Using Social Media to Build Your Personal Brand

Chris Brogan wrote a great post on the tools and methods you can use to promote your personal brand online. It's 100 great tips I encourage you to check out.

It got thinking about one thing you should have figured out before you go through that list of 100 tips. That is, what the brand is you're promoting? So here are 8 questions to answer before you go ahead:

1. What's your name?
Sounds like a silly question, but if your name is Pete or John or any other name that is shared with thousands, you may have a hard time distinguishing yourself from the rest. I can take two of my online friends as an example, Pete and Steve. They have such names. It's easier to remember than my name, Hjortur, but it's also harder to find in the crowd. So they are not just Pete and Steve, they are dr. Pete and podcastSteve. PodcastSteve is a double score because it says in the name what he does for a living (you guessed it - podcasting :). Choose a name before you register accounts on all social media so that you're promoting your brand name everywhere.

2. What's your job title?
Senior Account Manager? Assistant Director of Marketing? Marketing Manager? Some time ago I came across a guy on LinkedIn who's job title was "Director of Fun". I immediately sent him an invitation because who wouldn't want to know the director of fun? He later changed jobs and got a job as a "marketing manager". Who isn't a marketing manager in our circles? So he changed his job title to Head of Magic. Much better.

3. What's your mission?
Why are you doing this? Do you want to be a social media rock star? Or is it just for fun? Do you want clients, travel partners, speaking gigs or even publish a book? Knowing what the purpose of your online being is, will help you evaluate opportunities and make decisions on what to do and where to go.

4. What's your target group?
Are you trying to build awareness within a certain group? Connecting with people you can learn from or who would be likely to become your clients? Do you want to talk to blogging moms, internet marketers, travelers?

5. Where do you find your "targets"?
There are different social media sites for different interests. There is no need in building a profile on every social network you can find. Try to figure where your target group is most active and invest most of your time there, whether it's Twitter, Sphinn, Travellerspoint, or something completely different. Some are big enough to include most groups while others only include one specific interest.

6. What's your strength?
Realize where your biggest strength is and build on that so that you can become even stronger. Stay focused on your thing but yet aware about the environment and related areas. Make sure you have your "elevator pitch" or mantra as Guy Kawasaki would call it all worked out and put that into your one line bio, in the header of your blog, your signature in your email or forums, on your business card and else where, so that people will know right away what it is that you do and are really good at.

7. What's your weakness?
Admit it. Mine is organizing which makes me double as busy as I need to be. Don't waste your time on improving your weakness. Find someone else who's good at doing what you suck at and stay out of it. (I should take my own advice on this one ;). Focus on your strength and what you're best at, that will get you where you want to be.

8. What is your purple cow?
Related to six, this is where you are exceptional, where you stand out, are extra-ordinary. The thing about you people would actually talk about when you're not around. Often, that's the bad stuff, but find that good stuff that would make people talking and make it visible (by doing it or being it, not by saying it).

If you've got more, share it with us in the comments below.

Hjörtur

Comments

[Dr. Pete]

How can I not comment on this one? :) You hit it right on the head: there were too many Pete's out there (and my last name is almost as common), so I went with something my clients sometimes call me. Using "Dr. Pete" stands out a bit more and it also doesn't hurt to remind people that I'm a psychologist by training.

The hard part is choosing wisely. Once you're out there on a bunch of sites and have built that online brand, it's really hard to switch brands.

[Lara Kretler]

Thanks, Hjortur. I've seen a lot about personal branding lately but you still managed to add something new and unique to the topic. I love your "purple cow" question, especially. I'm off to answer these questions and find my purple cow! Cheers.

[Nike Shox R4]

I believe that that more study we are, much more knowledge we possess. As long as we believe ourself, our dream will come true. I know this principle from your blog. Thank you so much.