Intro
Welcome to Terrys Crazy Blog — where being bold isn’t optional. Personal branding isn’t a logo, a color palette, or a flashy bio. It’s the sum of what people think, feel, and remember about you. If you want clients, opportunities, or simply more clarity about who you are online, building a personal brand is your not-so-secret weapon.
This guide is playful, practical, and slightly quirky — just like Terry. Below you’ll find what personal branding is, why it matters, 7 practical steps (each with a tiny example), tools, mistakes to avoid, a quick checklist, and a 3-step action plan you can do today.
What is Personal Branding
Personal branding is how you package your expertise, values, and story so other people understand and remember you. It includes:
- Your message and voice (how you talk about what you do).
- Visuals (profile pictures, colors, fonts).
- Content you publish (posts, videos, newsletters).
- Social proof (testimonials, case studies).
Think of it as the personality that lives behind your name online.
Why it Matters
In a crowded market, people choose people. A strong personal brand:
- Helps you attract the right opportunities.
- Clarifies who you’re for and what you do.
- Commands higher rates and trust.
Mini case study: Sara, a freelance UX writer, started posting short, practical LinkedIn posts about UX microcopy and sharing one client story per week. Within six months she doubled her rate and started getting inbound requests from companies she wanted to work with.
7 Practical Steps to Build Your Personal Brand
1) Clarify your core message
Decide who you help, how, and why it matters. Example: “I help busy founders simplify their onboarding copy so users don’t bolt.” Keep it short and repeat it.
2) Define your voice and story
Choose a consistent tone (quirky, warm, direct). Example: Terry’s voice is playful, slightly irreverent, and helpful — he uses short sentences and emojis selectively.
3) Choose a visual identity
Pick one hero color, a profile photo style (headshot vs. silhouette), and 1-2 fonts. Example: Use a bold accent color that shows up on your posts and business cards.
4) Create consistent content
Pick two formats (e.g., short LinkedIn posts + 1 monthly long-form article). Example: Post three tips every Tuesday and a long article on the last Friday of the month.
5) Optimize your profiles
Make your bio clear, add a one-line value prop, and link to a single hub (your website or link-in-bio). Example: "Designer for busy founders — I simplify onboarding. Portfolio: yoursite.com"
6) Share social proof
Post short case studies, testimonials, and results. Example: A screenshot of a client’s conversion improvement with a 1-sentence caption.
7) Measure, iterate, and be human
Track what resonates (engagement, DMs, email replies), and double down. Keep experimenting — authenticity beats perfect polish.
Tools & Platforms to Use
- Website/Blog (yoursite.com) — your content hub
- LinkedIn — long-form and thought leadership
- X/Twitter — quick takes and conversations
- Instagram — visual personality and short videos
- Substack/Newsletter — own the inbox
- Canva — visuals and templates
- Buffer/Hootsuite/Later — scheduling
- Google Analytics + Search Console — track traffic
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to be everything to everyone.
- Posting inconsistency.
- Hiding behind vagueness — your bio must say exactly who you help.
- Chasing vanity metrics instead of meaningful conversations.
Quick Checklist
- [ ] One-line value prop
- [ ] Updated bio and photo
- [ ] 1 hero visual (color + logo or silhouette)
- [ ] Content plan (2 formats)
- [ ] 1 case study or testimonial
3-step action plan (do this in the next 48 hours)
- Write your one-line value prop and add it to every profile.
- Post a short story or case study where you helped someone.
- Pick one platform and schedule 3 posts this week.
Conclusion — Your Brand, Your Rules
Personal branding is less about perfection and more about consistency and clarity. Start small, be a little bit weird (in a good way), and tell the story only you can tell. If this guide helped, subscribe to Terry’s Crazy newsletter and drop a comment with one quirky thing that makes you memorable.