Finding my Voice in the Digital Crowd: Personal Branding

When I first heard the term “personal branding” I thought it was just something influencers or CEO’s cared about. I didn't realise it would become something I had to figure out as a student, a creative and something still learning who I am. I'm studying digital marketing, and the deeper I go the more I realise your personal branding isn't just what you post. It's how people experience you online and offline. It's your tone, your energy, your consistency and that's where I got stuck. How do you “build” a brand when you're still becoming yourself?

The pressure to be put together

At first, I thought I needed to recreate myself. I overthink every post wondering if it looked “on brand” if i had a niche, if i should change my bio for the third time that week. I kept comparing myself to others but we all have to start somewhere.

What I've learnt so far is that branding yourself before you really know yourself just creates pressure and confusion. Most of us are still exploring our interests, testing our voice and learning and that's okay. You don't need to be fully formed to start showing up, you just need to be real.

I remember the first time I shared something online that didn’t follow any rules. It wasn't planned or designed, just a thought about how confusing it feels to “package” your personality. It didn't go viral but a few people replied and said they related. That moment stayed with me because while I was busy trying to impress people, what actually connected with them was honesty. It reminded me that personal branding isn't just about creating a version of yourself for the internet, it's about making sure the real you can be seen in everything you do.

What Im learning along the way:

Heres what I'm starting to understand.

• Your brand is built through your actions, not just your aesthetics.

• Consistency doesn't mean being repetitive, it means being recognisable.

• You don't need to fake confidence, you need to lead with clarity.

I'm still in the early stages of learning how to present myself in a way that feels both authentic and professional. Some days I feel focused, other days I feel lost. But I've realised that's part of the process.

Conclusion: Still Becoming

In a world full of noise, personal branding is a way to make your values, story and direction clear. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it should feel true.

So here's the question I keep asking myself: How do I build a brand that grows with me, not away from me? I may not have all the answers yet but I'm learning that showing up honestly is a powerful place to begin.