The significance of having solid personal branding cannot be overemphasized. While many believe that perception is equivalent to reality in some cases, even more, this applies to a personal brand, as having an airtight online and offline personality might just make the difference between a successful brand and the contrary. A well-optimized personal brand gives credibility and, more importantly, helps secure better deals. While making a name for yourself in this space seems daunting, a seasoned personal brand helps you cut through the noise and stand out despite the market saturation.

Luke Hessler
Luke Hessler Luke Hessler

Nevertheless, building a powerful personal brand is no easy task, and amidst many things, can be time-consuming. However, according to Luke Hessler, this is a bitter pill one must swallow; otherwise, failure to do so might attract grave consequences.

Luke reiterates the significance of personal branding, stating that "a personal brand is not only a means to promote your products nor increase sales, but it also goes further, it's a medium to sell yourself, and seek prospects into a wider window of opportunity."

By implication, disregarding this means shutting your window of opportunities and eliminating the chances of having your brand in the spotlight. Basically, the face behind your brand still wears a mask. While this might seem harmless, it might negatively impact a newly established business you set out to work on, as you have to start from scratch.

Luke explains the pain of an entrepreneur whose focus is on branding; for every new business, he has to reveal himself as the face of the brand; it simply doesn't allow for continuity. However, for someone who has invested in building their personal brand, starting a new business is less complicated; this gives them an edge.

Starting over is never easy, as there are many hurdles, from the brutal competition to the audience not believing in your services/products. While some obstacles are unavoidable, a personal brand will make the transition smooth and help you establish your foothold in the marketplace.

Luke reiterates the significance of a thorough personal brand for an entrepreneur, as it helps establish trust with your target audience, build long-term relationships and take customers on your journey.

Before Luke Hessler delved into personal branding, he had tried network marketing. Despite having warranted some success in the space, he was muted by both the lack of credibility within his online persona, and the well-established ones of those who dominated the industry. Luke, determined to make his mark, transformed his entire digital reputation, building an impressive brand (both on and offline), and is now the proud owner of Insurance Branding.

With more than half of the global population on social media, personal branding is becoming a necessity more than an option. To stay ahead of the curve, you must put yourself out there and prioritize a good review. He believes that reviews and peoples' opinions have a powerful effect on your ideal customer's buying decisions. He closes by saying, " staying ahead of the curve means leveraging tools and techniques to make business work smoother, and now, a personal brand might just be key to getting ahead."