Personal branding is not about becoming famous.
We associate branding with celebrities. Or influencers. Or mass-market product brands.
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Personal branding is not quite like any of them - yet it does share a critical similarity: an audience that knows, likes and trusts you.
The difference is audience size. If you are a celebrity, you need an audience of millions. For an influencer, audience size is in hundreds of thousands. You need a large audience because that is what enables you to monetise your talent, products, or influence.
However, if your objective is to advance your career - you need a far smaller audience. For most people, whose brand focus is their career - the audience tends to be between 20 to 50 people - recruiters, hiring managers, advocates, sponsors inside current or potential employers.
If you aspire to be your own boss - a consultant or business owner, your audience will be larger - but not very large.
Personal branding is about engaging with and proving your worth to the right people - those who can make your career goals come true. The clearer you are about your audience, the easier it is to engage and influence them.
Global fame is not what you should aim for.
Be a superstar for the handful of people who truly matter.
