Just as young children are taught when to use their inside
voices vs. their outside voices, adults need to learn to make the same
application while using social media. When
building a personal brand, it is imperative for people to learn what is and
what isn’t appropriate to say on social media – given the personal brand they are
trying to develop. What you might say
privately when only your closest friends and family are listening most likely
is not appropriate to be broadcast via the World Wide Web.
There are the obvious examples and the inevitable mistakes
that occurred when social media was new and its reach was still unknown. As Maya Angelou said, “When you know better,
you do better” (Winfrey, n.d.). At this
point, regardless of your profession (except for perhaps a slight few), if you
are a posting photos of yourself partying or in compromising positions on your Facebook
page then, well, you haven’t been listening or using common sense. It will catch up with you. That is a guarantee.
In Mark W. Schaefer’s {grow} podcast Episode 36 he defines
personal branding: “It’s an action. It’s an activity. Everything we do and everything we don’t do
in real life or on the social web.
Everything we say and everything we don’t say contributes to how people
create an image of us in their minds. It
kind of forms what we are about. What
our promise is.” Even if you are not
seeking to build a personal brand for professional reasons, we all have
one. If your personal brand extends only
to a social level, it still exists. It
is important to consider What you are known for and what you want to be known
for. A partyer? Quiet? Gossipy? Supportive?
Helpful? Considerate? Challenging?
Happy-go-lucky? Angry? Edgy?
Critical? Though we may have some inkling as to what our personal brand
may be, it is really the feedback from others that will give us the truest
insight. Be open to asking for
feedback. Look back at the posts you’ve
made and try to get a feel for what other people would ascertain from those
posts.
Take a look at this very brief but highly insightful video
by William Arruda “How NOT to Build Your Personal Brand:
In the video Arruda highlights the ten things NOT to do when
building your personal brand:
1.
Don’t be fake, be genuine. Personal branding is based in authenticity.
2.
Don’t be wishy-washy. Take a stand.
3.
Don’t act before thinking. Have a plan.
4.
Don’t go for quantity over quality.
5.
Avoid the quest for fame. It’s not about
everyone knowing you, focus on your target market.
6.
Don’t run out of steam. Have a slow, steady, and methodical approach to
building your brand.
7.
Don’t forget real-world relationships.
8.
Don’t go it alone. Have the best people behind you to produce a
high quality brand.
9.
Don’t make it all about you. It’s about giving value.
10.
Don’t forget to measure. Is it help you reach your goals?
Professionally speaking, whether your personal brand is for
your own company or that as a representative of the company you work for, it is
important to keep in mind that the perception of others is what will propel you
forward. What are the components of your
personal brand? Smart? Funny?
Serious? Inconsistent? Sarcastic? Insightful?
Difficult to deal with? Easy to
work with? Pleasant? Creative?
Punctual? Always late? Adds value?
A team player? Hard-working? In the end, as
much as we are taught not to worry about what other people think, personal branding
is exactly about crafting what other people think.
References
Arruda, W. (2010, January 24). How NOT to Build Your
Personal Brand. Retrieved March 4, 2015, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxMujquijD0
Schaefer, M. (2014, November 4). Connecting personal
branding, your online network, and business value. Retrieved March 4, 2015,
from http://www.businessesgrow.com/2014/11/04/personal-branding/
Winfrey, O. (n.d.). The Powerful Lesson Maya Angelou Taught
Oprah. Retrieved March 4, 2015, from http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/The-Powerful-Lesson-Maya-Angelou-Taught-Oprah-Video
