Article by Sara Tye
Things on the internet last an eternity, so it is important that we present and promote ourselves, our skills, our experience and personality in a way that we want to be seen. Personal branding is utilised to differentiate ourselves from other people. If this is done correctly, your personal brand can even be tied in with your business for extraordinary results.
So what is the whole point of personal branding? The ideal situation here is that you want your customers or peers to attribute your brand to you as a person. Think of Kate Middleton for example. She is a great example of good personal branding: she is consistent, and she has polished her look, style and way of speaking. When people know exactly what to expect from you as an individual, this will project onto whatever you may be providing and make your brand more trustworthy and desirable.
Once you have decided on your promise (what you bring to the table as a person and a brand), your customers or peers are going to have a certain expectation from your services and/or products. As long as these are met, you will see retention and a building of trust, leading to referrals and growth of your brand. After all, that is what you are in the game for, right?
Let’s talk about the most important aspects of branding you should think about, and how their implementation can further your status as an authoritative figure in your chosen career path.
You can use a wide plethora of channels to project your brand to as many people as possible. Your own website and social media would be where you want most of your audience to eventually end up, and other mediums such as emails, events, other websites and in-person networking can be utilised to drive people towards your website or social media accounts.
Within these channels, you can have different content types. Take into consideration your target audience (commonly referred to as customer avatars) when deciding on what types to primarily use. Perhaps having plenty of photographs, videos and Facebook Live recordings would suit the consumption styles of your customer base better. On the other hand, blogs, newsletters and press releases may be more suitable for your industry.
Either way, experiment with the timing, frequency and types of content that you churn out. Check the statistics for customer retention and engagement, and stick to a common theme and schedule once a successful content campaign has been realised.
Building your brand becomes a lot more linear and straight-forward when you know what you would like to achieve.
One way to set objectives for the work you are doing is to set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). They are quantifiable measures of progress towards a goal. For example, you can strive to achieve 12 blogs a year, or media coverage in relevant titles, or deliver daily posts on various social media.
Of course, you should set yourself some larger goals as a whole, but setting smaller, incremental objectives will seem more manageable.
One of the most important things to nail down when it comes a personal brand, product or service is that it must provide a solution to one or more problems that your target audience has.
Will you provide ongoing support and maintenance for a long-term issue? Will you save time and/or money for the customer? Or will they gain valuable experience and knowledge from your services? Or increase their sales? Once you have your “promise” nailed down, you can start to pinpoint the marketing strategies to use to get maximum engagement from potential customers.
It is important to take a close look and analyse your competitors if you are running a business or in a corporate role etc
Competitor analysis will enable you to implement common themes and ideas found in other businesses or people who do well in your sector which could help with engagement, customer retention or any other strategy to help grow brand awareness. Conversely, you might find a few glaring issues with their marketing and advertising strategy that you would want to avoid!
Also, you will want to find a gap in the market which you can create a niche around. If the space is too saturated, it may be worth diversifying your strengths. In this way you can develop your unique selling point (USP), an aspect of your brand which differentiates you from everyone else and draws customers in at the same time.
You can also apply competitor analysis when it comes to looking for a new job or a promotion. Carrying out thorough research on the types of candidates that might apply for a position that you’re after, you will get a more in-depth and focused understanding of certain behaviours and traits to help you apply for the role.
If you had to learn one thing today, it would be that developing a brand for yourself will take you a fair amount of time and effort. You won’t become a point of reference overnight, and you certainly cannot expect to build a large clientele with little to no work.
Once you have built the bare bones of your brand (photos and social media.), you must continue to engage with your loyal following. By making clients, stakeholders and fellow peers feel as though they are part of a family, they will be more likely to continue requesting your services/products, and will be more inclined to recommend what you offer to others. In this way, you can expect your brand to grow steadily over time.
May
13may10:0011:00Breaking the Silence | Menopause & Mental Health at Work
13/05/2025 10:00 - 11:00(GMT+01:00)
Menopause can have a profound impact on mental health and yet it’s often misunderstood, overlooked, or ignored in the workplace. This session is designed to help managers,
You’ll gain:
A clearer understanding of how menopause can affect mental health in the workplace
Confidence to recognise when someone may be struggling
A simple, effective approach to starting supportive wellbeing conversations
Date: Tuesday 13th May 2025
Time: 10:00 – 10.45am
15may10:0011:00Legal Essentials | Supporting Women at Work
15/05/2025 10:00 - 11:00(GMT+01:00)
89% of working women say their health issues negatively affect their work, but only 1 in 3 feel supported by their employer. It’s no longer
It’s no longer enough to raise awareness, organisations must take legally informed, practical action to support women’s health in the workplace.
Join me and Hannah Strawbridge, Employment Lawyer, for this session where we’ll uncover the top legal risks employers face and how to avoid them when it comes to menopause, menstrual health, fertility, pregnancy, and more.
You’ll gain:
A clear understanding of the legal risks around women’s health
Insight into the practical steps you can take
Discover how you can to turn awareness into action
Date: Thursday 15th May 2025
Time: 10:00 – 10.45am
16mayAll DayEmpower Female Founders Conference
16/05/2025 All Day(GMT+01:00)
Kraken Technology Centre
Pariser Building, 168AA, Sackville St, Manchester M1 7JR, M1 7JR
Empower Female Founders is a unique event designed by female founders for female founders,
Equipping them with the tools needed to overcome challenges and achieve success in their entrepreneurial journeys.By providing a supportive community and sharing experiences, Empower Female Founders aims to empower women to redefine their potential, amplify their impact, and thrive in their sector.
In May 2025 we will welcome 100 female founders to this one of a kind event in Manchester.
Empower Female Founders is far from your traditional conference set up. We’ve spoken to our community of Female Founders and we know what’s needed is practical action, answers to the important questions and to gain knowledge from those who have been there and done it.
The day will be built around fast-paced workshop sessions and collaboration providing the opportunity not just to learn but to connect with female founders sharing the same journey.
Our focus is on building confidence, developing a growth mindset, and providing a supportive community that empowers women to overcome challenges and achieve success.
The day will be built around panels featuring Female Founders sharing what’ it’s really like to be a Female Founder, an opportunity to ask fellow Female Founders for their advice as industry experts, celebrating and reframing the narrative around success and ambition.
There will also be an Action learning workshop on Growth Mindset led by Empower Co Founder Beckie Taylor and a fast-paced knowledge share sessions providing the opportunity not just to learn but to connect with female founders sharing the same journey.
09:00 Registration and Networking
09:30 Welcome from Beckie Taylor, Co-Founder, Empower
09:45 Panel : What it’s REALLY like to be a Female Founder
10:30 Action Learning – Female Founder Mindset
11:30 Coffee and Networking
11:45 Panel : Ask The Experts
12:30 Morning Close
12:30 Lunch & Networking
13:30 Welcome Back, Beckie Taylor, Co-Founder, Empower
13:35 Knowledge Share Session
15:15 Coffee and Networking
15:30 Panel – Celebrating Success and Ambition
16:15 Thanks and closing remarks
16:30 Cocktails and Mocktails
18:30 Close
19may18:0020:30The Future of Fairness in Leadership and Business | WBS
19/05/2025 18:00 - 20:30(GMT+01:00)
WBS at the Shard
London, SE1 9SG
This is your chance to engage in powerful dialogue and spark meaningful change in your professional sphere. After the panel discussion, network with peers from across industries
After the panel discussion, network with peers from across industries over drinks and canapés, against the vibrant backdrop of London.
This event is held annually in collaboration with our partners We are the City, Women Engineering Society, Forte, City Women Network and 30% Chair; We are delighted to welcome a distinguished line-up of keynote speakers:
Dr Dawn Eubanks – Associate Professor of Behavioural Science & EI and Panel Chair
Rukasana Bhaijee – Global Head of DEI at the Financial Times. A DEI leader with over 13 years of experience across media, technology, professional services, and higher education. Formerly led DEI for Google’s EMEA tech division and consulted at EY, Rukasana brings deep expertise in strategy, race equity, and inclusive culture change.
Geraldine Gallacher – CEO of the Executive Coaching Consultancy, author of Coaching Women: Changing the System, Not the Person, and City Women Network Board member.
Mark Swain – WBS Client Director & Executive Coach, and Fellow of The Learning and Performance Institute. With over 20 years experience in leadership development Mark has developed a framework supporting Women in Strategy.
Ben Evans – New Business Director, AtkinsRéalis, ED&I Advocate and Warwick MBA Alumnus (2013)
Together, they’ll share their invaluable insights, strategies, and real-world experiences in fostering fairness and driving success in today’s dynamic and changing corporate landscape.
Key Topics Include:
Whether you’re a mid-career professional, an established leader, or an entrepreneur passionate about shaping the future of fairness, this event will leave you inspired and equipped to make a lasting impact.
Free
21may12:0013:00Master the Art of Incredible Interviews | WeAreTheCity & City CV
21/05/2025 12:00 - 13:00(GMT+01:00)
WeAreTheCity & City CV are thrilled to present a
Do interviews leave you feeling uneasy, underprepared or unsure of how to showcase your best self? Are you stuck in a loop of missed opportunities, wondering how to stand out and seal the deal? You’re not the only one. On average, people apply for 27 roles before they land just one interview.
But don’t worry – you’re in the right place. Whether it’s been years since your last interview, you’re chasing a promotion or new role, or simply trying to stay sharp, this free one-hour masterclass will give you the edge to win your next role. Your interview isn’t just a conversation – it’s a marketing pitch where you’re the product. Discover how to demonstrate your value, convince employers you’re the best investment they can make, and leave them thinking, “We’d be foolish not to hire you.”
In this jam-packed session, Victoria McLean, Founder & CEO of City CV, guides you through the art of wowing interviewers. With a proven track record of helping people at all career levels secure their dream roles, Victoria brings decades of expertise, countless success stories and award-winning career strategies to the table.
What you’ll learn:
Looking for more career support? Explore our Career Resources page. Ready to take the next step? Browse the latest opportunities on our Job Board and find your perfect role today!
23may10:0012:00Online* Pelvic Floor Recovery Workshop FREE | Karen Ellis - Postnatal Recovery Expert
23/05/2025 10:00 - 12:00(GMT+01:00)
With former Midwife, Karen Ellis. *Available on replay. Exactly how to rebuild strength in your pelvic floor after pregnancy. All the information you should have got from
All the information you should have got from your midwife about how to recover your pelvic floor PROPERLY after having a baby and how to exercise SAFELY so you can smile with excitement and enjoy the moment when your toddler takes your hand and pulls you towards the bouncy castle instead of the feeling of dread taking over as you decline their invitation.
You are a mum who;
And so you can have dry knickers!
Free