Personal Branding: Snapshots from Blissdom

What follows are excerpts from my notes from the Personal Branding Session at Blissdom. Reading back through it made me think these three ladies should be teaching life lessons, not just social media & marketing!
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Speakers: Shelly Kramer (V3 Integrated Marketing), Liz Strauss (Successful Blog), Allison Worthington (Allison Worthington Media)

Session: Personal Branding- Defining “You” Online (Business Track)
Description: Your blog and social media presences are a digital representation of you, so make sure you are putting your best foot (or most gorgeous shoe) forward whenever you are leaving a social media footprint. Focus on building a stellar personal brand for yourself, your blog and your career and how to most successfully promote yourself with social media.

Alli’s Philosophy: "Do the most good for the most people. And be transparent."

Liz: The person I want to be in 5 years – what would she do? That’s what I try to do. Also keep in mind that we all belong. It’s a big space.

Shelly: Twitter -- one really good thing you can do is follow people you think are doing cool stuff and you don’t need permission to stalk them. Pick the people and follow them and model yourself on their best practices.

Question from audience: How to change your focus/blog name/etc. when worried about alienating or losing people?

Alli: You have to have a passion for what you're doing. If you’ve lost that passion and you need to refocus or start over to get it back – you have to just do it. There has to be a passion for it.

Shelly: It’s just easier to be you. If you don’t like me on my blog, you won’t like me in person either. This is why it’s ok for clients to see my blog.

Alli: If I’m in a bad mood I stay off Twitter. 'Authentic' doesn’t mean that you say or blog or tweet everything that pops into your head.

Liz: What is the tagline on your blog? Do you know what your message is? There has to be a message. Set your goals accordingly. It doesn’t have to be your only message…

“This is my friend Alli. She is ________.”
“This is my web site. It is ________.”

Online and offline is becoming more seamless. It is very hard to stay anonymous. Don’t ever think people can’t find you.

Question: How do you establish yourself as an expert in your field?

Liz: Just start telling people you are. (smiles slyly...you have to love her!)

Alli: I had no strategy, I just worked really, really, really hard. Be everywhere. Be helpful.

Liz: Madonna – think of all the people she’s been. Decide what you’re going to be, then be it. But make it about the other people, bring them with you, tell them what you’re doing and make them part of it.

Liz: Ask yourself, "What do you want to be known for?"

Make it fun, easy, meaningful. People will be attracted. People will be proud to pass it on.
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All excellent life (and social media) advice, isn't it?