A simple framework to get unstuck & take action
Read time: 3 minutes
Often, the biggest barrier to building a personal brand is simply not knowing where to start.
And it’s understandable: personal branding means different things to different people, so there’s no play book or instruction manual on how to ‘do it’. There are so many platforms, and a huge amount of content and noise already. The idea of cutting through the noise feels overwhelming.
And when things feel overwhelming, the easiest option is to not start at all.
However, there are ways to make it feel easier. This simple “GAP” framework (Goals, Audience, Pillars) is a great way to start thinking about how to position yourself and what to prioritise.
1. Clarify your GOALS
Question: What do you want to achieve with your personal brand?
A useful starting point is to define what success looks like for you. Being more visible isn’t the end goal—so what is?
Are you aiming to:
- Become a thought leader in your space?
- Attract inbound business leads?
- Get speaking engagements?
- Secure a book deal?
- Raise funding?
Do you want rapid visibility or slow, steady growth?
Without clear goals, your efforts can feel scattered and incohesive.
Ideally, your personal brand should work for you, so knowing the most important outcomes will help you prioritise and figure out where to focus your energy.
Things to try:
- Write down your top three personal brand goals and a rough timeline for achieving them. (“What opportunities do I want my brand to attract in 6/12/18 months and beyond?”)
- Identify 2-3 role models who have built brands aligned with your goals.
- Test your direction by describing your personal brand in one sentence—does it align with what you want?
Once you’re clear on your goals, the next step is knowing who you’re speaking to.
2. Define your AUDIENCE
Question: Who are you trying to reach?
Your personal brand isn’t just about you, it’s about how others perceive and engage with you. Knowing your audience (i.e. who you’re trying to speak to, or attract) helps you tailor your messaging.
For example, are you speaking to:
- Businesses?
- HR managers?
- Entrepreneurs?
- Event organisers?
- Consumer brands?
- Your end customers?
- Someone else altogether?
Each group spends time in different spaces, both online and offline, with unique needs and interests.
If you don’t define your audience, your messaging may be too broad, making it harder to resonate with the right people.
Things to try:
- Make a list of your ideal audience types; who do you want to interact with?
- Research where they spend time. LinkedIn is often a good starting point, but Instagram, Reddit, or specific podcasts or industry events may be more relevant.
- Engage with that audience by delivering value and insights (e.g. through content), and creating conversations (e.g. in comment sections, and DMs).
With your audience defined, you can then decide what you want to be known for.
3. Identify content PILLARS
Question: What do you want to be known for?
Your content pillars are the core themes that define your personal brand. It could be any topic or area of expertise, for example:
- AI
- Marketing
- Leadership
- Entrepreneurship
- Health and wellbeing
- Personal development
Picking 3-4 key areas will help create a more focussed and recognisable identity.
Without defined content pillars, your messaging can feel inconsistent, making it harder for your audience to associate you with a specific expertise.
Things to try:
- Choose 2-4 topics that align with your interests and expertise. (“If someone thinks of me, what topics do I want to come to mind?”).
- Brainstorm content ideas within those themes, such as personal stories, education, “how-to’s”, and reviews or testimonials of your work, and different formats for that content (blog posts, videos, social media posts, etc).
- Validate by seeing what resonates with your audience, and adjust as needed.
Building your personal brand is an ongoing process, but starting with clear goals, a defined audience, and strong content pillars will set you up for success.
The key is consistency; use this framework and keep refining as you go. Ready to get started?
Speak soon,
Dupé
PS: whenever you're ready, feel free to enquire about working together: Get guidance on how to be more visible and grow your brand. Whether you’re looking for 1:1 coaching, or ready-to-post content, hit reply and let’s chat!
