DISQUS

I generally agree with your post and am concerned about the online personal and business brand"ing" experts although many provide helpful content; what ever you call it.

When I started Your Brand, LLC (5th yr) out of a successful retained recruiting career, I did it because of the obvious experience/feeling we have with the person who can 'do it even better next time'. That feeling or brand can be taught in a strategy.

Not just the must-have executive I convinced to make a move-that is easy on brand subjects. It was the entrepreneur who built a successful brand and our ability to raise money around the personal brand who we trust to do it again. The unnamed unmistakable personal brand that we know. They are rare as is any great brand.

@Frank - you are right on = what you are good at that matters and is not a commodity I'll add.
People make light of personal brand. Companies spend zillions on understanding brand value towards marketing communications. People are more complicated than products...even when they are productized.

Good post and all important if a strategist is going to make it.
I would add what I see is often missing in social media strategists I meet on and offline. They don't have a business model and are not qualified to help others with social media strategy. A one-size fits all strategy. Result = building numbers only to find a big "so what" exists.

@DaveMurr - I love what you are thinking about. I know you asked your ?s to Chris, but I have an opinion.
Road block = people thinking about marketing before they identify with actual brand experience they want others to have.
Leads to your harder question about who defines the brand. I think it is always defined by others. We have control. However, if we are not listening to how the brand might be hijacked, misinterpreted or otherwise confused, it does not matter what we say are brand if "they" disagree. Trust.
This is why brand is harder than just creating one. Obviously I love this subject and why I say there is no 'ing' in brand:
http://www.yourbrandplan.com/forum/personal-bra...

I just had an epiphany. Thank you Chris!

Great insight as usual. However, I think a key element is missing. What do you stand for? A brand is an experience as defined by others and when people can stand behind what you stand for, they follow you even when you change...and you will. You earn benefit of the doubt during curiosity even when you 'do' something different than what you are known for being great at.
We see a lot of this right now when people finally take a lead and do what they are supposed to do. An entrepreneur is born. Brand new.

Ah how followers gravitate to what they are told is popular. Works, sorry. Not for you, me, Scott or many here, but...for most (scratch that) many, it works.

Take it from the executive recruiter in my experience that "gainfully" employed executives came out of the woodwork for my new opportunity. Turns out way to many hate their j-o-b and their kids and x hate them -- only to go to the next great opportunity where they would, you guessed it, hate it in 6 months.

Here is the kicker for many of them - the fear of giving up the lifestyle and what they are "supposed to do" brand is WAY preferred over the fear of chasing passion. Easy to say, but few of us do. Heart attacks seem to change people though ;)

I have to beat the David Sandusky who owns davidsandusky.com which I used to have until someone dropped that ball for me - I am over it and davidsandusky.net is working for me. I also have to beat any David in the local Sandusky, OH news.
So far so good ;)

I understand your inspiration by Gary. Part of why I wrote about his unmistakable personal brand most recently. He inspires me too and I have not met him!

Anyway, yesterday I spoke to a bunch of entrepreneurs about launching products in a customer-centric approach. As usual we covered:
Why you/your product
What it does for them
So what?
And how

As usual, "So what" got the most attention. I recommend people take your wonderful list + and critical think (so what) each down with customer/client in mind. The clarity is remarkable and not letting the "so what" come up closes with confidence.

I love this post! I must admit I take people on a trip when I present on personal mission and vision because people really get the difference in this context (health works too). First a virtual vacation then pick on someone for a career trip. Man it works - you gave me new points and I thank you! I give a talk tomorrow and will mention this post to the SBA group.

This post is a nice reference point for me -tx. My wife's business is a good example. Today very successful (5th yr) with significantly more products sales via offline relationships and marketing. As we launch on and offline retail soon, the online strategy for her business will increase. We will not loose sight of where we came from, so to speak, and this post drives that home.

The new "to close". Some people are online so much they think everyone is and there are plenty of people almost never online - effective personal brands in both cases and to your point, with room to improve.

Your search is over. www.YourBrandPlan.com

Hmmm. Like to see the various college sites. I am part of the founding board launching the Center for Innovation: http://www.yourbrandplan.com/forum/blogs/david-...

Thoughts? I will follow on twitter and perhaps be in touch.

Vanessa - I love what I see here. Register on www.clubenetwork.com as an up-and-coming resource for you that includes media opportunity. Connect with me and feel free to contact me if I can help directly - my forum is linked

Fabulous post, Chris! Your brand was apparent in the comments.

A company, product service and personal brand are all about experiences people have. Smart strategies make sure message and experience equal to those who value unique value propositions, I see yours is true.

Your brand, Chris is apparent in the comments. The following and respect. I am glad I not so accidentally found your blog!