This week was a very special edition of #ContentChat. My friend Maureen Jann killed it (as you’ll see below, in the recap, in sharing her perspective on the importance of corporate-sponsored personal brand-building initiatives. But instead of seeing her across the interwebs, she was just across the table from me at The Riveter in Seattle, along with Berrak Sarikaya and Sarah Gilbert!
You see, I was in Seattle for a mini-vacation. And instead of taking the day off from #ContentChat, I decided it would be that much more fun for us to do the chat in-person.
A big THANK YOU to Berrak for hosting us.
We’re taking #ContentChat to the next level this week at @theriveterco in #Seattle! pic.twitter.com/nWqJx6lzOR
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) July 24, 2017
Q1: What is a personal brand?
A1 Personal brand is the art and science of promoting your personality and expertise to help boost business. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A1: Personal brand is no different than a business brand. Create and cultivate what makes you unique and make people aware. #ContentChat
— Jeremy Jones ️ (@jerejone) July 24, 2017
A1. A personal brand is an image/impression that someone relates to when they think of you! Put your name out there! #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/yBAfPMGXxu
— Top Uniforms (@topuniforms) July 24, 2017
A1b: You craft a personal brand whether you’re intentional about it or not. It’s the way you put yourself out in the world. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A1: A personal brand is the way you put your best face forward in the professional world. It’s how you amplify yourself. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) July 24, 2017
A1. Your representation to the rest of the world. It’s created by a combination of your personality, values, and skills. #contentchat https://t.co/K3ou9lIWt1
— Amanda Milligan (@millanda) July 24, 2017
A1: It’s a personal image you want to project to others. #ContentChat
— Jason Webb (@JasonLWebb) July 24, 2017
A1: A personal brand is how your marketing yourself and your career . It is your authentic self amplified #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/2vkusaLw58
— The Singing Tech (@SingingTech) July 24, 2017
A1: Your personal brand is the overarching message that you send to your customers at every touch point—intended or not! #ContentChat
— Jessie Lewis (@ItsJessieLewis) July 24, 2017
A1: A personal brand is what you are known for as an individual, the reputation you have created for yourself (offline & IRL). #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/MGRliq1mNd
— JMatt (@JMattMke) July 24, 2017
A1: It’s the representation of yourself to the rest of the world. Everyone has it, whether we want it or not! #ContentChat https://t.co/cEfbHn7H98
— Marijana Kostelac ✏️ (@MarijanaKay) July 24, 2017
A1 Your personal brand is what other people say about you when you’re not online (adapted from a Jeff Bezos quote) #contentchat
— Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) July 24, 2017
A1: Personal brand is what you want to be known for. Often involves pursuing a thought leadership strategy in a niche. #contentchat
— Beth Farris (@bethbabble) July 24, 2017
A1: I think personal brand covers:
– What are you passionate about?
– What do you think about it?
– How do you express that?#ContentChat— Alex Witkowski (@CourseHeroAlex) July 24, 2017
A1: A personal brand is the way an individual is perceived by others. It involves personality, business, expertise, etc. #contentchat pic.twitter.com/LpIYN1PDNl
— Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) July 24, 2017
A1: What you are known for. Simple enough to understand. Specific enough to make you stand out. #ContentChat https://t.co/BRVnpP8AAs
— Su Doyle (@sudoyle) July 24, 2017
A1 “Who are you?” summed up in a simple manner, often using multiple media methods. #alliteration #contentchat
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) July 24, 2017
A1 It’s how others view you, typically based on your actions and things both spoken and unspoken. #contentchat
— Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) July 24, 2017
Q2: How can a strong personal brand impact a company’s performance?
A2: Think a CEO with a strong personal brand (good or bad), what they stand for often impacts their company’s brand. #ContentChat
— JMatt (@JMattMke) July 24, 2017
A2: A strong personal brand makes it clear what you do, and what you don’t. It helps make you more effective and motivated. #ContentChat
— Jeremy Jones ️ (@jerejone) July 24, 2017
A2: I truly believe that messages coming from employees are often stronger than company’s. Strong personal brand adds to it! #ContentChat https://t.co/QCSo6h7vBe
— Marijana Kostelac ✏️ (@MarijanaKay) July 24, 2017
A2: An aggregate of smart, articulate people in the market help craft a perception of a company for both hiring and marketing. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A2. Companies can hire people whose personal brand matches their brand values #ContentChat
— Megan McCarthy (@ImMeganMcCarthy) July 24, 2017
A2: Having a strong personal brand can help people relate to you, establish trust, and build loyalty. #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) July 24, 2017
A2. With strong, organic and positive personal branding, companies are known more, have a better public image –> more leads #ContentChat
— Top Uniforms (@topuniforms) July 24, 2017
A2: By providing a human face to a corporate brand & subject matter expertise. People connect with people, not corporations. #ContentChat https://t.co/pH5897M1Jp
— Su Doyle (@sudoyle) July 24, 2017
A2 A strong personal brand can accrue awareness, honor, prestige and goodwill to the corporate brand #contentchat
— Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) July 24, 2017
A2 “It depends.” If that personal brand is strongly connected to the corporate brand, it’s a big impact, and vice-versa. #contentchat
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) July 24, 2017
A2- A strong personal brand will help you stand out from the competition, making you easily recognizable to consumers. #contentchat pic.twitter.com/kP7DeQdlyx
— TCFCR (@TCFCR) July 24, 2017
A2b: Cos who craft personal brands hire better. It’s a self fulfilling hiring practice. Smart ppl want to work with the best #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A2: Strong personal brand of employees and leadership help companies have a better human connection. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) July 24, 2017
A2: People want to do business with brands they trust. Strong People reinforce credibility and reliability, and drive action. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/m5fgjqpL2i
— Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) July 24, 2017
A2: For an audience , perception becomes reality. Having a good personal brand sets the stage for success #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/G2T2WqZz8M
— The Singing Tech (@SingingTech) July 24, 2017
A2. A company is made up of people. If you trust the people working at the company, you’ll trust their output. #contentchat https://t.co/WGdmsQhMtm
— Amanda Milligan (@millanda) July 24, 2017
A2 Your employees are often the first point of reference others have w/your company, especially when it comes to recruiting. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) July 24, 2017
A2: Personal brands reflect back on the co, org, outlets, etc. that individuals represent or promote (paid or unpaid) #contentchat
— Alan Fleming (@alan_fleming) July 24, 2017
A2c: Prospects are more likely to trust you if they’ve heard of someone on your team. It’s the conversion fast track. #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A2: Personal brand can amplify a company message. Each person’s trusted in a different community & can grow a company’s network #ContentChat
— Alex Witkowski (@CourseHeroAlex) July 24, 2017
A2: A strong personal brand can elevate a corporate brand from the noise within their sector/vertical. #TheViewFromTheTop #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/TQT5plpFZv
— David Fortino (@David__Fortino) July 24, 2017
A2 Was self-employed for years. Gained buy-in when people liked me; not just what I wrote. Both had to work together to grow #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/8xB5RdPY82
— comfortwriter (@ComfortWriter) July 24, 2017
If you have a strong personal brand ( which I call a career brand when talking corporate context ) it means you are performing #ContentChat https://t.co/dnP7ZR6KTY
— Brett Pucino (@BPucino) July 24, 2017
A2 People want to work with people. Not brands. So the individual personal brands of your team collectively have a big effect. #contentchat
— Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) July 24, 2017
Q3: How does a strong personal brand benefit the individual?
A3: You establish a reputation for being a subject matter expert . Your name starts being KNOWN #ContentChat
— The Singing Tech (@SingingTech) July 24, 2017
A3. You build yourself – confidence, credibility, showing your specialty, and leaving a mark/you want to be remembered! #ContentChat
— Top Uniforms (@topuniforms) July 24, 2017
A3: Do you want to be sought after or be the seeker? Being known gives you a step ahead of those who aren’t. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/X1wHrgiIXz
— Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) July 24, 2017
A3. No one will know you’re an expert in something unless you tell (and then SHOW) them. Personal branding helps you do both. #contentchat https://t.co/VfMki709wp
— Amanda Milligan (@millanda) July 24, 2017
A3: If you are a positive digital force for your employer, you are basically an ‘in-house influencer’… + for job security #contentchat https://t.co/kcZi9DDtnu
— Brett Pucino (@BPucino) July 24, 2017
A3: Change happens. Personal Branding transcends the role you’re holding today– paints a bigger picture of your abilities #ContentChat https://t.co/MqDcmC1PPf
— Su Doyle (@sudoyle) July 24, 2017
A3) It builds authority, respect, & credibility. People have an idea of what to expect when they post online. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/gPBrHHbstM
— Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) July 24, 2017
A3: When executed well, the credibility earned through authentic dialogue could could define a career. #ShowYourPersonality #contentchat pic.twitter.com/8HgPmAKOoH
— David Fortino (@David__Fortino) July 24, 2017
A3 Many freelancers think their site needs to say “WE do ___”. But showing yourself is the key to building trust w/ clients! #contentchat
— Jessie Lewis (@ItsJessieLewis) July 24, 2017
A3 Establishes you as an SME or a competent resource for topics and conversation. Strong branding boosts community recognition #contentchat
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) July 24, 2017
A3 Strong, engaged relationships that endure = network. Built a freelance business off word of mouth alone w/ no paid promo #ContentChat
— comfortwriter (@ComfortWriter) July 24, 2017
A3. A strong personal brand will help them grow their professional brand more quickly. Both worlds collide. #contentchat
— Nicole B. Weiss (@nicolebweiss) July 24, 2017
A3: A strong brand can help you build that Know, Like, and Trust Factor with your audience, which is key! #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) July 24, 2017
A3a However, you can also build your brand as trusted resource (w/o SME status) on multiple topics. (I fall into this method.) #contentchat
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) July 24, 2017
A3: bc they have an image they are associated with. They will be approached by ppl they want to work with. #contentchat
— Molly Nichols (@mnich_pro) July 24, 2017
Q4: What are the benefits of company-sponsored personal brand building?
A4 – Messaging consistent with company goals and strategies is a benefit to company-sponsored personal brand building. #contentchat
— Dawn M. Kirspel (@DawnMKirspel) July 24, 2017
A4 Short term: more awareness of what a personal brand is / can be. Long term: higher employee retention! #contentchat
— Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) July 24, 2017
A4: What’s the benefit of company-sponsored content? Closed business. When you have known experts working for you, you win. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A4: Investing in employees = better #custserv , more loyalty. But has to be at all levels, not just exec suite. #ContentChat https://t.co/1yMHo0OzTv
— Su Doyle (@sudoyle) July 24, 2017
A4: Want to be a business full of thought leaders? Then invest in and support your people. Help them be all they can be. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/3B5ObycHsC
— Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) July 24, 2017
A4: Honestly, the resources. I was able to go to conferences like #CMWorld thanks to companies trusting my personal brand. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) July 24, 2017
A4: Company’s benefit by saying they have someone influential working for them. I can see it really benefiting ad agencies! #contentchat
— Jason Webb (@JasonLWebb) July 24, 2017
Yes! When you know your employer is willing to invest in you and your career you are so much more inclined to stay. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) July 24, 2017
A4 Two heads are better than one. Amplified planning, creation & delivery that aligns w/ & opens up new audiences #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/ps4dapbAY4
— comfortwriter (@ComfortWriter) July 24, 2017
A4) Utilizing network helps the personal one grow. It also shows they trust you to the point they put their name behind you. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/jgJJiZohBn
— Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) July 24, 2017
A4: Co-sponsored personal branding opens opps may not have access to. Paid back by networking & ‘how great is my company?!’ #contentchat
— Alan Fleming (@alan_fleming) July 24, 2017
A4b: In the case of marketing to marketers, one of the best ways to connect with them is on the stage. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A4 Great content needs input from subject matter experts (SMEs)—why not have them be YOUR awesome employees? #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) July 24, 2017
A4a Just be aware that the more you tie your personal brand to corporate brand, the less you become ‘yourself’ #contentchat
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) July 24, 2017
A4c: Long term investments in branding means that those experts get to be a part of your history. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
It actually benefits a company to have employees who are not 100% tied to the brand. It adds credibility. #ContentChat https://t.co/3TXSWuxGbF
— Su Doyle (@sudoyle) July 24, 2017
A4: Brands who don’t understand employee advocacy are fearful of personal branding since it may impact company brand & PR #contentchat
— Scott Lum (@ScottLum) July 24, 2017
Yes! If your brand is “corporate stooge” because all you do is talk about your employer, that doesn’t help the biz brand. #contentchat
— Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) July 24, 2017
A4: If all goals are aligned, there are power in numbers. More resources and built in influencer marketing #contentchat
— Brittany Welsh (@BrittnyWelsh) July 24, 2017
Q5: What are elements of a strong personal brand?
A5 When someone has a strong personal brand, not much of the content they share/create surprises you. They stay within a topic. #ContentChat
— JMatt (@JMattMke) July 24, 2017
A5: Honesty, being true to yourself, and consistency. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) July 24, 2017
I think authenticity is one of the most significant elements of a strong personal brand. #contentchat
— Dawn M. Kirspel (@DawnMKirspel) July 24, 2017
A5. Authenticity, Consistency, Expertise, Visibility, and Connections, just to name a few #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/CcC7rUpRnq
— Top Uniforms (@topuniforms) July 24, 2017
A5. Authenticity. Because the world knows when you’re faking it. #contentchat
— Debbie Schwake (@SpiceDebbie) July 24, 2017
A5: Personal brands incl: abstracts for strong subjects, video samples, great headshot, website to showcase you, testimonials. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A5 First: a well-defined mission statement of what your brand is about. Next: building authority around that mission #contentchat
— Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) July 24, 2017
A5: Authenticity, Reliability, Honesty. If you can be those things, you’ll be on your way toward drawing your audience. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/MxbxAenN8c
— Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) July 24, 2017
A5 There needs to be clarity and consistency—who are you and what do you stand for every day? #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) July 24, 2017
A5a: Top two for me: Knowledge and personality. Gotta know what you’re talking about and do some in a friendly manner. #contentchat
— Jason Webb (@JasonLWebb) July 24, 2017
A5 Clear messages on what you stand for, repeated over & over. You have to take a clear stance & NOT try to appeal to everyone. #contentchat
— Jessie Lewis (@ItsJessieLewis) July 24, 2017
A5 Expert in one (& related) areas. Clear message/tone/style. Consistent quality. Recognised by peers. Clear audience. #ContentChat
— comfortwriter (@ComfortWriter) July 24, 2017
A5a: You also have to remember that you can’t be perfect. If you make mistakes, you should own up to them. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) July 24, 2017
A5 It all depends on the personal brand but authenticity is always recommended, consistent posting and voice. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/OjAzXSPEBz
— Tony Stephan (@OmnipoTony) July 24, 2017
A5: Personal brands are developed w/expertise in particular area, unique POV, & good engagement/distribution w/ their community #contentchat
— Scott Lum (@ScottLum) July 24, 2017
A5b: Make sure you have strong, mature topics you have proven expertise in. Craft abstracts that solve critical challenges. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A5: Interesting POV , Relevant & Current Subject Matter Expertise, Humanity. Multi-channel content. Plus I would add humor! #ContentChat https://t.co/Sa0MOKycZl
— Su Doyle (@sudoyle) July 24, 2017
A5c: Make sure your actual BRAND (logo, website, headshots) are high quality. They are indicators in the quality of your brand. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A5 Succinct message. Identifiable online mannerisms. Strong topic knowledge. Humility. Humbleness. Willing to be wrong. #contentchat
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) July 24, 2017
A5 a strong brand doesn’t assume things; meets potential customers/audience members on their level #contentchat
— Paula Kiger (@biggreenpen) July 24, 2017
A5b Too many companies actively discourage employees to build a personal brand. In the end, that bites them tho. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/pkSjRTxZrL
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) July 24, 2017
A5: Put an edge on your POV. I’ve found it difficult to develop your brand if you’re saying same thing as others #contentchat
— Scott Lum (@ScottLum) July 24, 2017
A5. Yep. Have argued w/ Corporate Legal & IT Depts too many times to amend #SocialMedia policy & “grandfather” colleagues in #ContentChat https://t.co/9LiYscCcsW
— Su Doyle (@sudoyle) July 24, 2017
Q6: How can a company get started with a personal brand program?
A6: Incentivize for personal branding efforts. Ensure that presentations have CTAs to drive back to company content. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A6: Companies should ultimately encourage personal branding – it will happen regardless of what you say – better to support. #ContentChat
— JMatt (@JMattMke) July 24, 2017
A6. Encourage networking, host sweepstakes, play up importance of company culture and how everyone fits in #ContentChat
— Top Uniforms (@topuniforms) July 24, 2017
A6 Integrate into a culture of innovating/sharing/testing/ failing quickly (eg quit if no traction). People need to feel safe. #ContentChat
— comfortwriter (@ComfortWriter) July 24, 2017
A6: Fundamentally shift away from the core belief that employees on social media are a threat. When I worked for a huge (1/2) #ContentChat https://t.co/YfgOgSchOM
— Marijana Kostelac ✏️ (@MarijanaKay) July 24, 2017
A6: Brands need to put together a strong Employee Experience strategy. Stop looking at us as paychecks but as smart advocates #contentchat
— Scott Lum (@ScottLum) July 24, 2017
A6: international corporation I was basically scared to tweet because of their social media policy! (2/2) #ContentChat
— Marijana Kostelac ✏️ (@MarijanaKay) July 24, 2017
A6: Training sessions + written guide for everyone. But also identify + coach some SMEs to be your most visible thought leaders #contentchat
— Beth Farris (@bethbabble) July 24, 2017
I love this idea! In general too… contests for sharing content would be great. Or even updating their LinkedIn profiles! #ContentChat https://t.co/es3KOjbKpU
— JMatt (@JMattMke) July 24, 2017
A6c: Give time to employees to build their personal brand via tweetchats, forum participation, etc. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A6 Give employees the time to speak at and attend conferences! #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) July 24, 2017
A6: Salespeople LOVE to be involved. Writing content may not be their thing. But connecting & sharing definitely is! #ContentChat https://t.co/lKXuUrOshh
— Su Doyle (@sudoyle) July 24, 2017
A6: there’s a hierarchy of how much employees want to engage – from none to lots. Brands need strategy to engage at all levels #contentchat
— Scott Lum (@ScottLum) July 24, 2017
Q7: What are examples of personal brands helping to build a corporate brand?
Easy. @altonbrown FTW. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/TetJMV6iOx
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) July 24, 2017
A7: A company that I do work for does a great job, @point_it, but also look out for @CMIContent panel of awesome experts. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A7. I’d say @randfish has to be a pretty prominent example in our industry! #contentchat https://t.co/H1OBjXi7A5
— Amanda Milligan (@millanda) July 24, 2017
A7: @genesimmons is a great example of personal brand helping the company brand. But he knows that. #ContentChat
— Jeremy Jones ️ (@jerejone) July 24, 2017
A7: I mean – Steve Jobs was more Apple than Apple was Apple. Which… unfortunately… has been a problem today. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/T5ujOCpUKw
— Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) July 24, 2017
A7: All @buffer employees! Such a brilliant example of this – they so genuinely and organically represent their company #ContentChat https://t.co/lGHV1Tr6eQ
— Marijana Kostelac ✏️ (@MarijanaKay) July 24, 2017
A7: Definitely the @CMIContent crew! #CMWorld #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) July 24, 2017
A6b: Also, keep an eye on @semrush does a great job crafting their employees’ personal brand. #ContentChat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) July 24, 2017
A7 @randfish and @moz. A bit unique in that Rand is founder of the company. #contentchat
— Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) July 24, 2017
A7 : @GoDaddy in my opinion has built up a great brand under @Blakei #ContentChat
— The Singing Tech (@SingingTech) July 24, 2017
A7 (now with answer ID!) @altonbrown is a personal branding guru who helped build FN, and now his own projects. #contentchat pic.twitter.com/stgJDbm8cd
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) July 24, 2017
A7: Easy. From the top of my head @GrantCardone & @TonyRobbins. 2 good examples. #contentchat
— Benny Gelbendorf (@BGelbendorf) July 24, 2017
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