parasocial relationships is personal branding at scale, you know when you feel like you know someone you follow on social, or a celebrity - but you really don’t?

parasocial relationships is personal branding at scale, you know when you feel like you know someone you follow on social, or a celebrity - but you really don’t?

In January 2020, I had just moved to a new city, separated from my husband, but was filled with hope for a new life and my dream job. Two months later, everything changed.

There’s been a lot of heated discussion lately, both on LinkedIn and across social media, about personal and company brands being "cancelled" or facing significant backlash.

When audiences leave a talk with Mira Thimmayya, they are changed and motivated. It’s not just inspiration that fades after a day - her tips are memorable, practical, and easy to implement. She is a keynote speaker known for her radical authenticity, delivering talks that resonate long after the event. Whether speaking on personal branding, corporate leadership, or business strategy, her speeches leave a lasting impact.

The creator economy is exploding. In the next five years, it’s predicted to DOUBLE in size. That’s billions and billions pouring into a space where individuals, not corporations, are the driving force. It’s thrilling and terrifying all at once.

But here’s where it gets real: he didn’t start with millions of readers. When Seth began blogging, his audience was five people, friends and family. But he kept going. “Hustle and viral don’t work. If you’re doing good work, people will share it. That’s all.” He says.

Every year, I treat myself to the whirlwind that is Web Summit. It's where tech, marketing, and innovation collide - and where I usually leave with more ideas than I know what to do with.

This year, amidst the 16 stages, 70,000 attendees, and countless talks, one stat hit me like a ton of bricks: 85% of brand messages go unnoticed.

This means that the strategy for building the personal brand of the CEO, as well as other leaders within the company, should be a massive priority for companies - but in many cases it's not.

If you couldn’t use social, what would you do instead?

Building a personal brand online through content that resonates with your target group is essential if you want to be considered a thought leader.

Your online presence is often someone’s first impression of you. Whether it’s a recruiter searching LinkedIn, a client Googling your name, or even AI systems recommending professionals, what they find can open or close doors. If you’re struggling with low engagement on social media, a weak LinkedIn profile, or unwanted Google results, this guide is for you. These FAQs will help you manage and improve your digital footprint, ensuring it reflects your true expertise and builds trust.

Reputation management and personal branding go well together. By building your reputation as a thought leader in your field, it will be easier to attract the business you want. And if you’re authentic and people resonate with your message, you’ve built a brand that will last.

The other day I was thinking about all the brands that have died and gone to brand-heaven. Like, whatever happened to Kodak, Blockbuster or Palm Pilot? Were they just casualties of the digital revolution or could their brands have been saved if they had thought of a way to pivot, reinvent themselves and re-brand?