Why 2026 is being called the “Year of the Personal Brand” - and what that really means for you
There’s so much talk at the moment about this year being all about personal branding. But what does that really mean?
People are being more selective in who they work with and buy from. They’re more aware and they want to work with people they feel aligned with - not just the person shouting the loudest.
A strong personal brand doesn’t mean you have to be everywhere all the time, and it certainly doesn’t mean choosing a brand colour and dressing head to toe in it and shoe-horning it into every aspect of your life.
It just means making it easier for the right people to understand you… and see you’re the prefect person/business to help them.
The people I attract aren’t loud, shouty, or pushy - and that’s exactly the point
Most of the entrepreneurs who come to me are quietly confident. They’re brilliant at what they do and they care deeply about their clients.
I’ve worked with doctors, teachers, chefs, artists, coaches, therapists, health experts, estate agents, designers, psychologists, stylists… They’ve all built their businesses through skill, thoughtfulness and genuine expertise - not by performing online.
But when they hear “personal branding”, they often imagine something quite uncomfortable:
being the centre of attention
sharing endlessly on social media
showing their whole life
forcing visibility
becoming someone they’re not
That’s not what personal branding is. Not for the kind of people I work with and definitely not for me either.
Personal branding isn’t performance - it’s clarity
The kind of personal branding I believe in is simple:
It’s about showing your way of doing things.
Your thinking.
Your values.
Your approach.
Your standards.
Your experience.
A strong personal brand doesn’t make you louder - it makes you clearer.
Clear in how you speak, how you show up, what you stand for and the experience people can expect from you.
Clarity creates confidence and builds trust. And all that creates connection - leading the right clients into you.
What this looks like from a design perspective
This is where your brand identity becomes really powerful.
It’s about creating a visual language that reflects:
the level you operate at
the experience you deliver
the personality you bring to your work
the clients you want to attract
and the standard you hold yourself to
It’s not about decorating your business to just look good, it’s about making sure your brand shows the depth and quality of what you already do.
Your work doesn’t need louder branding. It needs branding that matches it.
When you combine clear messaging with a visual identity that feels like you everything becomes easier:
enquiries feel more aligned
conversations feel easier
boundaries feel clearer
clients trust you quicker
and you spend less time convincing people of your value
Your brand starts working with you instead of against you.
So what does this mean for you in 2026?
I don’t think we need to say that this is “the year of the personal brand” - it’s always been important. It’s just that with people craving more personal connection and people being more considered about where they spend their money, personal branding naturally comes to the forefront for entrepreneurs and small businesses. It is what packages everything up and puts you out to the world.
But thinking about personal branding isn’t asking you to share more (obviously visibility plays its part in any marketing strategy).
It isn’t asking you to be someone you’re not - you don’t have to turn yourself into some kind of influencer or only buy new socks in your brand colours!
It’s simply asking you to let your expertise show. Stop hiding the parts of your business that make you different.
Just be comfortable to share your perspective and own your experience. Let people actually see the level you’re working at.
When your brand reflects who you are - clearly, consistently, and confidently - the right people recognise themselves in it.
And that’s where the magic happens.