22 Jul Founders Should Leverage Video to Build Their Personal Brand
Building a strong personal brand has become essential for founders. Why?
Because deal flow requires more than making people aware of your company; you need serious authority and influence before sitting coming to the table.
By the way, I include recruiting in my definition of deal flow.
While there are many ways to build influence, video content has emerged as a particularly powerful medium. Let’s explore why founders should consider using video to build their personal brand, with specific examples and tactics from entrepreneurs who have successfully done so on YouTube.
The Power of Video for Personal Branding
- Authenticity and Connection
- Storytelling
- Demonstration of Expertise
- Increased Visibility
- Versatility
Examples of Founders Building Personal Brands on YouTube and Their Specific Tactics
1. Alex Hormozi
Tactics:
- “Value Bomb” videos: Short, high-impact videos delivering concentrated business advice
- Detailed breakdowns of business models and strategies
- Use of whiteboards and visual aids to explain complex concepts
- Consistent branding with a minimalist, no-frills studio setup
- Regular “Coffee with Hormozi” Q&A sessions to engage with audience
Alex Hormozi, founder of Gym Launch and Acquisition.com, has built a significant following by sharing dense, actionable content. His “Value Bomb” series, typically under 10 minutes, delivers concentrated business insights that viewers can immediately apply. Hormozi’s straightforward approach and willingness to share specific tactics have established him as a thought leader in the business scaling space.
2. Cathie Wood
Tactics:
- Regular “In the Know” market update videos
- Long-form interviews and discussions on disruptive technologies
- Collaboration with other experts in various fields
- Consistent branding across all content
- Use of data visualizations and charts to support investment theses
Cathie Wood, founder and CEO of ARK Invest, leverages ARK’s YouTube channel to build her personal brand. The channel features regular market updates, in-depth analyses of disruptive technologies, and interviews with Wood herself. This approach has positioned her as a visionary in the investment world, particularly in innovation and technology stocks.
3. Noah Kagan
Tactics:
- “Challenge” videos (e.g., starting a business in 24 hours)
- Behind-the-scenes looks at his businesses
- Collaboration with other entrepreneurs and YouTubers
- Use of attention-grabbing titles and thumbnails
- Incorporation of humor and personal anecdotes
Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo, uses YouTube to share his entrepreneurial journey and practical business advice. His content often includes “challenge” videos where he attempts to launch or grow businesses in short timeframes, providing viewers with real-time insights into entrepreneurship. Kagan’s energetic personality and actionable content have helped him build a strong personal brand.
4. Patrick Bet-David
Tactics:
- In-depth interviews with successful business people
- Whiteboard sessions explaining business concepts
- Use of analogies and storytelling to simplify complex ideas
- Consistent posting schedule (daily uploads at one point)
- Development of a distinct personal brand (“PBD”)
Patrick Bet-David, founder of Valuetainment, has built a massive following through content focused on entrepreneurship, finance, and personal development. His interview series with successful business people and his own insights into business strategies, often explained using whiteboards, have established him as a respected voice in the entrepreneurial community.
5. Russell Brunson
Tactics:
- Creating episodic content (e.g., “DotCom Secrets” series)
- Live streaming events and workshops
- Offering free valuable resources (books, webinars) to drive engagement
- Using storytelling to illustrate marketing concepts
- Leveraging customer success stories and case studies
- Consistent branding across all content (ClickFunnels signature orange)
Russell Brunson, co-founder of ClickFunnels and a renowned digital marketer, has built a substantial personal brand through his YouTube channel and other video content. Brunson’s approach combines educational content about marketing and sales funnels with promotional material for his products and services. His “DotCom Secrets” series and other episodic content provide viewers with ongoing value while building a loyal audience. Brunson is known for his energetic presentation style and his ability to break down complex marketing concepts into digestible, actionable advice.
One of Brunson’s key strategies is offering free, high-value resources such as his books (“DotCom Secrets,” “Expert Secrets”) and webinars, which he promotes through his videos. This approach not only provides immediate value to his audience but also serves as a lead generation tool for his business. By sharing customer success stories and case studies in his videos, Brunson demonstrates the real-world application of his strategies, building credibility and trust with his audience.
Brunson’s consistent branding, particularly the use of ClickFunnels’ signature orange color, helps create a cohesive visual identity across his content. This strong brand association has helped him become synonymous with online marketing and sales funnels in the minds of many entrepreneurs and marketers.
6. Ankur Warikoo
Tactics:
- Bilingual content (English and Hindi) to reach a wider audience
- Short-form, highly focused videos on specific topics
- Use of personal experiences to illustrate business concepts
- Consistent visual branding across videos
- Regular Q&A sessions with viewers
Indian entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo, co-founder of Nearbuy, has built a substantial personal brand through his YouTube channel. He shares insights on entrepreneurship, personal finance, and productivity, often in short, focused videos. Warikoo’s bilingual content has helped him connect with a wide audience in India and beyond.
How could I forget…
Shaan Puri and Sam Parr have a video podcast… in fact it’s my favorite podcast… My First Million
People are literally building their own personal brands just by being on this podcast. Check them out.
Implementing a Video Strategy
A quick checklist for founders looking to build their personal brand through video:
- Be consistent: Establish a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged.
- Focus on value: Provide actionable insights that your audience can immediately apply.
- Be authentic: Show your personality and don’t shy away from sharing both successes and failures.
- Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and create content based on viewer questions.
- Optimize for search: Use relevant keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags.
- Develop a unique style: Whether it’s using whiteboards, challenge videos, or a particular setting, find what works for you and your audience.
- Collaborate: Partner with other entrepreneurs or experts to expand your reach and provide diverse perspectives.
- Repurpose content: Use snippets from your videos for other social media platforms to maximize reach.
Building a personal brand through video content requires serious time and effort, but the rewards are mind blowing. The secret formula is this:
Committed to a create+publish schedule and then be just as committed to improving every video.
If you commit, you WILL create a powerful connection with your audience, become a thought leader in your industry, and see new opportunities flow to you. Then you will have the problem of figuring out what to say NO to, and yes, it is an actual problem.
If it isn’t obvious, we help with this process and we call it: Story Growth™. Hit us up if you want to do a Story Growth Workshop!
