Personal Branding Step-by-Step Guide [infographic]
Probably the biggest phrase I see and hear of late is… “at the end of the day”.
So I will say it too: ”At the end of the day, who is it you can count on the most?”
The answers usually include God, spouse, kids, or a beloved pet.
My answer is YOURSELF!
All those answers are well and good, they mean nothing unless you believe in yourself. At the end of the day, you are still responsible for YOU and the decisions you make. You shouldn’t rely on someone or something else to define you, who you are, or what you think.
In the old days, it was called Conscious Raising.
Now-a-days, it is called Personal Branding.
So What is Personal Branding?
Some people might call personal branding as bragging, or being full of themselves, or full of $h!t. Others think if they live life honestly, they will always be known for those positive characteristics, no need to go out and announce “Hey everyone, I am an honest person. Come work with me!” That was before, you know, the Internet (gasp!) when people actually talked to each other over a cup a coffee.
Not everything positive is discussed over our morning Joe; there are rumors, hearsay, gossip, negativity, and lust for revenge. Coming from a small community, there were lots of “secrets” which weren’t really secrets at all. But those “secrets” rarely went outside the family or the community. And give it time, the gossip or rumors would give away to something more juicy about someone else.
It isn’t so easy any more wait out a bad rumor or gossip. In fact, I think it is impossible.
Nothing, absolutely nothing is off limits from being shared over the phone, by text message, photo mail, or through Facebook, Tweets, or YouTube. Something which creates interest and shared via social media can take on a life of its own and once that information get out there, there isn’t much which can be done about it.
The average person probably doesn’t need to worry about their Internet reputation but if you are a person in the public eye, you need to be concerned! No one can be all things to all people all the time and you will eventually run into someone with whom disagrees with you; and that person may decide to take their disagreement to social media. And you will have absolutely no control about what is said, where it is being said, and who is sharing it.
Once that information goes out about you, it is pretty much too late to counteract the damage done without looking pathetic or desperate.
This is why a personal branding campaign should begin when times are good, not when all goes bad.
Personal Branding can be likened to an insurance policy. You purchase a policy in hopes nothing goes wrong, you contribute something monetarily each month, and do an occasional check up to make sure your policy is up to date. But if something does go wrong, there is some kind of plan in place to counteract the unfortunate event.
Just Google Yourself!
What does the Internet has to say about you? You might be surprised just where Google finds your name.
When I Googled myself six months ago, I was not surprised to find my name linked to a business I once had owned. What did give me a start, however, was finding the condolences I had written on funeral home’s websites. Not that I was embarrass about what I wrote, I felt somewhat violated how something so personal was being used, years later, for marketing the mortuary.
Today, when I Google my name, I find links to my website, my comments on other websites, and to my LinkedIn profile. All links which I carefully created through a personal branding plan to purposely bury a point in my pass which did not reflect who I am today. It wasn’t until I hit page 8 did I find something about that old business, and even then, it was a very positive article.
So you Googled yourself and you didn’t find anything about yourself, positive or negative – congratulations. Just remember, tomorrow is another day. When it comes to your reputation on the Internet and it could go sour quicker than milk left in the van during July in Kansas.
Ignoring your presence on the Internet isn’t a good idea, because your competition has filled the void with your lack of presence. And they just might get the customer without doing anything more than blogging about their cat.
The cold hard truth is this: people do not trust anyone because they have been burned over and over again. They want a reason to trust you if they like your message. If your message can not be found, people do not believe in your validity and commitment. It is too easy for them to think you are a fly-by-night type who dabbles around and then disappears. You must give them something they can grab onto, a way they can see you are real and sincere, otherwise, they will make their own conclusions without your input. How will you ever show your potential customers who you are and what you can do for them if they can not find you via social media.
Let’s face it, if you are going to have a date with someone you just meet on Match.com, aren’t you going to Google them to see if they are really the person they claim?
Are you ready to be pro-active about who you are on the Internet?
Yes! Awesome. This is the place to be and the following is the information you need to embrace. Let’s get started. Go to the fifth suggestion and create a domain with your name. It is easy and inexpensive. Go Daddy is the most well known domain registration website.
Now this is the part which isn’t as easy, start writing. Get a journal and write your passion, your purpose, your heartaches and your dreams and now you have fodder for your blog.
Don’t get overwhelmed. I am here to help with your personal branding campaign. Just send me an message at the bottom of this page, or give me a call at 316-371-4320.
In the meantime, enjoy the following Infographic and I will blog later on more ways to brand yourself online.
Personal Branding Infograph
