My absolute favorite mixed drink is Sangria (with red wine, of course). It’s smooth, adaptable, and sweet.

Handcrafted cocktails are a lot like personal brands: one part essence, one part reputation, and one part marketing. While navigating the ins and outs of crafting personal brands can be complex, the right twist (pun intended) can help you share more of yourself and your brand in the new year.
Today, I’m spilling the tea (okay, okay, Sangria) on up-and-coming trends in the personal branding world, because we’re all a Google search away from being noticed—or hired!
What is a personal brand?
A personal brand is the package of who you are and what you have to offer, shared in an effective way. The strongest personal brands are consistent online and in real life and help people to understand the essence of ‘you’.
To better understand personal brands, let’s take a look at three women who were recently crowned PEOPLE Magazine’s 2021 People of the Year.
First up, country music legend and national treasure, Dolly Parton. She’s an icon to many, an accomplished singer, songwriter, business owner, and humanitarian. Her big voice, big hair, kind spirit, and shiny wardrobe make her hard to miss.
Next is Sandra Oh, a celebrity, actress, executive producer, and activist. Best known for her role as Grey’s Anatomy character Cristina Yang, she’s the most nominated Asian actor in Emmy history. Her personal brand is one of determination, strength, talent, and authenticity.
And finally, Simone Biles, the GOAT—greatest of all time. She’s an amazing athlete and business owner, as well as a survivor and advocate. Tied for the most decorated gymnast of all time, she was the face of the 2020 Winter Olympics, armed with a personal brand focused on strength, positivity, resilience, and artistic expression.
Examining the personal brands of well-known personalities can provide insight as you craft and refine your own brand in the coming year.
In fact, consider yourself a budding mixologist while you create (and test) your own personal brand cocktail.
What are the top personal brand trends in 2022?
Create content people crave.
So, you probably aren’t competing for gold on an international stage (if you are, best of luck!), and you probably don’t own a theme park (hello, Dollywood). But you can absolutely create content your audience wants.
How? By listening. 👂
Engage in conversations with your audience however you can, from your DM’s to your emails to social threads. Listening to your audience and asking what’s on their mind and how you might help is the best way to generate content ideas.
How did Sandra Oh know there is a real need for Asian Canadian-American representation on television? By living her life and listening to her friends, family, and fans. Hence, the creation of The Chair, the Netflix dramedy she both acts in and executive produces.
Dial-up your personality.
Much like Simone Biles did after announcing she would not compete in the team competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she still showed up. She proudly cheered on her team and took time outside of the arena to take care of her mental health. After sitting out three individual events, she came back to the competition for the ultimate comeback: winning a bronze medal with her individual balance beam performance.
People want to feel like they know who they’re supporting. We all love Simone’s radiant personality, and that’s what your leads (and soon-to-be customers!) love about you, too. So this year, dial-up your personality.
Are 90’s sitcoms your thing? Showcase it. Kindness? Go all in. Maybe it’s minimalism, architecture, or camping. Whatever it is, be sure you talk about it and represent it in your personal brand initiatives! Your work will feel that much more authentic, and by doing so, you’ll create an instant connection with your audience.
Flex your voice within your network (and beyond).
Do you have a friend who hosts a podcast, or a client that raves about you and your work? Ask to be a guest, or reach out for a testimonial. It’s vital to get out there and share how you can help people.
One way to flex 💪 your voice is to add one new platform to your personal branding strategy based on your strengths. If you’re a good conversationalist, look for conversations. Podcasting or creating social reels may be a good way to expand your reach. Or, if you prefer to write, try guest blogging or LinkedIn posts. Seek out easy wins in the new year by focusing on what you’re good at and applying it in a new way.
If your network is a bit small, enroll in a mastermind, join your local chamber of commerce, or gather a handful of professionals to talk shop for an hour each month. Get creative and step into your voice, and your brand.
Pursue the things you truly care about.
Social responsibility will continue to be a major trend in 2022. So ask yourself, what do you care about? And how are you making the world just a little better than how you found it?
The most impactful personal brands show a sensitive, caring side. Dolly values reading 📚 and giving back, showing it through established efforts like her Imagination Library and more recent efforts, like her massive $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support medical research, which helped in the journey of developing the Moderna vaccine.
Sandra is passionate about cultural representation, and Simone has single-handedly elevated mental health awareness on an international stage. These ladies stand for the things they truly care about, and contribute towards solutions.
You can do the same! If you’re looking to ramp-up your social responsibility, you can volunteer your time at a local nonprofit, join a board of directors, pick up trash along your street, or figure out the next-steps to start a program of your own.
Let’s all take small steps to be more compassionate. Not just for a social post, but because it is authentic and value-based. These efforts will naturally present themselves as an intrinsic part of you and your brand.
Why grow your personal brand?
You may be thinking, “great, good for them, but why do I need to grow my personal brand?”
It’s simple: more people are competing for top spots in their traditional careers, and more people are leaving those so-called safe careers to launch their own businesses.
You’ve heard of the great resignation. But according to Forbes, it’s not “entry-level” operators who are resigning—it’s the “experienced professionals” making the jump.
By crafting your own personal brand cocktail 🍹 , you’ll be leaps and bounds ahead of the new wave of entrepreneurs and can rest easy knowing you stand out and are making the moves to continue to do so.
If you’re stuck or want professional help in refining (or redefining) your personal brand, reach out—crafting the perfect personal brand cocktail is what we do here at brandiD. We’ll connect the dots between your business, your brand, and your purpose to better communicate your message, build your website, amplify your voice, and ultimately, increase your impact.
We’re the easy button you’ve been looking for to craft the next iteration of your brand and business. So go on, reach out today.
Cheers to more little happy dances. 💃
About The Author
Rachel Gogos is a multi-passionate entrepreneur with a strong desire to help people by creating strong personal brands and businesses. She’s personally launched dozens of books, e-products, and services; and hundreds of products and services with her clients. She started her career at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, where she helped create the look and feel for the organization’s first website.
Today, in her current role running brandiD, Rachel channels over 15 years of marketing and communications experience into each and every website for brandiD’s clients.
And be on the lookout for her brand new podcast, The Business of You.
Additional Reading
How to build a memorable brand
Take Your Launch to the Next Level: Expert Advice