Do you have an online presence? I’m not asking whether you have a facebook or twitter account but what do people know you for on social media? Does that help advance your career or business prospects? Do people know you for the funniest picture collection or your crazy jokes? What is your personal brand?
Mr. Dan Schawbel the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog says that “Many people think that personal branding is just for celebrities such as Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, yet each and every one of us is a brand. Personal branding, by definition, is the process by which we market ourselves to others. As a brand, we can leverage the same strategies that make these celebrities or corporate brands appeal to others. We can build brand equity just like them”. Your brand will speak for you when it comes to business opportunities, job opportunities, customer and personal relations.
When building your brand, first thing is you ask yourself who do you want to be? Branding is all your about perception ,so who do you want to be perceived as? After deciding on who you want to be perceived as, then develop and communicate your brand. Online brand development and communication can take on different things for example: something as small as creating an email signature, your email signature should be like an electronic business card attached to every email you send. Some people sign with just their names, am not saying that is wrong but if you want your brand to grow include your position or the business you do, contact information even your company logo would be great, that way every time you send an email the receivers know who exactly you are hence growing your brand.
Also, social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs are away one can build their online personal brand. Now, what does you Facebook or LinkedIn Profile say about you? Have everything you want to be branded as in your profile. More important, does the information you share on these social networks reflect your profile? It’s one thing saying you’re something and another thing being it. Through sharing knowledge in your area of expertise not only affirms your profile but also helps your brand grow for people will be taking it on as expert opinion.
The 360 Network’s blog www.the360network is just the opportunity to kick start that Process. All you need to do is to register at http://www.the360network.com/wp-login.php and send us an email to make you a Contributor and start sharing your knowledge and expertise to build your online brand. You can write and share tips about subjects like; technology, health, marketing, decoration, family, business, spirituality, personal development, life skills, food, fashion or decor, really depending on your area of expertise or interest. This will give you visibility in the network members and who knows where else, for words has a way of moving very fast on the internet. For more details, please call: +25677473561 or email:rhona@the360network.com
