How To Build A Founder's Personal Brand On Social Media Before Launch
By showing consumers who you are and what you care about, you lay the foundation for a business that people feel invested in from the jump. Here, 19 members of Forbes Coaches Council share their best tips for founders to use social media to build a strong, authentic personal brand before launch.
How many times do you see the preview before the movie comes out? If you're waiting to build your brand until you announce something big, you are missing out on critical time to build, educate and cultivate your audience. Be consistent, pique curiosity, give back and connect. This way, when you have big news, your audience understands it and is psyched to support you. - Randi Braun, Something Major
Pick a platform and focus on it. It's hard to be an expert across all of the social media websites, so prior to launching a business find the one you enjoy the most and see the most reactions from, and start there. - Franklin Buchanan, Post Up Careers
Before you launch, launch yourself. LinkedIn is the No. 1 platform to build a personal brand. Start a weekly LinkedIn Live, post daily tips solving one problem for your audience and share your real journey—the wins, the setbacks, the grit. Why? People buy from those they trust, and nothing sells like authenticity. Build your brand now, so your business has a runway before takeoff. - Gurpreet Mann, GKM Coaching
Share your journey, not just your product. Before launching, document the process of building your business—your highs, lows and lessons learned. Be raw; be real. People follow stories, not just brands. This creates authentic connections and anticipation. When you finally launch, you have a loyal community eager to support and celebrate your success. - Alejandro Bravo, Revelatio360
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
Document your 'expertise excavation' by sharing what you've learned while solving problems in your future industry. One client built up to 5,000 followers by posting weekly breakdowns of how competitors' products fell short. Your personal brand shouldn't showcase what you know—it should reveal how you think. Customers buy solutions, but they invest in problem-solving approaches they trust. - Nirmal Chhabria
Trust is the most important currency we have. Sharing our story and our 'why' is critical to that journey. Living it in every moment of truth, every decision and every interaction is what ultimately builds trust, a brand and a reputation. - Shahana Banerjee, Just Human Not Resources LLC
Host a '30-Day Problem Solver' challenge: Share daily tips to fix pain points in your niche, such as quick business hacks and DIY fixes. Engage followers to vote on solutions. Why? It positions you as an expert, builds authority pre-launch and attracts your ideal audience through value—not pitches. By Day 30, you'll have trust and a ready client base. - Maryam Daryabegi, Innovation Bazar
Share a 'behind-the-scenes' journey of your entrepreneurial process, including sketches, brainstorming or lessons learned. This builds authenticity, engages followers and positions you as a relatable, driven expert. It creates buzz and a loyal audience before your business even launches. - Jaide Massin, Soar Executive Coaching LLC
Turn the buildup into the brand. Share your journey as you would a mystery: Drop clues, tease breakthroughs and let surprise fuel curiosity. Dopamine spikes with the unexpected, keeping followers engaged. You are not just building a product; you are crafting a story people want to follow. Curiosity is the new currency. - Adam Levine, InnerXLab
Share your vision and ask questions. Many entrepreneurs start with a clear idea of what they think their brand should look and feel like. More often than not, it evolves. Getting in front of your audience early and asking about their real pain points is one of the smartest ways to refine your niche and build a brand that truly resonates. It creates alignment, connection and traction before you launch. - Rachana Adyanthaya, Cr8mychange
Vulnerability is credibility. You are the product. People buy based on emotion and justify purchases with logic. The aspiring entrepreneur wants to lean into the understanding that, by showcasing their vulnerabilities through showing their authentic selves, they can build trust with their audience. Trust is the currency of the 21st century! - Jenna D'Annunzio
Don't just document your journey; lead the conversation. Share bold insights, challenge the status quo and teach what you're learning as you grow. That positions you as a thinker, potentially even a thought leader, and not just a doer. People are drawn to clarity and conviction. When they trust how you think, they'll trust what you build—even before it exists. - Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory
Find your unique voice. In today's social media environment, it can seem like a never-ending stream of repetitive thoughts. When building your personal brand, uncover what you stand for. What are your values, and how can you express your unique thoughts to those you want to attract? Ditch the 'elevator pitch' and communicate your 'why' so that it connects on an emotional level with your audience. - Bryan Powell, Executive Coaching Space
Social media can provide a focus group for you as you test out different versions of your potential business. Asking direct questions to gain insight that will further shape your thinking is important. Invite highly engaged people to set up a chat with you where they will effectively design your business for you by telling you their unmet needs. - Katy MacKinnon Hansell, Katy Hansell Impact Partners
Articulate your vision in a way that your audience recognizes themselves in your stories. Clearly show how you solve their problem. It is not about you; it is about them. Be genuine in your stories. Authenticity resonates with people and builds trust. Share your message consistently. Demonstrate your unique approach. Share the deeper reasons behind why you do what you do. - Aurelien Mangano, DevelUpLeaders
Start a podcast and interview people who you would want to have as future customers or clients. Gather information from them about trends, ideas and advice that furthers your business idea. - Brittney Van Matre, Rewild Work Strategies
Create 'Choice Point' posts where you present two paths ('take a risk' versus 'stay safe,' for example) and ask followers what they would choose. It builds engagement, highlights your coaching mindset and shows you value self-awareness and strategic thinking. - Anna Boltenko, RE.SET Coaching and Mentoring
There are more than 8 billion people on Earth. That number seems staggering. Even more stunning is that every one of us is unique and different. To build one's personal brand on social media, let us—the audience—inside. This can be done with some playfulness. Treat the arc of posts as if anyone viewing them has VIP access into your world, your mind, your secrets and your magic. - David Yudis, DavidYudis.com
Start a 'building in public' series, but don't just post wins. Share messy drafts, hard decisions and things you almost launched but didn't. People follow humans, not highlight reels. By showing the thinking before the business, you build trust, traction and a brand that feels real before it ever sells a thing. - Alla Adam, Adam Impact Institute
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