How Humble Bragging Can Help You Grow Your Authentic Personal And Business Brands

Jon Michail is Founder & Group CEO of Image Group International & best-selling author of Life Branding. Follow him on LinkedIn & Twitter.

The odds are you know what you stand for and you know what you want your target audience to know you for. But you might struggle with promoting yourself to boost your brand and get the word out about yourself and your business. Let’s discuss why it’s important to move past any potential discomfort and put yourself out there because, well, how else will people find out about you?

Why is humble bragging important and what are the benefits?

You cannot assume people will find you through social media or a quick internet search. Humble bragging helps people learn more about you and see what makes you distinctive. It helps people see that you have interests and desires — in other words, it humanizes you. It also highlights how you’re working to align your interests with those of other people.

You also can’t assume that other people are going to actively promote your personal brand unless you’ve hired them to do so. People can promote whatever products or services you offer, but it won’t be worthwhile if people don’t see what makes your work so special. In my experience, people are more likely to trust your brand if they know the story behind it and the values it represents. When you promote yourself, it can also come across as more authentic and it can be easier to highlight your strengths so people can discover your unique value proposition. 

Humble bragging is, in large part, about authentic brand building, but it also helps you learn a little more about yourself. Humble bragging can help you to learn how to build authentic connections with other people, discover your leadership skills and escape your comfort zone.

What does humble bragging look like in practice?

Humble bragging helps you make your business more visible. It also highlights your attitude toward work.

Take a look at Richard Branson, for example. The founder of the Virgin Group has engaged in many interesting and sometimes outrageous publicity stunts. He’s attempted to fly around the world in a hot air balloon four times. He’s also participated in many activities to promote some of Virgin’s businesses, like donning a wedding dress to promote the Virgin Brides store. Branson’s acts show that he’s willing to do anything to promote and support his company. He’s branding Virgin as a fearless enterprise, ready to do whatever it takes to get people to buy into its offerings.

Humble bragging has also been utilized in the entertainment industry by celebrities who have themselves become a personal brand. Madonna, for example, has always been strategic about cultivating her brand image. Basketball legend Michael Jordan has also been promoting his image well after his retirement from playing the game. Jordan frequently appears in commercials and often talks about his desire to achieve excellence. Many of these celebrities use humble and at times not-so-humble bragging to further their unique brands, and you can take a similar approach when growing your own brand.

Here are a few things you can do today to start humble bragging effectively:

1. Share authentic testimonials on your website or through social media. By featuring real people that you have worked with and sharing their real thoughts and results, you build your credibility and also get a confidence boost in the process.

2. See content creation as an opportunity to share your wins. Get on the front foot and share your thought leadership. Be courageous and articulate your message authentically. Sharing your ideas and perspective can give you a distinctive edge in your market.

3. Elevate your authority by giving interviews. Reach out to media publications, podcasters or social media influencers in your industry and offer yourself up as a source for interviews. You cannot be a recognized authority if your clients and audience do not perceive you as such. By getting more exposure, you will also expand your personal and business brand to a new following that previously was not aware of your gifts.

4. Do the interviewing. You can also launch a podcast yourself and interview your clients or other experts. I believe podcasting is currently the hottest personal brand builder on the planet. It’s your opportunity to have authentic dialogues, invite guest speakers and grow your niche audience in an intimate setting.

5. Get involved with a charity or community organization. The world has changed and it’s time to get purposeful. Your personal self-worth and value increase when you go beyond searching to solely acquire personal fame and fortune. Reach out and genuinely contribute to your favorite cause. Our lives become so much more meaningful when we are living our authentic purpose — and that’s an infectious feeling that will likely attract others to you and your brand.

Remember that humble bragging can make a positive impact on your work while at the same time helping you to get noticed. If it works for some of the world’s top brands and personalities, it can work for you, too.

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