Your Digital Brand Should Be An Authentic Reflection Of YOU!

Over the last decade of owning a social media agency, one thing has become abundantly clear: people want to engage with and do business with people. Your products or services may be what drives people to you, but it is the way you present yourself and your ideas that will build trust and inevitably earn their business.

This Week’s Social Media Mantra: My digital brand should be an authentic reflection of me.

When considering what authentically social means for you and your brand, it’s important to do some self-evaluating and self-reflection of what it is that makes you who you really are. As Simon Sinek so famously said, “Find your why.”

Let’s Go Deeper: Finding Your “Why” ⤵

What inspires who you are and the work you do? What are the qualities within yourself that feel the most honest and truthful to you? The answers should be at the heart of your social media strategy.

We’ve all run across social media profiles that look or feel inauthentic. Have you ever caught yourself needing to act a certain way or even portray a false narrative for one reason or another? We know how disingenuous that feels, and the goal should be to present your full, authentic self.

Take some time to reflect on the qualities that make you genuinely authentic. Try writing some of these qualities down on sticky notes and placing them where you can see them often. Once you feel confident in your authentic self, you’ll have no problem being the real you on social media.

📣A Success Story: The CEO Who Came Out From Behind the Scenes

When Jennifer got her dream job as CEO of a large training and development company, she called me to share the exciting news. After a few minutes of celebrating, we got down to business. She needed help with her LinkedIn profile, as she didn’t believe her engagement (likes, comments, shares) met the high standards of her new position. She wanted a social media makeover, and she wanted it fast! She was also insistent that she remain hidden behind the scenes.

As instructed, we set off posting articles, white papers, and other corporate content that we received from her marketing department. It looked perfectly curated … professionally written … and sad. It looked sad because no one was engaging with her or her content. After a month of social media silence from her audience, Jennifer was open to trying something different.

We discovered that Jennifer was great on camera and a fantastic interviewer. With a little convincing, we helped her launch a podcast where she interviewed other female executives about the challenges and opportunities they faced in the marketplace.

Jennifer’s passion, enthusiasm, and humor naturally came through as she engaged in these conversations. She made her guests feel at ease and brought out great value in every episode. She got more engagement on this podcast series than anything else she had ever posted. Friends, colleagues, and prospects all chimed in to share their excitement. Her newly engaged followers even shared episodes on their profiles, which expanded her reach exponentially.

Jennifer’s personal brand took off and, along with it, the business brand was amplified as well. She became a true believer that people enjoyed being connected to her … not just her content.

I truly believe that when you put authenticity at the core of your social media, you’ll be more relatable, trustworthy, and credible to your audience. This is how we create long-term relationships that will keep your business growing for years to come.

🥊Actionable Steps for Your Social Media Today:

Highlight Your People: People want to know the culture and values of the brands they support. Share a “selfie” video or a fun fact about a team member to humanize your brand.
Embrace Imperfection: Remember that “done is better than perfect.” We talked about this on the Big Biz show recently – stop over-editing your videos. Use the “One-Take Challenge”: shoot it, and post it even with minor flaws.
Find your authentic voice: A 3-step exercise you can do today!
2026 Tech Tip: Use AI tools to brainstorm your content “drafts,” but always do the final review yourself to ensure the “human” element isn’t lost in the automation.

What’s Coming Next

Principle 02: Beware the Shiny Penny Syndrome

Are you exhausted trying to keep up with every new platform? I’ll tell you why “strategically not being there” might be the best move for your business.

Onward!