Your business page tells people what you sell. Your personal brand tells them who you are, and that's often what wins the work.
Here's how entrepreneurs and business owners can build a personal brand on social media, with 20 post ideas, the platforms to focus on and the mistakes to avoid. For more ideas, see our LinkedIn post ideas for entrepreneurs.
Share what you know and who you are
Post your opinions, lessons and experiences, not just your company news.
Pick one main platform, post two or three times a week and reply to everyone who comments.
Ideas that build your authority
Show people you know your stuff.
Lessons learned
A mistake you made and what it taught you.
Industry opinions
Your take on news in your sector.
How-to tips
Practical advice your audience can use today.
Myth busting
Something people in your industry get wrong.
Frameworks
A simple process you use with clients.
Book and podcast picks
What you're learning from and why.
Predictions
Where you think your industry is heading.
Ideas that build connection
People buy from people they like.
Your origin story
Why you started your business.
A day in your life
Behind the scenes of running a business.
Wins and milestones
Celebrate, and thank the people who helped.
Failures
Honest posts about what went wrong get huge engagement.
Your values
What you stand for and won't compromise on.
Your team
Shout-outs to the people you work with.
Life outside work
Hobbies and interests, in moderation.
Ideas that get people talking
Engagement grows your reach.
Questions
Ask your network for their views.
Polls
Quick votes on industry topics.
Client stories
With permission, the results you've delivered.
Event takeaways
What you learned at a conference.
Congratulate others
Celebrate your clients and contacts.
Ask me anything
Invite questions and answer them in a post.
Personal brand dos and don'ts
Do
- Be yourself. Authenticity is the whole point
- Reply to every comment
- Post consistently, two or three times a week
- Use your own photos, not stock images
- Link your personal profile to your business
Don't
- Only post sales messages
- Copy someone else's style
- Get into arguments in the comments
- Share confidential client details
- Overdo the humblebrags
Let us help with your personal brand
We manage personal LinkedIn profiles for business owners, from post ideas to writing in your voice.
Find out more about our LinkedIn management.
Personal brand FAQs
Why should a business owner build a personal brand?
People trust people more than logos. A strong personal brand brings in clients, partners and staff, and it stays with you whatever business you run.
Which platform is best for a personal brand?
LinkedIn for most business owners, especially in B2B. Instagram and TikTok suit consumer brands and founders who are comfortable on camera.
How often should I post on my personal profile?
Two or three times a week is plenty on LinkedIn. Consistency matters more than volume.
Should my personal and business accounts post the same things?
No. Your business page shares news and offers. Your personal profile shares your opinions, experiences and story.
Can someone else write my LinkedIn posts?
Yes. Here's what you need to know about LinkedIn ghostwriting.
