<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Admit it, when Facebook offered up vanity URL\u2019s you stayed up past your bedtime to try and nab your name, or similar moniker you use around the Web.  Likewise, gplus.to took off like gangbusters, before Google+ is/was even out of beta.  And why?  Because after being around the block a few times, we\u2019ve all realized the power and potential behind personal branding across a variety of tools we use every day.  Whether you\u2019re hunting for a new job opportunity, looking to grow your business, or simply want a unified presence on the web, chances are, a bit of personal branding could do some good.  Let\u2019s have a look at 10 personal branding tips that can make or break your online self marketing.\r\n1. The CEO of ME\r\nWhether you run a business, are employed, or currently looking for new opportunities, there\u2019s one operation that you\u2019re completely and totally in control over: You.  Think, act, and plan like the leader of a multinational conglomerate when it comes to your own personal brand.  What\u2019s the up side?  Is there risk involved?  If so\u2026how do I minimize it?  As any business leader will tell you, you need to be constantly improving what you know, who you know and how your work is perceived.  Why not apply this theory to your own personal brand?\r\n2. Listen up!\r\n\r\n\r\nOne of the most crucial components of managing your own personal brand is being acutely aware of your surroundings.  Got a Google alert set up for your own name yet?  Have you added your name to Sparks?  If not, do it now.  You might be quite surprised to see the results that come back.  Likewise, monitoring important events, key players, and news in your industry will keep you in the know, adding to your CEO of ME status.\r\n3. Communicate with consistency\r\n\r\n\r\nNo one individual can stay 100% focused on one topic at all times, and you\u2019re bound to comment, read about and know about a wide variety of topics.  However, this doesn\u2019t mean that you should shift the overall tone of your message simply based on the platform or topic.  Whether you\u2019re responding to a LinkedIn group regarding widgets, or commenting on a TNW post, strive to maintain the same messaging consistency across all channels.  Toss in a bit of creative help/problem solving in there, and you\u2019re well on your way to achieving ME awesomeness.\r\n4. It\u2019s all in the name\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen I say Scobelizer, what\u2019s the first thing you think of?  Ok, yes, a majority of the man\u2019s last name is in the moniker, but I\u2019ll bet 99% of you just had the thought: Robert.  Obviously, your own name would be the obvious choice, but if you\u2019re lucky enough to have an extremely common name like Dan Taylor, or something beyond the standard number of characters, you\u2019ll want to come up with a name that can be universally applicable. A service such as checkusernames.com can help you narrow down such a name.  Avoid names which might have geographical attachments to them, but adding a touch of what your passion is can be a bonus.  Even if you\u2019re not particularly interested in contributing to Squidoo, you might simply want to register an account, and user name of course, thus preventing any others from potentially detracting from your personal brand.\r\n5. Rock the boat\r\n\r\n\r\nLemmings blindly follow each other off a cliff, and the same can be true on the Web.  Remember, your personal brand will be measured only by the ideas, thoughts, actions, comments, etc. that they can be attributed to.  Adding just another \u201CMe too!\u201D to the conversation provides little to no value, and certainly isn\u2019t going to make you memorable.  Conversely however, adding an \u201CI see what you\u2019re saying here, but what if you did it like this?\u201D comment can spark a discussion allowing other readers to determine whether they want to hear more from you or not.  Either way, by avoiding the former, and practicing the latter, you\u2019re sure to separate the wheat from the chaff in seconds flat.\r\n6. Get a headshot\r\n\r\n\r\nSure, your brother took great pictures of you at last weekend\u2019s family barbecue, and it\u2019s perfectly fine to share these images, but for the CEO of ME, shouldn\u2019t you get the glam treatment as well?  Try seeking out a local professional photographer, get in touch, and tell him/her what you\u2019d like to use the image for.  Chances are, if you\u2019re willing to give them credit and a link across your various profiles, these photogs will offer you a nice reduction in pricing.  If a picture says 1,000 words, are you really putting your best face forward?\r\n7.  Monitor your digital footprint\r\n\r\n\r\nHow much about you is already out there?  If you\u2019re in the business of promoting ME, silently lurking around the internet falls into the, \u201CYou\u2019re doing it wrong\u201D category.  If you\u2019ve set up some profiles with the same name,  it\u2019s time to shift things into high gear.  But what if your past history of comments here and items there aren't exactly the same brand you\u2019d like to put forward today?  This is where an online reputation management service comes in handy.  If you\u2019ve got any skeletons hiding in your Internet closet, it\u2019s time to track them down and bury as many of them as possible.\r\n8. Fingers to the keyboard\r\n\r\n\r\nIf you\u2019re in the personal branding game, you\u2019re in it to win it, and there\u2019s no better way to up that game than by starting conversations.  Whether it\u2019s contributing to the company blog or newsletter, starting a LinkedIn thread, or writing a guest column for the local newspaper, you\u2019re never going to establish a personal brand without first letting others know where you stand.  If you\u2019re the type that likes to start sentences with, \u201CWell, it\u2019s like I always say\u2026.,\u201D go head and put your money where your mouth is, and put it in print.  In doing so, you\u2019ve upped the level of \u201Cwhat you always say\u201D by making it quotable and something that others can associate with your personal brand.\r\n9. Map out your networking master plan\r\n\r\n\r\nAs mama always told you, \u201CIt\u2019s not what you know, it\u2019s who you know,\u201D it\u2019s vitally important for your self brand that you network, network, network.  Now I\u2019m not talking about sashaying up to every Bob on the corner, as most fellow Internet travelers can smell self-serving interests a click away.  As CEO of ME, be on the lookout for other self-branders that you can establish a mutually beneficial relationship with.  Simply put: \u201Ca rising tide lifts all boats.\u201D\r\n10. Bring your personality to the table every time\r\n\r\n\r\nPerhaps a better way of saying this is, \u201CBe yourself.\u201D  With planning.  If you\u2019ve gone through all the trouble of mapping out how awesome ME will be, don\u2019t forget the single most important factor behind any brand: people.  While you might be setting off to launch the empire of ME, don\u2019t forget to bring your personality to the founders table.  People might remember your Twitter name, or be able to find you on Facebook, but chances are, they\u2019re far more likely to remember that funny comment you had about your mobile reception, and that smart comment about Apple\u2019s introduction of Thunderbolt.\r\n\r\nBy applying the above techniques you\u2019re not only building your personal brand, but in doing so, you\u2019ve achieved the added bonus of keeping tabs on your Internet past, and ensuring the best possible presentation of You, CEO of ME going forward!"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2011/07/20/the-ceo-of-me-10-personal-online-branding-tips/>