Happy Halloween: Top Dog Personal Brands
October 30, 2009 by marenfinzer
8 Ways To Connect and Build Targeted Business Relationships
October 23, 2009 by marenfinzer
Be helpful
Personal Branding: You’ve defined your ideal target – now how do you make a connection?
You’ve defined your unique personal brand, and now you’re focused on your specific target audience: those people who need to hear about you to make you wildly successful. You’ve not only made a list of the general audience, but you’ve written down specific names of those people you want to reach.
I often get asked this question, “ I know exactly who I want to connect with, but how do I do it? How can I connect directly to them? How can I get noticed with my authentic personal brand and build a mutually viable relationship?”
In today’s world, you have all the tools you need to build a relationship directly with that person you want to connect with. Here are 8 things you can do to get started:
1) First, do your homework on google. The internet offers personal information we were never able to access before. Start with a simple google search, and begin to look for common bonds.
• What organizations and groups are they involved in?
• Are they supporting a project you have strengths in?
• What can you learn from their business profiles?
• Do you have common interests? Did they run in the same 5K you just did?
• What topics are they reading, writing about, and commenting about online? What articles do they have “favorited” online?
2) Follow them on Twitter. RT them, and ask them questions. As you build your relationship, you can direct message them, and soon after, they will recognize your name in an email.
3) Join their Facebook Fan Page if they have a business. Don’t just join the group as a spectator. Really listen, and join the conversation with valuable content.
4) Connect on LinkedIn. Always take the time to write a personal introductory note. Comment on a shared interest, group, or a core thread you have discovered. Before writing your note, always ask yourself, “In what ways can I give to this person?” Be genuine, without sounding “salesy.”
5) Subscribe to their blog if they have one and make valuable contributions. You won’t go unnoticed.
6) Join the same organization. What types of organizations and community outreach is this person involved in? If it’s something you share a passion with, get involved in the same group. Go to the next meeting. Volunteer on the same projects.
7) Ask for an introduction. Who do you know who knows this person? Explain to them the value you have to offer, and they may be willing to make a warm introduction.
8) Be helpful. Find a project they are working on, and offer to help – with no strings attached. What would they think if you called and said, “I’m willing to devote a chunk of my time and resources to make this the best fundraiser ever. What’s your greatest need and how can I help?”
The key here is to focus on your target, and be authentic to your personal brand.
There are so many other ways to make a connection. Let’s make the list complete. What can you add?
Photo credit: boodle131
5 Reasons Why Building your Personal Brand has Become Mandatory
October 13, 2009 by marenfinzer
What do you offer that nobody else can?
It’s become inescapable. Today’s marketplace is as competitive as ever, and to stand out and prosper you need to build your personal brand. We’re hearing it all the time, yet, I still get asked, “Why do I really need a personal brand?” and “I’ve gotten along without it until now, so why now?” or “Tell me again, how will a personal brand help me land a job?”
There are so many reasons why you need to build your authentic personal brand, but here are my top 5:
1) Nobody is going to manage your career for you. Your hiring manager, or supervisor, doesn’t have the time. You need to be your own boss. You need to create your own talent development program. And you need to be thinking about your career with every single thing you do – every agenda you write, every meeting you attend, every voice mail you return. Be deliberate in communicating the value you have to offer using your authentic personal brand.
2) Keep the job you have by consistently demonstrating your unique value. When the company is laying off employees, are you worth keeping? Have you taken the time to discover what’s relevant to the company, and made your talents resonate with that? It’s critical to use your personal brand to support the corporate brand, to keep your job.
3) If you find yourself, looking for a job in this crowded labor market, you need to stand out. You need an edge. You need to clearly communicate the unique value that you have, and use that to separate yourself from everyone else. What do you offer that nobody else can? What do you layer on top of your credentials and education that gets them excited about you? That is found in your personal brand.
4) A personal brand consistently “demonstrates” your value; it’s no longer enough to just “tell” them. When people google you, what do they find? Does it support and align with the things you have told them? Do they see and hear examples of your personal brand in action?
5) Create the visibility you need to reach your goals. When you pro-actively build your personal brand, you stay focused and not only achieve your goals, but you’ll do it in a way that’s fulfilling for you.
What can you add to the list?
photo credit, NixieMichelle
Top tips from top Tweeps at the latest Seattle SMC event
October 2, 2009 by marenfinzerYes! The event was sold out, but I’m here with the highlights of what you missed! Straight from the mouths of some top Tweeps:
The guest speaker, Sean Moffitt, from Angel Wildfire was fabulous, and since you couldn’t be there, he’s sharing his presentation right here! It was all about branding, and some key points :
- Brands still matter but there’s a big shift in how we build them.
- We’ve got to engage with the customer – they expect to be involved.
- Treat your customers like fans – reward them.
Check it all out in his presentation:
Join us at the next event October 27 at the Zoopa offices!
Vote for “the best” in Western Washington
September 19, 2009 by marenfinzer
M
My favorite gallery vote goes to Hallway Gallery at Bellevue Place! I hope you’ll vote for them here in Evening Magazine’s 2009 contest.
I had the pleasure of meeting both Amy and Erik at the opening reception of Rein De Lege, and they are delightful! Their warm and relaxed personalities welcome you the minute you walk in. The current abstract exhibit of Rein De Lege is well worth your trip, and if you’re lucky, you might get to take a peek from the back and see even more. Ask to see some of their own art.
Erik is a self taught painter, creating the most unique landscapes I bet you’ve ever seen; they really speak to you. He uses a lot of layering in his colors adding dramatic shadows and contrast.
Amy has defined her own creative style, painting female figures that are provocative in an abstract form, using collage and oils. When you go, be sure to ask her the story of what has inspired her. I love her playful style.
Go and meet them in their new street-side gallery, and I promise you’ll leave with inspiration and two new friends!
Tell me what you think and don’t forget to vote!
Launch your personal brand in true Seattle style!
September 15, 2009 by marenfinzer
Personal Branding workshops launch on Lake Union!
Get ready to launch your authentic personal brand, in true Seattle style!
Sign up now, and be a part of one of our exhilarating dinner cruises. Guaranteed to leave you with a new perspective!
The launch is just the beginning. In our workshop you will build your winning personal brand to put your talent, passions and experience to work for you by telling people who you are, what unique value you have to offer, and why they need to connect with you.
Collaborate with a small group of professionals, just like you, to define and nurture your winning personal brand. Position yourself to experience professional success beyond your wildest dreams.
Included in the workshop:
- Defining and clarifying your vision, purpose, goals, values and passions
- Assessing your competitive differentiation
- Identifying your specific target audience
- SWOT analysis
- Discussing draft brand summary, personal brand statement and brand bio
- Creating your communications wheel
- Steps to creating a powerful Mastermind Group
Uncover your Passion with 3 Simple Questions
September 9, 2009 by marenfinzer
Just a matter of passion
Do you know what your passion is? Or are your day-to-day responsibilities drowning you, and you’ve become a stranger to anything that might be even remotely close to your passion?
For true fulfillment, your work and personal life should integrate, not combat each other. You’ve probably heard it said, “Find something you love to do and you never have to work another day in your life.” But how do you find that?
Here are 3 simple questions to ask yourself that will help you discover what your passion is:
1) What do you find yourself talking about, incessantly, at a party?
2) What gets you out of bed, excited, on a Saturday morning at 6:00am?
3) If you could start your career over, what would you want to be when you grow up?
As simple as these questions seem, they can be surprisingly hard to answer.
Your passion is a core element of who you are. By spending some time reflecting on these questions, you will begin to uncover your passion and it will become a compelling piece to your authentic personal brand.
Think about it. Can you tell me just one? Read the rest of this entry »
Personal Branding feedback reveals the honest truth!
August 27, 2009 by marenfinzer
Feedback has been gathered for Jill's personal brand assessment
If you’ve been following Jill Alm through her 360 Reach Assessment, the first step in her brand building process, you’ve already gotten a little introduction to her brand personality.
Right at the start, Jill offered to go through this being totally transparent for all of you to see. All cards are out on the table each step of the way. It takes a totally honest and authentic person to do this, with nothing to hide.
Jill, now that you’ve finished your brand assessment, what are your thoughts?
My experience with Maren and the 360 Reach feedback process was better than I expected!
From the beginning, I was interested in learning more about myself through this anonymous feedback system, but I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into. Having completed this, I can say that it really has helped me look at myself in a new, positive and different way.
It has helped me create more purposeful actions throughout my day by focusing on my strengths while identifying my weaknesses. Within the first few days, I noticed I was incorporating the feedback into my daily life. It is empowering, exciting, and confidence building at the same time.
Believe it or not, the weaknesses areas of the feedback gave me the biggest boost. It seems that these areas along with your strengths are really where you can take your personal brand to the next level… and this is only the beginning!
Jill is sharing her complete, unedited copy of her 360° Reach report for everyone to see.
Be the first to meet the brand, Jill Alm, from the viewpoint of all those who know her!
Take note of her #1 brand persona: truth-teller!
Any comments?
Photo credit, hammersmithandfulham
