9 Tips for Building Your Personal Brand

As an online entrepreneur your personal brand is critically important to your success. It is the process of building a relationship between what you represent and your readers.

Whether you set out to build a brand or not, you are building one by simply being online. People will form perceptions of you regardless, so why not have an influence on what those perceptions will be?
Below I have listed 9 tips to help you in 2010 and beyond. Why 9 and not 10? I like odd numbers, they draw more attention.  :-)

1. Establish your identity from day one. Select a nice passport style photo of yourself and use it continuously. This will become your brand and bring instant recognition of you as people become accustomed to this image.
2. Select a niche and become an authority on your chosen topic. You want to become the go-to source for answers on the topic you cover. Niche selection can sometimes require more time than you would like, but it is important to fully research your topic to avoid overwhelming competition.
3. Develop a business or marketing plan, something that will get you from A to your destination. Operating an online business is too difficult to simply feel your way. You will be operating in the blind, which will only lead to failure.
4. Become an outstanding communicator of your message. You must deliver your message in an easy to understand manner through written or audio content. Write and speak clearly and conversationally.
5. Be a contributor. Always be willing to lend a helping hand and contribute to the success of others. When others are successful they will reach out to you as well, so you are really helping yourself by helping them. This establishes valuable working relationships that that build a strong network of like-minded individuals.
6. Maintain a presence everywhere. Your readers or followers are all over the internet, and you must have a presence in many places to gain wide exposure, drawing more and more readers to your blog. Establish outpost in all of the popular hangouts on the net and maintain them regularly. Only establish what you can reasonably maintain to avoid the appearance of outdated or abandoned profiles.
7. Join a group. You will be using many social media sites and tools, so be sociable. The lone ranger approach can leave an impression of you being unapproachable or standoffish. Build a network of friends and associates, you will find the support and camaraderie to be invaluable.
8. Be authentic when interacting with others. No one likes a phony and just because you are behind that monitor, do not make the mistake of thinking that people cannot pick up on those vibes. Admit to some mistakes and let others know that you are like them, less than perfect. The respect gained by being you cannot be substituted in any way.
9. Always be positive. A positive attitude rubs off on others and makes the entire online experience what it should be. Sure, there will be times when someone brings negativity to the fore, but let them corner the market on that for themselves.

Bonus tip: Remain humble, no matter your level of success. Keep in mind that it will be your readers and followers who will make you a success and they should be rewarded for supporting your efforts.

Life online is no different than life offline, people are to be treated with respect and you will get what you give.

I enjoy blogging and all that it brings to my life. The large numbers of people I have met has made this year a very positive experience and I look forward to the continuance of the online lifestyle for many years to come.

Keep Blogging!

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