Building Your Personal Brand: EDGEucational Forum

Building Your Personal Brand: EDGEucational Forum was put on by Sacramento's Metro Edge Group, a fine collection young but polished achievers. The forum was headed by Michele McCormick, an executive VP at Circlepoint. Her sage-like presence anchored the forum well. After arriving too late to network I did some quick eating so that my stomach wouldn't interrupt my brain's sometimes hit and miss ability to find the gold. Here are a few brand building points if you missed this event:

1. Everyone has a brand. Determine what yours is and what is shaping it.

2. Nothing is private on the internet. You must assume everything can and will be read by anyone.

3. It's better to not be out there (with a public presence on the Internet)than be out there incorrectly.

4. Be as collaborative as possible. Answering questions and giving advice shape your expert status. Don't be afraid that helping others will diminish your prospects. It widens your circle of influence. Linked-In groups are a good place to do this in but don't forget to help out your co-workers.

5. Your elevator pitch will be more successful if it involves asking questions about the other person and being genuinely interested in them as well.

6. If you have a company website be sure to feature your employees on the site. The personal connection makes a difference with customers and makes employees feel apart of something.

7. Actively manage the message you are sending out however don't make it so different from the truth that people are disappointed when they meet the real you.

8. Take up Golf. Michele reports that in her experience it's a subject many can and do talk/relate about.

9. Check out Klout.com and discover how much you are getting e-mentioned. (Klout actually looks like it may help me keep an eye on my work social media campaign. At first look, I see facebook and twitter integration but I'll have to dig deeper to discover how they measure other activity.)

I had to run before networking time but much thanks to MetroEdge a Drexel University for hosting!