
In the past, we built personal branding the conventional way—through achievements, direct networking, and a reputation that developed gradually. The opportunity to become widely known is limited and usually takes a long time.
Now? Everyone has their own stage. Thanks to social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Social media gives anyone the opportunity to become more widely known, but at the same time makes someone more vulnerable to changes in public opinion that are super fast.
For Gen Z, who basically lives on social media, personal branding is more of a “real-time game.” They not only consume content, but also participate in developing trends. Therefore, if you want to exist and have strong branding, you have to understand how algorithms, trends and the vibes of digital audiences work.
Why is Tap In Trends Mandatory?
Not just following along, tap in trends is a strategy to increase engagement and exposure. Social media algorithms really like relevant content and the latest trends, so if you know how to take advantage of them, your personal branding can become even stronger. But, don't forget the key — how the trend can be connected to your identity, so it doesn't look forced or lose its uniqueness.
When Pak Anies is Active on TikTok
An example of personal branding using tap in trends that attracted a lot of attention was when Mr. Anies Baswedan played on TikTok to Linkedin. If politicians usually seem stiff, he is actually adaptive and enters the Gen Z conversation casually.
To be more familiar among Gen-Z children who are his target audience, Pak Anies posts his content in formats that are popular among young people, such as POV videos, sound trends, or political memes that are packaged more lightly. The result? His Engagement exploded.
Netizens even have their owninside jokes such as, “Yes Nies, yes”, “TikTok's all over the place, unemployment, right?” and "Chronically it's really online" Some people even commented, "Who is the PR team? Want Salim!" as a form of appreciation for their smart and relatable digital strategy.
Anies Baswedan's strategy shows that personal branding in the current era is not just about formal imagery. Being able to enter digital conversations in a relevant and light way is much more effective for building engagement and trust.
What Can We Learn?
Tap in trends is not just about chasing virality. More than that, you can use it to strengthen your digital identity. Some lessons to be learned from using trends for personal branding:
For Gen Z, tap in trends is not only a branding strategy, but also a way to connect with the digital community. If you can read trends correctly and execute smartly, your personal branding will be more solid and relevant in this fast-paced era of social media.
Author: Raceka Diva