Personal Branding can probably be regarded as one of the key catch phrases of 2009. Prior to that I would hear it thrown as online reputation management in what was then Web 2.0 circles. We now refer to this collectively as Social Media. I cannot express how much I dislike the term social media.
All media is social, and the word is actually the plural form of the word medium. Having many meanings the word medium in this case refers to an intervening agency, means, or instrument by which something is conveyed or accomplished: Words are a medium of expression. Thank you Dictionary.com for that definition. I am getting off topic though.
It was in August of 2008 that I was introduced to David Meerman Scott's concepts of viral marketing. Three guesses where the idea of using my middle name came from, and the first two don't count. Thanks for the idea David!
The timing it would appear is perfect as it was in November of 2008 I joined Twitter. I stumbled and faltered as a got my bearings on Twitter and found my voice. My online persona has turned into one of luxury and fashion as these are the markets my agency Stigmare serves. This persona has extended itself offline as well, and I began to feel that I was always on stage.
I always had to live up to the hype and persona I had created for myself, my company. I have a bit of a compulsive nature that way. I got so caught up in this role that I couldn't turn it off, even around those I was closest to. I set an incredibly unrealistic standard for myself to live up to.
This made me over analyze everything. Every relationship, every acquaintance was scrutinized. How would this individual, group, or organization affect this image I had crafted for myself? I couldn't, no I wouldn't turn it off. A victim of my own zero or 100 mph, all or nothing mind set. This has cost me dearly as of late.
The circles my recent Lady friend ran in did not fit the neatly packaged, fashionable, well manicured little world I had created. They were an eclectic, artistic, creative, bohemian lot. Observing some of their comments on her Facebook page gave me pause as they were shall we say a free spirited and colorful.
I couldn't dare run the risk of friending them, what would the post on my page, and how would that affect my image? What a pompous, judgmental ASS of a thing to think! She considered these people family and I basically said your family isn't good enough for me to give the time of day. Guess how that went, oh wait, I all ready did a post on that.
Once I pulled my cranium from my rectal orifice and attempted to reach out to these sweet, kind, caring people that my Lady loved like family it was met with suspicion and anger. In hind sight I really can't blame her for that. I would have considered it a bit subversive too.
Personal Branding is great when kept in check. Keep your professional and personal lives separate that's the great thing about having Facebook and Twitter. You can compartmentalize your life as easy online as you do off. We all have our work life and our home life, they don't have to and in some cases should not mix.
Be smart in how you develop and manage your personal brand. Don't make the foolish mistakes I've made. The cute part is that I got an email today from a friend that was concerned about my open mourning on Facebook about the loss of my Lady. He was concerned about how it would affect my brand. I love him for that, it was a testimony to his friendship. I've realized quite recently I have far more friends than I accounted for, many of them would actually fall under my Lady's definition of family.
Don't repeat the mistakes I have made when developing your personal brand. Be smart about how you use the tools available, but don't let them consume you. Trust me the price may very well be more than you can bear.