Every September, I get the itch to reinvent myself. In the past, that meant questionable haircuts or hobbies I abandoned two weeks later. This year, I decided to be a little smarter and focus on how I show up in my career. Translation: personal branding. Not in the influencer sense (no ring lights in sight), but in the “what do people think when they hear my name?” sense.
At its core, your personal brand is simply your reputation—how people perceive your skills, values, and personality both online and IRL. And even if you’re not job-hunting, tightening it up can make you more confident, open new opportunities, and help others quickly understand what you bring to the table.
To keep it from feeling overwhelming, I broke the process into a few simple steps and leaned on tools that made it easier (like MOO, for the little details that leave a big first impression). Here’s where I started:
1. Get clear on what you want to be known for
Before I could do anything else, I needed to figure out what I wanted my personal brand to stand for. It boiled down to being a creative, a writer, and someone with a fun—but not totally chaotic—online presence. I wanted to come across as thoughtful and approachable, but still someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
To figure that out, I spent some time journaling on questions like: If a friend introduced me to someone new, what three things do I hope they’d say about me? Or if my name came up in a meeting, what do I want colleagues to associate with me? Doing this helped me narrow in on the qualities I actually wanted to highlight—and gave me a filter for everything else I put out into the world. For example, once I realized I wanted to be known as approachable, I made a point to rewrite my LinkedIn bio in a warmer, more conversational tone and swap out my headshot for something less stiff.
Even simple prompts like these can help you figure out your “lane” and make sure your online presence, emails, and introductions reflect who you really are. I also stumbled on this Substack essay with more creative exercises for discovering your personal brand—a fun reminder that the process doesn’t have to feel serious or stressful.
2. Don’t underestimate a tangible first impression
When we talk about personal branding, it’s usually about LinkedIn profiles or Instagram bios. But first impressions often happen offline—at a coffee shop, a networking event, or even a chance encounter. That’s where tangible tools matter. You don’t need a personal logo or fancy website, but having something polished to hand someone can make all the difference.
For me, that meant business cards. I’m not a designer, so I needed something simple that still felt elevated—one of our actual graphic designers turned me on to MOO. They’re known for creating premium, customizable products that make lasting first impressions. Designing my cards was easy, and the end result felt professional yet still like “me.”
Working remotely, I don’t have coworkers to hand my info to, so carrying cards has been a game-changer. I gave one to someone at a local writing workshop, and a week later, they reached out with a freelance opportunity. Proof that little details really can open doors.
3. Refresh your online presence
Updating my online profiles was long overdue, so I updated my Instagram bio to reflect my voice and current role better, added some new writing samples to my LinkedIn and portfolio, and archived a few old posts that didn’t feel like “me” anymore. Even tiny changes—swapping an outdated headshot, rewriting my bio in a more natural tone, and adding a couple of industry-relevant keywords—made everything feel more polished and intentional. I didn’t overhaul my profiles, just fine-tuned them so they tell the story I actually want to share.
If you’ve been putting this off, here’s your sign: spend an hour looking at your digital presence with fresh eyes. Ask yourself: If someone Googled me today, would what they find feel true to who I am right now? If the answer is no, it’s time for a mini refresh.
4. Focus your energy on the platforms the matter
The internet makes it feel like you need to be everywhere. Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, newsletters…the list goes on. But trying to keep up with all of them is a recipe for burnout. So, I gave myself permission to focus on the platforms that aligned with my goals and gave me an opportunity to showcase my expertise: Substack and Instagram. For now, my routine looks like one Substack post each week (usually an essay or personal reflection) and a handful of Instagram stories spread throughout the week. That’s it. Nothing complicated, nothing overwhelming—just a rhythm that feels sustainable.
Consistency is the key here. I don’t post every day, but I do show up regularly enough that people know what to expect. And that consistency builds trust way more than showing up perfectly everywhere all the time.
5. Stop overthinking your voice
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably hit “delete” on a draft more times than you can count. I used to edit captions until they barely sounded like me anymore. But here’s the thing: your personal brand should actually feel…personal. Now, I write like I’m texting a friend. The feedback? People say it feels authentic and relatable—the exact thing I was editing out before.
Try this: the next time you’re writing a caption, read it out loud. If it doesn’t sound like you, rewrite it until it does. Whether it’s an Instagram caption, a LinkedIn post, or an email, showing up like yourself makes it easier for others to connect with you.
6. Ask for feedback
Even if you think you’re clear on your personal brand, it’s helpful to sense-check it with people you trust. I asked a few coworkers and friends how I come across online and in person, and their insights showed me blind spots I never would’ve noticed on my own.
The key is to focus on people who understand your goals and whose opinions you value. You don’t need to take every piece of feedback to heart, but listening for common threads can help you refine how you’re showing up—and reassure you that the story you’re telling feels authentic to others, too.
McKenna Pringle, Branded Content Editorial Assistant
As the Branded Content Editorial Assistant, McKenna assists the sales team with the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, pitching and contributing stories of her own, and more. Some of her favorite topics to write about are entertainment, culture, and lifestyle
This post is sponsored by MOO, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
Feature graphic images credited to: Ashley Singerling | Dupe, Marcia Gauci | Dupe, Alina Latkovic | Dupe, Ruby Reyes | Dupe, Rachel Springer | Dupe
The post 6 Ways I’m Building My Personal Brand This Fall appeared first on The Everygirl.