Introduction
Social media is becoming a popular port-of-call for CEOs. Back in 2020, around 62% of Fortune 500 CEOs were on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn, but in 2025, that has grown to over 73%.
As time moves forward and people grow more dependent on digital channels for news, insights, and shopping, social media has become a key location for CEOs to shape their personal brand. But why is this the case, and if you’re a CEO, how exactly can you build a strong personal brand on these platforms?
Why Social Media is No Longer Optional
Before getting into why social media is no longer optional for CEOs, it’s important to consider why building a personal brand is so important in the first place. For CEOs, a strong personal brand is crucial for influencing public perception of their company.
Especially in today’s digital-first world, stakeholders and customers often look beyond the company itself and assess the credibility, values, and vision of its leadership – and that demands CEOs to communicate a lot more effectively and transparently.
Social media offers the best route to doing this. On platforms like Instagram and TikTok, for instance, it’s possible for CEOs to showcase a more human side of their leadership, sharing behind-the-scenes content, company culture, and personal insights that will resonate with employees and customers alike.
Additional tools have also made it easier for followers to quickly learn more about the company. Link in bio tools like Hopp.co by Wix allow CEOs to consolidate key resources into one accessible location, while platforms such as LinkedIn Live enable direct engagement with audiences. Beyond visibility, these tools can also support high-value bookings — from paid advisory sessions and speaking engagements to mentorship slots — creating new opportunities for CEOs to extend their influence and monetise their expertise.
Being Absent on Social Media
The reason it’s no longer optional is because, quite simply, too many CEOs are doing it. As we noted previously, the percentage of high-profile CEOs being active on social media has grown, and that has led more people to join the party. Being absent on social media, then, immediately creates a perception of detachment and inaccessibility.
Stakeholders, customers, and even employees now expect leaders to communicate transparently about business and engage with current trends and issues. So without a social media presence, CEOs risk losing control over the narrative of their company – and therefore the trust and engagement they’ll require to be successful.
How to Build a Personal Brand
If you’re a CEO in 2025, social media is your best bet for building a personal brand and forming that connection you’ll need to establish trust with your audience quickly. In order to achieve this, however, you’ll need to develop a clear strategy that ensures the process is smooth, effective, and not too time consuming.
- Defining Your Core Message
Yes, you’re using social media to showcase yourself as a CEO, but there’s still an image you’ll have to live up to. That is the image of your company and the values it represents. Defining your core message means clearly articulating what you and your company stand for, what problems you solve, and the principles guiding your decisions. This then ensures consistency across all your posts, and helps your audience understand not just who you are, but what your company embodies.
- Choosing the Right Platforms
Not every platform is suitable for every CEO, and so you’ll need a clear picture of where your target audience spends most of their time and how they prefer to consume content. For instance:
| Platform | Monthly Active Users | Best for CEOs In… |
| 1.1 billion | B2B industries, tech, finance, consulting | |
| 2 billion | Retail, fashion, lifestyle, media, entertainment | |
| X | 450 million | Tech, media, public affairs, marketing |
| TikTok | 1.1 billion | Consumer brands, entertainment, lifestyle, creative industries |
| 2.9 billion | Community building, B2C industries, nonprofits | |
| YouTube | 2.7 billion | Media, retail education, tech |
- Streamlining the User Experience
You’re on social media to be transparent and showcase your brand, but the main goal is always to make it easy for your audience to engage with you and your company. Again, that’s where tools like Hopp by Wix have become so useful, as they can organise all your most important links in one single page – found in your social media bio.
It’s important, however, that you treat this bio link with the same amount of care as your social media pages and your website. The mission is to build a smooth, user-friendly experience that encourages interaction and reinforces your personal and corporate brand, so make sure the design is clean, visually consistent, and prioritises the most important content first.
- Creating A Content Strategy
To be consistent, you should also create a content strategy that maintains variety and engagement. Scheduling tools are crucial here, as they’ll help you to plan posts in advance and maintain a regular posting cadence without taking your attention away from the company itself. You should still be present – especially when it comes to leveraging analytics and determining which content performs best – but it’s equally important to find a balance that doesn’t let social media take too much of your time.
- Collaborate and Network
Lastly, you should make sure to partner with other leaders and creators. This will help you broaden your reach and enhance your credibility by association. Let’s say you’re working in the fashion industry and you want to showcase your company’s sustainable practices – partnering with a well-known eco-conscious designer or influencer will work to amplify your message and introduce your brand to a wider audience. Beyond this, it’s also a good way to network and gain some fresh ideas that you can bring to your own table.
Conclusion
As technology has improved and more tools have been added to the mix, CEOs now have unprecedented opportunities to shape their personal brand and influence public perception, ultimately leading to a more consistent, transparent public image. All you have to do is be intentional and authentic, and always make sure you’re representing your brand in the best light possible.
FAQs
If you have more questions about how to build a strong personal brand or leverage social media effectively, the following FAQs address common concerns and will hopefully provide you with some practical guidance for getting started.
How Often Should I Post?
Consistency matters more than quantity. For most CEOs, posting two to four times per week is sufficient, while occasional updates on X or TikTok can complement this. As you would with your business, focus on being authentic and delivering quality to your users before anything else..
How Can I Balance Personal and Professional Content?
Give your users a mix of both. Customers and stakeholders love behind-the-scenes insights into companies, and coupled with professional updates, there’s every chance you can humanise your leadership while maintaining that credibility.
Should I Engage With Negative Comments?
The art of communication with customers can be tricky to get right, but it really depends on the nature of the negative comments. If they’re clearly trolling accounts, it’s best to ignore them. However, if it’s constructive feedback, thoughtful engagement can demonstrate your transparency and show that you value your audience’s perspective.
How Can I Measure the Success of My Personal Brand Efforts?
Social media platforms and the best bio link websites have analytical tools built into them, allowing you to assess which content or link resonates, and guide your strategy accordingly.
Is it Necessary to Use All Social Media Platforms?
If anything, using all social media platforms can be detrimental to you and your brand. It’s always best to focus on where your target audience is most active, and where your content type performs best. If you need a number, a strong personal presence on two to three platforms is typically a successful strategy, but it’s important not to spread yourself too thin.
