Kait LeDonne’s Post

👎 Personal Branding Gets a Bad Rap. Here’s How to Do It Without the Cringe. We’ve all seen them… the “assets first, message second” selfies, the crypto bros flaunting rented Lambos, or the influencer who feels like they’re starring in their own reality show. It’s 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴. If you’re building a personal brand, how do you avoid coming off as… well, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯? Here’s my 7-point “No Cringe” Personal Brand Checklist: 1️⃣ Start with your audience. Anchor yourself in service. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨? If you keep your audience front and center, it’s near impossible to become self-serving. 2️⃣ Ask, “Why would anyone read this?” If it doesn’t educate, inspire, entertain, or validate your audience, it’s just noise. 3️⃣ Lead with gratitude and the story behind the glory. No one cares that you hit 15,000 followers. But they 𝘥𝘰 care how you got there. Context connects. 4️⃣ Embrace vulnerability. Share your journey—the wins and the 𝘰𝘩-𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. It humanizes your brand. 5️⃣ Use a “buddy ego-check.” I kick every post to my team for an “ego sniff test.” If it’s too me-focused, it’s back to the editing room. 6️⃣ Watch your pronouns. “You” is gold. “I” is a red flag. Speak to your audience’s experience, not your own. 7️⃣ Kill the hype. Avoid infomercial language like “totally awesome” and “the very best.” We’ve all been around the internet long enough to spot overhyped nonsense. 💡 Pro-tip: Personal branding isn’t about selling—it’s about 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨. Keep your focus on your audience, and you’ll build an authentic brand that actually connects. 💬 Which of these 7 tips do you think is most overlooked—or hardest to stick to? I’d love to hear your take! 👇