How Do You Promote Your Personal Brand Without Being Perceived as Narcissistic?

Bianca Luck • October 2, 2017

Trevor Young social PR warrior from Zoetic Agency states that “your brand is what someone says about you, when you are not in the room”. So how do you promote your brand without being perceived as someone with an inflated ego and a grandiose ‘love me’ personality…a narcissist?

No one wants to be seen as a ‘socially destructive narcissist’. So here are some tips when you are on social media.

Don’t be a spotlight hogger: stop blabbering on just about yourself, adopt the 80/20 rule – share your accomplishments and achievements but only do this 80% of the time. Promote, congratulate and praise others, share their updates and comment on their posts 20% of the time.

Have an opinion or a point of view: which in turn will create a community. Beware – only do this if you have something valuable to say. “Content is the oxygen to your social media profile” Trevor Young .

Be genuine: don’t strive for perfection, perfection is unattainable and creates mistrust. Stop photoshopping your pictures, accept your flaws and laugh at your mistakes! Genuine people are not egomaniacal.

Become a thought leader: or an influencer online and an expert in your field. Speak the right language to your audience and your audience will listen.

Building a personal brand means communicating your passions along with others. It means having a mutual conversation, not dominating a conversation.

Most of all, be real!

Find the job you love I Find the right talent
Get in touch with people2people

Australia   I   United Kingdom

In business since 2002 in Australia, NZ, and the United Kingdom, people2people is an award-winning recruitment agency with people at our heart. With over 12 offices, we specialise in accounting and finance, business support, education, executive, government, HR, legal, marketing and digital, property, sales, supply chain, and technology sectors. As the proud recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Large Agency and Excellence in Candidate Care Awards, we are dedicated to helping businesses achieve success through a people-first approach.



Share insights

Recent articles

By Aiden Boast December 14, 2025
Australia’s latest Wage Price Index shows wage growth steady at 0.8% for the September 2025 quarter and 3.4% annually. Explore what this means for real wages, labour market conditions, and employer planning for 2026.
By Aiden Boast December 7, 2025
A detailed breakdown of Australia’s 2025 employment landscape, exploring hiring trends, AI’s impact on job search and recruitment, shifting candidate expectations, and strategic insights to help employers prepare for 2026.
By Leanne Lazarus December 1, 2025
A comprehensive look at how Australia’s 2025 workplace legislation shaped HR practices, covering wage theft, sexual harassment reforms, psychosocial risks and the right to disconnect, with insights to prepare for 2026.
By Liz Punshon November 23, 2025
Explore why burnout is rising across Australia, the workplace factors driving it and what leaders can do to support wellbeing, reduce stress and create healthier work environments.
By Ben Wheeler November 18, 2025
Explore how AI is transforming finance, operations, and the wider workforce in Australia, with insights on generative AI, automation, and the future of work from a recent AU Market Update.

Latest Media Features


Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialisat recruitment consultants across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Contact us