January 2026 - Your 2026 Brand-Building Game Plan
If 2025 taught us anything, it's that your voice, your visibility, and your digital presence are powerful drivers of your influence and your career. The leaders who showed up consistently, shared their expertise authentically, and built their brands intentionally in 2025 are showing up with more opportunities, more credibility, and more impact than most.
As we start the new year, are you ready to make 2026 the year you build a brand that works for you?
To start, here's your month-by-month game plan. Make this year your moment to take control of your professional reputation and own your narrative.
January-February: Audit and Optimize
Before you can build your brand, you need to know where you're starting. This is about taking stock of your current digital presence and setting the foundation for everything that comes next.
Google yourself. What shows up? Is it accurate? Is it current? Is it impressive? If someone were evaluating you for a board seat, a speaking opportunity, or a new role, what story does your digital footprint tell?
Audit your LinkedIn profile. Your LinkedIn profile is your digital storefront. Make sure it's working for you.
Does your headline clearly state who you help and how?
Does your About section tell your story or just list credentials?
Is your experience section filled with responsibilities or accomplishments?
Do you have a professional photo and banner?
Review your content. When was the last time you posted? What did you post about? Did it reflect your expertise? If you haven't posted in months (or ever), that's okay. This is your starting point.
Set your 2026 goals. What do you want to be known for? What opportunities do you want to attract? Who is your audience? Getting clear on these questions will guide every piece of content you create this year.
March-April: Build Your Content Foundation
You don't need to post every day but you do need a sustainable rhythm and a clear content strategy.
Here's a simple framework you can repeat all year:
Share an insight from your work
Comment on an industry trend
Share a lesson learned or a mistake made
Highlight a win (yours or your team's)
Repeat. Refine. Stay consistent.
Consistency beats intensity every time. One thoughtful post a week for 52 weeks will build more credibility than posting daily for a month and then disappearing.
May-June: Engage Strategically
Building your brand isn't just about posting. It's about participating in the conversation.
Spend 10-15 minutes a day:
Commenting on posts from people in your industry
Engaging with your connections' content
Responding to comments on your own posts within the first hour
LinkedIn rewards engagement. The algorithm favors active users. Show up not just to broadcast, but to build relationships.
July-August: Experiment and Repeat
By mid-year, you'll have enough data to see what's working. Now it's time to try something new.
Record a short video sharing your expertise, write a longer-form post diving deep into a topic or poll your audience to spark conversation.
See what resonates and double down on what works.
September-October: Reflect
By the fall of 2026, you should have:
A fully optimized LinkedIn profile
Content demonstrating your expertise
Meaningful engagement with your network
What opportunities came your way because of your visibility? Take note of what worked and what didn't. This reflection will inform your final quarter and set you up for a stronger 2027.
November-December: Plan for 2027
As the year winds down, it's time to take stock and plan ahead.
Review your progress. Look back at the goals you set in January. What grew and what shifted? Which content resonated most? What conversations led to real opportunities?
Identify what's working. By now, you know what content formats your audience responds to, which topics position you as a thought leader, and where your engagement efforts pay off. Double down on these strengths heading into 2027.
Assess your gaps. Where could you grow? Are there platforms or opportunities you didn't explore? Acknowledge these gaps without judgment, they're your roadmap for growth.
Set your 2027 vision. Are you ready to:
Pursue speaking opportunities at industry conferences?
Position yourself for a board seat or advisory role?
Build your team's visibility alongside your own?
Expand your presence beyond LinkedIn?
The leaders who plan strategically don't just show up in 2027, they show up with purpose.
The Bottom Line
Your reputation is being built whether you're managing it or not. The question is: are you shaping the narrative, or is it being written for you?
2026 is your year to take control and we're here to help you do exactly that.
Want to move through this entire framework in one focused session? Book a 1:1 coaching session with Be the Brand. In one hour, we'll audit your current presence, identify your goals, and build a strategic roadmap to set you up for success in 2026. You'll walk away with clarity, a plan, and the confidence to execute it.
-Madeline Fetterly
Founder and CEO, Be The Brand