A personal brand is often overlooked by many bloggers trying to create a powerful business look for themselves. But, the way you advertise yourself, meaning getting a little personal, is more important than many people think it to be. How does telling people simple details about your life help you?
It all goes back to your personal brand. Some people know me as the kid who runs Blogussion, and others know me as that obnoxious Patriots fan from New Jersey. No, announcing my favorite sports team to the world isn’t necessarily helping my business, but it is making me look more personable and more of a human being rather than a blogging machine.
Your personal brand is extremely important, and is just as important as your businesses brand. It may be even more important in some cases.
Take a quote from Gary Vaynerchuk, the author of the book Crush it!, which really taught me the importance of personal branding:
I think that it is important to build a personal brand because it’s the only thing you’re going to have. Your reputation online, and in the new business world is pretty much the game, so you’ve got to be a good person. You can’t hide anything, and more importantly, you’ve got to be out there at some level.
Now, Gary is probably the most personable successful entrepreneurs on the web. He replies to as many emails from his readers as he can, connects on social media websites, makes videos and really gives us major insight into his life. My only peeve is he’s a Jets fan, but what are you going to do?
Gary’s personal brand is so strong, it was the way I discovered him. I didn’t find him through his primary business, Wine Library, but I found him over at his more personal video blog where I just thought he was some cool entrepreneur talking business. I had no idea about Wine Library until I did a little digging.
By reading Gary’s book, I learned about these great tools and networks you can use to find what other people are saying about you, your blog and pretty much anything else about your personal brand.
It’s important to know what people are saying about you so you know what kind of a job you are doing. If people don’t like you, they’ll have a lot of bad things to say. If they like you, then you’re doing a good job. But you’ll never know until you try out these great networks.
Google’s BlogSearch
Find & Spread Your Brand
This free tool by Google is an excellent way to find blogs in your own niche and connect with them. You will find blogs of all different sizes, with different communities, and it’s up to you to take advantage of these findings.
This is a small-scale way of promoting your brand, but nevertheless, an important on. Once you find these blogs, visit them and leave a comment or two on their blog. Talk to other people who have commented on an article and just try to leave a mark in what you say. The smaller the bloggers, the better the chance you have of them visiting your blog and them leaving a comment.
Generally, the following happens when I do this method:
- I get a little traffic to my site from the comment link.
- The owner of the blog will leave a comment on Blogussion, and maybe we’ll even become friends later on.
That sounds like a good deal to me for just leaving one comment on someone else’s blog. Do this on a larger scale, and you will see results with Google’s BlogSearch.
Twitter Search
Find & Spread Your Brand
First of all, if you don’t use Twitter you’re missing out on a huge opportunity and need to signup for an account now. If you’re using Twitter already and not monitoring your brand, you’re also missing a giant opportunity.
All of the people who read and share your content through Twitter almost always has something else to say about your brand and blog. Twitter offers a very comprehensive search system and can find any tweets that mention a keyword of your choice.
Use this tool excessively and effectively. Search for your name, your blog(s) name, anything that relates to you directly. You can find a good deal of feedback from your readers that they don’t always send directly to you.
Ping.Fm
Spread Your Personal Brand
Ping.fm is an incredible tool. It’s hard to balance all of your social network/media accounts and keep everyone up-to-date with your content. That’s where Ping.fm comes in – it acts as a tool for updating all of your social network accounts in one shot.
So if you have a Twitter account, a profile on Facebook and a Delicious account, you can use Ping.fm to update them all and share your content throughout your whole social media collection simply.
This message will be displayed on the social media profiles I choose.
How do you find & spread brand awareness?
Creating a personal brand for yourself is one of the most fun things to do when it comes to building an audience. I have shared with you the tools I use, now I am curious to see what you do. How do you make sure you’re building your brand the right way, and what do you do to actually build it?
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?Nice article. I had tried with commenting on others blog and I got sucess few times. Never try with Twitter though I am having Twitter account. Will try it soon. I love this blog due to content as well as way of presantation. Lovely blog
.-= Jaydip Parikh´s last blog ..If Ramayana was on Facebook =-.
Yes Alex got awesome design and many people want to have similar kind of design.
Content is always fresh and to the point.
.-= ZK @ Web Marketing Blog´s last blog ..Online Strategies for Pest Control Advertising =-.
You are right! Personal branding is important especially for new blogger. I always leave comment in others blog. This is the way i try to build up my personal brand and drive traffic to my blog as well as building up the links. Another important is we should not do something that may destroy or ruin our brand such as spamming. Thanks for your sharing Alex!
.-= Kok Siong Chen´s last blog ..Genetics and Malignant Mesothelioma =-.
Hey Alex! I bet you get tired of this… but great job once again
! One thing I’ve done to monitor/find my brand is set up a Google Alert for “JuniorBiz”. Now I get an email almost every time someone mentions my site.
As far as creating a professional account, I’ve found a few of the young entrepreneurs we’ve interviewed on Crunchbase. I’ve never used it, but figured I would mention it. Another thing on the TeuxDeux: Someday list
.
.-= Nick Tart´s last blog ..Juliette Brindak Interview: ‘Miss O’ Valued at $15 Million =-.
Hey alex,
Nice Post man
. I build my Personal Brand by Guest Posting and commenting on other blogs. As blog commenting and Guest posting are awesome and effective way to build brand.
Btw. You never used Ping.fm, now i think it’s time to join it and give it a try.
Thanks for sharing this great Post as usual.
~Dev
.-= Dev | Technshare´s last blog ..Technshare Monthly Report 3: May 2010 =-.
You got impressive alexa Dev but PR is not relevant.
So how do you earn ?
Ping.fm is sooo over-used by marketers, however really worth the word about. Thanks mate.
Anything which saves your time and reduce your work load is always welcome and that is the reason why they become so hit easily.
I didn’t know that twitter has a keyword search system for tweets (I’m not really a big fan of twitter, though I have an active account). Thanks for that particular info Alex
This is definitely an advantage to those who are shooting for branding. Perhaps they could take a screenshot of a certain tweet where their brand/blog’s name appears and post it on their blogs. Hmm, I should try this one out (the search thingy). Great post Alex!
Regards,
Jason
Great post and suggestions. If you are not already using these services, what are you waiting for?
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Developing Content to Nurture Leads through the Buying Cycle =-.
I have found that using Twitter search to be the most beneficial. Why?
Because you are talking to people, but the easy mistake is that you end up “spamming” them with either your link or what you do. Instead establish a conversation with them, then make your pitch. Sure this might take some time, but you are going to benefit more from that time that if you just said “hey check out this post: ”
Using Twitter is like pretending you are physically at a cocktail party. This is where you can spread your personal brand effectively and while networking at the same time.
.-= Derek Jensen´s last blog ..Passing the Line in the Sand =-.
Well said … at cocktail party. Like in party we do not start talking about our blog immediately. We do it after regular introduction.
.-= ZK @ Web Marketing Blog´s last blog ..Online Strategies for Pest Control Advertising =-.
Exactly ZK.
Additionally that introduction needs to be casual or start talking about something they have done to get the conversation going. This is why I feel Twitter is one of the most underrated tools for networking. It allows for so much casual (then business) conversation to take place so even LinkedIn would be another great resource to utilize.
.-= Derek Jensen´s last blog ..Passing the Line in the Sand =-.
For linkedin I think you should read this post at John Chow by Guest Blogger – Steve and Hani
http://www.johnchow.com/5-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your-blog-with-linkedin/
.-= ZK @ Web Marketing Blog´s last blog ..Online Strategies for Pest Control Advertising =-.
awesome post man….infact i had started using google blogsearch and it has already starting to give me positive returns…..these are some of the best tips i have ever read explained in the most lucid language
.-= Tushar´s last blog ..What Advantage a List Post Gets to You as Compared to Simple Posts? =-.
Hey Alex, glad to hear you’re a Pats fan! Feel free to check us out when you get a chance.
Ping.fm sounds like it’d be a good way to keep a handle on our various social media accounts, I’ll have to give it a shot. Thanks!
.-= Patriots Gab´s last blog ..Rift Between Patriots, QB Tom Brady Over His Missing OTA’s? =-.
Great Info Alex (Like Always!).
I have an account on Twitter, but I am not using it like it should be. I see many marketers using Twitter as a ‘Spam’ tool. But I know it can be used in a good way too.
The Google Blog search you mentioned, I discovered it recently by a person who suggested it to me on a forum, to find blogs in my niche. I agree, It is a great tool.
After searching for my niche, there were too many blogs, and sometimes, it is just too much to keep up with all of them!
Kindest,
Nabeel
Fantastic post. You’re definitely right about the importance of your own personal brand, especially when blogging. Readers love to be able to identify with your character. It gives them a sense of ease and knowing in the same way buyers know what they are getting with certain products and company brands.
Some very good methods you have pointed out above. Guest blogging like Dev mentioned above is another great way for bloggers to get their name and character out their. If you choose your post topics, style and host blogs wisely readers can instantly relate to your personality, interests and more.
There are many things which are small but should be take care of if you want to build your brand.
Like
# Your Gravatar
# Your logo
# Your tag line
# Your blog or website design
# Your weekly post about anything special or weird topic.
.-= ZK @ Web Marketing Blog´s last blog ..Online Strategies for Pest Control Advertising =-.
Great post, Alex! I’d say the best way to build a personal brand right from your blog is simply adding a good bio that says a lot of details about you right after all of your posts. Similar to what you’re already doing, Alex. Thanks for the post.
.-= Trafficke SEO Services´s last blog ..Why Skipping Steps Is Wrong In SEO =-.
Hey Alex – The summary and key points box at the bottom of these articles is a great idea man! I know so many blog readers are skimmers and not only is it eye catching, but they get their value and feel like coming back even though they skimmed the article. Plus it might make them more likely to read back through it. You’ve got something good there, keep it up!
.-= Brandon Winters´s last blog ..31 Affiliates Creating and Promoting Super Affiliate Products =-.
I’ve been wanting to Ping.fm for the longest. haven’t they been having issue lately though, something about the API?
.-= Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Less is More – Here’s My Current To-Do List =-.
Too many bloggers ignore the importance of branding. Personally, I think it has the potential to make or break you.
Definitely going to check out Crush it! – it looks like a good read.
Hats off to you man. Not just for the article but the site design is just fantastic. I thought i was doin a good job on my blog with the design and everything but after i saw your blog, i feel like an amateur. Seriously, did you set up the blog by yourself or what.
.-= Jay´s last blog ..Apple iPhone Facetime Video calling (Videos) =-.
Great post . Excellent presentation of blog. I also inspire from your blog to make like your one!!!
.-= Campionatul Mondial´s last blog ..Kaka nu critica “Jubulani” =-.
Good post Alex, like the Gary Vee statement. I use Hootsuite instead of Ping.fm – which is better?
Is that manage your all social networking stuff?
Would love to hear more from you.
That’s one of the benefits I love about CommentLuv – simply look through each of these, visit the blog, read a bit and leave a comment. You’ll be building a network in no time!
You can get your personal brand when your brand is really unique, that will be more easier if you can get your brand easy-to-remember.
I think that twitter is the trending microblogging platform which is the best way to make your brand community.
I prefer technorati over Google Blog Search for connecting with other blogs.
Google Blog search does have it’s uses but generally I can’t seem to find quality blogs on it
Ping.fm is sounding really great.
Would love to give it a try and I am sure this will be able to save my great time.
ping.fm is really new for me…its great..thanks for sharing bro..
I think that facebook is the best for sharing this kind of messeges (for your site I mean), because you can a page for your site..
Twitter is a social network and more people use it to share what they are doing..
I have been blogging for years, but never knew that’s what what it was called. Of course, maybe that’s _not_ what it was called then
I’m in my 50′s, and just walked away from my old life (pretty much, tho I’m still, uhm, blogging at my old site).
It’s time to try something new. I set up a brand new site, with WordPress & Thesis, both of which I had never heard of 4 months ago, so creating a new Brand for myself that’s way different from my old one should be interesting & challenging. Roger Ailes, former consultant for Ronald Reagan and current big shot of Fox News, wrote a great book years ago called, “You are the Message,” which I highly recommend.
My new site has only been up for less than a week, and I could sure use some suggestions. I look forward to spending time here; you all seem like a fun group (young whippersnappers…)
Syncing accounts definitely has its advantage especially when you’re announcing a new blog post. But it’s only half of the story. Besides using these tools for one-way communication (Facebook updates, tweets, and the like), it’s also important to INTERACT. This part is difficult because you have to be there, reading, commenting, and responding to other people’s blogs, tweets, and updates. No tools can stubstitute for our ONLINE PRESENCE.
Nice Article thanks for brief.
I haven’t tried Ping.fm but I see a lot of people using this tool. Besides twitter, Facebook and delicious, what other Social Media sites does it support?
I think if someone can go to the Digg’s first page, its much more better than twitter. I know some one who hit Digg’s first page for several times, he got thousands of hits, I’m trying to do that, but still couldn’t.
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