DISQUS

Tim Courtney · 1 year ago

You wrote:

"Last night I finally the realized the significance of the revolution taking place. You can instantly set up your brand via a blog, cross promote it on social networks and suddenly you have distributed brand you to the masses."

That alone is huge. I think the most important piece of this revolution is that you don't have to be the next Apple, Google, Coke, or BMW of what you do. You don't have to be a megabrand. You don't even have to be Gary Vaynerchuk. By branding yourself you're positioning YOU with your skills and interests and a consistent effort at that alone gets you noticed by audiences in your space -- and that space expands beyond the "web community."

Leslie Bradshaw · 1 year ago

As always Nick, thank you for the support and the official shout out =) And Tim, great additions as well. Like where you are going with this -- The web as your platform to be YOU, develop the YOU in a community, and by extension your online efforts then act as a living-breathing CV in a way, but better?! more interactive, etc.

After the call with Nick, I gave it more thought and what I realized is that the most important words to a self brand (IMHO) are more about values than anything else. Words that come to mind are integrity in all that you do, authenticity + transparency (I like using the term "WIZZYWIG" to encapsulate this... get it?), compassion for yourself + others and passion-plus-knowledge/intelligence in the areas you claim experience/expertise. Growing outward from that become a natural extension.

Seems like a no-brainer, but one last thought: Putting the cart (media/promotion) before the horse (authentic value) is a tempting trap, but to be avoided at all costs. While things like gimics, taglines, "networking," blogging, using lots of technology etc. all work for giving voice and outlet and audience to personal brands, they really should be an afterthought for things that are truly valuable and have true worth (what you know, how you conduct yourself, what makes sense given your "trade" and goals).

Thanks again for including me in the conversation and for keeping it going!

L.

Dan Schawbel · 1 year ago

Basically, by putting yourself out there on the internet, people will judge you and the one's you want associated with your brand will be magnetically attracted to your writing, podcasts and such. The one's that aren't interested in you or your topic will go elsewhere and that is the power of personal branding online.

Danny · 1 year ago

The problem with the "personal branding" movement is that any widespread adoption dooms it to failure: Brands are built via marketing but their success is determined by the masses; if you put out the right message, you could be chosen to represent a viewpoint that the populous reveres higher than the noise. But by definition, that is an elite group -- most actors are unknowns, most companies are unheard of, and most bloggers are unread. Building an online presence and community of your friends, peers, admirers and colleagues can be personally rewarding, but if everybody does it, then it becomes the norm. True brands will always be the realm of the chosen few, and no amount of blogging, twittering or networking is going to change that. IMHO, social media is simply a new cog in the old mass media machine.