The 12 Best Personal Branding Books (To Read in 2022)

And Clark has a lot of accolades and achievements under her belt:

• Named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50
• Recognized as the #1 Communication Coach in the world by Marshall Goldsmith Leading Global Coaches Awards
• Teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School
• Authored four books on career growth
• Frequently contributes to Harvard Business Review
• Gives consultations to Google, Microsoft, and the World Bank

In her book “Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future”, Dorie Clark uses a conversational tone to give readers actionable insights.

2. LinkedIn for Personal Branding: The Ultimate Guide

LinkedIn has several features that can help you stand out and be noticed by potential employers.

If you want to be more easily found on LinkedIn, make sure to fill out your profile completely. All the features on your profile will make you more searchable to others.

A well-composed LinkedIn profile is as important as a well-composed cover letter.

The book “LinkedIn for Personal Branding: The Ultimate Guide” provides all the information on how to use all the features LinkedIn has to offer, delivered by author Sandra Long.

Long’s personal mantra is “Be the friend first.”

This book provides readers with an understanding of Long’s personable nature. With 30 years of experience in B2B sales and leadership, Long is a seasoned LinkedIn and TEDx speaker.

This #1 bestseller on Amazon provides:

• Dozens of case studies from LinkedIn users
• A supplemental Reader Resource website with additional actionable advice, plus downloadable documents
• Prompts to help you write the best possible personalized LinkedIn profile story
• Strategies on how to build your brand on LinkedIn
• 5 unique approaches for your “work experience” section
• Advice for job seekers, executives, employees, salespeople, freelancers, and people with a portfolio career
• How to build social connections with endorsements

3. Branding Pays: The Five-Step System to Reinvent Your Personal Brand

The following are the chapter titles. As you can see, the five steps are dedicated chapters:

• Take Charge of Your Personal Brand
• Step 1: Positioning
• Step 2: Messaging
• Step 3: Brand Strategy
• Step 4: Ecosystem
• Step 5: Action Plan
• 360-Degree Branding: Vision, Symbols, Words, and Deeds
• Portable Branding and Social Media: Getting Started

Karen Kang is a well-known brand strategist who has worked with some of the biggest companies in the world. She is the CEO and founder of her own branding company, and has also worked as a principal and partner with Regis McKenna Inc.

4. You Are The Brand: The 8-Step Blueprint to Showcase Your Unique Expertise and Build a Highly Profitable

Kim believes that marketing is not just about selling something, but about creating a connection.

A key point in his book is that strong relationships are essential for achieving success. This is emphasized in the chapter called “Partners: Relationships Are Rocket Ships.”

The book, just published in July 2021, has loads of relevant stories that bring his sage advice to life. The content is applicable to any business model. Just be warned: Kim doesn’t shy away from telling readers what they may need to adjust in their approach in order to meet their goals. This doesn’t mean changing who you are and your values. Kim stresses staying authentic while growing your relationships.

Kim is an online educator, copywriter, and consultant who helps top thought leaders and personal brands. He has been published in leading outlets such as Entrepreneur, Inc., and HuffPost.

If you read the book and listen to the podcast, you will not only be well equipped to create a top-notch personal brand, but you will also be able to learn more about the topic.

5. From Individual to Empire: A Guide to Building an Authentic and Powerful Brand

In her book “From Individual to Empire”, Laura Bull focuses on how major influencers got to their level of notoriety and how to take their examples and apply them to your own branding strategy.

Bull has worked for decades with global branding experts, combining tried-and-true branding methods with psychology to help entrepreneurs show their authentic style and connect with audiences in a genuine way.

The person themselves is the product, regardless of what they are selling.

“I was one of the youngest executives in the history of Sony Music Entertainment.”

6. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

by Miller Donald

This book, “StoryBrand” by New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller, will teach you how to get people to listen by using seven universal story points that all humans respond to.

According to Miller, there are seven elements of great storytelling that can help you grow your business. The most important of these is clarifying your message.

The story you create is paramount to your success.

7. Branding: In Five and a Half Steps

When you google the term “brand,” you will get a wide range of different definitions of what a brand can be. It is no wonder even professionals get confused.

Branding in Five and a Half Steps, written by Michael Johnson and published by Thames & Hudson, is a guide to understanding brands. The book simplifies the process of branding, breaking it down into five and a half steps.

This book, beautifully constructed by Michael Johnson, is full of insights into some of the best branding techniques around the world. You’ll learn what it takes to craft a compelling logo for clients and discover the basics of building amazing advertising campaigns.

Johnson tells stories from his own experiences in the branding world to illustrate his points. He has worked with a number of high-profile companies, including Virgin, Christian Aid and More Than.

Johnson’s clear passion for branding comes through in every chapter of the book.

8. Building a Story Brand

As a branding expert, one of the most important things you can do is learn how to design a message that your clients can relate to. Brand stories are emotional and meaningful tools that companies use to build relationships with their audiences, and by understanding how to craft such stories, you can help your clients connect with their customers on a deeper level.

Donald Miller, the CEO of the StoryBrand company, is available to answer any questions you may have. He believes that all brands need the right story to connect with their audience.

This book is a best seller around the world because of its ability to change the way people think and talk about their company. Miller teaches readers how to find the crucial elements which make a business unique and share them with the world.

The book “Building a Story Brand” also covers things like how to determine the main story points in your marketing and branding strategies.

By following Miller’s seven steps, you will be able to change people’s perceptions of your company through the power of storytelling.

9. Creating a Brand Identity

“Creating a Brand Identity: A Guide for Designers” by Catharine Slade-Brooking is an excellent introduction to the world of branding for students of design and company image creation.

This book will teach you how to create a unique brand identity for your business that will help you stand out from the competition. You’ll learn what goes into creating a strong brand, including developing a powerful brand name, creating a recognizable logo, and crafting a brand message that resonates with your target audience.

Slade-Brooking covers topics such as consumer psychology, brand strategy, and campaign execution.

Catharine uses her experience as a professor of BA Graphic Communications to create concise, but comprehensive introductions to all of the most important aspects of branding.

Throughout the book, there are plenty of visual representations, examples, and studies to make the learning experience more diverse.

10. The Brand Gap

The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design, written by Marty Neumeier, first appeared on the market in 2005.

The book is still relevant today because it provides a concise explanation of how brand building should work in a modern setting.

Most books on branding focus on either a creative or strategy approach, but Neumeier’s book explores both avenues.

As you read, you will learn what it means to design a brand and what types of important questions to ask before starting a design or development strategy.

Marty discusses topics such as using design to improve customer experience and managing brands from the inside out.

There are a lot of great ideas and inspiration in a book which is straightforward and easy to read.

11. Personal Branding for Dummies

This book is a great choice for anyone looking for advice on how to brand themselves. It provides readers with a clear understanding of how to create a positive image for themselves.

This book by Susan Chritton is intended for people who want to improve their personal image. The book covers topics such as maintaining a personal trademark, dressing for success, and interacting with others.

The book contains easy to read chapters which teach you how to expand your brand through social media and communities, as well as how you can protect your brand from damage.

Susan discusses how to change your image when you’re looking for a new job and how to stand out from the competition.

Chritton has also provided plenty of information on how to get to know the real you for beginners. Once you know how to identify yourself and your personal brand, you’ll be able to create an amazing market positioning statement.

12. Designing Brand Identity: 5th Edition

This guide provides a comprehensive look at brand identity and how it can impact the growth of a business. It is essential reading for anyone on a team charged with creating or maintaining a brand.

Wheeler’s book helps people understand branding and rebranding from the perspective of a business leader, project manager, or branding student.

This book is about branding and it provides plenty of examples and case studies to guide the reader, as well as illustrations demonstrating brand touchpoints and quotes from branding experts.

Wheeler’s book is full of practical tips and advice on branding your business. It is one of the top books on the subject.

Designing Brand Identity is a good choice if you are starting to learn about branding as a business owner.

To Wrap Up

Creating a strong personal brand is important in today’s world. The books written by experts on the topic will help you change your perspective on your “brand” and your future.

and craft the image that aligns with your authentic self. A brand that is genuine will attract a loyal audience. not only will they inspire you to put yourself out there, but they will also help you to create a brand image that is true to who you are. People are attracted to brands that are real and authentic.

The globalization of markets and the rise of social media has resulted in a more connected professional sphere, but one that is also more competitive. Developing a strong personal brand will give you the comprehensive package of skills and attributes you need to advance in your career.

The following books have been selected to provide all the steps needed for developing a strategic personal brand. By following the advice in these books, you will be more likely to catch the attention of your desired employers.