You Are the Brand: What People Remember When You’re Not in the Room
- Lyanne Campbell
- May 16
- 4 min read
What a Cold Shoulder Taught Me About Reputation
I once ran into my supervisor at a local store.
I smiled, said hello—standard professional courtesy.
She looked at me… and turned her back.
Not a word. Just silence.
Maybe she was distracted. Maybe she didn’t hear me.
But others noticed—and one person even asked, “Wow, what happened there?”
Whether she meant to or not, she sent a message: “I’m cold. I’m not approachable. You don’t matter.”
I didn’t fully process it then—but looking back now, I see it clearly:
Your personal brand isn’t your résumé. It’s not your LinkedIn headline.
It’s the story people tell about you when you’re not there to tell it yourself.
The Problem: You Might Not Know What You’re Broadcasting
Most people assume their good intentions speak for themselves.
But in reality, how you show up—digitally and in person—is telling a story.
Your tone on a Zoom call.
A comment that lifts up—or tears down—a person or a business.
The energy you bring into a room—or don’t.
It all shapes perception.
Reputation is built (or broken) by seemingly small moments.
And when your online presence doesn’t match how you show up face-to-face, trust erodes. Fast.
The Cost of Misalignment
That disconnect between who you are and how you come across?
It can quietly cost you:
Job opportunities
Referrals
Promotions
Trust from clients, teams, and colleagues
And it doesn’t take long.
Research shows people form first impressions in just seven seconds¹, and 77% of people trust in-person contact more than digital².
This isn’t about being polished or perfect.
It’s about being consistent—so people know what to expect from you, wherever they meet you.
The Good News: You Can Shape the Story
In his TED Talk The Personal Brand of You, Rob Brown said:
“Your reputation is your personal share price.”³
People are “pricing” you in every interaction—online and off.
Here’s how to make sure they’re seeing the version of you that’s true, credible, and clear.
5 Ways to Build a Personal Brand That Works When You're Not in the Room
(Without being fake, cringey, or overdone)
1. Define Your “Red Box”
What are two or three things that only you bring to the table? A unique story? A lived experience? A skill that others trust you for?
Write them down. Use them in your bio. In your elevator pitch. In casual conversations.
The more often you say it, the more others start saying it about you.
2. Polish the Front Door
Your email signature, website header, and social bios are often someone’s first impression of you.
Are they clear, human, and true to how you actually show up?
Now ask yourself: When you introduce yourself in conversation or explain what you do—does it match that same message?
If your bio says “community-first leader” but you seem closed-off in person, people notice—and trust slips.
3. Practice Daily Trust Deposits
Strong relationships aren’t built in big gestures—they grow in small, consistent ways.
Set aside 15 minutes a day to:
Leave a thoughtful comment
Send a quick DM or thank-you email
Share someone else’s post with a kind insight
And when you can, go one step further—online or in person.
Join a virtual event. Schedule a coffee chat (Zoom counts!). Send a voice note. Attend a community meetup.
Research shows in-person connection deepens trust—but meaningful digital presence builds credibility too. What matters most is showing up with intention.
Trust builds when people feel seen—whether face-to-face or screen-to-screen.
4. Create a Signature Follow-Up
After a meeting, workshop, or connection, send a short, thoughtful follow-up:
A thank you
A quick recap of what stood out
A helpful link or next step
Bonus points for a branded card or a one-pager with a QR code that leads to your best resource.
The follow-up is often what people remember most.
5. Run the Mirror Test
Before you post online or walk into a room, pause and ask:
“Would someone who knows me well recognize me in this moment?”
If something feels off—tone, energy, language—adjust. You don’t need to be polished. You need to be aligned.
When your message and your presence match, people trust you faster—and remember you longer.
Final Thought
You don’t need a logo to be a brand. You already are one.
The question is: are you shaping it—or leaving it to chance?
Start small. Show up with intention. Align what you say online with how you show up offline.
Because your personal brand isn’t what you say it is.
It’s the story people tell about you when you’re not there to tell it yourself.
Keep on being amazing,
Lyanne
Written with HI (Human Intelligence) and sharpened with AI.
Sources
Forbes – “You And Your Business Have 7 Seconds To Make A First Impression: Here's How To Succeed” www.forbes.com/sites/serenitygibbons/2018/06/19/you-have-7-seconds-to-make-a-first-impression-heres-how-to-succeed
Freeman Trust Report – “Freeman Trust Report 2023 Demonstrates Face-to-Face Interaction Is Key to Building Brand Trust.” https://www.freeman.com/about/press/freeman-trust-report-2023
Rob Brown – “The Personal Brand of You” TEDx Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGbsb6aXbzc
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