- November 10, 2025
- 45
- Lifestyle
Most profiles you see online – whether it’s LinkedIn, X or other social media channels – are meticulously curated over time. A profile can look well written with polished pages, curated feeds, confident, yet still feel forgettable and not receive any traction. This is mainly because the reader often asks, “can I trust this person?” That’s the issue most of us forget to address.
Studies show that trust in institutions and leaders is dropping. 81% of consumers say trust is the deciding factor in buying decisions. People are looking for individuals who feel steady, honest, and human.
This is where personal branding stops being optional. People often hire, work with, and follow the individuals who make them feel confident, understood, and safe in their choice.
If you are looking to build a personal brand that emulates trust, credibility and confidence below are some steps you can take to boost your online presence.
1. Start With Purpose, Not Perfection
People do not connect with titles. They connect with reasons. They follow people who stand for something, not people who can do everything.
Simon Sinek captured the entire foundation of personal branding in three words: “Start with why”.
Start by asking these questions:
- Who do I help?
- What problem do I solve?
- Why does this work matter to me?
If your profile says: “I am a business coach.”
Try this instead: “I help new founders clarify their ideas so they launch with confidence, not burnout.”
Purpose makes you memorable. It gives people a place to emotionally file you in their minds. It also shapes your posts, introductions, website bio, and conversations.
You do not need perfect wording. You need honesty and a starting point.
2. Clarity Builds Confidence
Confusion is the enemy of engagement. When people do not understand your message, they disconnect.
Donald Miller, author of Building a StoryBrand, puts it well in his book, “In every line of copy we write, we’re either serving the customer’s story or descending into confusion; we’re either making music or making noise.”
Clarity does three powerful things:
- People understand you faster
- They feel safer choosing you
- They remember you longer
Check your brand for clarity in these areas:
Your headline
Does it say who you help and what you do in plain words?
Your tone
Does it sound like the same person on LinkedIn, Instagram, and your website?
Your offer
Is it obvious how someone works with you, or do they have to guess?
Clarity removes hesitation, and hesitation kills action. But confidence fuels it.
3. Invest in Professional Presentation
First impressions are silent, but they are loud.
People do not just read your brand. They feel it first. Before anyone reads your bio or services, they see your photo, lighting, energy, and presence.
Donald Miller also explains that your brand should reduce noise so people can absorb the message easily. Clean visuals like professional photographs help your words land and build trust.
Professional photography goes beyond looking polished, it helps you appear approachable and credible. Studios like My Photos Forever specialise in capturing professional headshots and portraits that feel authentic and confident, giving your online presence the trust factor it deserves.
A strong photo is not vanity, it is reassuring. It signals professionalism, warmth, and investment. It quietly says: “I am here, and I take this seriously.”
Good photography also gives you visual consistency. You can use the same image library across speaking pages, interviews, blog features, your website, and local directories like Make It Special Devon.
4. Tell Stories, Not Slogans
Slogans sound smart, but stories feel real.
Donald Miller reminds us: “Your audience is the hero of your story.” That means your brand never works when it sounds like self praise. It works when people see their own challenges, goals, and hopes reflected back at them.
Instead of posting: “I am passionate, dedicated, and service driven.”
Tell a short story like: “Last month, a client told me she lost sleep trying to build her website. We simplified it into three pages. She launched in a week. She told me it felt like breathing again.”
The difference: one is forgettable and the other feels human and relatable.
You can try sharing real stories, that show:
- Small wins with real outcomes
- Lessons learnt from mistakes
- Moments that changed how you work
- Behind the scenes glimpses
- Client emotions, not their data
If you are a local business, share local stories like: We Took a Weekend Trip from Devon to London – Here’s What Surprised Us Most. These work especially well with Devon based audiences who value community, connection, and shared experiences.
5. Consistency Creates Connection
Mark Schaefer, in ‘Known’, explains that visibility is not a flash moment. It grows slowly through steady presence. People trust what they recognise.
Consistency tells your audience four things:
- You care
- You are reliable
- You are not disappearing
- You believe in your work enough to keep showing it
You do not need daily posts. You need steady ones.
Try a rhythm like:
- 1 thoughtful post or long-form piece per week
- 2 – 3 smaller posts inspired by your main idea
- 1 update to your website, bio, or profile each month
Research also shows that inconsistent messaging makes people lose trust quickly.
The goal is not frequency. The goal is dependability.
Conclusion – Be the Person People Trust to Show Up
A personal brand people remember is not the loudest. It is the clearest. Start with a reason. Keep your message the same everywhere. Use strong, human photos. Tell real stories. Show up often.
Trust is low worldwide, so those who communicate with honesty, care, and good presentation will stand out. If you keep sending out these small, consistent signals, people will start to feel they know you, even before they meet you. That is the moment your personal brand starts to work for you.
Your personal brand is not built to impress.
It is built to be trusted. And trust, always, is the real currency..
For more local inspiration stories, business insights, and community-led pieces, visit the Make It Special blog.
