Half geek – half marketing – 100% social nut!”
• “I grow companies.”

How can you write a great personal impact statement on your resume?

Steps to a great personal impact statement for your resume include:

• List all important actions you took
• Determine action words for yourself
• Tailor your personal statement to the job you apply for
• Focus your statement around skills and measurable actions

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How to Write a Resume Branding Statement: Recruiter-Backed Insights

A recruiter weighs in on what a branding statement is, when it’s essential, and when to leave it out.

10 months ago   •   5 min read

Your skills, education, experience, and unique personality make you an asset in your field — but how do you make that clear to potential employers?

Quick answer: With your resume branding statement. Your resume branding statement summarizes everything that makes you the right candidate for the role.

A well-written personal branding statement grips recruiters’ attention and makes you stand out from the pile of other candidates with similar experience.

In this article, we’ll explore what a resume branding statement is, how to write one, and when and when not to include it. We’ll also provide important resume branding tips to keep in mind, examples, and a template to help you write your own resume branding statement!

What is a resume branding statement?

Think of your resume branding statement as your personal sales pitch. Candidates often put it at the top of their resumes — under their contact information, above their experience section.

Your resume branding statement is the first impression employers will get from you and, in this competitive job market, a memorable first impression is crucial.

For example:

Dependable and resourceful office administrator with typing speed of 65 wpm, and 8 years of experience improving sales and customer satisfaction. Seeking to expand career and join a new team in pharmaceutical sales.

What to include in your resume branding statement

Summarizing all your skills, experience, and strengths into a few lines may seem like a daunting task. To simplify things, here’s what you need to include in your resume branding statement:

• Your professional title : Include your title, which should be the same as the position you are applying for, helping recruiters picture you in the role they are trying to fill.
• Skills : Obviously, you aren’t going to fit them all here; just choose 2 or 3 of your skills that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.
• Strengths : Use strengths as you would use adjectives when describing yourself in your branding statement.
• Rewards : If you were given any rewards within the field you are applying for, incorporate them into your resume branding statement.
• Accomplishments : Use your resume branding statement to highlight any significant accomplishments that make you stand out.
• Amount of experience : If you’re an experienced professional in the field you are applying for, make that clear in your resume branding statement.
• Career goals : Will the role help with your career goals? If so, put that into your resume branding statement to let recruiters know your commitment to the field.

Tips for writing an eye-catching resume branding statement

• Make it succinct: Your resume branding statement should be no more than 50 words.
• Put it at the top of your resume: Your resume branding statement should go right below your contact information and before your work experience.
• Match your branding statement to the company’s mission: Browse the company’s website to find the skills and values the company you’re interested in wants to find in their candidates.
• Use the right keywords : Pay attention to the language used in the job description to describe the ideal candidate, and use some of those keywords in your resume branding statement. Our Targeted Resume tool will analyze the job description and identify important keywords and skills in no time. Try it out!
• Ask yourself what image you want to project: Think of your unique personal attributes, skills, achievements, values, and career goals that set you apart from other candidates.
• Avoid repetition: Do not list accomplishments, traits, and skills you’ve already included in other parts of the resume in your branding statement.
• Use quantifiers: Provide proof of your success with quantifiable results .
• Avoid buzzwords : Keep it real. Don't sound like you’re ‘too good to be true.’
• Your branding statement may not need a title: A branding statement is pretty self-explanatory so no title is necessary. That being said, you could use the title of Branding Statement at the beginning if you wish.
• Proofread:  Make sure that your resume branding statement is well-written, grammatically correct, free of mistakes, and conveying exactly what you want it to.
• Check your resume: Use our free resume scanner, Score My Resume , which assesses your resume against certain criteria and provides tips to improve it.

Driven marketer with excellent written and verbal communication skills, and 22 years of experience improving consumer reach by 60%. Seeking to become an industry leader within ResumeWorded’s management team.

When to include a branding statement in your resume

It’s important to note that resume branding statements aren’t a must. Here’s when a resume statement should definitely be a part of a resume:

If you’re changing careers

If you’re applying for a job in a new field , a branding statement can be a quick way to kick off your resume by telling recruiters why you are great for the role, even if it is different from your previous work.

Creative and organized consultant seeking to help companies with their waste management in order to maximize their profits.

Senior-level hires

If you’re already a seasoned professional within the field you’re applying for, use a branding statement to make that clear at the beginning of your resume.

Justice-oriented family lawyer with strong problem-solving skills ready to put my 25 years of legal expertise to work as a partner of your firm.

You’re applying for a job that requires a specific skillset

Sometimes job descriptions mention specific skills and achievements as part of the requirements. Use your resume branding statement to make it clear that you are the right candidate for the role.

Sales-oriented and outgoing realtor with 6 years of experience and a proven track-record helping people find homes in their desired neighborhoods. Hoping to grow my career with a new team of realtors and brokers.

Extensive experience

If you have 20 years of experience or over in the field you are applying for, you would make an asset to the company.

Compassionate and knowledgeable mental health nurse with 30 years of experience with case management helping clients achieve their best outcomes. Seeking a role in the criminal justice system to help former inmates reintegrate into their communities.

When NOT to include a resume branding statement

Your brand is already in-line with the job you are applying for.

If your work experience and educational background are both in line with the job you’re applying for, it’s already implied that you have what recruiters are looking for. In this case, a resume branding statement may seem redundant.

You’re a student or recent graduate

If you’re in school or recently finished your education, you likely don’t have a lot of work experience and a resume branding statement may not help your case. Highlight relevant coursework and/or internships instead. Check out our post The Proper Way to Include an Internship on a Resume .

Resume branding statement template

To help you get started, we’ve created a template that you can easily copy, paste and insert into your own resume.

[Strength] and [strength] [professional title], with [number] years of experience in [skill/accomplishment]. Seeking to accomplish [career goals].

Resume branding statement examples

Mid-level job seeker resume branding statement:.

Research analyst with methodological approach to projects and 5 years of research writing experience. Hoping to improve research skills with new projects at Resume Branded University.

Senior-level job seeker resume branding statement:

Patient and knowledgeable physics teacher with 23 years of experience helping high school students connect with science in new ways. Looking to teach higher-level students at Somewhere University.

Experienced/Senior-Level job seeker resume branding statement:

Financial Analyst with 27 years of experience applying organizational and leadership skills to support the needs of the firm’s clients and staff. Seeking to take career to the next level with a managerial role at Anywhere Bank.

Key takeaways for crafting your branding statement for your resume

• Emphasize your skills, achievements, and career goals in a way that sets you apart from other applicants.
• Avoid buzzwords and cliches in your resume branding statement.
• Focus on specific and measurable accomplishments and use active language and examples that show how you’ve used your abilities.
• Tie your unique personality traits into your resume branding statement.
• Incorporate the skills and keywords that are in the job description and on the company’s website to align with the job you’re applying for.
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How To Write A Personal Brand Statement (With Examples)

• How To Get A Job
• How To Write A Personal Brand Statement
• Remote Customer Service Tips
• How To Get Experience

Find a Job You Really Want In

Whether you’re looking for a job , trying to expand your business and reach new clientele, or searching for career opportunities as an independent contractor, writing a powerful and engaging personal brand statement can help you reach all your professional goals .

A strong personal brand statement that communicates your values, skills, and abilities is the foundation for building a solid and versatile personal brand that will carry you through your professional career.

Key Takeaways:

A personal brand statement is 1 to 3 sentences that uniquely sum up your values, skills, and expertise.

Write a personal brand statement by first picking your audience and medium , then brainstorm, write a rough draft, and edit.

Emphasize your unique value in your personal brand statement.

Personal brand statements are helpful for standing out and networking.

What Is A Personal Brand Statement?

Tips for writing a personal brand statement, why is a personal brand statement important, 13 inspiring personal brand statement examples, final thoughts.

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A personal brand statement is a one-to-three-sentence catchphrase that sums up your values, what you do, and your unique skills and abilities in your field of expertise. The most impressive personal brand statements read like slogans and work to capture the essence of your resume in just a few short lines.

That means writing a personal brand statement that’s short, catchy, compelling, descriptive, and unique all at the same time. Crafting a personal brand statement is much like writing a professional bio , in that it should communicate your personality, skills, and experiences.

A well-written personal brand statement is short and to the point and works to give prospective clients or employers an idea of what you offer and how you can benefit them.

Writing a personal brand statement is much like writing a vision statement , or a mission statement or slogan for a business. Typically, the branding message should be a short elevator pitch highlighting your professional skills and strengths or a unique value proposition.

To write a personal brand statement:

Pick your audience and medium. Before you write your personal brand statement, you need to know who it is for and how you are going to share it. Your personal brand statement could be for potential employers, clients, or peers to network with, or all of them combined. By knowing who you want to speak to, you will be more targeted in your words.

Equally important is knowing how you are going to share your personal brand statement. Will you share it on social media? Will it go on your personal website? Will it be supplemental material for your portfolio or resume ? The type of medium shouldn’t change the statement too much, but again, knowing what you plan to do with your personal brand statement helps you focus.

Brainstorm. Before you get to writing, brainstorm your values, your goals, your skills, and your experiences. Don’t worry so much about form or relevancy, the point is to get everything that makes you “you” onto paper. Once this is done you can have some more separation and look at yourself from a new perspective.

Write a rough draft. Write a rough draft of your personal statement. It is OK if it is longer than three sentences. The rough draft will help you focus in on your qualities you wish to define your personal brand statement.

Edit and get feedback. Here is the tricky part. You need to bring your rough draft down to something easily consumable. Pick your most important quality you want to define your personal brand statement. Be efficient and honest with your words to make it unique to you. Ask for feedback from your peers. It can help if you can find someone who is similar to your target audience, such as a professional mentor or former boss .

With this in mind you are on the right path to coming up with your own personal brand statement.

If it’s your first time writing a personal brand statement, we’ve got you covered. Many of the rules you follow when writing a traditional resume can also be applied to a personal brand statement. However, there are a few specifics you’ll need to keep in mind to write a perfect personal brand statement.

Here are the top five tips all professionals should follow when crafting a strong brand:

Understand your brand. Before you set out to write your personal brand statement you need to understand your brand and think about what you’re aiming to accomplish in your professional punchline.

To understand your brand you should think about your core values , what your most desirable skills, abilities, and qualifications are, what audience you want to appeal to in your personal brand statement, and what sets you apart from your peers. Having a strong brand identity will help you find career success.

Appeal to your audience. No matter what industry you work in, it’s important to think about your audience when crafting your personal brand statement. Knowing your audience will help you tailor your branding and marketing strategies and craft a message that resonates with career professionals and reaches your target network.

Emphasize your unique value. The best personal brand statements highlight an individual’s unique abilities and strongest selling points. By emphasizing your unique value your personal brand statement will serve to help you stand out and articulate your passions and motivations.

Be consistent and clever. Being consistent and highlighting your skills and services in a catchy way is essential in clearly communicating your brand. Ensuring that your personal brand statement is consistent with your actual values and professional abilities and is written cohesively and cleverly will help you stand out and build your brand.

Pay attention to your tone of voice. Your tone of voice can be very important when building a strong brand. Depending on what you aim to accomplish in your personal brand statement, you may want to use a casual, professional, or straightforward tone of voice.

Using an acceptable tone of voice will help your craft powerful branding that differentiates you from your peers and resonates with your target audience.

An effective personal brand statement can set you apart from the competition, help people recognize and remember you, help you network and find opportunities for career development, and grow your audience or client list.

Whether you’re a job-seeker, freelancer, entrepreneur , or employer, having a personal brand statement is an important element of branding and marketing and can be essential in finding and maintaining professional success.

Personal branding is also a great way for established industry professionals to find opportunities to participate in speaking engagement and professional networking events since the majority of professionals with a strong brand identity have an established online presence.

Personal brand statements are the perfect platform for showcasing your knowledge on a specific company or your industry expertise and can be displayed as an objective statement on your professional resume or your website, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile.

If you’re looking to get hired, land a big job interview, get a promotion , expand your professional network, and increase your likelihood to find overall career success, writing a powerful personal brand statement is essential.

When it comes to powerful branding and the brand development process, a little inspiration can do a long way. Here are 13 inspiring personal brand statements from established professionals across a wide range of occupational industries.

Marie Forleo. Marie Forleo, the host of the award-winning show MarieTV, keeps it light and simple with her personal brand statement. It reads:

Hi, I’m Marie. An entrepreneur, writer , philanthropist, and an unshakable optimist dedicated to helping you become the person you most want to be.

Nick Loper. Nick Loper, an entrepreneur and business coach , uses attention-grabbing words to connect with and draw in customers. His personal brand statement is short but striking. It reads:

Let’s build job-free income.

Selena Soo. This marketing and publicity strategist ’s brand statement is genuine, professional, and direct. The statement reads:

I’m a publicity and marketing strategist who helps experts, authors, and coaches go from ‘hidden gem’ to admired industry leader …and even a household name.

Adam Cobb. As a fitness and nutrition coach, exercise, a healthy diet, and a spiritual awareness are at the core of Adam Cobb’s life and career. He reiterates that in his personal brand statement, keeping things clear and concise. The statement reads:

Move well, eat well, think well.

Irene Koehler. Working as a personal branding coach, Irene Koehler knows a thing or two about personal brand statements. She keeps hers short, punchy, and powerful. It reads:

I transform accomplished women from unknown to unforgettable with a strategic, trustworthy personal brand.

Darrell Franklin. As the head of industry at Google, Darrell Franklin lets his leadership skills and industry expertise shine in his personal brand statement. It reads:

Innovation is in my blood…I seek to find ways to adapt when needed and disrupt when possible. For the past 15+ years, I have been at the forefront of digital evolution and transformation as an intrepid business strategist , thought leader, and functional operator , and called on to develop solutions and technologies that have enabled stronger customer engagement, retention, and loyalty.

Jessi Fearon. This personal finance and budget blogger gets right to the point in her personal brand statement. It reads:

Real life on a budget.

Tony Robbins. Tony Robbins is known for his inspiring self-improvement books and speeches. He’s almost equally as known for his personal brand statement. The statement is crisp and motivational, reading:

Transform your life.

Larry Kim. Larry Kim, CEO of MobileMonkey, Inc. and founder of WordStream, Inc., recognizes the importance of diversity and creativity. The marketing expert has set himself apart from his peers through a unique, fun, and nontraditional approach to a personal brand statement. The statement reads:

Be a unicorn in a sea of donkeys.

Brittany Berger. Content marketer Brittany Berger knows how to stand out from the crowd . Her personal brand statement peaks interest and grabs attention by challenging popular and traditional ideas. The statement reads:

Create less content. (It’ll be fine! I promise!)

Chandler Bolt. Chandler Bolt is an author and the founder of Self-Publishing School who, through a clever, motivational, and relatable personal brand statement, inspires his clients to publish their first book. His statement reads:

Hi, I’m Chandler Bolt. Six-time bestselling author and founder of Self Publishing School. There’s a book inside you, And my goal is to help you find it and go from blank page to bestselling author — even if you’re busy, idea-less, or bad at writing like me.

Ann Handley. This best-selling author and digital marketing expert uses a casual tone in her personal brand statement but gets straight to the point to capture interest and increase her marketability. Her statement reads:

Empowering ridiculously good marketing.

Andrea Perez. After an impressive career, Andrea Perez, global vice president and general manager for Nike’s Jordan Women’s brand, knows she’s valuable as a consumer marketer. Her personal brand statement exudes confidence and professionalism . It reads:

I’m a modern, fearless, digitally-driven, and globally savvy brand/ business leader with over 15 years of experience representing two of the most exciting, influential consumer brands in the world. I live for opportunities to deliver game-changing, digital and physical global marketing programs that deepen consumer connections, accelerate revenue, and drive brand growth.

Writing a short, strong, and catchy personal brand statement is the perfect way to convey your value as an industry professional and showcase your personality , passion, skills, and values. Summing up your experience and abilities in a personal brand statement or tagline can lead to various opportunities for professional growth.

By following the tips and examples provided in this article you’ll be one step closer to establishing your brand appealing to potential customers, professional connections, and employers.

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Elsie is an experienced writer, reporter, and content creator. As a leader in her field, Elsie is best known for her work as a Reporter for The Southampton Press, but she can also be credited with contributions to Long Island Pulse Magazine and Hamptons Online. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Stony Brook University and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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10 personal brand statements to put all eyes on you

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What’s a personal brand statement?

How to put your personal brand statement to use

Benefits of crafting a personal brand statement, how to write a personal brand statement: 6 steps, 10 personal brand statement examples, it’s time to market yourself.

“Just do it.” “Because you’re worth it.” “All the news that’s fit to print.” At least one of these phrases is probably familiar. You might even see corresponding products or brands flash before your eyes. 

Big brands carefully construct slogans, catchphrases, and mission statements that are so catchy they pop into your head too often. This is great branding in action. These phrases get stuck in your head and impact your decision-making , insert themselves into conversations so people remember them more, and affect what you purchase or use.

But brand awareness isn’t limited to big business — you can apply it to your career, too. Whether you’re a freelancer or mid-level manager, lawyer or content creator, marketing yourself with a personal brand statement helps you control your professional narrative.

What’s a personal brand statement? 

A personal brand statement is 1–3 sentences that clearly illustrate who you are, what you do, and what makes you unique professionally. It summarizes your skills, experience, and vision so readers quickly understand your value.

A great personal brand statement is snappy and attention-grabbing, demonstrates your personality, and balances professionalism and personableness. 

Think of it as an elevator pitch . If you had to self-promote to a recruiter, potential employer, or client, this statement tells them why you stand out and leaves them wanting to know more.

You can use your personal brand statement in several professional materials and platforms. Anywhere you network , job search , or show off your brand is a great place to add your statement. This includes:

Your resume or CV ’s mission statement

Incorporated into your personal value statement or career statement

Any social media platforms where you have a professional online presence, like your Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn profile

A professional website or online portfolio

Since your personal brand lives on many platforms, you may have to edit your statement to follow character limits on social media profiles or appeal to a specific target audience. 

Imagine you’re a graphic designer that makes design video tutorials to promote your work. Your selling points for a potential employer or client might not be as effective on your social audience. You’ll need to revise your statement to fit different requirements while maintaining a consistent brand image across platforms.

Here’s how your personal brand statement template might change from one platform to another:

Your resume:

“Award-winning graphic designer and digital marketing consultant with 15 years of experience. I’m insatiably curious, motivated by storytelling, and passionate about building impactful brands through the power of design.”

Your YouTube channel:

“I’m [name], an award-winning graphic designer, consultant, and teacher who wants to show you how to tell incredible stories through design. 

Let’s start creating!”

Your portfolio website:

“I build ridiculously good-looking brands. 

Hire an award-winning graphic designer and consultant who brings 15 years of storytelling expertise to your team.”

All three statements communicate the same important details, such as years of experience, job title, and reputation. Together, they build a strong personal brand that’s consistent and recognizable across platforms.

Successful entrepreneurs and professionals know there’s always an opportunity around the corner. Ensuring you have a good personal brand statement is an essential marketing strategy for leaving a good first impression on anyone that visits your website or scans your social accounts. 

Here are four benefits for crafting a solid personal brand statement:

Provides job opportunities: A good personal brand statement aligns you with the job opportunities that fit your skills and profile. Showing off your best self helps you catch the eyes of recruiters, hiring managers , and potential business partners. 

Increases your self-awareness: Personal brand statements require you to think about your career strategically, as if you were a small business. You can regularly revisit your personal brand statement to build self-awareness regarding your intentions, sense of purpose , and personal development goals. 

Controls the narrative: A personal brand statement allows you to tell your story and manage people’s impressions of you. You can choose the characteristics and accomplishments you want people to imagine when they think about you.

Helps you build your network: You never know when a networking opportunity will pop up. Having a go-to elevator pitch to introduce yourself in professional situations or creating online marketing materials that speak on your behalf will strengthen your potential for new relationships.

Selling yourself in just a few sentences requires creativity, intention, and careful editing. To create your personal brand statement, start with these six steps. 

1. Define your target audience

First, you need to understand who’s tuning in. This involves defining different audiences across platforms, like your website versus social profiles. 

To understand your target audiences, consider what you’re selling, as this value should be the focal point of your brand statement. If your target market is potential customers, this is your product or service. If you’re trying to network, it might be your expertise and skill set.

2. Identify your value proposition

Consider what makes you special. An effective personal brand statement leaves your reader wanting more, so put yourself in your target’s shoes: what would inspire you to stop scrolling and keep reading?

Examine your past experiences and identify consistent accomplishments, personality traits , and accolades. Maybe a manager or coworker frequently points out some unique skills. These are what makes you distinct. 

3. Express your personality

Depending on your industry, job role, and experience level, finding the balance between professionalism and personableness can be challenging. To get your creativity flowing , pay attention to how other thought leaders and creators in your field represent themselves.

Then add some creative action words to showcase your accomplishments. Or think critically about your positive personality traits to find what makes you stand out .

4. Be concise

With a personal brand statement, less is more. Most people skim websites and socials , and hiring managers only spend seven seconds looking at a resume . Whether it’s a recruiter checking out your LinkedIn profile or a potential client skimming your website, clarity and purpose help your target audience make the snap judgment you want them to. 

5. Write like everybody’s watching

Chances are high that interested hiring managers pay attention to your social media platforms , even if your profiles don’t relate to your job search or position. Ensure that the catchphrases, profile bios, and taglines across your internet presence are consistent and professional. You could also keep your personal profiles private so your target audience only stumbles on brand-specific content. 

And be honest about yourself. The purpose of your personal brand statement is to accurately represent your skills, experience, and reputation. If you oversell your abilities, you may end up disappointing someone that reaches out and realizes the pitch isn’t the same as the product. 

Don’t wait until you start a job search to revisit your personal brand statement across different platforms. Check-in with your statement regularly, like when you write your yearly goals , update your resume, or hit a self-improvement milestone.

If you’re unsure where to start, here are 10 examples of personal brand statements you can shape to fit your needs:

I’m a doctor and philanthropist who’s passionate about helping others. I’ve raised more than $5M for cancer research and can’t wait to share your organization’s cause.

I’m a ghostwriting professional that’s passionate about helping others bring their stories to the world. Let me use my five years of writing experience to help you complete your book.

Career coach with 10 years of experience helping freelancers, startup founders, and entrepreneurs kick-start their businesses. I’ve worked with small businesses and Fortune 500 CEOs. 

Let’s build the website of your dreams. I’m a self-taught programmer, YouTuber, and bonafide geek that loves everything web design. 

Detail-oriented copy editor and grammar nerd. I have experience in B2B and B2C SEO-driven content marketing. 

I’m [name], a maximalist graphic designer, illustrator, and lover of everything MCM with eight years of experience making brands of all sizes stand out in a crowd. 

Best-selling author, teacher, and public speaker. I’ve sold more than a million books. Check out [name of book], for sale at your favorite book-seller.

Lover of numbers. Organized accountant with 18 years of experience. I specialize in corporate taxes, budgets, and pricing. 

Communications expert and branding consultant. I build holistic branding strategies across web, print, and mobile that bring brands to life. 

I’m an economist with 20 years of experience in public policy and government aid for community outreach programs. 

Everyone has something that makes them a unique professional in their field. And the world deserves to know about it. 

Now that you understand personal brand statements and how having one benefits your career, it’s time to hit the drawing board. 

Start by understanding your value proposition and goals. Then write a statement that shows you off and is adaptable across different platforms. Just do it — you’ll be happy you did.

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Madeline Miles

Madeline is a writer, communicator, and storyteller who is passionate about using words to help drive positive change. She holds a bachelor's in English Creative Writing and Communication Studies and lives in Denver, Colorado. In her spare time, she's usually somewhere outside (preferably in the mountains) — and enjoys poetry and fiction.

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How to use personal branding to supercharge your resume.

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Your resume is a professional document, but have you ever considered that integrating your personal brand into your resume could give you a competitive edge?

Personal branding can be a powerful tool that enhances your appeal, giving you the opportunity to connect with employers before you have even met them.

By showcasing a strong brand during the job search, you can increase your chances of standing out in an oversaturated marketplace.

Here's how you can develop your personal brand, reflect your unique skills and values, and make a truly irresistible offer in your resume.

Define your personal brand

It's a good idea to start by identifying what it is that makes you unique and therefore, an excellent candidate.

This doesn't just have to focus on the professional skills outlined in the job description. It should include your strengths, skills, values, and key characteristics.

Consider what it is that sets you apart from others in your field. Do you always bring a sense of humour to the workplace? Or are you that colleague who is always on hand to support others when they are struggling?

Your personal brand should also reflect your expertise, personality, and professional goals. So spend some time making notes and defining your brand before you begin.

This can make it much easier to inject personality into your resume.

‘Are You Ready?’—Elon Musk Fans Wild Rumors Donald Trump Will Create A U.S. Bitcoin Strategic Reserve And Trigger Crypto Price Chaos

‘house of the dragon’ season 2, episode 6 recap and review: the flight of the dragonriders, crowdstrike update: microsoft releases windows tool to fix 8.5 million machines, craft a compelling resume summary.

Your resume should start with a compelling resume summary that is carefully crafted to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

This gives you the perfect chance to create a catchy summary that encapsulates your personal brand.

To do this, you should highlight the key skills that best align with the job, but also write in a tone and style which reflects more of your personality.

Instead of sticking to the usual corporate spiel, throw in some more conversational language to bring it to life and show that you really care about your work.

Share your biggest achievements and how they’ve shaped your career

Your resume is an opportunity to tell your story. It is your chance to showcase your professional journey by sharing key achievements that align with your personal brand.

By sharing examples of your skills and experience as anecdotes, such as specific projects you’ve completed, awards you've won, or big milestones you’ve reached, you can illustrate your passion and personality.

It’s also a good idea to back these stories up with facts and figures, highlighting tangible results and proving why you’d be a valuable asset to the company.

Showcasing a strong brand during the job search can increase your chances of standing out.

Think carefully about your design

The design of your resume is a great way to reflect some of your personal style, whether it's a simple slick corporate style or a modern graphic-focused layout.

You can take the opportunity to make some smaller changes that reflect your unique brand. For example, changing the color of your headings or adding a photo of yourself can really add life to your resume and help you get noticed.

But just be careful not to go too far and start adding design elements or color schemes that ruin it's functionality. Remember, your resume needs to be clearly structured, easy to read, and ATS-friendly.

Give insights into how you spend your free time

As well as your work experience, it’s a good idea to outline any volunteer work, local projects, or community days you take part in. These can help to really let your character shine through, as well as show off a range of transferable skills.

You might also consider adding a hobbies and interests section to give more insight into who you are and to show how you fit with the company culture. This can be a great way to show off your personal brand and what you like to do outside the workplace.

That being said, you should only add a hobbies and interests section to your resume if you have the space to do so without compromising on your experience and education sections.

It’s also best to include activities that are closely related to your career in some way or show transferable skills that are desirable in the workplace.

Let your authentic self shine through

It can be hard to inject personality into a resume as these tend to follow traditional structures and you need to make sure you’re ticking all the right boxes.

But through your use of language and authenticity your personal brand can come through on paper.

By using genuine and engaging language throughout and avoiding overused cliches and phrases, you can make your resume unique and reflect your personal brand, helping you to stand out from the crowd.

Continuously update your resume to reflect your journey

Finally, as your career progresses, it’s a good idea to revisit and update your personal branding and your resume to reflect any new values, experiences, skills, and goals you may have.

Your resume should always be a dynamic document that evolves alongside your professional journey.

So when you're ready to take the next step in your career, remember this and take into account the advice above. That way, you can seamlessly incorporate your personal brand into your resume and enhance your applications.

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11 Personal Brand Statement Examples You Need To See

August 3, 2021 by Hannah Morgan

Your personal brand statement is like a personal slogan. It helps people understand who you are and what you deliver.

In an economy where there is a lot of competition, a personal brand statement helps you stand out and be remembered.

You may see a personal brand statement on a website, in a LinkedIn headline, or email signature block. It’s a simple sentence or two that explains what you do. 

When someone reads or hears your personal brand statement, you want them to know exactly what you do, who you help and what problem you solve.

Table of contents

What is a personal brand statement, who should have one, where to use it, personal brand statement examples.

Businesses have slogans and whenever you hear or see it, you instantly know the company. 

• Just Do It – Nike
• Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands – M&Ms
• America Runs on Dunkin – Dunkin Donuts

Personal branding statements should work the same way. As people, we also have things we are known for, or a reputation. 

Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room – Jeff Bezos, CEO Amazon

Personal brand statements can also be referred to as a unique selling point (USP), value proposition or unique value proposition (UVP). No matter what you call them, these two-three sentences pack a powerful punch and clearly communicate what you are known for (or the value you deliver).  

The best personal brand statement examples tend to contain three important pieces of information:

• What you do or what problem you solve 
• Who benefits from this
• How you do it uniquely

As simple as these statements are, they can be incredibly challenging to pinpoint for yourself. Those catchy slogans above were written by masterful marketers. Consider your personal brand statement a work in progress.

So rather than let someone else decide what you want to be known for, take the bull by the horns and create the personal brand that fits who you are today.

Entrepreneurs, freelancers, authors and speakers invest great time and effort developing personal brand statements that set them apart from the competition or position them in front of the right audience.

But even if you aren’t one of these folks, you still need a strong message when you introduce yourself. Your personal brand statement is more than your job title and company. It’s a powerful way to become a sought after resource internally or externally.

In job search, having a clear and easy to understand personal brand statement is incredibly important. You want people to easily remember what you do in case they hear of any openings or know anyone they should introduce you to. 

Keep in mind that saying something, doesn’t necessarily make it true. Your personal brand has to align with how you actually perform.  

Business owners and even job seekers, realize how critically important it is to have a personal brand statement that explains exactly what they deliver.

You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. – Will Rogers

  Your personal brand statement is that first impression. You can use a version of it on your website, in your LinkedIn headline, at the top of your resume, in your social media profile and even in your email signature. You may even have a spoken version of your personal brand statement that is a bit more conversational. 

As you can see from the samples below, personal brand statements are used in all those places. In fact, a version of the personal branding statement follows them around everywhere they appear, online and in-person.

As you will see, personal branding statements are an important tool to humanise your business and help customers choose your service over competitors. A personal brand statement adds a recognisable face behind the product or service and provides a level of trust people want to invest in. Your business transforms from a cold, money-making operation to a warm, friendly entity.

The personal brand statement examples below come from recognized leaders and influencers (and some lesser-known personalities) who talk about leadership, marketing, entrepreneurship and the human condition. They are authors, speakers, trainers and business owners – each with a unique, money-making idea worth sharing. Let’s take a look at real personal brand samples and see how you can adapt them to create your own unique personal brand. And if you’re thinking,” I’m not a celebrity. How can I have a personal brand?” stick with me and give these a look first. It’s actually quite easy to replicate or adapt your message based on these examples.

1. Simon Sinek

We imagine a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every day inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work they do.

Though this is written as “we imagine” it is based on Sinek’s personal beliefs too. This may sound a bit like a mission statement than a personal brand statement but it’s still a powerful example of how you can combine your personal mission or values with the work that you enjoy doing to create your own personal branding statement.

It addresses the problem Sinek solves: to help people wake up every day feeling inspired, safe and fulfilled. (Who doesn’t want that?) Yet it is rare or uncommon for businesses to say that’s what they deliver. And that is what makes this unique. It is genuine and not-so-common.

2. LeVar Burton

I’ve dedicated my life to the power of storytelling. Whether I’m acting, directing, writing or podcasting, I believe sharing stories is what I was born to do because storytelling is what brings us all together.

You may not remember Burton from Reading Rainbow, but you may have seen him in a role on Star Trek. 

What Burton has done is simply put into words what he loves doing. He has found multiple outlets to focus on sharing stories. Perhaps you have found multiple ways to carry out your special talents. 

3. Mark Manson

I am the #1 NYTimes Bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope . I write life advice that is science-based, pragmatic, and non-bullshitty – a.k.a., life advice that doesn’t suck.

Do you have a straight-forward way of addressing problems? Manson provides life advice that doesn’t suck. 

Without needing to say who his audience is, his message resonates with those who don’t mind profanity and are looking for science-based, pragmatic advice. 

Sometimes the way in which you deliver a message or solve a problem is part of your personal brand. 

PS: I’m not suggesting that you use profanity, remember, you’re not a NYTimes bestselling author and probably can’t get away with it. 

4. Claude Silver

I’m Claude Silver and my life’s purpose is to be of joyful service and unlock emotional optimism in all. 

Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia (HR/People)

Silver has an unusual job title, Chief Heart Officer (CHO). And for those who may not know what that means, she spells it out in her personal branding statement. Her value is in unlocking emotional optimism in everyone. 

While you may not think there’s money in that or it’s too general, she has found a way to make it work. It’s almost like a teaser personal branding statement and it certainly speaks to her priorities and values in life.

5. Kim Garst

Make more money online with marketing strategies that work. Education & training that take the mystery out of building a profitable business .

What business owner do you know that doesn’t want to make more money online? And for many, online selling is a bit mysterious. If you don’t have a team of people designated to do this for you (if you’re an entrepreneur or freelancer) then Garst’s education and training may be appealing. 

What Garst hasn’t included is her personality/style or mission. It makes this a little less personal than the other personal brand statement examples on this list, but as you can see, it still is clear and easy to understand. 

6. Amy Porterfield

Hi, I’m Amy.

I teach business owners, educators and entrepreneurs the profitable action steps for building a highly engaged email list, creating online training courses, and using online marketing strategies to sell with ease.

Porter clearly spells out who she serves with her services. And she addresses one of the major pain-points for business owners, educators and entrepreneurs… that her actions and ideas are easy! 

As you see, Porter lists several areas of expertise – email lists, online courses and marketing. 

You may also have several areas of expertise or specialty. Just make sure they are crystal clear and specific enough so people understand what you’re talking about. 

7. William Arruda

William Arruda’s personal branding and social media keynotes, innovative training and influential Forbes columns have inspired millions of professionals to bolster their brand, up their social media savvy, deliver greater value to their company and have more fun at work!

Arruda provides personal branding advice in many different forms. And what makes this personal brand statement example different is that he talks about the outcome or results of his services – “bolster brand, increase social media savvy, value to company and more fun at work.”

Who knew personal branding could be so valuable! 

And while this isn’t written in the first person, you can see how it could easily be converted to say “ My personal branding… “

8. Donald Miller

Most companies struggle to talk about what they offer but if you confuse, you’ll lose. My framework helps you clarify your message so customers place orders.

Miller’s message is clear and concise. It should be, messaging is what he specializes in. His personal branding statement (in his Twitter bio) addresses the problem, his solution and the outcome. 

Here’s how you might use a formula based on Miller’s personal branding statement:

This is the problem, and why it’s not good. Here’s my solution/fix and what the outcome will be.  

9. Arielelle Hale

Helping service providers hit consistent $10k+ months w/o working 10k hours/month. 5 Systems Service Providers Need to Grow

I’ll be honest, it was the name of Hale’s company, Allergic To Hourly, that piqued my interest. Her personal branding statement is very specific and she knows exactly who her ideal client is, as she has clearly spelled out. 

She is targeting service providers who need a system to help them maintain a consistent revenue without working tons of hours. 

Niching, or specializing is a powerful way to serve your customers by giving them exactly what they need. 

10. Andréa Jones

Helping socially inclusive brands impact & empower more people using social media.

I don’t know exactly what a socially inclusive brand is, but if I was one, I would be interested. That’s Jones’ target audience. She helps them use social media to increase impact. 

Here’s an example of how concise may not always provide enough information. It’s still good, but more detail might make it better. 

11. Kassy LaBorie

Virtual Training is Here to Stay. Partnering With You to Lead the Way

You may not have heard of LaBorie before. But you know what she does. She’s helping virtual trainers lead the way. 

This personal branding statement sample is kind of catchy and it even rhymes. So if you are looking for another way to help people remember what you do, you may want to use clever word pairing or rhyming. 

Final Thoughts

Businesses and entrepreneurs often hire consultants to help write and refine their personal brand statements, but you can borrow ideas from examples to help you spin your own. 

Landing on the right personal brand statement is sort of like trying on shoes. You’ll know it fits once it’s on or done. In fact, your statement may shift, morph or change as you and your business grow.

Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including  Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success .

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How to Add a Branding Statement to Your Resume

What Is a Branding Statement?

• What to Include in a Branding Statement
• Where to Put Your Branding Statement

Update All Your Online Profiles

• Resume With a Branding Statement

More Resume Heading Options

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc. / Getty Images

The growing popularity of personal branding and a job market that continues to be competitive has increased the use of branding statements at the top of resumes.

A branding statement is a short, catchy statement that highlights your most relevant expertise in about 15 words or fewer. If you include a branding statement, you can elaborate further on your key qualifications through a longer summary statement .

What to Include in Your Branding Statement

A strong branding statement conveys exceptional qualities, skills, experiences, or areas of knowledge that distinguish you from the average candidate. Your statement should express how you add value and produce results that impact the bottom line in your target sector.

Branding statements should be tailored toward a particular job and show how you have the qualifications to excel in that position.

Take an Inventory

Start by taking inventory of your accomplishments in your most relevant roles. Make note of the personal assets which you drew upon to generate those successes. Analyze the requirements of your target job and look for the overlap with your chief assets.

Describe Your Strengths

Select three or four adjectives that describe your key strengths. Weave together the adjectives with your desired job title or role and tie them to the value-added.

Where to Put Your Branding Statement

Your branding statement should be listed between the Contact and the Experience section of your resume:

Janna Cramson 1001 Northwest Ave, Apt 1 Bethesda, MD 20810 E: janna.cramson@email.com C: 555-555-5555

Creative, skilled, social media expert with five years of experience managing professional social media accounts.

Professional Experience

Social Media Manager , XYZ PR Firm , Bethesda, MD November 2020-Present

Also take the time to review your LinkedIn profile and the other information you have online to make sure it's consistent.

Taking the time to update your brand—and to rebrand yourself, if necessary - will help you remain a competitive candidate throughout your career.

Resume Example With a Branding Statement

This is an example of a resume with a branding statement. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more resume options.

Resume Example With a Branding Statement (Text Version)

Benjamin Applicant 123 East Street, Oakland, CA, 94610 Home: 555-555-5555 Cell: 555-123-4567 benjamin.applicant@email.com

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR Detail-oriented development assistant experienced in coordinating extensive fundraising efforts and drafting successful grant proposals.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Development Assistant, Children’s Hospital, Oakland, CA July 2020 – present

• Manage fundraising efforts including organizing mass mailings and writing and sending appreciation letters to donors.
• Enter and maintain data in donor database; responsible for answering any questions regarding donor data.
• Manage general logistics within the development office through administrative assistance, such as drafting mail, filing, faxing, and answering phone calls.

Recruitment Manager, ABC Education Nonprofit, Oakland, CA August 2018 – June 2020

• Identify and pursue over 500 prospective applicants for our teacher fellowships.
• Maintain regular communication with more than 250 career centers and student organizations at top colleges and universities.
• Manage the company’s hiring process through resume reviews, phone interviews, and in-person interviews.
• Manage a team of three employees, training new members, and creating and delegating assignments.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Bachelor of Arts, 123 College , San Diego, CA May 2018 Major: Marketing

Certifications

Certificate of Fundraising, XYZ University December 2018

• Received the award for best final grant proposal of 35 students.

What’s the difference between an objective, a headline, a profile, a summary, and a branding statement on a resume?

Here’s more information on each of the other options for upgrading your resume, so it’s more than just a list of the work you have done:

• Resume Objective : Short synopsis of your employment goals as they relate to the job you’re applying for.
• Resume Headline : Phrase that highlights your value as a candidate.
• Resume Profile : Brief summary (paragraph) of your skills and qualifications for the position.
• Resume Career Summary : Lists your key achievements, skills, and experience.

When considering what to include on your resume, decide which type of heading will best showcase your qualifications for the job. What’s most important is to make sure that you take the time to specifically relate your skills to those the employer is seeking.

Reinforce Your Personal Brand: 10 Tips for Stronger Resume Branding

• Post author By Meg Guiseppi

You’re suddenly facing a job search, so you rush right to your resume (if you can find it) to update it.

But wait! You may not be ready to tackle your resume yet.

If it’s been several years since you revisited your resume, or if you’re one of those lucky people who never needed a resume, you may not be aware of how much resumes have changed in the past several years.

Before working on your resume, re-think how to update it, so that you’ll create a career marketing document that will optimally do its job – land you interviews.

A Branded Resume Is Required Today

Have you been paying attention to all the talk these days about personal branding? Your brand should be built around what makes you a good fit for your target employers. Resume branding can help you clearly identify and communicate what differentiates you from your job-seeking competitors.

Step one in job search TODAY is not diving right into writing your resume.

Step one in a successful job search today is laying out the groundwork with targeting and branding. Once you’ve done that, you’ll have the information about your target audience and yourself that you’ll need to write a compelling resume and to network and interview effectively.

You will also have the right keywords to attract the attention of your target employers.

Here are 10 tips to build an interview-generating, brand-reinforcing resume:

INFORMATION-MINING

First, collect and develop the information you will need for your resume. Don’t guess!

1. Focus with Careful Targeting

Before you can define your brand and create content for your resume, you need to know who you’re targeting . . . who will be reading your resume and what they will want to find on your resume.

You can’t hit a target if you don’t have one, and not defining a target guarantees a very long job search. Decide what kind of job you are seeking, and compile a list of companies you want to work for (10 to 50 of them) that will provide that kind of work.

• Determine how you meet those requirements.
• Determine how you can help them meet those challenges.

Doing this preparation will help you align everything in your resume with what your target employers will be looking for in candidates.

Industry and company research plus the information you’ll find in job descriptions will help you identify required qualifications and those all-important relevant keywords that need to be in your resume.

A Google search of your target companies, the companies’ websites, Indeed.com, and LinkedIn are good resources. Check out Job-Hunt’s Guide to Using Google for Job Search for useful tips.

2. Develop Your Personal Branding and Value Proposition

Branding is no longer optional. Your competitors could well be using this method to differentiate themselves.

You need to brand yourself and present the unique value you offer, just to keep pace with your competition.

My 10-step Personal Branding Worksheet will help you uncover and communicate the combination of attributes, passions, strengths and qualifications that differentiate you from them.

As you’re building your brand, create a vibrant brand positioning statement for your resume. This is a brief 3-5 line paragraph that links your areas of expertise (using the most relevant keywords you’ve identified) with your key personal attributes, in content that will resonate with your target employers.

3. Write Down Your Career Success Stories

Instead of merely listing a string of relevant keyword phrases in your resume, back them up by providing specific examples of your achievements and how they impacted the company.

Think of how you saved your employer money, made them money, improved processes, improved customer satisfaction, etc. Quantify those successes — show them the numbers!

Think of the best contributions you’ve made to your employers, in terms of highest value to them.

My article on Challenge – Action – Results (C-A-Rs) stories will help.

WRITING YOUR RESUME

When you have the information you need (based on your research in #1 above), start writing your resume. And make sure it includes those very valuable keywords you uncovered.

4. Skip the Objective Statement

Employers don’t care that you want a “challenging position to advance my career.”

Employers want to know what you’ll do for them and whether you’ll be a good hiring choice. Objective statements waste valuable space and prime real estate near the top of the first page of your resume.

5. Manage Important Real Estate with Strategic Positioning

Busy HR people and other hiring decision makers typically allow only 10-15 seconds to scan a resume and decide whether you’re a person they want to interview.

Initially, people assessing you through your resume will zero in on the top third or half of page one. They may read no further.

Suggestions for branding “above the fold”:

Lead with a hard-hitting personal brand statement that includes your most important relevant keywords and describes your ROI (Return on Investment) to your target employers.

• Add a powerful quote from a recent performance review or someone you work with.
• Include 3 or 4 short value-driven bulleted statements with numbers.

6. Focus on Readability, Formatting, and Length

Avoid densely packed, hard-to-read information. Remember that, when you email your digital resume, the reader could open up and view your document on their smart phone — that’s a very small screen.

Shorter chunks of information are easier to read — on your digital or paper resume — and will draw the reader’s eye to continue down the page.

Keep the formatting attractive, consistent, and clean. Don’t use more than 2 different fonts (one for headings, another for content), and don’t choose frilly, unprofessional fonts. Use graphic lines sparingly and avoid underlining text.

As far as length, there is no rule set in stone. Typically, recent grads or those with only a few years’ experience will be one page. Resumes for executives and more experienced job seekers will typically be at least 2 pages and not more than 3 pages, in most cases

Remember that a resume is a career marketing communication, not a career history. It needs to incorporate just enough compelling information to generate interest in you. Everything in your resume must be there for a reason. Nothing should be arbitrary. Pare down your content ruthlessly!

7. Use Perfect Grammar and Avoid Typos and Misspellings

It should go without saying that typos, misspellings, and errors in grammar are the kiss of death — not impressive examples of your work quality.

Typos may also convey misinformation. Proofread several times and have someone else do it, too.

Don’t rely solely on spellcheck.

Make sure your contact information is correct.

8. Avoid Overused “Resume-Speak”

You’re not like everyone else. Your resume shouldn’t read like everyone else who’s competing for the same jobs.

You’ve done the branding work, so you know what differentiates you. Make that come across in your resume.

Keep the content interesting, and don’t fall back on dull phrases that everyone uses, such as results-oriented, visionary leader, excellent communication skills, proven track record of success, etc.

9. Skip Passive Verbs

Avoid the anemic, boring phrase “responsible for.”

Show your vitality with robust action verbs, identify your personal brand attributes, and explain your niche expertise with relevant key words. Use strong words like advanced, drove, spearheaded, accelerated, optimized, streamlined, leveraged, etc.

10. Don’t Use Repetitive Job Descriptions

Don’t waste precious space in the “Professional Experience” section reiterating obvious responsibilities. Focus each job description more towards relevant contributions you’ve made. But do include those all-important keywords in the Professional Experience section.

Reinforce your brand by highlighting your relevant keyword phrases linked to specific examples of the value you offered your past employers.

Bottom Line on Resume Branding

Yes, all of this takes a lot of time. But the work you do, and the content you create, defining your personal brand and developing your resume (and biography and other career documents) around it, forms the foundation for all your personal marketing materials, online and offline. This offers many benefits:

• Energizes you with what differentiates your value proposition to your target employers.
• Helps you know how to tell your network how they can help you achieve your career goals.
• Prepares you to speak confidently and knowledgeably about the value you offer.
• Provides a wealth of on-brand information to re-purpose for each of your online profiles and any web pages you create.
• Prepares you to network and interview well.

More About Building Your Personal Branding

• Define Your Brand: 10-Step Personal Branding Worksheet
• Creating Your Authentic Personal Brand Statement
• Personal Branding with LinkedIn
• Fast, Smart Personal Branding Hacks
• Personal Branding Using Structured Examples

Meg Guiseppi , Job-Hunt’s Personal Branding Expert and 20+ year careers industry veteran, has earned 10 certifications, including Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Reach Social Branding Analyst – LinkedIn Profile Strategist, and Certified Executive Resume Master. Meg is the author of  “ 23 Ways You Sabotage Your Executive Job Search and How Your Brand Will Help You Land .”  Connect with Meg at ExecutiveCareerBrand.com for c-suite personal branding and executive job search help and on Twitter ( @MegGuiseppi ). And, you may also download Meg’s free ebook –  Job-Hunt Guide to Smart Personal Branding with LinkedIn . More about this author …

Don't forget to share this article with friends!

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Guide to Personal Branding:

• Guide to Personal Branding
• Guide to Personal Branding with LinkedIn
• Stand Out: Personal Branding for Job Interview Success
• Personal Branding with Structured (C-A-R) Stories
• Branding Hype and Myth vs. Reality
• What's So Important About Personal Branding?
• Personal Branding While Unemployed
• Personal Branding for New Grads
• Over 50? Is Personal Branding for Boomers, too?
• Building Personal Brand Content for Your Executive Job Search
• FREE eBook: Smart Personal Branding with LinkedIn

First Step: Define Your Personal Brand:

• How to Create Your Personal Brand Statement
• Get Personal with Your Personal Branding Statement

Next: Build Your Personal Brand:

• 10 Tips for Stronger Resume Branding
• Branding with Structured Examples
• Branding with Your Email Signature
• 9 Best Practices for Building Your Online Brand and Online Identity
• Personally Branded Resumes

For More Information:

• Job-Hunt Help's Personal Branding LinkedIn Group

• 4 Smart Tactics for Sending...

4 Smart Tactics for Sending Emails to Recruiters

5 min read · Updated on December 11, 2021

Don't hit send just yet.

Connecting with recruiters is one of the best strategies for scoring the interview you need to get the job you want. Yet many job seekers find reaching out intimidating because they don't know how to email a recruiter. We'll show you a few sample emails to help you get past fumbling around for the right words to presenting yourself in a way no recruiter could ignore.

Reasons to write an email to a recruiter

Applying for jobs is easy (Well, aside from that whole “attach your resume and now type everything from your resume into this online form” dynamic we all love to hate). But scoring that plum position — the one lots of strong candidates are competing for — is a challenge. A well-written letter can do a few things to highlight you as an applicant to watch.

It shows that you're proactive. Recruiters want to see that you're truly interested in a position with their company and not just firing off resumes in hopes of getting a nibble.

It demonstrates your written communication skills. The ability to put your thoughts into writing cleanly and clearly is an asset no matter what position you apply for.

It sets you apart from the pack. Only the top 2 percent of candidates are considered for positions, and a well-crafted letter to a recruiter can help you stand out.

There's another compelling reason to forge connections with recruiters: An estimated 70-80 percent of positions are not posted. If you're sitting around waiting for a position to appear on the job boards you frequent, you could be missing important opportunities. Being proactive can pay big dividends.

How to email a recruiter

Recruiters want to hear from you. It's their job to find the perfect candidates for the positions they need to fill, and they're on the lookout for talent. But recruiters also get a lot of emails, and their time is precious. Make sure your message meets these criteria:

It's respectful. Remember that you're communicating in a professional capacity. Be friendly (Hi Amy,) but not too casual (Well, hello there, Amy!).

It clearly states your intent. What's the purpose of your email? You need to know what you want the recruiter to do for you (consider your resume, schedule a chat, interview you) and communicate it clearly.

It's brief. Get to the point. You don't have to include a lot of background information; just say what you need to say.

It's well-written. Edit. (Grammarly can help.) Get rid of filler words and phrases. Avoid email clichés.

It's accurate. Be sure you spell and format the company's name correctly. Get the recruiter's name right.

3 sample emails to a recruiter

Make your email message as customized as possible (Whatever you do, avoid spamming recruiters with a stock copy/paste message. They're easy to spot and even easier to ignore). Use these sample emails for inspiration.

Connecting With a Recruiter

Subject: Any content marketing roles at XYZ?

Hi Francois,

I read the Inc. article last week about XYZ Inc.'s rapid growth since landing five million in venture capital last spring. Way to rock that funding! Do you have plans to expand your marketing department?

I've had great success as the brand manager for Acme Widgets for the past five years. I'm planning to move into a broader content marketing role that challenges me to grow as a brand storyteller, and XYZ has been on my radar. I'd love to chat with you for 5-10 minutes to introduce myself and learn more about the company's culture and any upcoming roles you need to fill. Would you have time for a quick phone call on Wednesday?

All the best,

Marla Dixon

The Follow-up Email

Subject: Lead copywriting role at Acme — Resume attached

I applied for the lead copywriting role at Acme Widgets last week. I'm impressed by Acme's crazy fast growth in the widget industry, and I'm excited by the opportunity to be part of a lively team.

I think I'm a great fit for this position because my ten years in the copywriting trenches has made me a whiz at turning out clean, compelling copy. In 2016, I won a Netty Award for Best Copywriting for my work on the ABC123 .com website.

I've attached my resume so you don't have to dig through your files to find my application. Would you like to schedule a time to chat about the role?

Eric Ferguson

Referrals to Recruiters from Friends

I had lunch with Eric Ferguson yesterday and he mentioned that ABC123 was planning to hire more writers soon. I graduated from NYU with a bachelor's degree in English in September, and I'd love to learn more about your writing team and what makes them tick. And, of course, I'd love to talk to you about open roles. Do you have a few minutes for a video chat on Wednesday at around 1 p.m.?

Julia Engels

Not sure if your resume is ready for the recruiter's eyes? Check with a free resume review today! 

Editor's Note: This piece was written by Karen Hertzberg and originally ran on Grammarly . It is reprinted with permission.  

Recommended Reading:

How Do You Contact Recruiters on LinkedIn?

9 Smart Questions to Ask Recruiters Before an Interview

Your Guide to Recruiters — and How to Know What's Right for You

Related Articles:

8 Tips to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market

7 Signs Your Resume is Making You Look Old

Don't “Snowplow” Your Kids' Job Search — Set Them Up for Success Instead

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What Is Brand Personality & How to Define Yours

Written by: Raja Mandal

Since you're here, it's probably safe to say that you have a brand and want to learn more about defining your brand personality. Having a brand personality is as essential as having a brand identit y. It makes your brand unique and attracts customers to buy from you rather than your competitors.

Now here you are, having spent lots of time and money on marketing efforts, only to find out that you are not connected to your customers. This could be due to your brand’s personality traits. 

Curious to know more about brand personality? Keep on reading, or navigate through the table of contents to find exactly what you're looking for.

Table of Contents

What is brand personality, the psychology of brand personality, how to define your brand personality, how to express your brand personality, 10 great examples of brand personality, brand personality faqs.

Brand personality is the personification of a brand, i.e., giving human qualities to the brand. Like any human being, every brand has a voice, color and many other attributes that evoke different emotions in their audience. 

In other words, brand personality is how people perceive a brand based on how it looks, what it says, how it acts and all sorts of other qualities. So, when we talk about brand personality, it's about how the brand comes across to both existing and new customers.

Your brand has seven seconds to make a good first impression. And you may have heard the phrase, "The first impression is the last impression." So, to stay on the safe side, define your brand personality in a way that impresses people right from the start. 

Have you ever felt that you have some affection and attraction to specific brands? If yes, don't worry — you're not the only one. But if you want to understand why you feel that way, you need to understand this psychology. 

According to social psychologist Jennifer Aaker , the psychology of brand personality is divided into five dimensions: Sincerity, excitement, competence, sophistication, and ruggedness.

Let's understand what each of them communicates.

Honest, wholesome, cheerful, down-to-earth, warm.

Brands with these qualities reflect trustworthiness and reliability, making their customers feel safe. These brands always focus on keeping their promises and meeting customers' expectations. Brands like Cadbury, Amazon and Hallmark fall into this category.

Cadbury is an excellent example of the brand personality “Sincerity.” They provide some of the finest quality products in the chocolate industry. Furthermore, they use purple as their brand color that demonstrates luxury and helps their ideal customer perceive the quality of what is inside. 

They focus on family, friendship, gifting, honor, generosity,and caregiving through their products.

Trendy, imaginative, spirited, daring, intrigued.

Brands like this create a lot of hype in the marketplace and never fail to excite their audience. Even if they go beyond customer expectations, they do it in a playful way. Think of Mountain Dew, BuzzFeed, Red Bull, Tesla or Nike.

Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew is one of the energetic brand personality examples. It has all the qualities that put it under the "Excitement" category. They always focus on the youth and athletes of the current time and encourage them to drink Dew and do adventurous things. The use of taglines like, “Dew or die,” or, “Put a Little Yahoo In Your Life,” demonstrates their imaginative brand personality traits. 

Mountain Dew once collaborated with Warner Bros. Pictures’ film "The Dark Knight Rises" and released a limited-edition flavor, showing their daringness. And the best part is the Neon packaging that makes it a spirited brand. 

Hey executives! Looking to cut design costs?

• Spend less time on presentations and more time strategizing
• Ensure your brand looks and feels visually consistent across all your organization's documents
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Reliable, successful, intelligent.

Brands with these qualities are always the leading ones, such as Google, Microsoft, Volkswagen and Intel. Customers choose these brands because they believe they will get the job done. 

A brand is considered competent when people rely on them. However, the brand should also be successful and intelligent. Microsoft has all the traits of a competent brand personality.  The whopping product line of Microsoft includes search engines, browsers, smartphones, Xbox Series, operating systems and many more. 

By offering Windows OS, Microsoft is also the leading brand in the operating system provider industry, and it almost dominates every brand in the market. 

Moreover, on top of everything, the reason that makes Microsoft a competent brand is its acquisition strategy. The company has acquired some of the leading brands globally like Skype, Nokia, Hotmail and more. 

Sophistication

Luxury, charming, high-class, timeless, glamour.

Sophistication as a brand personality combines superiority and luxury to let their customers show off an upper-class lifestyle. 

Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana is one of the world’s most popular luxury brands. They maintain their sophisticated brand personality by using effective communication and marketing strategies along with premium pricing. 

They're well-known for their innovative design that creates a strong connection with their Mediterranean spirit. Thus, reflecting the "Timeless" trait of their brand personality. Furthermore, they focus on making their ideal customer feel high-class, charming, elegant and dynamic. 

Adventurous, athletic, tough, outdoorsy.

These brands embody the outdoor lifestyle of their customers and make them feel connected to nature. They understand their customers are unafraid, tough, and willing to get dirty. Brands that come to mind are Jeep, Harley Davidson, Woodland and Yeti.

A perfect example of the "Ruggedness" brand personality is Woodland. A specialist in making outdoor and trek footwear, the brand reflects the outdoorsy and ready-to-adventure personality traits. 

They use the color green, which represents nature, giving them the outdoorsy look they want. Furthermore, they use brown as one of their brand colors , which adds a sense of strength, reliability, security, and safety to their brand personality. 

Now, you know why you feel attracted to some brands. They have certain personalities that attract us just like the way any other person’s characteristics do. And those characteristics are mentioned above. 

So the next question you’ll be asking is: What is my brand personality ? We’ll show you how to build a brand personality framework.

Defining your brand personality is a great way to build brand equity . However, defining brand personality doesn't always come naturally. You need to spend a bit of time and attention understanding your target audience before defining your brand personality. 

So, let's walk step-by-step through the process of defining brand personality. 

1. Understand Your Audience Archetype

Whenever you feel connected to a brand, most of the time, it's because of its alignment to a brand archetype . But what is a brand archetype? 

The characteristics of a human being reflect their core desires, which are divided into 12 archetypes. Here are the archetypes:

• Power: The Magician
• Liberation: The Rebel
• Mastery: The Hero
• Intimacy: The Lover
• Service: The Caregiver
• Belonging: The Regular Guy
• Enjoyment: The Jester
• Control: The Ruler
• Innovation: The Creator
• Safety: The Innocent
• Understanding: The Sage
• Freedom: The Explorer

Archetypes are the personification of certain behaviors. It provides you a roadmap to understand your customers’ desires more accurately. 

So the first step towards building a brand personality starts with understanding the target audience. The better you know your target audience, the easier the process will be. Start by segmenting your audience with their demographic, psychographic and behavioral qualities. 

To learn more about the brand archetypes, check out this infographic detailing each one.

Now, align your target audience with one of the 12 brand archetypes. Which of these 12 archetypes do your ideal customers fall into?

2. Identify The Role Of Your Brand

The value you provide to your customers' life is the role of your brand. Identifying your brand role is crucial to determining the most suitable brand archetype for your brand personality. 

You can be their:

• Inspiration

Understand how your products or services affect your customers' lives to find out your brand role. You can do that in a few ways mentioned below:

Consider Your Brand As A Profession

Consider your brand to be a member of a specific community. What profession would your brand get in that community? How could your brand contribute to that community? Is your brand more of a leader in that community, or does it play a supporting role?

Consider Your Brand As An Agent

Here, agent means something that takes an active role or produces a unique effect. So, perceive how your brand influences your customers’ life and create a special effect. 

Consider Your Brand As A Personal Relationship

Imagine your brand as a personal relationship in your customers’ lives. These relationships can be someone in their family, a friend or anyone else who plays a vital role in their lives. 

Once you identify your brand role, align your brand with the characteristics of that particular role.

Simplify content creation and brand management for your team

• Collaborate on designs , mockups and wireframes with your non-design colleagues
• Lock down your branding to maintain brand consistency throughout your designs
• Why start from scratch? Save time with 1000s of professional branded templates

3. Select The Perfect Archetype That Suits Your Brand

Make sure you have the answers to these questions before choosing an archetype for your brand:

• Who is your audience?
• What journey are they on?
• What are their core desires?
• What are their characteristics and behaviors?
• Which role does your brand play in their lives?

Now, if you have all the answers to these questions, it is time to select the primary archetype for your brand. 

4. Choose An Additional Archetype

Once you pinpoint your archetype, you can choose a secondary archetype to complement the primary one. (Think Enneagrams and other human personality quizzes — you typically have a primary and a secondary personality type.) This will help you add complementary personality traits to your brand that the audience is attracted to. 

Though adding this complementary archetype is not mandatory, it can be a huge opportunity to add a further dimension to your brand personality. 

5. Create A Mood Board

Now that you've defined the archetype, create a mood board to visualize your brand personality. You still don't have a defined personality; you only know the characteristics and traits to display. You need to adopt beliefs, opinions, and attitudes to make your brand personality unique. 

So, use the mood board to visualize your brand personality and feel it like a real person. You can use Visme to create your moodboard and visualize your brand personality by getting started with a template like the one blow.

6. Define Your Brand Voice

Now you have all the human qualities for your brand except the language and tone of voice. Once you identify all the characteristics of your brand, you need a brand voice to support them. 

Consider your brand guidelines , such as your brand colors , fonts, logo, and other marketing materials , while creating the mood board. Additionally, use the brand voice infographic template to get your job done efficiently.

When you're all done, align each of the characteristics, traits, opinions and brand voice. And that's it! You have defined your brand personality. 

Knowing your brand personality is extremely important for making your brand stand out in the marketplace. You've just gone through a lengthy process to develop your brand character, but all your hard work will be in vain if you can't express it effectively. 

This next section details everything you need to know about properly expressing your brand personality.

Apply Brand Personality To Brand Message

To set your brand positioning, it's crucial to convey your value proposition through brand personality. Since your brand message is communicated to your target audience, it is the easiest way to get your personality across. 

Brand messaging starts from within your company. It's not just how your customers perceive your brand but also your employees. Your company culture, vision, and mission statement decide how your potential customers will experience your brand. 

Customize your brand messaging by applying the personality traits to all your brand messaging components, such as the mission & vision statement, value proposition, slogans, voice and others. 

If you're looking to describe your brand or craft compelling messaging, use Visme’s AI writer as a starting point. This tool can aid in creating ideas, attention-grabbing headlines, or persuasive copy. Better yet, you can ask the tool to adjust your tone so that the messaging is consistent with the brand's personality and values.

Apply Brand Personality To Your Brand Story

According to Forbes , brand storytelling is the future of marketing. They also claim that storytelling makes your brand 22 times more memorable than facts and figures.

A compelling brand story is not about your brand or you and your team. It's about whether your audience can see themselves in your brand. An effective brand story will always be in line with its audiences' lives. 

So, you need to tell your audience the story they want to hear. 

And now that you have two main characters for your brand story: Your audience and human buyer persona, storytelling will become a lot easier. 

Now you can tell a compelling story to your audience using your brand personality. 

Apply Brand Personality To Your Brand Identity

You have aligned the language, voice, tone and personality traits of your brand. Now it's time that your personality reflects on the face of your brand, which is brand identity. 

And how do you do that? A brand identity template includes your brand colors, fonts, logos, and other brand visual identity elements. So, applying all your brand's personality traits in these visual elements will be one of the most effective ways of expressing your brand personality. 

Here are the elements of brand identity where you can apply your personality:

The most critical brand identity visual element is your logo . It's a powerful marketing tool that you can use to display your brand colors, fonts and, most importantly, your brand personality. Statistics show that your logo is the most recognizable brand identifier .

So, you should design your logo keeping in mind all the characteristics of your brand to reflect your brand personality perfectly. 

Brand Colors

Colors play a significant role in evoking different emotions in your customers. Each color leaves a certain impression on your customers. So, if you still don't have any brand colors, understand the color psychology to know which color will suit your brand personality and choose appropriate colors. 

Get help from this color psychology infographic template. 

The fonts you choose to convey your brand message or display any text from your brand can reflect your personality. If you already have brand fonts for your company, ensure they suit your brand personality.

Alternatively, if they don't, you need to reconsider your brand fonts that will reflect your brand personality. Here is a handy guide on the anatomy of typography where you can draw inspiration from. Collect all of your elements in a brand kit so you can keep your branding consistent across various marketing and design materials.

Some businesses overlook this critical aspect of branding and miss out on the most significant chunk of their marketing success. On the flip side, some companies nailed their brand personality and took their company to the next level. 

This is why we've come up with a list of famous brand personalities to inspire you. 

Despite being a technology company, Apple falls into the sophistication category of brand personality. Apple's personality traits are innovative, cool, unpredictable, stylish, friendly, casual and creative. People who love simplicity with innovation are the ideal customers for Apple. 

Apple's core values come from the famous phrase by its founder Steve Jobs: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

They remain consistent in every touchpoint of its branding, from packaging to marketing. Now, Apple has become not only one of the most valuable brands but a lifestyle. 

Tesla's brand personality is excitement and sophistication . People these days use brands as self-expressive statements. We want people to make judgments about us by our clothes, accessories, cars, and other things. 

Driving a Tesla gives a tremendous amount of self-expressive benefit, just like using an Apple smartphone. 

Apple and Tesla are widely regarded as having almost similar brand personalities. Both of these brands are undeniably linked with their leaders. 

Tesla's CEO Elon Musk has the vision to change the world. So, Tesla shares the magician archetype. Also, the brand wants to crush all of its competitors, sharing the ruler archetype as well. 

Nike has endorsed the finest athletes across various sports, displaying that their customers are excited, innovative, durable and cool. Thus, Nike's brand personality falls into the excitement category. 

People around the world love Nike because of its personality traits. You'll hardly find a person in the world who doesn't like Nike's personality traits. Also, its famous slogan "Just Do It" relates to every single person on the planet at least once in their lifetime. 

Due to their unique personality, Nike has achieved great brand loyalty and captured much of the market by making consumers opt for their products over their competitors. 

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson's brand personality is ruggedness , suggesting that their bikes are powerful and unique. Customers with rebellious personalities connect with Harley-Davidson. 

People get a combined sense of freedom and luxury by riding their motorcycles which you will not find anywhere else. Despite being expensive, Harley-Davidson bikes are made to fulfill customers' dreams. 

They promote their motorcycles as mean and tough machines in all their marketing campaigns. Their logo and use of dynamic and bright colors helped them express their brand personality. 

Rolex shares two different brand personalities at the same time: Competence and sophistication . 

Rolex is widely known for producing the finest watches in the world. Hence, they score high on competence while being a sophisticated brand. Their ideal customers are the ones who belong to a corporate world and don't need anything flashy but something elegant and classic. 

The brand allows its customers to use its watches to convey success to the world. They have solemn, stable, responsible, organized and professional personality traits. 

From its brand colors and fonts to the name and logo, everything about Red Bull is energetic . No other brand does things the way Red Bull does to run and market their business. 

The brand relates to two different types of customers — fun-loving people who need energy in their daily lives. The other one is a professional athlete who needs to exceed complex challenges in their lives. 

You must have come across their famous tagline, "It gives you wings." They focus primarily on their brand rather than their products. To do that, they dabble in concerts, music festivals, extreme sports to take their marketing to the next level. 

Amazon's brand personality is sincerity and competence . 

Amazon offers a personal relationship with all of its products and services, making them one of the most trusted brands globally. Its personality traits include reliability, competence, sincerity and care.

The brand focuses on customer satisfaction and tell their customers exactly what to expect. Though not all their products are successful, CEO Jeff Bezos is not afraid of failures. This attitude of Bezos makes the brand more human to its customers. 

Instead of focusing on what their competitors are doing, they have gone beyond their customers' expectations and developed innovative ideas and sincerity. 

Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany's brand personality is pure sophistication — no doubt about that.

Tiffany & Co. has a sophisticated, charming, luxurious and elegant personality. These traits made them one of the most prestigious jewelry brands that women all over the world love. 

Their potential customers aspire to have all Tiffany's personality traits, making their brand relatable and allowing them to sell their products at a very high price. This also gives their customers the upper-class lifestyle they want. 

They use a specificshade of blue as their brand color (now coined "Tiffany blue"), which has helped them shape their brand and its personality. Tiffany uses this color through their social media, website and marketing materials, evoking a sense of desire amongst their target audience. 

Coca-Cola's brand personality is a combination of sincerity and excitement .  Their brand personality is displayed in their vibrant logo, brand colors, iconic slogans like "Delicious and Refreshing," "Always Coca-Cola," "Share A Coke," and many others. 

Coca-Cola was started as a failing brain tonic until its new owner, Asa Candler, came up with this unique brand personality. Since 1880, the brand has been conveying sincerity through cheerful advertisements and excitement through its refreshing taste. 

People love Coca-Cola because of the brand without even consuming the drink. When it comes to brand personality, you'll be hard-pressed to find one more iconic than Coca-Cola. 

Starbucks' brand personality is sincerity . They deliver the taste of real coffee with honest and transparent advertising. All the employees in Starbucks focus on making strong connections with its customers, making Starbucks more than a standard coffee shop — it has become a community. 

Besides providing the best products and services in the market, they provide a social status. They also offer membership cards that make customers feel like a part of a privileged group. There comes a little bit of sophistication in their brand personality. 

Furthermore, their iconic marketing strategy, writing customer names on their cups, proves attention to detail. This makes Starbucks stand way ahead of its competitors. 

Q. How do you measure brand personality?

Measuring brand personality is a process that helps you understand how customers perceive or feel about your brand. You can measure brand personality using these strategies:

• Surveys and questionnaires
• Qualitative research (in-depth interviews, focus groups, or ethnographic studies)
• Customer feedback and reviews
• Brand archetype analysis
• Content analysis
• Social media analysis
• Competitive analysis
• Employee perception

Overall, measuring brand personality is a key aspect of your brand strategy . You need to collect data, analyze it and make strategic decisions based on the insights you’ve gained.

Q. What is brand personality vs brand identity?

Brand personality refers to the human characteristics or traits that are attributed to a brand. It’s a reflection of the emotional and personal connection that a consumer has with a brand.

In contrast, brand values refer to the visual and tangible elements that can be seen or experienced. They mirror how your brand communicates through its tone of voice, core values, beliefs, and visual identity.

Q. How many personalities should a brand have?

A brand should have a consistent personality that aligns with its values and messaging. However, a brand can have multiple personalities if it is targeting different audiences or has multiple product lines. In such cases, each personality should still be aligned with the overall brand identity and values.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a cohesive and memorable brand personality that resonates with customers and fosters long-term loyalty.

Q. What is brand personality vs brand value?

Brand personality is how a brand behaves, speaks and interacts with its customers, as well as how customers perceive the brand.

Brand values, on the other hand, are the core beliefs and principles that your brand stands for. These values guide a brand's actions, decisions and business strategy.

Define Your Own Brand Personality

As we mentioned earlier, having a brand personality is a critical element of every brand—one that perfectly reflects your vision and mission statement, the products and services you provide, and your core values that make your customers choose you over your competitors. 

Once you know your audience, aligning your brand with their characteristics is the best way to get started. So take enough time to create the right brand personality and ensure success.

And when it comes to creating marketing materials that help promote your personality and messaging, Visme's brand design tool can help you get started with your own bundle of branded templates. 

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About the Author

Raja Antony Mandal is a Content Writer at Visme. He can quickly adapt to different writing styles, possess strong research skills, and know SEO fundamentals. Raja wants to share valuable information with his audience by telling captivating stories in his articles. He wants to travel and party a lot on the weekends, but his guitar, drum set, and volleyball court don’t let him.