Comments on: What you say online IS your personal brand!

By: Dixie Gillaspie

Dixie Gillaspie — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:26:57 +0000

Interestingly enough this link was sent to me as an @ mention by someone to whom I responded on twitter. I send him an @ mention after I got HIS autoDM informing me that he wouldn’t follow me unless I clicked on a validation link. I let him know “thanks but if you don’t have time to read my stream and see I’m real you don’t have time for me.” Now I would much prefer to have that conversation privately but – since he won’t follow me until I jump through his hoops I don’t have the option of a DM. He seems to think I am ruining MY brand by letting him know how I feel about autoDMs and validation services but the simple fact is that my brand – on twitter and anywhere – is about engagement. I don’t auto follow, I don’t auto follow back and I don’t auto DM – PERIOD. I consider a validation service the highest form of arrogance as it basically sends a message that “I’m too important to look at your tweet stream to determine if you are a real person that I might have an interest in engaging with but YOU are such a NON-important person that I think you need to take still another step for the privilege of having ME follow YOU.” I WAS disappointed since I had followed him after a close friend listed us both in a #FF tweet.

I guess since that is a PRIVATE message he doesn’t consider it rude (or at least not a rudeness that will affect his brand) but I wonder if all the people who use that service know that is now part of THEIR brand. I have accumulated over 7000 followers (not by trying really but…) without using those tactics and I, like you, have had great convos with a great many of them and and always open to more conversation. Much of that conversation is through DM which means we follow each other – and somehow I’ve developed those relationships without the use of auto anything. Just people who want to connect to other people. THAT is my brand. But the best part…. I found your blog. See – alls well that ends well! I enjoyed the posts so far and will follow in the future.

By: Elaine Hewens

Elaine Hewens — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:33:11 +0000

Really interesting post, reminds me of those people who talk loudly on the train into their mobile as though no one else is listening – some of the things I hear are amazing, budgets on projects, employee disciplinary action – bank account details – it never ceases to amaze me. So online I believe you are right a great many of them don’t consider that their off the cuff comments may be picked up – I saw a few jaws drop at a recent workshop I ran on career management when I mentioned this!

By: Keith Robinson

Keith Robinson — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:30:26 +0000

Hi Greg, as one of Bill’s “merry men” at his up coming unconference you have hit a really on a real trueism. I do a lot of work on “Personal Branding” with MBA’s students and am amazed how “own” they assume they can be in what they write.
I suspect it is the “private/intimate” nature of our relationship with the laptop, it seems like when we are online in our very private personal space writing we seem to forget that once we hit send/tweet we forget that we become a “publisher”.
BUT what is great about your story is not the fool BUT the power of the community to defend and their is a bigger lesson their regarding brands and personal branding.

Takecare sir and next time you are in London look me up

Keith Robinson

By: Gary Franklin

Gary Franklin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:15:19 +0000

Excellent post Greg – a great reminder to us all and to those who think that “anything goes” online.

By: Barnaby Rands

Barnaby Rands — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:06:15 +0000

Nice post Greg,

Obama warned us of exactly this a few months ago. When addressing a classroom of primary school children, his message was “be careful what you post on facebook”

By: Sheila (@stinginthetail)

Sheila (@stinginthetail) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:09:22 +0000

just had something similar happen to me – agree completely about them damaging themselves. Mine was a celebrity – who decided after i tweeted him, that i was a nothing he could abuse with impunity, even in a public forum (Twitter).

Whilst trying not to be part of any flame war, i decided not to take his crap. I blocked him, but I’ve been able to get an interesting blog on it. Last i saw, he was still abusing people for RT’ing my blog post on him. What a charming person he’s portraying himself as.

I had similar experiences with my followers – people RT’d my blog on it, DM’d, and have been wonderfully supportive. Humans, eh?

By: Paula Lee Tuveson

Paula Lee Tuveson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:44:55 +0000

Two good reminders (lessons) in your story.

1. When you know you’ve done the right thing, step back and allow the situation to correct itself, and

2. Your integrity is all you have, and if that’s in check then #1 will work

By: Laura Vezer

Laura Vezer — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:12:36 +0000

G’day Greg!

A great reminder that “we are what we write.”

Have a great day!

By: Meg Guiseppi

Meg Guiseppi — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:54:49 +0000

What an unfortunate thing to happen to you, Greg.

If this person’s tweet were completely true, I think his brand reputation would still be tarnished.

Being snarky on social media (or anywhere), even if your personal brand is all about snarkiness, will probably discredit you. Most people don’t like reading this kind of thing.

Before they publish disparaging remarks, those nasties should consider that they can have a huge ripple effect that bounces back to bite them.

I haven’t been hit that hard by an online remark about me yet, but I suppose it’s only a matter of time. You handled it very well. It’s always better to ignore someone like that. I’m glad your close and distant network rallied around you to diminish the sting.

By: Alexia Leachman

Alexia Leachman — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:11:38 +0000

What a great story to remind us of the importance of personal branding and why it’s something that affects us all. So many people I meet don’t seem to understand why personal branding is relevant to them. This example illustrates beautifully, why when we’re in the online space, we must always be mindful of the impression that we create, because that is our brand.

Greg, thanks for sharing.