Headshots and Video for some happy Clients
In this article, Alice Violet Creative share five actionable tips for founders of businesses to help you become a thought leader, increase brand awareness and, ultimately, grow your business.
What is Personal Branding?
Branding is the process by which a business shapes and communicates its identity to the outside world. It’s not just the visuals – logos, colours, fonts, and design – but also the values of the business: the way it communicates, the experience it creates, the tone it sets, even down to the office environment and how the team presents itself. It’s the collective impression that builds trust and recognition.
Personal branding, on the other hand, is about how an individual presents themselves and builds authority. This might be the founder of a business, a freelancer, or someone in a leadership role. The purpose is to build visibility, credibility, and reputation. This can be done both online and offline. Strong personal branding doesn’t just elevate you; it can also directly enhance the reputation and reach of the business you represent because people buy from people.
1 Get a Professional Headshot
As a founder or senior leader, a professional headshot isn’t optional; it’s essential. A high-quality portrait signals authority, credibility and professionalism, while showing you’ve invested in a curated, thoughtful business image. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference: headshots aren’t just for your website or LinkedIn anymore, they’re increasingly requested for speaker profiles, event programmes and press features.
2. Invest in Business Cards
You might think business cards are old-fashioned, but in face-to-face networking, they can still make a powerful impression. If a professional headshot is what gets you noticed before a meeting, a business card is what people hold onto afterwards.
Consider the end of a busy networking event—people have spoken to dozens of others, swapped details, and connected on LinkedIn. What’s going to bring you back to the front of their mind? A business card that feels distinctive, memorable, and true to your brand.
When we designed and invested in our own foil-printed, tactile business cards last year, we found that people regularly mentioned them at events. Some even pulled them back out weeks later, saying they’d kept them because they were too beautiful to throw away. That’s the power of detail: it reinforces the kind of brand you want to be remembered for.
A well-designed card with recognisable branding, clear contact details, and a touch of craft is more than a formality—it’s a call to action that lingers long after the conversation ends.
3. Attend Networking Events and Conferences
If you want to build a personal brand, people need to actually meet you. One of the most direct (and often overlooked) ways to do this is by showing up at industry events. Whether it’s a local networking breakfast, a sector-specific conference, or an informal meetup, these spaces are where reputations are built.
Events give you the chance to talk to people in real time, spark conversations, and be seen as part of the community you want to influence. They’re not about collecting leads; they’re about visibility, credibility, and being remembered.
At Alice Violet Creative, we regularly attend sector-specific networking events such as by Hub 8, and CyNam. However, we also attend larger events, such as UK Cyber Week, The Podcast Show, and TechSpark. They keep us plugged into the latest industry developments, but more importantly, they give us opportunities to connect in a conversational, human way. And that’s exactly where personal branding thrives: when people get to know you, not just your business logo.
4. Become a Speaker and Trusted Source
Speaking in front of large groups can feel intimidating. Our founder, Alice Violet, now speaks on stages large and small most months, but two years ago, the idea would have been terrifying! The key is to start small. Run a free workshop through organisations like The Growth Hub, offer to deliver a short session for your local business community, or take part in a podcast recording. These experiences build confidence and credibility over time.
As well as attending events as a participant, being featured at them is a solid way to elevate your personal brand. Sharing insights, tips, and advice positions you as a trusted voice in your sector. You don’t need to leap straight onto a big conference stage.
Crucially, don’t let these moments exist only in the room. Capture them on video, share photos, repurpose quotes, and make sure your wider audience on LinkedIn and beyond sees you in action. To increase your reach, consider opportunities to feature in industry press or articles. Each appearance enhances your reputation and makes you the person people turn to when a speaker is needed.
5. Nominate Yourself for Awards
Awards are a powerful way to showcase and celebrate your expertise. Being shortlisted, highly commended, or winning signals that your work has been recognised by an external panel of judges. That third-party validation instantly elevates your credibility and strengthens how others perceive you.
But the real impact often happens afterwards. When we’ve posted about award nominations or wins in the past, our comments have been flooded with clients and peers saying how deserving we were. That kind of public endorsement doesn’t just feel good—it cements your reputation and deepens trust in your brand.
And don’t forget the awards nights themselves. They’re packed with the very people you want to meet, offering some of the best networking opportunities you’ll find all year. Even if you don’t walk away with the trophy, you’ll leave with connections, visibility, and momentum.
Top 5 Personal Branding Strategy Tips Summarised
With these tips, you will be able to develop an effective personal brand. If there’s one concise piece of advice we can offer, it’s this: maximise your visibility. By undertaking or regularly participating in any one of the actions mentioned in this article, you will be increasing your brand recognition. Ultimately, you need to be seen and perceived as an embodiment of your business.
So ensure that this is reflected in everything you do.
Ready to get started?
Whether it’s a founder headshot package (£650+VAT), or luxurious business cards. We can help: email info@alicevioletcreative.com to get started.
