What can you learn from Nike?

One of the most famous slogans of the century applies to you: you need to build a brand on the web, and soon. Many people are scared to build a personal brand because they’re unsure how to go about it, or have unrealistic expectations about how long it will take to see results. But the only way to find out is: just do it.

Personal branding is not an overnight process. However, simple things do give immediate results, like  posting on blogs and forums.

Personal branding does not take hours a day. The first day will probably take the longest, but after that it is smooth sailing. You want to start off with a list of blogs, forums, news sites, authors, and industry leading websites that you are going to follow and become an active member of. Active member is the key phrase. These are areas to which you are going to be contributing worthwhile content back to the world. Once you have this list of a few for each everyday you should set aside 15 minutes and for that time it is your responsibility to read newly published material and respond to it.

There is no putting off until tomorrow in personal branding because you have already started by the mere fact that you are alive. The online community has millions of people participating daily, some are passive some are active. The “Just Do It” mentality that Nike advocates is that mentality that you need to take on.

Once you have taken the initial step it is important that every week you reevaluate your list, add new items, take off less valuable ones, and work to constantly expand your network.

Author: RJ Sherman

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How well branded are you? One way to find out is to put metrics in place – something you can measure your brand against.

The easiest way to start analyzing your personal brand is through Google.

First, do a Google search for a leader in your field. Try searching for their name, plus:

• [First Last] +blog
• [First Last] +forum
• [First Last] +article
• [First Last] +author

This will give you an idea of their online brand: what they’re doing, and where they’re doing it.

Next, do same thing for your name. This allows you to compare yourself to them to see how well you’re doing. Where are they showing up that you aren’t? What kind of content are they post?

The next step, which is vital, is to set goals for yourself. If you want to be a leader in your online community, you need to first understand what defines a leader, then take action to shape yourself into one. Goals help you assess how well you’re doing.

You may want to set a goal like:

• I will post one new article on a website in my niche every week
• I will comment on two blog posts in my niche every week
• I will read the latest bestseller in my field and write a review on Amazon.com once a month

Start small and work your way up. It’s really easy to gain momentum if you set concrete, achievable goals. The more you start achieving your goals, the more you will be motivated to continue and raise them.

Remember, your brand is the perception that others have of you. On the web, perception is reality. So start getting out there in front of people and demonstrating your value in a memorable way.

Author: RJ Sherman

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The latest issue of Personal Branding Magazine, published by personal branding phenom Dan Schawbel, has just been released. Here’s a quick description from Dan:

“Volume 2, Issue 2 is a call to action. Now is the time for building your personal eBrand. Laggards will be lost in a Google cloud of dust, while early adopters will rank #1 for their name. Stop watching everyone else steal your gold (your THUNDER) and get involved today. Many people are scared to develop an online presence, yet it’s the only way you can safeguard your brand and have ‘job security.’ This issue will highlight Gary Vaynerchuk, who will passionately force you to get involved in the GOLD RUSH. As you read each page, you will gather the knowledge needed to not let these opportunities pass you by.”

Check it out and get the free sample here! The full issue will be released November 1.

Author: Pete Kistler

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Expanding your network is something that everyone should spend more time on.  There are a variety of web services out there that specialize in doing just that.  Probably the best one that we have seen is Meetup.com.  You get some of the best of a variety of worlds with your ability to have a profile similar to what you would have on a social network and then there is an outcome to the network that you start to build.  In these instances the outcome is in the form of a meeting.

Who is Meetup.com for? Well, it is for you.  Let’s say you have an interest in talking about Art History in the Boston area.  There are over 200 people within the Boston area that are looking to talk about different forms of art history.

How do you get started? It is simple, just go to meetup.com and create a profile for yourself or browse anonymously and find out when people are getting together to talk.  You can read the comments that people have left about the group, also just by joining a Meetup you get regular reminders from the group about events that are going on it is a great way to stay connect.

Probably the easiest way to get involved with one of these groups is not to go alone. Now in general it is not best practices to go to a networking event with a friend or someone you are close to because some people will spend more time talking to their friend rather than being social.  This you want to avoid.

This is an easy solution to your networking needs initially.  You can find people with similar interests very quickly and these are the sort of events that lead you to bigger opportunities.

Your network is one of the most fundamental aspects to your brand. These individuals are there regardless of where you work, or what you do.  It is important to spend ample time developing it.  Set goals for yourself to branch out and meet new people.  I have heard accounts of people going as far as making stacks of business to be given out that week.  These are simple goals but they are important.  Look at prominent individuals on networks such as Linkedin, they are successful and well integrated into their network because they have learned the value of what a network can do for them.

Author: RJ Sherman

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