Importance of Online Personal Branding

We were talking about online personal branding last night. The beautiful fireworks display had just ended. Everyone had enjoyed the food and drink we brought to share.

Fireworks view from Julie Spira’s rooftop terrace in Marina Del Rey

Julie Spira and I were explaining the value of a Google profile to a few of the party guests. Someone asked, ‘Why would I want to be more visible on the internet?’ The answer is: because you are already there – whether you like it or not. A profile you create yourself offers a free and easy way to represent yourself more accurately. (For more information about Google profiles you may like to read this article from Time Magazine.)

We threw this party specifically for Los Angeles based SingularCity.com community members. Julie and I started talking about doing the party just four days earlier but that’s the advantage of an Online Social Community, you can move very quickly. (OK …. Girls Who Get Things Done is a factor here).

Coming back to our discussion about the internet in our lives, Julie smartly pointed out to the internet wary participants in the dialogue, ‘it was the internet that got you to this gathering wasn’t it? If you weren’t a member of an online community (SingularCity) you wouldn’t even know about this party!’

I like to write about the value of the intersection of online and offline relationships and last night’s 4th of July SingularCity gathering would be a great example.

Having spent 20 of my July 4th’s in Japan, which needless-to-say does not celebrate the American birthday, I very much appreciated a close-up view of the fireworks shared with a lovely group of people.

LindaSherman

When you set up a new Google profile, watch out for saving your work. The Page doesn't start saving until you hit "create profile." Double check by saving again.

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Kim Calvert

Leave it to Linda to find yet another thing I have to add to my to-do list!
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Doctor B

Thank you for your sharing.

I am truly sorry to had missed the event, and equally saddened not to have joined in the topic of cogitation. As with any community, on and offline, we stumble across the good, the bad, and the ugly. SingularCity has done a fantastic job at minimizing the bad and the ugly and has been most successful at crossing over the virtual to the genuine in existence. As for presenting yourself via any online medium, it gives us all yet another chance to put our best foot forward. However in many cases its our other notorious foot that gets stuck in our mouths covered with saliva akin to a St. Bernard play with his favorite chew toy.

Hope to hear more...

Bob Conti

Very good topic Linda.. Why not carve out a spot for yourself on the information highway? Most people that I know are already members of "Facebook" and "MySpace". Most of us have a URL that will come up on almost any search engine. I don't know how helpful a "Google Profile" would be to me. I tend to get my business from an already established network and fortunately, the hits that come up for "Bob Conti" online are in pretty good shape. But if you check it out and it looks like something you might want to do, I say ... "Just Do it".

Great Party with really great people. Thanks again Julie, Linda, and to all of you who came and shared the evening with us.

The food was so good, especially the Ravioli :-)

Thanks Brandy and Tom. You were both missed at the Singular Fireworks party.

I'm glad we agree that on-line visibility makes sense. Have you succeeded in converting any exposure resistant friends or family?

Julie Spira

I already had a Google profile, but updated mine last night after our conversation. It's a combination of my LinkedIn profile, which is mostly business, plus my social networking sites, along with a few links of related media. It's a great snapshot and I agree with Marsha that it could be the business card of the future.

The Google Profile can be a perfect combination of your business and social networking identities.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.
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Tom Bunzel

I suppose the more visibility you have, both personally and professionally, the more opportunities are likely to come your way. There is no need to puff yourself up or hype yourself, but being visible and real online is a good way to expand your horizons in the "real world" - you never know who's looking, reading and what events are available to attend until you make yourself part of life. I haven't done a Google profile yet, but I appeciate the tip and it's now on my list.

Brandy Sprunger

I'm so sad I couldn't go :( But what a great topic for discussion! I can understand the hesitation from some, but as you pointed out, we are all out there already anyway. My profile name 'animlgrl' has been with me for 12+ years now, and people actually recognize me by it. This leads them to see what I do, where I'm from and makes it easy for them to find and contact me. I'm very protective of it, and I believe it has helped me in my career, especially in the last 5 or so years.
Again, great topic! Curious what others thoughts are....

Thanks Marsha. Actually when I was talking about setting up a Google profile last night, I suggested that they look to yours as an example of a good one.

Marsha Collier

A Google profile may become the online business card of the future. It makes sense - and it's free. I've ported my personal name URL to my profile so people can see all there is to see about me in one place, and the Google profile remains within my own control.