Personal Branding - Marketing Guru Seth Godin Gone Overboard?

Personal branding is very important in todays job market, if you want to advance your carrier. Specially if you're working freelance or as an independent consultant. You need to make a name for yourself. And not only need you be consistent in your carrier moves, you need to stand out from the crowd.

One talented marketing guy from Toronto, Saul Colt, became my connection on LinkedIn because of his creative job title - Director of fun! Now who wouldn't want to know the director of fun? If Saul's job title would have been just "Marketing Manager", I would never have noticed him, read his blog and become a connection. He has been very actively branding himself. He will probably be happy to be mentioned in the same blog post on marketing gurus and personal branding as Seth Godin and I'm pretty sure he will find my blog when he Google's "Saul Colt" (maybe I should mention Saul Colt just once more to rank higher on Google for "Saul Colt") :). Googling yourself is probably one of the best ways to monitor your personal brand. Are the top results something you want to stand for or are they pictures of you drunk on Facebook, old court rules or scandals?

Marketing Guru Action Figure?
Seth Godin is probably the strongest personal brand within marketing. He's done a great job marketing his balled head on the cover of his books and if anyone is a marketing guru, its him. But when I read his blog yesterday I thought he'd gone overboard. You see, you can now buy an actual Seth Godin Marketing Guru Action Figure. I'm not kidding. I know he's a marketing guru, I know he's a top guy, but an action figure??? Isn't that a bit over the top? It's a purple cow all right and certainly stands out from the crowd, but still ...

First I thought it was his own creation for his fans, which would have been terribly egoistic and lame, but it's not. The Seth Godin Marketing Guru Action Figure is a part of a series created by Archie McPhee and Seth Godin is in good company with Edgar Allan Poe, Jesus, Freud and Mozart. Seth is one of the few still living though. That makes this the ultimate success in personal branding. Congratulations Seth! (I'm not sure Seth Godin will read my blog though, or that I will rank high on Google for "Seth Godin", but if you do, Seth, congratulations!)

Hjörtur Smárason
(not available as an action figure yet)

Comments

[Sue]

Great Post, love the blog as well as the info on Saul Colt, great title there, I would have followed that too!

I don't even fathom to guess the strategy behind Seth's action figure, other than.. it's being talked about!

[Richard]

I think if Seth wants a doll modelled after him, so be it. To each his own. I mean why not? I know I'd be flattered.

But...

It's the people who might actually buy one who I feel sorry for.

Great post. Great blog. It's now bookmarked. Thanks!

Richard
www.subblurbs.com

[Hjortur Smarason]

Thanks for the comments, Richard and Sue. I appreciate :)

And Richard, it would be very interesting to see sales figures for that doll and reasons for buying it. I would guess most sales are fun gifts for marketing people and within marketing departments.

Hjörtur

[Richard]

Hi Hjörtur,

You're probably right. If I was heavily into marketing I'd want one just for kicks and giggles.

He definitely is creating a buzz with this doll of his though, which is brilliant!

Thanks Hjörtur. 'Till the next time...

Richard

[Saul Colt]

Seth Godin is smart but the Saul guy is the real future of Marketing. If I know Saul, and I think I do, he wouldn't settle for an action figure based on his likeness...he would not stop until a full size plush figure was created that you could take to bed and snuggle with AND (or) bring in your car so you could drive in the carpool lane.

That is the Saul I know....always looking out for the kids!

yours truly,

Saul`s Mom!

[Saul Colt]

Hi Everyone!

I want to thank Hjörtur for mentioning me in this blog. It pretty cool if you ask me!

I have to admit I love personal branding and think about it alot. I actually recommed everyone get a cool job title since it starts so many conversations at networking events.

I have moved on from my job as Director of Fun and now with my new company I am the Head of Magic for FreshBooks.com

If you are interested in what I am up to over there you can check out this link

http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2008/01/16/freshbooks-is-hitting-the-campaign-trail/

Thanks again

Saul

[Hjörtur]

Hey, a new great title! I like it :) Congrats, Saul!

[Jenna]

How interesting! I've never seen a marketing guru action figure..