That\u2019s when I turned to AI. Together, we created a seven-page brand strategy doc \u2014 like a marketing plan, but for me<\/em>. I had no idea how much it would change everything. A lot of people underestimate just how digitally fluent Gen Z is. We\u2019ve been branding ourselves \u2014 consciously or not \u2014 since we were 13 on Instagram. But, LinkedIn always felt a little off-limits. Too corporate. Too buttoned-up.<\/p>\n That changed when I started spending real time on the platform \u2014 not just scrolling, but actually creating. I found other Gen Z creators who were killing it \u2014 speaking at conferences, working remotely, running their own businesses. I started studying them like you\u2019d study a successful entrepreneur: how they wrote, how they told stories, what they posted.<\/p>\n Eventually, I saw the opportunity to carve out my own space, especially as a Gen Z woman talking about AI. That combo was not<\/em> common. So I thought, \u201cThis is my shot.\u201d<\/p>\n ChatGPT was starting to pick up steam. I asked the chatbot to help me build a personal brand strategy, just like a company would. The initial prompt: \u201cCan you help position me as a LinkedIn thought leader? I want to be seen as an expert in AI, personal branding, and Gen Z career content.\u201d<\/p>\n With rounds of iteration, that plan transformed my career. Today, I have a presence that reaches over 140 million people on the platform. I\u2019ve partnered with LinkedIn, been featured in Fortune and CNBC, and run workshops for women around the country \u2014 all because of my personal brand.<\/p>\n So, how exactly do I use AI to build my brand? Below, I\u2019ll share the framework I followed.<\/p>\n Everyone says, \u201cPick one niche.\u201d I disagree. I think you should have three key things you talk about. For me, that\u2019s AI, personal branding, and Gen Z.<\/p>\n I used ChatGPT to explore tone and values. I\u2019d even ask things like, \u201cWhat does my writing sound like?\u201d or \u201cCan you rewrite this in the tone of Virginia Woolf if she went to Harvard?\u201d It was fun and<\/em> clarifying.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re getting started, I recommend compiling this information into a document with brand guidelines. You can have AI help you create this style guide. When you\u2019re stuck, you can just scan your Google Doc and get back on track.<\/p>\n I hopped into Canva and treated myself like a brand. I created a LinkedIn banner that clearly stated my niche: Gen Z woman in business<\/em>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s wild to me how many people leave that banner space blank \u2014 it\u2019s such valuable real estate. I made sure to include my email, so people knew how to reach me.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n I recommend working with AI to find aspects of color psychology and fonts that support your brand. I went with the blue, which is associated with trustworthiness. I recommend chatting with AI about the brand values you\u2019ve defined. You can then ask ChatGPT to recommend a few banner elements that double down on your messaging.<\/p>\n At that point, I went back to ChatGPT and said, \u201cCan you give me 20 post ideas based on these pillars?\u201d I then used those topics as a jumping-off point for my posts.<\/p>\n I pull from current events \u2014 what\u2019s happening in AI or Gen Z culture \u2014 and tie it to my brand. That makes my content feel timely and thought-leader-y<\/em>. Remember: You\u2019re not just creating evergreen posts to fill space. You\u2019re speaking to a moment.<\/p>\n I\u2018m not super rigid with scheduling \u2014 I post when I\u2019m inspired. But, some people prefer more structure. Both approaches can work, but I\u2018ve found that consistency matters more than frequency. Be sure to post a few times a week when you\u2019re starting out, even if you’re not scheduling specific days.<\/p>\n Think about your tech stack, too. Are you going to use scheduling tools? Automations? I recommend working with AI to brainstorm your content and craft your posts. You can then use a scheduling tool, like Hootsuite, to make sure posts go live.<\/p>\n Creator Match<\/a>, founded by creator AJ Eckstein<\/a>, has an awesome Chrome extension that I use to track post analytics. I have the option to evaluate my performance and track other creators in my niche. It\u2019s like doing competitive research, but for personal brands. If you want to grow, you need to understand what\u2019s working across the platform.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Creator Match can give me an overview of my profile, including how frequently I\u2019ve posted and how often certain words appear in my posts. I can then take a look at how people interact with what I create. That includes tracking engagement across post types.<\/p>\n I even have the option to search by keyword, so I can better understand what topics get the most traction from my following.<\/p>\n Comments are gold, so I try to respond to everyone. These are the people building your brand with you<\/em>. I’ve had some of my best opportunities come through comment sections, not DMs or emails. I can then understand what\u2019s top-of-mind for my audience, allowing me to come up with more ideas for posts that resonate.<\/p>\n I\u2019m able to build my network, make the people engaging with my posts feel seen, and identify hot topics that keep the content engine running. It\u2019s win-win-win!<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n And yes, I\u2019ve even used ChatGPT to respond to hate comments. I\u2019ll say, \u201cCan you help me respond in a graceful yet firm tone?\u201d It\u2019s a great tool for crafting the right<\/em> message, especially when emotions are running high.<\/p>\n A lot of people wait until their brand is \u201cperfect\u201d before they post. But, I treated my personal brand like an MVP (minimum viable product). I just got it out there. I iterated along the way. I changed my banner, my headline, my content style \u2014 all in real time.<\/p>\n A great example of this is my LinkedIn headline.<\/p>\n At first, it was vague: \u201cHelping creatives and agencies\u2026\u201d But, I needed to get more specific. After taking a course from Justin Welsh<\/a> (yes, I actually bought a course), I refined it.<\/p>\n I landed on a version that spoke directly to the people I wanted to reach \u2014 women interested in AI and career empowerment \u2014 with the phrase \u201cI help women leverage AI to build powerful personal brands.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Download](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/53\/ddd33609-1733-44d2-a811-a5435b201ffe.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhy Gen Z Should Be Building Personal Brands<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How to Build Your Personal Brand and Where AI Can Help (Step-by-Step)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Clarify your core values and message.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Build a visual identity.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"image3-Apr-28-2025-04-17-20-4821-PM\"](\"https:\/\/shaneyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image3-Apr-28-2025-04-17-20-4821-PM.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Create consistent, thoughtful content.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Set a posting cadence (even if it\u2019s loose).<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Track what works.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"creator](\"https:\/\/shaneyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image2-Apr-28-2025-04-17-59-4021-PM.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"creator](\"https:\/\/shaneyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/creator20match20linkedin20extension.png\")
<\/p>\n6. Engage with your community.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/shaneyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how20to20engage20with20comments20on20linkedin.png\")
<\/p>\nWhy You Should Think of Your Brand as an MVP<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/shaneyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how20to20craft20a20linkedin20headline.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/track.hubspot.com\/__ptq.gif?a=53&k=14&r=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.hubspot.com%2Fmarketing%2Fhow-gen-z-is-using-ai-to-build-personal-brands&bu=https%253A%252F%252Fblog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing&bvt=rss\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"