Why you Can’t Build a Strong Personal Brand on your Own

We’ve had a lot of clients come to us with the same look on their face – slightly panicked and a bit stuck. They want to build a personal brand but have no clue where to start or don’t even know what personal branding actually is.

It usually kicks off like this:
👉 “I don’t really have a story.”
👉 “I just kind of fell into what I do.”
👉 “There’s nothing that special about me.”

Sound familiar? Good because here’s what we’re calling it: 👇

Bullsh*t.

You’re not boring. You’re just too close to your own story to see what’s juicy.

And that’s where a lot of personal brands fall flat. When you try to build it yourself, you overlook the best parts because to you, they feel normal. The challenges you’ve faced, the weird turns you’ve taken, the things you’ve learned the hard way… you brush past all of it.

But those are the exact things that make you relatable, credible, and worth remembering. But you need someone who knows how to spot it and that’s where co&co comes in 👋.

No need to stress lads – you’re in the right place. This blog’s going to break down why trying to build a personal brand on your own usually leads to a whole lot of nothing, and what the right agency can actually do to bring your brand to life, properly. No fluff, no bull, as always 😌.

A lot of people hate talking about themselves

When it comes to branding other people’s businesses? You might be full of ideas. Clear as day. But when it’s your own name on the front? Suddenly, you’ve got no clue what to say, what to share, or what makes you worth noticing.

There’s a reason why so many people struggle with building a personal brand. It’s often because you’ve been living inside your own story for so long that the things that actually make you interesting just feel… normal. You brush over the bits that are full of insight, tension, growth, and humour. But those are the parts that people actually connect with. But for you they’re just part of the day-to-day.

At co&co, we see it all the time. We’ll be in an intro session, someone’s giving us the usual overview, and suddenly they drop something wild like it’s nothing. And we’re like – hang on, back up, you did what?? It’s always the stuff they gloss over that ends up becoming the most powerful part of the brand. Not the job title. Not the credentials. The human stuff.

And yes, even the shy ones can build a mega personal brand without faking confidence. That’s what we’re here for – we support you though it all.

You don’t need a sob story to have a strong brand

Personal branding has tricked a lot of people into thinking they need a dramatic origin story. Some light trauma. A hero’s journey. The kind of narrative arc that makes you sound like you were destined to be a TED speaker.

Let’s kill that noise now.

You don’t need to fake depth or invent a revelation. That’s the worst thing you can do. You just need to tell your story in a way that’s honest, clear, and intentional. The boring jobs, the weird left turns, the seemingly irrelevant life stuff – it all says something about how you think and what you bring to the table.

That’s the stuff we’re looking for. That’s what makes a brand feel real.

Why Doing it Alone Doesn’t Work

Because you can’t see your own angles. You’re in it. It’s too familiar. You’ve normalised your own story so much that you don’t even realise the best bits are hiding in plain sight.

Just like we said before, you wouldn’t believe how many clients have casually dropped something mid-sentence in a session – some wild job they had, a niche obsession, a mad career pivot – and we’re like, “Wait, what did you just say?!”

To them, it’s nothing. Just a footnote in their career. To us? That’s the hook. That’s the story. That’s the sh*t people will actually remember. Because anyone can say they’re strategic, passionate, experienced blah blah blah. But not everyone used to be a private chef, or built their first business at 14 out of their mate’s garage.

Those are the moments that bring you into the brand. They’re the bits that make someone lean in, and think – you know, this person’s different.

But when you’re building it alone, you skip past all of that. You play it safe. You stick to what you think people want to hear. And that’s how personal brands end up sounding generic and boring.

This is why you bring in someone else. Hiring a personal branding agency will get you the results you’re looking for. You need someone else in the room. Not to “fix” you. Not to make sh*t up. But to help you see yourself clearly, frame it properly, and build something with purpose.

How We Build Standout Personal Brands

We don’t do surface-level branding ever. No generic taglines. We dig deep with you to figure out what really makes you different and then we turn that into a full brand system that works across everything you do.

We’re going to get to know each other. Properly. We want the full story – how you got here, what drives you, what makes you tick, and what weird sh*t you’ve picked up along the way.

And if you fancy grabbing a Guinness while we’re chatting, even better. We’re not precious. Pint, coffee, walk, call – we’ll meet you where you’re at and figure it out together.

Here’s how we approach it:

1. We help you find the story you didn’t know you had

We run intro sessions that go beyond the usual fluff. We ask the questions no one else does. And somewhere between “I’m not sure what to say” and “oh wait, that actually is kind of interesting” – the story starts to come out. Bit by bit.

2. We build the strategy around it

Messaging pillars. Core values. Audience alignment. All the good stuff that gives your brand structure and makes sure you’re building momentum.

3. We create visuals that match the energy

Custom photography and video that captures your personality. Don’t worry, it’s not going to be the staged “professional version” kind of visuals you’re imagining. It’ll be real content. Candid moments. Visuals that say something without needing a paragraph to explain.

4. We make sure it all sounds like you

Your tone of voice is everything. If it doesn’t sound like you, people won’t trust it. The tone of voice covers what you say, what you don’t say, and how you say it. We make sure your copy, content, and comms all feel aligned – whether you’re on a panel, sending an email, or updating your site.

You’re interesting as f*ck. You just need someone to show you why.

You don’t need to be louder. Or trendier. Or more impressive. You just need to be clear.

You already have a story. You already have a voice and the benefits of personal branding will really show up when you get clear on them. But if you’re trying to build a personal brand solo, you’re probably missing out the best parts of it.

At co&co, we help people build personal brands that are real. And that starts with this truth: you’re not boring, you’re just way too close.

Let’s pull it all out and make it unmissable. Fancy working together?