Your audience deserves a brand that feels as real as the person behind it. But actually creating that brand isn’t always a no-brainer. Emma is joined in today’s episode by Danielle Hughes, Chief Personality Officer at More Than Words Marketing, to uncover the power of building a personality brand, not just a personal brand. They dive into why founders often hide behind polished professionalism, how that limits brand resonance, and why showing a little more of who you are can actually shorten the sales cycle. Embracing your quirks, experiences, and true voice is the key to standing out online, and Danielle breaks down her approachable process for helping you uncover the traits that make you magnetic (especially on LinkedIn). If you’ve ever felt intimidated about “putting yourself out there,” this conversation will encourage you to rethink what branding really means in 2026 and why your story is your strongest differentiator.
Listen in as Emma explains:
- Why storytelling is crucial for showcasing credibility and connecting with new audiences
- How founder voice and brand voice differ, and how they evolve as you grow
- Practical steps for identifying storylines that resonate and drive engagement
And much, much more!
Why Storytelling Is Crucial for Showcasing Credibility and Connecting With New Audiences
Storytelling is the bridge between what you do and why people should care. When you only show the polished end result or list accomplishments without context, you miss the emotional connection that converts passive scrollers into engaged followers. Danielle and Emma discuss the way storytelling gives dimension to your expertise, illustrating the challenges, decisions, and transformations behind your work. This allows audiences to see your credibility in action, not just in bullet points, and makes it far easier for new people to understand who you help and how you help them.
How Founder Voice and Brand Voice Differ, And How They Evolve As You Grow
Danielle and Emma break down the distinction between founder voice and brand voice, noting that both are essential but serve unique purposes. Founder voice is often more personal, emotive, and rooted in lived experience, while brand voice is crafted for consistency, clarity, and audience alignment. As the business grows, these voices naturally evolve: founder voice becomes more strategic and selective, and brand voice becomes more defined, documented, and scalable. This evolution ensures that the founder remains authentic and relatable while the brand remains cohesive, even as teams expand or messaging diversifies.
Practical Steps for Identifying Storylines That Resonate and Drive Engagement
Strong storylines typically emerge from real client transformations, behind-the-scenes moments, or lived experiences that reflect your brand’s mission. To have the biggest impact in your marketing, Emma and Danielle suggest starting with the stories that feel the most energizing or meaningful to you. Treat your life and business like a series of “plot lines,” a helpful lens for discovering themes that can be turned into content. By focusing on stories that align with your values and your audience’s needs, you’re far more likely to create content that not only resonates but also motivates engagement, trust, and inquiry.
Connect with Ninety Five Media:
Check out our website: ninetyfivemedia.co
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/ninety.five.media
Grow your brand’s social media presence with us:
Tell us about your business goals and explore how our social media management services can help you reach them! ninetyfivemedia.co/stop-scrolling-start-scaling-inquiry
Connect with Danielle:
Website: morethanwordscopy.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniellehughes
Download Danielle’s free Personality Brand Bio checklist! 10 small steps to infuse personality in your bio: morethanwordscopy.com/pbb-checklist
Ready to get saved by the brand? https://www.morethanwordscopy.com/saved-by-the-brand-erika-steinberg
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