Why Video is So Important for Personal Branding

Video content

How can video content enhance your personal brand and make you stand out in a crowded digital space? Why does video content build trust and authority faster than traditional text-based branding methods? What are the biggest obstacles professionals face when creating video content, and how can they overcome them?

Video content is the key to building a strong personal brand. While text-based content still has its place, video has an unmatched ability to capture attention, convey authenticity, and create deeper audience connections. Studies show that people retain 95% of a message when watching a video, compared to only 10% when reading text. This makes video the most effective medium for personal branding, helping you build credibility, trust, and engagement faster than ever before.

Beyond visibility, video content unlocks valuable opportunities, from PR features to speaking engagements, all while improving public speaking confidence and SEO performance. Despite common fears of appearing on camera, professionals who embrace video often see immediate benefits, including higher engagement and stronger audience relationships. If you’re serious about growing your brand, the time to start using video isn’t tomorrow—it’s today.

 

In today’s digital world, personal branding isn’t just an advantageit’s a necessity. Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or creator, how you present yourself online directly impacts your credibility, authority, and opportunities. And while written content, podcasts, and static visuals all play a pivotal role in your personal branding strategy, one medium is perhaps the most vital of them all: video content.

Video is the fastest-growing content format, dominating social media platforms and reshaping how audiences consume information. Studies show that people retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to just 10% retention of those who read it in text. That’s an absolute game-changer for personal branding.

But beyond numbers, video has a unique power: it builds trust, authority, and engagement in a way that no other format can match.

“People retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to just 10% retention of those who read it in text.”

Need more convincing that adding video content to your personal branding strategy is advantageous? In this article, I’ll walk you through the added benefits of using video, including how it humanizes your brand, showcases your expertise, unlocks high-quality PR and media opportunities, prevents tone misinterpretations and strengthens your message, builds confidence and public speaking skills, enhances your overall SEO, and makes you stand out in a crowded digital space.

 

Table of Contents:

The Human Connection: Giving Your Content a Face

The Power of Authenticity: Video Showcases Real Expertise

Video Unlocks High-Quality PR and Media Opportunities

Video Prevents Tone Misinterpretations and Strengthens Messaging

Video Builds Confidence and Public Speaking Skills

The SEO Advantage of Video

Standing Out in a Crowded Digital Space

Overcoming Resistance: Just Start and See the Impact

Conclusion

 

The Human Connection: Giving Your Content a Face

The reality is that people don’t connect with logos. They connect with faces, voices, and emotions.

Written content and static images can only go so far in building that connection. Video, on the other hand, brings your personal brand to life. It allows your audience to see and hear the nonverbal cuesyour facial expressions, your voice, and your energyeffectively putting a face to the brand.

This shift in audience expectations is undeniable. Social media algorithms favor video, and platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have made quick, digestible content the norm. People don’t want to scroll through long articles anymore when they can watch someone explain the same idea in 60 seconds.

Still hesitant to add video content to your personal branding strategy? You’re not alone.

Many professionals feel uneasy about putting themselves on camera. But once they do, the impact is astounding. One of my clients initially resisted implementing videos into their branding, preferring written content. But after posting their first video, they were shocked by the feedbackthe engagement was higher, the audience response was overwhelmingly positive, and it resonated across generations.

The takeaway? Putting a face to your name humanizes your brand, makes you more relatable, and builds stronger relationships with your audience. And once your audience genuinely connects with you, they’ll trust your input and keep coming back for more.

The Power of Authenticity: Video Showcases Real Expertise

“Video content forces you to own your expertise. If you know your stuff, video content will be your best friend.”

One thing is for sure: there’s no hiding in video content. Unlike carefully curated text posts, video demands authenticity. Your knowledge, confidence, and passion are all on display, making it one of the most effective ways to establish thought leadership.

People can tell when you truly know the subject you’re speaking on versus when you’re just repeating industry jargon. That’s why those who struggle with imposter syndrome often avoid videoit forces you to own your expertise.

But here’s the thing: if you know your stuff, video content will be your best friend.

Video proves you’re the real deal, especially when you can articulate complex ideas in a way that’s easy to understand. It builds credibility faster than static posts because it removes the veil, and audiences see your passion and confidence firsthand. It also creates a stronger impression; viewers are more likely to remember and trust you after watching a video than they are after reading an article.

Video is no longer optional—it’s essential if you want to be recognized as an expert.

Do you want to attract more clients and boost revenue?

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Video Unlocks High-Quality PR and Media Opportunities

If your personal branding goals include landing interviews, speaking engagements, or getting media features, then video is your golden ticket.

Journalists, podcast hosts, and event organizers don’t just look at your credentialsthey look at how well you communicate. They need to know:

  • Can you speak clearly and engage an audience?
  • Do you present your ideas with confidence?
  • Are you compelling on camera?

 

Video content proves all of the above. It acts as a portfolio of your communication skills, increasing your chances of being invited to panels, interviews, and guest appearances.

One of my clients saw a direct correlation between their video content and increased PR opportunities. After posting more videos, they experienced a surge in media invites simply because journalists could now put a face to the name and see their expertise in action.

Therefore, if you want more opportunities, you have to let people see you in action.

Video Prevents Tone Misinterpretations and Strengthens Messaging

How many times have you seen a text post get misinterpreted? Written words lack nonverbal cueslike tone and facial expressionsand context, making it easy for messages to be taken the wrong way.

Video eliminates that risk.

When your audience can see your smile, hear your enthusiasm, or sense your sinceritythose necessary nonverbal cuesit prevents misunderstandings and makes your message more impactful. It also helps maintain brand consistency because your personality shines through in a way it never could with written content.

Video content is the solution if you’re ever worried about being misunderstood or misinterpreted online.

Video Builds Confidence and Public Speaking Skills

Many people avoid video content because they feel awkward or nervous. But here’s the secret: the best way to get comfortable is to start.

Video is an incredible training ground for public speaking. It allows you to:

  • Practice articulation and clarity.
  • Observe your own speaking patterns and improve delivery.
  • Build confidence gradually, without the pressure of a live audience.

 

And here’s what happens after you record a few videosyou realize it’s not as bad as you thought.

One of my clients, who initially dreaded the idea of being on camera, shared that after their first session, they felt entirely different. Unlike their initial beliefs, the experience wasn’t unnatural at all. In fact, they could suddenly see the real value in videohow it allowed them to engage differently and more effectively with their audience.

Confidence in front of the camera grows with practice. The key is just to start.

RELATED: 10 WAYS YOUR PERSONAL BRAND LEADS TO PAID SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

The SEO Advantage of Video

“Google prioritizes video content in search results, meaning your brand is more likely to appear when people search for relevant topics.”

Want to improve your visibility? Video boosts search engine rankings like nothing else.

YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world. With 65% of users choosing it as their preferred channel for accessing video content and over 1 billion hours of content watched daily, it’s not hard to see why. Plus, an astonishing 90% of users find new brands just by watching YouTube content. The fact of the matter is you’re missing out on massive visibility and new clients if you’re not on it.

Moreover, Google prioritizes video content in search results, meaning your brand is more likely to appear when people search for relevant topics.

Video content also keeps users on your page longer, which signals to platforms that your content is valuablefurther increasing your reach. 82% of businesses that use video content can back up this claim.

And here’s an extra tip if you want to go a step further: Transcribe your videos. Adding captions or repurposing your spoken content into blog posts enhances your SEO even more.

Standing Out in a Crowded Digital Space

Let’s be honest: the internet is noisy and oversaturated with content. Every day, millions of posts flood social media. If you want to cut through the clutter, you need content that stands out.

Video does exactly that.

The numbers don’t lie: 55% of users are watching videos online daily. Instead of churning out endless text posts, focus on quality video content. Tapping into this medium will allow you to better reach the millions of users who prefer videos over static content.

Here’s what works:

  • Short-form videos (TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts) for quick, high-impact messages.
  • Longer, value-packed videos (YouTube, LinkedIn Live) for deeper insights.
  • Behind-the-scenes and personal content to create an authentic connection.

 

You will also want to pay attention to the quality of the videos you’re producing. 91% of consumers say video quality impacts their trust in a brand. Try to avoid publishing video content that is shaky or has bad lighting. You can navigate past poor video quality by investing in decent equipment. That said, don’t obsess over perfection. The most important things are value and authenticity, especially at the start.

Overcoming Resistance: Just Start and See the Impact

There are some common fears associated with putting yourself in front of a camera. You may say things like:

“I feel awkward on camera.”

“What if people judge me?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

Here’s the reality, though: everyone feels this way at first.

I’ve worked with clients who admitted they were incredibly reluctant to record videos. They even questioned whether it was necessary. But after their first recording, they were surprisedit felt natural, the audience response was overwhelmingly positive, and the engagement was far beyond what they expected.

The ultimate advice? Just try.

As one of my clients put it:

“What’s the worst that could happen? At worst, you waste an hour. At best, you unlock new opportunities and realize this is exactly what your brand needed.”

Video isn’t just the future of personal brandingit’s the present. And if you’re serious about growing your influence, it’s time to hit record. What do you have to lose?

Conclusion

Video content is a real game-changer when it comes to your personal brand. Incorporating this medium into your branding strategy may feel intimidatingespecially if you’ve never been in front of the camerabut once you start recording and publishing content, you’ll quickly see the added value of video.

People don’t always connect with the written word. Many professionals rely solely on static content but struggle to make an impact. You could pump out hundreds of pieces of static posts and long-form blog content and still not attract the audience and engagement you seek.

Adding video content can change that. Video lets your audience see and hear you, the person behind the brandand they will retain the information you provide far faster. Video builds trust, credibility, and engagement in ways that text alone never could.

Video content is no longer the thing of the futureit’s the “right now” factor when it comes to your personal brand. Don’t wait around for the “perfect time” or stay focused on perfection. Press record and get your video content out there. Those who embrace it will gain an advantage in building authority, increasing visibility, and opening doors to new opportunities.

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About Claire
Marketing Agency, Strategic Communications, claire bahn group, claire bahn
Claire Bahn is a personal brand strategist and the CEO and Co-Founder of Claire Bahn Group. She has been helping high achieving entrepreneurs, investors, founders, and executives create their best personal brand for over 10 years. She helps entrepreneurs leverage their personal brand to develop the authority, influence, and trust they need to exceed their business goals.
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