Discover what personal branding is and what it means for you as a performer.
At its core, personal branding is how you show up in the world. It’s about proactively shaping your public image and creating a narrative that aligns with your professional aspirations. Branding is a strategic process that attracts opportunities, enhances career visibility and boosts self-confidence, all of which can significantly impact your career trajectory and overall success.
So what does that mean for you as an actor?
Well, you are your business, and therefore you need to be clear about your unique value, skills and what sets you apart.
Here are some tips for creating your personal branding strategy, plus how your Spotlight profile, social media, and other online resources can help:
Do You Already Have an Online Presence?
First things first, have you ever Googled yourself? No? We don’t blame you. Take a deep breath and do it now.
If you come up in the search results, then you already have an online presence. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is this an authentic representation of me?
- Is there a clear, consistent narrative?
- Is this the person I want the world to see?
- If I were a casting director, would I invite myself to audition?
- If I were a director or producer, would I want to work with me?
If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, here are some steps you can take to ensure your online presence represents your brand:
- Do a social media clean-up.
- Brainstorm words that describe how you would like to be perceived, then pick your top five.
- Keep a list of your top five in a prominent place (either in your workspace or on your phone).
- Consult the list before all future posts and ensure your intended content is in alignment.
If you don’t have an online presence, fret not. Think of this as a clean slate on which to make your mark, which is simpler than you think.
Online Platforms for Personal Branding as a Performer
Your marketing tools can really help to establish what your personal brand is. These are some of the most commonly used marketing tools that actors can utilise:
Your Spotlight Profile
How often do you tend to your Spotlight profile? Whether you’re agented or not, Spotlight is the most direct route to acting opportunities. It’s madness to neglect your profile. Here are three tips from our agenting days:
- Check your page every month: update your bio, add any new credits/skills and check your showreels. If there’s nothing new to add, use it as a catalyst to do a workshop or upskill.
- Keep your headshots current. They have to look like you.
- Don’t list a skill or accent if you’re not 100% confident in it. It’s embarrassing for everyone.
Top Tip: Ask a friend in the biz to look over your page and vice versa (we love a skills swap) and objectively review it.
A Personal Website
In addition to your Spotlight profile, it’s definitely worth considering a personal website. With real scope for creative flair, they’re a great way to showcase who you are as well as what you do. Before you baulk at the price, do a quick Google search. There are some very affordable DIY platforms out there.
If you’re a technophobe, you can outsource to a recommended third party or do a skills swap with a tech-savvy friend. It’s worth investing your time/money to stand out from the crowd. And remember: it’s all tax-deductible!
Top Tip: Keep it simple. Think about websites you like using in everyday life and ones you don’t. What is it about them you like or dislike? Make lists to get a better idea of how you’d like your personal website to look.
Whatever your approach, it’s vital to have all your information in one easy, accessible place. Industry professionals would much rather have a link to a Spotlight profile or personal website than an info-dump email with millions of attachments.
Social Media
The positives of social media are aplenty. The immediacy, the outreach, the connectivity. At the risk of patronising you, here are a few popular platforms that you could consider being on as a performer:
- TikTok
- YouTube
You’ve no doubt heard of them, but if you’re not familiar with any of these platforms, get curious and investigate. You may have dismissed some platforms as not for you but think again. TikTok, for example, has a reputation for being a youth-only platform, but it’s a hive of creativity involving a mix of music, lip sync videos, comedy and microblog content. It can be a great way to show the world what you can do.
Top Tip: Don’t let fear get in the way. You don’t have to sign up for anything; you can just explore the sites and get a feel for what’s afoot. Focus on the platform you’re most comfortable with and build from there.
Create a Personal Branding Strategy
It’s time to create a plan of action to blitz your personal branding. Write down the series of steps and practical tasks that you need to take to launch your new digital persona. It might look something like this:
- See what’s already in place and highlight what’s missing.
- Research other creatives and take inspiration from them. (Be critical. If you like or dislike something, ask yourself why. What is it about their presence that lights you up? Do they use a particular colour palette or image across all platforms so they are instantly recognisable?
- Work out what forms of social media suit you and make sure it’s manageable to keep up to date. Consistency is key!
- Find a free or low-cost social media workshop.
- Ensure all your credits and reels are up-to-date across all platforms.
- Email industry professionals on your HitList (find out more about this in our book, The Jobbing Actor) with your revamped material.
- Give yourself a realistic deadline for completing each task.
Putting yourself out there can feel a bit cringey at first, but don’t let fear of judgement scupper your creative ambitions. If you’re not showing up in the world, how will your dream collaborators know where to find you? Personal branding can be a really rewarding and insightful process – just remember to keep it simple, authentic and consistent. Be proud of who you are and what you have to offer – you’re great!
If you’ve enjoyed this little nugget and want to reclaim full ownership of your career, why not dive into our innovative six-week coaching programme designed specifically for actors, by industry professionals and accredited coaches? You’ll find it all in the pages of The Jobbing Actor.
Anita Gilbert and Letty Butler (aka Bert & Butler) have between them over 40 years’ experience in the business. Anita has worked as a professional actor, as well as a theatrical agent, and is now a full-time voice and accent coach. Letty is a jobbing actor with extensive credits for stage and screen. She’s also an award-winning writer and professional life coach.
