Social Tools to Build Your Brand-ividual
In testing out the newer Facebook question feature, I thought it would be fascinating to step away from corporate marketing and question our network about personal brand marketing and the tools that have been the most effective. With hundreds of millions of people active on social networks world wide, there have been more than a few “brandividuals” spawned through the social web.
Some tools are more appropriate than others based on who you’re trying to engage of course, but my question was directed mostly to Marketing and PR professionals.
About 140 people responded and here’s the breakout of tools from most to smallest amount voted:
- Facebook (I questioned the question on FB so I suppose it’s a agreed that FB would be the most well loved)
- Blogging (This was my choice of course)
- LinkedIn (Logical choice agreed LI is FOR business social networking)
- Twitter (I really thought this would be higher)
- Real world events & networking (Tied with “Other”)
- Writing a column, media coverage, contributed articles, PR (For people who can write well, this rocks)
- Webinars (No votes)
- Email (Nada)
- Commenting on other Blogs (Again, nothing)
“Other” suggestions included Podcasting and personal or business websites.
I can’t imagine anyone that took this poll by just one of these tools to promote themselves and engage on the social web. They work together of course, but some work better than others or are “lead” tactics. Reckon of the hub and spoke model I’ve written about here in the past where a central tactic is the centerpiece surrounded by channels of networking and information delivery.
What initiated an fascinating discussion was this comment: “I don’t believe in personal branding…”
My take on that is that if a person is active in their industry, engaging, sharing opinions and promoting themselves/their thoughts, that it results in awareness and on the rise a network. Whether they believe in it or not, the outcome of becoming known and talked about by others is a personal brand.
The ease of publishing and promotion does amplify the amount of noise, unnecessary self promotion and entitlement behavior, making it hard to distinguish one personal brand from another.
By personal brand, I mean: what you stand for, what you’re expertise is and what you’re known for. I don’t even use the language “personal brand” when I plot our own marketing but I reckon people reading this know what I mean.
In an increasingly social world of business, consumers and buyers want to connect with people vs. corporate voices #cluetrain. That means investing in developing content, relationships and engagement between individuals working for a company (or themselves) and the people they want to do business with.
If that sounds reasonable, I’d like to question you the same question: For on the rise your personal brand online, what have been the most productive tools or tactics?
Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the
TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.
© Online Marketing Blog, 2011. |
Social Tools to Build Your Brand-ividual | http://www.toprankblog.com