One of the ways to align yourself consistently with your passions and interests is to write them down. Taking advantage of online social media for this purpose can have many benefits. First, by blogging and using services such as Twitter and Facebook in ways that reflect your authentic self, you are creating a recognizable brand that others can identify with. In addition, showcasing yourself in writing takes ideas out of the abstract and makes them concrete, reinforcing them and allowing for later review and reflection.
I was recently asked to speak about the importance of social media, as well as my experience with my own specific sites at an MBA class taught by Dr. Bret Simmons, Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Nevada, Reno. There were many points that I wanted to make, but some of the most important that I have learned are:
- Show consistency in your work and throughout the sites that you are a member of. Looking like a completely different person from site to site confuses the reader and makes it seem as though you are not being authentic and true to your values.
- Remember that everyone’s contributions are of value. Do not be intimidated by or hesitant to communicate with mentors, authors, or other well-known people online. They had to start somewhere too, and appreciate having conversations with others who have insight and valuable content to offer.
- Blog about what truly interests you. People can spot a fake a mile away. You do not have to have all the answers, but it is not wise to blog about what you think people want to read. The purpose of blogging and participating in other social media is to showcase yourself and add value about things that are important to you.
- Stay with it! The importance of participating in social media becomes more apparent the longer you do it. As I said earlier, it reinforces what is truly important to you, and demonstrates to others that you believe in what you are writing about. This allows meaningful relationships to develop between you and others who are also contributing valuable content.
Here is the video of me talking to the class, along with a short Q and A period at the end.
Great advice Alicia. I’m actually in Bret Simmon’s class right now and am getting my personal brand started. I’ll be sure to use your advice as I continue on my journey through social media.
Thank you! I’m glad I could help. I’m sure you will quickly see how valuable all of this is as you continue with it. I look forward to seeing how your own brand develops.
Hey…I was there!!! Great job Alicia. Good advice from a true practitioner.
Thanks very much, I appreciate it. Good luck with the class and with your own brand. I hope to learn a few things about investments and other topics from your blog as well!
Alicia,
Thank you for coming to Bret’s class and sharing your story on personal branding. It was great to see how someone can turn classroom learning into something spectacular.
Thanks again!
Sharon Markovsky
http://www.sharonmarkovsky.com
Thank you for the kind words, Sharon. I see that you already have a very clear brand, and I look forward to reading more of your posts and gaining a greater insight on the value of marketing.
Thanks for the great advice and the helpful presentation. I had no direction with my own blog until you reminded us to be authentic and blog about where we are personally.
Sorry for the delay in response, Brigette. I hope you enjoyed the class and discovered the importance of personal branding. Hope you decide to keep it up! Alicia