2000 bloggers build their personal brand

Posted by: Krishna De | Posted on: January 24th, 2007 | 4 Comments | Posted in: Business blogging, Employer Branding, Free resources, Marketing online, Personal branding

Have you ever wondered about who the people are behind the blogs?

So many times I visit a website and look for a photograph of the team in the organisation but there is no photograph to be seen.

It’s a fact that in todays impersonal fast paced world, consumers and clients are searching for a personal connection with companies.  That is why adding audio or video to your website or blog can help bring to life your corporate brand, your employer brand and your personal brand and builds an emotional connection.  (A word of caution – do ensure that audio or video is well executed or it can devalue your brand).

Remember people do business with people, not passive websites, particularly in the field of professional services.  So the more that you can express what you and your company stands for through your online brand, the more likely you are to create a positive emotional connection which will increase the chance of your website visitor becoming a client or at the very least, joining your mailing list so you can market to them over time.

I recall consulting with a board I am a member of about their new website, and was suprised that one of the senior team were adamant that they did not want their photo on their new website – their argument was that they are a researcher and should not have their photograph on the website.  It didn’t matter hat they were well published, a speaker and an expert in their field.

Yes we are often reticent about promoting ourselves, but I can guarantee that one of the first places people go to on your website is the “about us” page – they are looking for information to validate who you are and if you are someone that they might be prepared to trust in.  This is especially true in the case of professional services as people need to trust you if they are to embrace and take action on your advice and expertise.

Now as to the type of photograph to use, then that’s the subject of another post.  However whatever style of photograph you use, make sure that it accurately reflects what you look like – it needs to be authentic.  Ensure that your photograph reflects your personal brand but do make sure that it’s a professional photograph.

When people meet you they will expect you to look like your photo.  Here are 4 examples of where someone did not get their photograph on their website quite right:

1. I had one student on a programme last year and when we got to talking about using photographs on a website they mentioned they were planning to use a photogrpha that they liked of themselves and planned to use – but it was about 10 years out of date which not to be recommended.
2. Or what about the branding consultant whose photograph I saw recently on his website with a cigarette coming out of his mouth.  Now he may smoke all day and it may be an accurate reflection of him – but it’s not going to resonate well for many people and may turn off some potential clients.
3. Then there is the internet marketeer that wears a hat in their photographs.  I never understood the connection between them and the hat until they explained it to me.  And what’s more, is that at conferences people never recognised them as they don’t wear a hat all the time.
4. Or the designer who wears glasses in their phtograph on their website – and again when people meet them, they don’t get recognised as they don’t wear glasses any more!

So as you review your personal brand online, consider does your photograph reflect who you are and what you stand for – or do you need to update your online image.

Special note for bloggers: 

Many blogs don’t have photographs of their authors on them, but I can share with you 2000 blogs that do.  These 2000 bloggers are from all walks of life and all fields of expertise – some are well known and some you have not yet heard of.

So why 2000 bloggers?  Well an inspiring blogger, Tino Buntic had the idea to showcase 2000 bloggers – the only criteria to being part of the showcase is that you must have your photograph on your blog and you need to have been blogging since before 1 January 2007.

And what’s in it for the bloggers other than having their photograph alongside 1999 other bloggers?  Well of course Tino is offering a link back to your blog, potentially increasing traffic for you.

I can’t imagine how much time Tino has put into this project but it’s a great example of online networking’s first rule and that is giving to your network.  He is generously giving of his time to make this possible.  If you want to participate in the 2000 bloggers project you will find the details here – be sure to give Tino a trackback.