6 Personal Branding Tips for B2B CMOs

As marketing leaders, it’s likely that you’ve dedicated a lot of time and effort to crafting and promoting your company’s brand. However, in today’s business landscape, there’s another brand that is just as important but often neglected: Yours.

Your personal brand is a reflection of your professional persona, values, and expertise. It can help you establish yourself as a thought leader and build trust with your audience, both inside and outside of your organization. 

So, why should you cultivate your personal brand while building your company brand? Here are a few reasons:

• Establish credibility: A strong personal brand can help establish your credibility as a marketing leader and industry expert.
• Build trust: When your audience sees you as authentic and trustworthy, they’re more likely to trust your company and the products or services you offer.
• Expand your network: Building your personal brand can help you expand your network and connect with other industry leaders.
• Nourish your career: If you’re established as a CMO in your space (or with specific expertise) and have a strong network, you have a better chance of finding your next role when you’re in transition. 
• Strengthen your company brand: Your personal brand can also help strengthen your company brand, as your thought leadership can provide valuable insights and content to share with your audience.

Now that you know the importance of cultivating your personal brand, here are 6 easy things you can do to start building it today:

1. Define your personal brand: Your personal brand is what sets you apart from other marketing leaders, and it’s important to be clear about what your personal brand represents. You can start by identifying your core values, passions, and expertise, and then use these elements to develop your unique brand. A great question to start with: What’s my superpower? 
2. Create a personal website: A personal website is a powerful tool for building your personal brand; a portfolio of sorts. It allows you to showcase your expertise, provide insights into your professional journey, and share your thoughts and ideas with a wider audience. 
3. Speak at industry events: Speaking at industry events is a great way to showcase your expertise and expand your network. Make sure you repurpose any photos and video content that may come from your talk to keep the goodness going. 
4. Engage on LinkedIn: Social media is a powerful tool for building your personal brand, and for B2B CMOs, the best place to do that is on LinkedIn. Making original posts is important, as is engaging with others’ posts via likes, comments, and shares. 
5. Write a blog / Host a podcast / Publish a book: All of these options are a great way to zone in on your specific expertise on the topics nearest and dearest to your personal brand.  
6. Collaborate with other industry leaders: Collaborating with other industry leaders by participating in podcasts, webinars, and other events can help you expand your network and showcase your expertise to a wider audience. 

Building a personal brand takes time and effort, but it’s a valuable investment in your career as a B2B CMO. That’s why CMO Huddles (a membership community for B2B CMOs) has dedicated an entire month to sharing personal brand-building strategies and tips. If you’re interested in learning more, you can head over to our contact page. 

For more on personal brand building, check out this Forbes article written by Drew: The CMO’s Short Guide to Personal Brand Building.