We all agree marketing is important for business reasons, and i think Dan’s post argues that revenues are probably central to a personal brand, however, I don’t think people need this, I think perhaps certain aspects of a “desperate to succeed” lifestlye coupled with the mega-lo-maniac way an ego shoots off to constantly “make myself better” and “understood” has created a pathway through which everyday people trying to succeed have created their own badges.

It’s difficult to get a reputation in an overcrowded cyberspace (which is a bizarre concept considering the endless room for filling with more re-hashed philosophy and re-hashed business opportunities) so defining what makes one different is what personal brand marketing has developed from. On one hand you would shoot a marketeer and on another you might well give them a good shake of the hand on creating something that is understood.

If anyone knows what my point is please let me know!!!! )

We all agree marketing is important for business reasons, and i think Dan’s post argues that revenues are probably central to a personal brand, however, I don’t think people need this, I think perhaps certain aspects of a “desperate to succeed” lifestlye coupled with the mega-lo-maniac way an ego shoots off to constantly “make myself better” and “understood” has created a pathway through which everyday people trying to succeed have created their own badges.

It’s difficult to get a reputation in an overcrowded cyberspace (which is a bizarre concept considering the endless room for filling with more re-hashed philosophy and re-hashed business opportunities) so defining what makes one different is what personal brand marketing has developed from. On one hand you would shoot a marketeer and on another you might well give them a good shake of the hand on creating something that is understood.

If anyone knows what my point is please let me know!!!! )

I totally agree with Simon, Andrew, Wayne and Louise that elements of what we see businesses doing to marketing themselves, manage reputations, spread awareness etc are all things that can equally apply to individuals – especially in an age where individuals are using online tools to be able to become businesses in their own right in growing numbers.

I think Andrew is right about having it as a perspective, rather than a formal process and something that you shout about – for instance, I’ve always used the same logo/avatar across all social networking sites despite the fact that hiding behind a crash helmet is a pain when meeting people in real life for the first time – but having started to use it, I was conscious that I should use the same image because people would associate it with me wherever they saw it.

In the same manner, I always try to make sure I’m polite and civil, even when I strongly disagree, because that’s what I try to be like offline, and because it’s the best way to end up with meaningful interaction rather than a flame war – by the same token, I’d like to have a reputation as someone who is capable of intelligent debate and being helpful where ever possible.

But all of this comes from aspiring to be a position where people might hear about good work I’ve done, or recommend me, without needing to dress it up in terms like Me.Inc or Personal Branding.

There is an area of celebrity where branding/marketing type crossover definitely happens, and that’s with the real superstars who have a value in attaching their name to a product (e.g. Michael Jordan, Air Jordans, the Jordan motorcycle racing team etc).

But even then, I’d probably separate brand ‘Jordan’, from Michael Jordan. Whether others do the same or not, I don’t know.

Probably the trickiest example, rather than Scoble or Louis, would be Gary Vaynerchuk and Winelibrary TV etc. But I’d suspect he’d talk about ‘Owning IT!’, rather than ‘personal branding’…

I totally agree with Simon, Andrew, Wayne and Louise that elements of what we see businesses doing to marketing themselves, manage reputations, spread awareness etc are all things that can equally apply to individuals – especially in an age where individuals are using online tools to be able to become businesses in their own right in growing numbers.

I think Andrew is right about having it as a perspective, rather than a formal process and something that you shout about – for instance, I’ve always used the same logo/avatar across all social networking sites despite the fact that hiding behind a crash helmet is a pain when meeting people in real life for the first time – but having started to use it, I was conscious that I should use the same image because people would associate it with me wherever they saw it.

In the same manner, I always try to make sure I’m polite and civil, even when I strongly disagree, because that’s what I try to be like offline, and because it’s the best way to end up with meaningful interaction rather than a flame war – by the same token, I’d like to have a reputation as someone who is capable of intelligent debate and being helpful where ever possible.

But all of this comes from aspiring to be a position where people might hear about good work I’ve done, or recommend me, without needing to dress it up in terms like Me.Inc or Personal Branding.

There is an area of celebrity where branding/marketing type crossover definitely happens, and that’s with the real superstars who have a value in attaching their name to a product (e.g. Michael Jordan, Air Jordans, the Jordan motorcycle racing team etc).

But even then, I’d probably separate brand ‘Jordan’, from Michael Jordan. Whether others do the same or not, I don’t know.

Probably the trickiest example, rather than Scoble or Louis, would be Gary Vaynerchuk and Winelibrary TV etc. But I’d suspect he’d talk about ‘Owning IT!’, rather than ‘personal branding’…

In my experience, what makes it worse is that it’s usually the sort of nonsense spouted by so called “veterans” of marketing

In my experience, what makes it worse is that it’s usually the sort of nonsense spouted by so called “veterans” of marketing

Couldn’t be further from the truth really. Doing an exercise in PB is really about developing a level of self awareness, which so many just don’t have.

Its all about finding the substance before the styling. And Wayne has hit the nail on the head. Trust is everything. So once you have figured out what it is about you that others find compelling ie. they want more of it, and it is absolutely authentic, then you need to deliver consistently. We trust consistency. Even if its awful, consistently. We know what we are getting. And its almost impossible to deliver consistently if its not real, if its pure packaging.

Andrew is right – PB is the prep that should happen in the background not a process that one follows. Its all about show not tell. Or in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

Eaon I loved your blog post – made me LOL and agree that we should just be ourselves – I would add something to that – first you need to know yourself and many people don’t. They just have no idea. Not everyone has your self confidence! So PB helps many to know themselves better. They can then be themselves, only better. And the result – I have never seen anyone walk away with anything less than a solid, self reliance in their own capabilities and a greater self confidence. Oh, and never heard anyone refer to themselves as a personal brand. The odds are that it will happen and I’ll hate it.