Why your employees should be growing their personal brand on social media (and you shouldn’t get in their way)

Having a strong personal brand can be a powerful tool for your employees’ professional growth. And we all know if your employees look good, you look good too right?

Gone are the days where everyone had to read from the same hymn sheet and only the CEOs of big corporations got to be the face of the company. It’s 2023. We want to see behind the scenes of your business at all levels in an authentic way. By getting your team to share their expertise and knowledge in their own way, your audience can get a little does of reality of what it’s like to reeeally work for you. Encouraging your team to post on socials and work on their own personal brand can help your employees boost their credibility within your industry and enhance their career progression.

First up, for those of you who don’t know, your personal brand is so much more than the occasional post on LinkedIn.⁠ It's how you look, how you sound, what you stand for, what you talk about, how you act when you are at work AND when you are at play.⁠ It's your values, your demeanour, how you treat everyone you come into contact with and how you execute your mission to the world.⁠ It's the whole package, which means curating how you show up online so that you are the go-to person for whatever it is you want to be best known for.⁠

Everybody has a personal brand whether they like it or not. Making the decision to take charge and control the narrative is the first step.

Here’s why it’s essential for your organisation that your employees look to cultivate a personal brand that highlights THEIR best bits, not just the company’s:

1. Increased visibility within your industry – Having a strong personal brand increases the chances of your employees being noticed by potential clients, customers and industry thought leaders. Having a cohesive online presence that’s maximised with SEO, such as on LinkedIn, and a professional website, shows that your employees are serious about their growth and upskilling, which in turn makes your company look excellent for providing them with these opportunities. Win-win.

2. Boosting their marketability – Employees who take the time and effort to build a strong personal brand show that they’re passionate about their profession and are serious about presenting themselves as the go-to person in their industry. A personal brand helps employees differentiate themselves from the competition and puts them in a strong position when it comes to attracting clients, winning over stakeholders and enhancing their career growth.

3. Enhancing professional networks – Having a personal brand also helps to establish and grow professional networks. By increasing their presence and visibility online, employees can connect with industry peers and build a strong network of mentors and contacts. This can lead to opportunities within current industry networks or even gain referrals to other industries. What more could you want?

4. It takes the pressure off of your marketing team - When your employees have strong personal brands, they are creating the best kind of marketing for you. Studies show that people are way more likely to engage with a personal social media account over a business one, as it appears more trustworthy. Solid social proof from your employees will make your company appear more trustworthy and interesting than if you were just posting from the company account, day in, day out.

Would you encourage your team to grow their personal brands? We’d love to hear your thoughts!