People Do Business with People – Still

April 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
IMG_3591

With all the technological advances the modern world has to offer (mobile Internet, social networking, and even the classic email list), brands often find themselves focused on a power screen, working to improve their online statistic numbers- rather than the people and individuals that make up those statistics. What businesses should realize though, is that each one of those individuals in the online world is a person, and it is with people that you do business with, regardless of the medium chosen to deliver the message to them. Connecting with business relationships First of all, it’s essential that any brand focus its efforts on making connections with the right networks. With social and other online networking tools, it’s easy to get caught up talking with just about everyone. However, most of those conversations don’t offer the valuable connections your brand needs to succeed. Focusing your efforts on specific groups and individuals will allow you to develop … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Branding Trends, Social Media Tagged With: , , , ,

Look Up and Face Word of Mouth

April 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
businessman on smartphone

Smartphones have become a great asset to every individual. Whether they’re building a small business or shopping on their favorite site, these devices allow people to stay connected in the most opportune ways. The smartphone relationship Unfortunately, this has resulted in a side effect that isn’t so greatly appreciated. For many, the smartphone has become the only gateway for communication. Calls? Texts? Emails? Social network updates? All these things become a priority, even when in the company of others. And the trouble here is that most users aren’t able to say “no” to interruptions like these. Rather than focusing their present audience, they indulge in a social comment or watch the latest trending video –   alone and outside of the conversation. When the only conversation partner you seem to have is your phone, you quickly find that those in the world around you aren’t paying attention to you either. For those who are developing their network or contacts, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Exuding Your Brand, Personal Branding Quick Tips, Personal Branding Trends Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Who You Like – Built by Association

March 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Facebook Like

While many brands are concerned with the number of “likes” that their own personal brand social sites gain, there is another type of “like” that is affecting you as well. Have you ever considered what topics, pages, and brands you “like” on social sites like Facebook? Those likes may be affecting your brand’s image more than you might consider. With the variety of subject material on social sites, it’s easy to get caught up liking new pages and brands without first investigating them. Even if they turn out to be un-relatable to your personal brand, we may like them at the moment, or something on them, or even simply because a friend recommended we liked them. This is one of the many reasons why it’s so important to regularly clean up your social sites. What apps are obsolete? Which pages fail to represent your brand’s values or interests effectively? Basically, your “likes” are building a profile with your social account that is ancillary to your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Expressing Your Brand, Exuding Your Brand, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Importance of Self Discipline in Extracting Your Brand

November 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment
self confident

What is it that sets you apart from other brands? Is it a catchy slogan? Is it your product or service? One element to the business world remains the same- being replaceable means that you will become obsolete. It is only by being unique to your audience that you can truly succeed in your endeavors. But, how can one brand become unique in the business world? The key is to be able to define your brand. What is it that you offer your audience? What is it that they want from you? And ultimately, will you be able to deliver what they want and need? In order to seek out these answers, you must be self-disciplined and focus on the seriousness of your brand, whether you are a business or an individual. Getting started is always the most difficult challenge. Where should I start? What should I expect? We’re riddled with questions, but the answers will never arrive unless you begin to seek them. Taking the time to extract your brand and define yourself One of the key elements to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Everything is a Brand, Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding Quick Tips Tagged With: , ,

A Better Personal Brand with Age?

July 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Maren Finzer Blog - July 6

As Reach’s Chief Content Officer, it’s my pleasure to introduce to you our guest blogger for today, Maren Finzer.  Maren is a Reach Personal Branding Strategist and content contributor to “Personal Branding for Dummies”. Today's Guest Author: Maren Finzer helps people over 40 build irresistible personal brands to make the money you need and the fulfillment you’re seeking. Get more tips and strategies at http://www.marenfinzer.com/personal-branding. It’s free!    Make the money you need and bring the happiness and fulfillment you’re seeking.  “I’m looking at my personal brand differently than most. I’ll be 60, and I’m not just planning the next phase in my career, but I’m planning my encore act. I don’t want to ’just’ work. It’s become so much more than making money to me.” These words came from a brave woman, as she openly shared her feelings in front of the entire group at a personal branding event I spoke at a few weeks … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Discovering Your Brand, Personal Branding Quick Tips Tagged With: , ,

Ten Things I Learned from my Latest 360Reach Personal Brand Assessment

April 26, 2012 by 2 Comments
360reach8cm

I recently asked friends, family, colleagues, employees and clients for feedback about my brand using 360Reach (disclosure: 360Reach is a product of my company, Reach Personal Branding). I tell everyone in the Reach community that they should complete a 360Reach assessment every 18 to 24 months or so – so I was long overdue. Here’s some of what I learned/confirmed: 1.    I have a major work overload issue. I am well aware of it – and so is virtually everyone who knows me! It’s the negative side of my brand attribute of creative – where I have so many ideas and want to pursue all of them. 2.    Despite some efforts to focus on fewer things – including hiring another assistant, I clearly have not done a great job of it. I need to focus! 3.    I consider myself less international than I was in the past, yet others continue to see me as global.  When I was living in London and Paris and traveling internationally all the time, I felt more global. Being … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Discovering Your Brand, Everything is a Brand, Executive Branding, Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs Tagged With: , , ,

Resume = 6 seconds reading time. STOP sending your resume.

April 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Your Résumé Thrown Away in the Garbage

According to recent Ladders.com research, the average time spent by a recruiter reading your resume is now just 6 seconds! Hopefully if the recruiting person is internal or a hiring manager the time is longer, but realistically it still might only be a few more seconds. The article shows images of two different resumes and the heat spots where eyes were tending to focus on in the short time they spent scanning the documents. Having information properly formatted and well laid out and clear is obvious. BUT isn't the more pressing point why are even we still bothering with a resume? If you are in mid-career with at least 10 years of professional experience you are easily capable of supplying enough information to write a 3-6 page resume - not the accepted format - rather than a 1-2 page targeted resume. The trouble is that if a company is hiring for a number of positions and is accepting referrals, or the position is internal, you, based on your experience might be suitable for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Expressing Your Brand, Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding Quick Tips, Personal Branding Trends Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Pssst, what’s the password?

March 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment
facebook

This past week a story started circulating that managers were asking for employees or job candidates for their Facebook passwords. An employment lawyer would answer this better, but I am fairly sure this cannot be allowed (at least in Canada) - unless of course the employee is using their Facebook profile to post company information, offers etc. But why would they? Of course the US Senate has already looked at launching in to a probe to see if it violates any laws and other countries are doing likewise. Facebook has jumped in to the fray too, although I am not sure its their domain (pardon the pun!). More importantly what can you be doing right now, before anyone makes any decisions on this? 1. Don't look to be logging on to the likes of Facebook on public and certainly not work computers. You may well have signed an employment contract that includes a clause about your employer having the right to access memory of anything you have accessed on a company computer. And … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Expressing Your Brand, Personal Branding Quick Tips, Social Media Tagged With: , , , ,

Is calling your clients muppets good for your personal brand?

March 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
muppets

The very public resignation by Greg Smith from Goldman Sachs last week using an op-ed piece in the New York Times is not a recommended tactic for your career! Certainly not at the top of your personal brand communications plan! However, what he did was good personal branding. One of the very first exercises that I get clients to undertake and a core part of the personal brand building foundation is the Values exercise. I describe Values as being your moral compass. The things that we stand by in all situations, or if they are being compromised either by ourselves or someone else it makes us angry or upset. You only have to see Greg Smith's outburst to understand that on some level his personal values were being effected by working at Goldman Sachs. Now in reading the 'backlash' from his very public outburst there may be other underlying reasons for his departure. But none the less he finally reached a point where all the benefits of working there could not outweigh how he … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Employees Are The Brand, Expressing Your Brand, Personal Branding for Careers Tagged With: , , ,

Is Your Personal Brand Stepping Out of it’s Comfort Zone?

January 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
St Bernard

While waiting for his owner to return from some local shopping, Bernard here knows where his boundaries are and he is not going to stray at all, he has become too comfortable in his surroundings. Of course perhaps he knows (or has experienced) that if he were to jump out of the back of the truck he might be placing himself in danger. Unfortunately, at work, this is something we are all a little guilty of. Perhaps on occasion, it's not going to be life threatening, we need to take a risk or two and leap out of our comfort zone - or maybe just a gentle step will do. Three simple things to consider as a way to step out of your personal brand comfort zone at work; 1. Bring a little more of your personality to work. Choose something from home that you are passionate about or that means a lot to you and add it to your desk, cubicle or office space. Perhaps a favourite picture, photo or desk ornament. 2. Consider adding a piece of jewellery or favourite coloured accessory and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Employee Brand Activation, Expressing Your Brand, Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding Quick Tips Tagged With: , , ,
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