Web 2.0 and Your Personal Brand

Posted by William Arruda

Web 2.0 is important to you personal brand because it enables both individuation and connectedness. We stand out by what makes us unique, yet we forge bonds with those who share the same interests, passions and goals. Web 2.0 creates a space for self-disclosure (personal brand expression) and voyeurism (evaluation peers, connecting with partners). This supports many aspects of the personal branding process we describe in Career Distinction:

• being recognized for our individuality
• connecting with others who share our passions, dreams or attributes
• experimenting/taking risks and moving outside our comfort zones
• learning about ourselves from interacting with others (often strangers)
• developing visibility of our unique promise of value among members of our brand communities

Web 2.0 has made the internet an indispensable tool for career management. Have you taken advantage of all Web 2.0 has to offer?

Comments

[Dan Schawbel]

Good points here. Networking with those who have similar interests is often easier to do. It's also important to step outside the box and learn new material.

[jon wilke]

After a two-year hiatus, I am relaunching myself into a writing career. It's been challenging to get started, but I've found that Web 2.0 can assist me in presenting myself, distributing my work and saving me time. By setting up RSS feeds, I can automatically "release" my work through social network sites. Likewise, I've switched browsers to Firefox and downloaded some "add-ons" that allow me to conveniently drag and drop pictures, links and videos to update other SNS.

[Walter Akana]

Hi William!

Thanks for a great post about Web 2.0! Yes, I and people I work with are increasingly harnessing Web 2.0 to express our brands and stand out within our brand communities.

Although I’ve not yet read it, I know Thomas Friedman, in “The World Is Flat,” identifies Google as a flattener saying, "Never before in the history of the planet have so many people - on their own - had the ability to find so much information about so many things and about so many other people." As I see it, while Google may have helped flatten the world, the newer flatter world is powered by Web 2.0!

Clearly Web 2.0 is a dynamic medium that will take on greater significance in driving personal brands and building the collaborative relationships that will increasingly power business.

[Maria Elena Duron]

William,

Great post! There is a huge shift as we see online communities grow. From straight info on zoominfo; to the more corporate connection in linkedin; to the very social and entertaining myspace; the growing facebook and naymze; or the non-traditional network to "network" biznik; the web is being used for on-line expression and connections.

It's a great way to revive old connections and make new ones - worldwide. And, I agree - it does give you a "window" into someone's thoughts and personal brand which is definitely something I do want to "see" before I make a connection.

It is a great way to sample someone's character and competence without the traditional "grip, grin and graze".

[Michael J. Fitzgerald, CPA/PFS, CFP, MST]

I really think that it is important to develop an online brand. With so much information floating around in Cyberspace, working to show clients and potential learners your unique brand is imporant. Thank you for such a great book.

Best of Luck,

============================================

Michael J. Fitzgerald, CPA/PFS, CFP, MST

100% Retirement Income Replacement Specialist

http://www.fitzfp-llc.com

[Francois]

This is such a good stuff. Thanks. I have lots of opportunities for you at http://www.career-descriptions.co.uk/