How to Create a Personal Brand That Grows With You

There comes a point in every business owner’s life where the personal brand you built no longer feels like it fits you. Not because it was wrong, but because it just belongs to an earlier version of you. The version of you that had nothing but a side hustle and a dream.

But now? You’ve got more experience, more content, bigger goals, and that side hustle is begging to be taken more seriously. That DIY logo you created in Canva or that templated WordPress website just doesn’t feel like it’s cutting it anymore.

And that’s okay!

Truly, if that sounds like you, don’t feel bad. You didn’t do anything wrong and it’s a very normal part of growth. It’s just a sign that your brand wasn’t built for the long term, and now it’s time to consider rebranding the RIGHT way — with the future in mind.

(Also, shoutout to that version of you with just a dream because where would you be without her? ✨)

Why Most Personal Brands Stop Working 💭

Before we dive into how to create a brand that will grow with you, we first need to understand why a brand stops working in the first place. Most people think that the visuals are the issue — the logo, the colors, the font choices, the website design, etc. While all of that may be true, the real issue lies in how the brand was built.

Most people build their initial personal brand based on what they like in the moment — what looks cute, what is trendy, or what genre they’re working on at the time. But when things start to evolve and your style changes, trends shift, or you expand what you have to offer, the brand doesn’t work anymore.

When you create a personal brand based on what’s happening in your life in the moment, every shift in your business makes it feel like you need to burn the house down and start over.

The key to building the proverbial “personal brand” house that will stand strong as you grow? Building it on the strong foundation that is brand strategy.

How to Build a Brand That Lasts 🏠

A personal brand that lasts is a brand that has a solid foundation built on the deeper aspects of you and your business. Things like:

• why you do what you do
• who your work is for
• what you want your brand or business to be known for
• what your values are

They are the heart of your brand and ultimately should stay consistent even when your offers, genre, or visuals need to shift. I like to call these aspects your Brand Core.

When your Brand Core is clear, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time something changes.

Signs Your Brand Foundation is Solid 🚦

Not sure if your personal brand has the foundation needed to stand the test of time? Here are some things you should check to help you determine if things are solid:

☑️ your messaging is consistent and still makes sense even as your offers evolve

☑️ updates just feel like adjustments instead of complete resets

☑️ you can clearly explain what you do and why without rambling or overthinking

☑️ your brand always feels like you, even if your favorite color is no longer green or you’ve outgrown the Brittany font on Canva.

If those things are in check, then you’re in good shape! But if you read any of those and didn’t feel so certain, consider your answers to these questions so you can start developing a strategy:

→ What direction do you want your business to go in? Not just this year, but beyond to 3, 5, even 10 years into the future.

→ What parts of your brand should stay consistent? What can change and still feel like you?

→ Are there any parts of your brand you created in a spur of the moment? Do those areas need more consideration or should they be removed completely?

My Personal Brand Reset 🦊

When I first launched my business with website design as my primary service, I created my brand almost exclusively based on my favorite color (red, in case it wasn’t obvious by my website lol), and handcrafted my own logos in Adobe Illustrator.

My brand was personal, sure, but it was completely visuals first. I didn’t know anything about comprehensive brand identities.

After I was a few months in, I felt this intense misalignment with my brand right around the time that brand strategy came into my world. It was then I knew that everything about my brand was going to have to change, but this time, I was going to rebuild my personal brand from a strategy-first perspective. Now?

• I’m clear on who I serve and why
• I have a very rooted purpose and vision for my brand that will not change, even if my business name or offers do
• My messaging and communication is consistent
• My website is aligned and my marketing plan was so much easier to develop

If I had started building my brand with strategy in mind, I would’ve been able to shift small things about my business seamlessly without starting from ground zero again.

Your Personal Brand Starts in Season One 📺

So my friend, if you feel like you’ve outgrown your brand and want a brand that will stand with you through the natural personal and business evolutions, my Mini Brand Identity offer was built to help with this very thing.

It’s focused on building a clear foundation for your brand using the strategic essentials of brand identity creation that will support your business growth and help you expand into the confident professional author, book editor, or literary service provider that you’re ready to step into.

If you’re ready to start Season One of your new bingeworthy brand, you can learn more here.

With light,

Ty 🤎

Enjoy this read? Learn something new? Tell me everything in a comment below! And remember, it takes no effort to be kind 😊

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Disclaimer: The information in this post is for entertainment & subjective educational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as business, legal, medical, marketing, or sales advice.

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