Misconceptions about Social Media and Personal Branding

Posted February 25th, 2010 by admin

Whenever I recommend someone start a blog the first response I get is: ‘I don’t have anything to write about.’ I also get a similar reaction when it comes to using other forms of social media: I have nothing to tweet about/I don’t get twitter; I only use facebook for friends/I don’t use facebook that much; what is LinkedIn?

Learning about the technical aspect of social media tools is easy; each major website features a handy ‘how-to.’ However, when it comes to using social media strategically to build a reputation for yourself, a big reason for reluctance is that there are many misconceptions about social media and personal branding:

• You have to have an incredibly interesting life or high powered job: No you don’t. Social media isn’t about sharing the ins and outs of your day. It’s about conversations, community, and building a positive reputation for yourself. What you need, more than anything, is to be inquisitive: asking questions, sharing ideas, and collaborating. Sharing personal information is fine as it adds a human touch and makes it easier for people to connect with you. This goes beyond position. And the ‘dear diary’ way of communicating is not going to get you anywhere.

• You have to be a shameless self-promoter: Honestly, I’ve found people on social media to be extremely ANTI-self promoter. People who are constantly going on about their products/services without actually engaging people and NOT talking about themselves get put on blast all the time; they are blocked, de-friended, or simply called out for being annoying. So no, you don’t have to do that and for the sake of your reputation you shouldn’t.

• You have to post all of the time: This is partly true. Social media is about real time conversations so updating your twitter page once a week wont fly; it will get lost and forgotten too easily. However, your goal should be strategic use not just filling people’s feeds so you stay up to date. Therefore your best bet is to come up with rhythm of updating and engaging that makes sense for you.

What do all of these misconceptions have in common? You are thinking too much about yourself. This is understandable given that the issue is personal branding. However, when it comes to social media, the emphasis is social—there are other people to consider. So instead of asking ‘how can I look better?’ ask ‘how can I help other people?’

• Focus on relationships: Whatever topic or issue you care about, remember there is probably a conversation taking place about it. Join those conversations, get to know people, and use the thoughts and resources of others to inform your own opinions. Sign up for people’s blogs, follow interesting people on twitter without worrying about them following you, and respond to people.

• Be Thoughtful: One thing I have found is that the more you engage with others (i.e. focus on relationships) the more you will have to share and think about. So take your time and create value instead of counting.

• Pay Attention: What kinds of questions or issues seem to be buzzing right now? What kind of information do people seem to be most interested in? If you have unique resources or ideas to share, do so and don’t be afraid to address the same topic but in different ways.

• Have Passion: Personal branding requires effort but should be made after you have figured out your passion. In other words, you have to have something to be branded about.

• Engage honestly and strategically: Share a little about yourself and don’t be afraid to admit when you are frustrated, confused, or struggling. Invite people to the table to share their views and ideas. Also, it’s ok to focus on two or three social media tools. There are tons out there and you really do not need to use all of them. In addition to my blog, I’m on twitter, facebook, and linkedin. LinkedIn doesn’t require that much updating but the others I am pretty active on.

You want to build a reputation as a thought leader but remember that doing so is not a solo act. When using social media, you’ll be building on ideas and connecting with new people who can challenge and enhance your own thinking. By focusing on community and harnessing your unique interests, personal branding not only comes naturally but can expose you to different people and opportunities.

For more career coaching, check out these articles:

It’s About Time You Answered Your Calling
Wrong Job or Just Bored?
Five Signals You Should Make A Change

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