I don’t think of myself as a career counselor and mentor, but other people seem to. Lately I’m getting these questions a lot: How did you get there? How can I get a promotion? Should I quit my job? How can I start a consulting business? How did you get started in social media?

What does it mean when people start wanting to know what it takes to get ...]]> Or . . . How Did you Get from Here to There

I don’t think of myself as a career counselor and mentor, but other people seem to. Lately I’m getting these questions a lot: How did you get there? How can I get a promotion? Should I quit my job? How can I start a consulting business? How did you get started in social media?

What does it mean when people start wanting to know what it takes to get what you got that you have?

Almost two years ago, I wrote two posts that I still recommend today:

Write from the Start . . . How to Launch a Creative Consultancy

Getting Started with New Media Consulting

I was thinking about writing a here to there post later, maybe in August when it’s closer to my company’s 20th anniversary [and I will write a longer one then – so stay tuned]. Since I’ve gotten several requests for career counseling, all from well-meaning folks, I decided to answer the frequently asked questions I get about who I am and what I do.

Let’s start out with a very illuminating insight . . .

Sitting in the back seat on a late night car ride home, two young ladies told me who they are. One said: I am a raconteur. The other said: I am a healer. I asked: What am I? They both said: Only you know.

So, you go first. Who are you and who do you want to be?

Not when you grow up, because hopefully you’ll always be a bit childlike, but right now, tomorrow and the next day.

If you contacted me and you’ve found your way here because of this link, my personal apologies for not letting you buy me lunch so you can “pick my brain” right away. Before we meet in person, I’ll save you time by answering questions. I’ll also ask you to think about what you need to know. I hope you find this helpful and that you achieve all of the success you deserve, both in your personal and professional lives.

Did you catch that? “Achieve all of the success you deserve.”

What does success mean to you? More money, free time, prestige, power, connections, travel? Take a minute to write down what success means to you.

For me, success is not about money – it was once, but it’s not now. Now it’s about reaching and teaching.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been in social media?

My fascination with technology and communications goes back to sixth grade when I was the audio-visual person for my school. The only reason I took the job was that I didn’t get picked to be a patrol girl and I wanted to have some responsibility. I found out I really liked A/V stuff. In high school, I led the radio club – early podcaster? Backing up a bit, at 10 I took my Brownie camera to Springfield and took pictures of a historic tree coming down at Abe Lincoln’s house – a photojournalist?. At 17, I wrote my first computer program as an accounting student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Three years later, as a senior marketing major, my business and technical writing professor offered to recommend for a position as a writer at a company in Chicago. I said no thanks, I want to be a sales rep.

Wait – the question is “How long have you been in social media?”

To me, social media is about technology, communications and relationships that mix online and in real life encounters bonded by a glue we call relationships. If you’re talking about two-way communication on social networks, I’ve been on LinkedIn since May 23, 2005 and on twitter since March 17, 2003. Facebook? At least three years. Blogging? Taught my first course in fall 2004 and started this blog in 2006.

How can I start a social media consultancy?

Yes, people do ask me to help them write their business plan over lunch. Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. Read The E-Myth first. And, take a look at the links mentioned earlier in this post.

I want to do what you do.

Oh- are you talking about being a mom, photographer, entrepreneur, wife, blogger, volunteer, leader – what? What about what I do is attractive? Who do you want to be in three to five years?

Do you make megabucks?

How many is mega?

Will you share your plan?

Yes, watch what I do – it’s all out there.

Can I pick your brain?

No, you may not. Have you ever been through the Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit at The Field Museum? Yes? Then, you know why it’s offensive to suggest that you do that to someone else.

Can I buy you lunch or a drink?

Yes, if we don’t talk about social media or work, we’re friends and we have something to celebrate together.

Can you help me get social media and PR speaking and consulting gigs?

Believe or not, people really do ask me to recommend them for the same kinds of business opportunities I’m after. Much better: be a peer and find out how can we refer each other. Would you think of asking your competitor to recommend you without knowing how to refer them?

Do you know lots of people?

Yes.

Should I start my own business or work for someone else?

Do you need more than one income besides yours to survive?

What should I do first?

Know three things: what kinds of work you love doing, what kinds of companies you want to work for and how you want to make your money.

Can you help me find a job?

That’s your job. But, if I do find a way to make a connection for you, I will.

How about you – how did you get hired or start your business? What other questions do you want me to answer?

Photo provided by Shutterstock.com in exchange for credit – thanks Shutterstock!

Thanks to my friend and seminar marketing pro, Jenny Hamby, I can now say, “I co-authored a book with social media superstars.” Today’s post features an excerpt from my chapter. I’m the book’s LinkedIn expert.

Jenny’s the one who suggested I talk with Mitch Meyerson about contributing to his book, Success Secrets of the Social Media Superstars. Published by Entrepreneur Press, the book includes about 20 social media authors and will be in bookstores this summer.

Mitch is the author of ...]]>

Thanks to my friend and seminar marketing pro, Jenny Hamby, I can now say, “I co-authored a book with social media superstars.” Today’s post features an excerpt from my chapter. I’m the book’s LinkedIn expert.

Jenny’s the one who suggested I talk with Mitch Meyerson about contributing to his book, Success Secrets of the Social Media Superstars. Published by Entrepreneur Press, the book includes about 20 social media authors and will be in bookstores this summer.

Mitch is the author of eight books, including Mastering Online Marketing and Guerrilla Marketing On The Internet. Featured as an expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Mitch has trained and certified over 350 coaches in his acclaimed Guerrilla Marketing Coach Certification Program.

Mitch and I met up in Chicago where he presented a program on how to boost your sales with online marketing, sponsored by Entrepreneur Magazine.

Read more about Mitch Meyerson on Amazon. A talented author, coach and musician, Mitch also publishes the blog,Mastering Online Marketing.

12 Steps to Transform a LinkedIn Profile Into an Always-on Networking Hub by Barbara Rozgonyi cross-posted from Mastering Online Marketing

1. Use Keywords to Help People Find You.
Keywords are the search terms people use to find information online. The keywords people use to find you and your business might point to your profession, service, location, area of expertise or even the problems you solve. Optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords in your headline, summary, expertise and your job title and descriptions.

2. Upload a Flattering Profile Photo that Matches Your Image
Worth at least 1,000 (maybe 100,000) words), a LinkedIn profile picture conveys your business image to the world. Are you casual, relaxed, authoritative, intellectual?

3. Write a Catchy Headline that Grabs Attention
Your headline describes who you are and what you do. This isn’t necessarily the title on your business card. Sort of a personal tagline, your headline stands out when people see your profile.

4. Summarize Your Talents into Sound Bites
The summary section is the place to make your personal brand statement. Given that attention is shrinking down into text-message and tweet-size sound bites, it’s important to be concise, informative and engaging. Use bullets to make your main points.

5. Cover Every Position for Maximum Exposure
Expand your connection potential by listing all relevant former companies and positions. Break up your current experience into categories like speaker, consultant and author to broaden your skill set. Then, people can recommend you for each individual position.

6. Route Traffic to Three Destinations
In addition to a place for your twitter ID, LinkedIn lets you list three websites. Consider including your company website, a link to your Facebook page and another to a landing page that collects database information. Use the URL or, better yet, a phrase that describes the site.

Check out six additional LinkedIn profile networking tips over at Mitch’s blog.
Find Mitch Meyerson on LinkedIn.

Preview Barbara Rozgonyi’s LinkedIn profile.

Add Your Voice to the Conversation

How do you use LinkedIn?

What’s your biggest question about how to use LinkedIn?

Learn how to leverage your LinkedIn profile into a powerfull business and social network.

Note: This is not a “look how great I am!” post. This IS a thanks to The Business Ledger for the contribution opportunity and a huge shout of appreciation to everyone ...]]> “Twitter has a place in business. Twitter combines two of this year’s hottest Internet marketing trends — real time updates and local search – into one simple, concise update box.” excerpt from “Taking Flight with Twitter” article, viewed – as of today – 2842 times according to The Business Ledger.

Note: This is not a “look how great I am!” post. This IS a thanks to The Business Ledger for the contribution opportunity and a huge shout of appreciation to everyone who read it and passed it on. It’s also a place to begin a dialogue about how twitter works for you and your business. So, please share in the comment box.

Hatching a Twitter for Business Article

After presenting at The Business Ledger’s Newsmaker Forum as social media speaker on the topic of twitter for business, editor Jeremy Stoltz graciously asked me if I would like to contribute an article. Set at 750 words, the article summarizes the background of my talk and sets up an action plan. Here’s a brief clip.

Taking Flight with Twitter by Barbara Rozgonyipublished by The Business Ledger on April 16, 2010
Twitter’s search engine (http://search.Twitter.com) searches updates instantaneously. Test it out the next time you’re watching a game, going to an event or want to follow what other people have to say about you, your business, your industry or the competition. Use Twitter’s advanced search option to fine-tune your search by location or people, (http://search.Twitter.com/advanced).

So what, exactly, is Twitter? Twitter is a social media platform that connects people through messages, known as “tweets,” that measure up to 140 characters long, including the user’s Twitter ID. To give you an idea of the actual length, the previous sentence is 141 characters long, or 140 without the period.

Response to Taking Flight with Twitter Article by Barbara Rozgonyi

Google results for “Taking Flight with Twitter”
Want to see where your post or article lands? Type the title or a content clip into the search box to track it down. Then, contact the publication or blogger to say thanks and find out how to contribute to their site.

117 Comments on Social Networks via Ubervu
Check out Ubervu to track your social mentions.

Search.twitter.com results show who is posting the article. This, to me, is the most interesting measure of distribution. You can find out who subscribes to your feed and then follow them on twitter – and thank them, too.

2842 Reads from The Business Ledger
Taking flight with Twitter
Friday, April 16, 2010 (2842 reads)

To read more about the social media panel for business presentation, check out this Business Ledger article:
Social media is a commerce driven necessity by Sherri Dauskurdas.

“Social media is not about technology and tools, it’s really about people,” said Barbara Rozgonyi, principal at CoryWest Media, LLC. “You can use Twitter to listen, you can search, respond to people for customer service. If people have a problem you can get to it right away. You can ask questions and connect with people, and you can also spy on your competition.”

How many ways do you use twitter in your business?

Image: screenshot with number of reads

With so many new social ...]]> I had this idea for a post. Every week I would update the latest social media news. I tried it a few times with my ezine subscribers. I liked it. I think they did, too. But. . . keeping track takes time and effort. This week, for the first time ever, I turned this idea over to my intern. Here’s what she came up with. What do you think?

Social Media Weekend News Updates for April 16

With so many new social media networking sites popping up, it’s hard to keep straight what is new and different with each of them, even the ones we use so frequently. Sites like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin have become a staple among the social networking sites for many of us, but even these popular sites have had many changes in 2010.

Since the development of Facebook, a lot has changed on the website, and even the most recent developments have it evolving into an even more complete social networking site. According to the Facebook Blog , some of the most recent changes have happened within the past few days. On April 13, they introduced a new Safety Center on Facebook to help put out information for parents, teens, educators, law enforcement, and all other users regarding online safety and security. Topics such as cyberbullying and what is appropriate to post are addressed. They have even partnered up with MTV and the BBC to help address these issues.

Check out Facebook’s Safety Center

Twitter has had a lot of changes since hitting the internet in 2006 as well. According to the Twitter Blog , just this last month, Twitter introduced a set of web tools called @Anywhere to integrate Twitter with all of its partner Web sites like Amazon, Google and YouTube. This way, users will be able to follow a suggested user from Amazon while still shopping for the latest movies to come out that week. This feature will also help create more traffic, insight and opportunities to build your social network, and your business. Find out how to use @Anywhere from twitter on your website .

Linkedin has not lagged in its updates either. This past month they introduced Linkedin in Italian and Portuguese, making it available in six different languages. In February of this year, Linkedin partnered with Microsoft to bring your professional Linkedin network right into your Microsoft Outlook Inbox. This partnership allows Linkedin users to be able easily add previous contacts to their Linkedin network, keep track of what your Linkedin contacts are working on, and it even creates a Linkedin contacts folder for you. For further information on this, and even more social media for business developments on Linkedin, check out The Linkedin Blog. Know a job seeker? Check out LinkedIn’s new Premium Job Seeker Account. Yes, you do have to pay for it.

What was newsworthy for you this week? Did you see these stories?

Ning’s Bubble Bursts: No More Free Networks, Cuts Staff by 40%
Twitter Announces Promotional Tweets
AP Stylebook finally changes “Web site” to “website”

Report: Groupon Valued at $1.2 Billion

Thanks, as always, for sharing your opinions and comments. Stay updated with social media marketing and PR news delivered directly to your inbox.

Image credit goes to Shutterstock, a fantastic photo site that gives us access to the library in exchange for a credit.

Last summer I donated a social media consulting session ...]]> I love silent auctions. Bidding on donated items is fun, especially if you’re the winner. At the event, charities or organizations raise funds and awareness. And, donating items to be displayed online or at an event is good publicity. Everybody wins: the organization raises funds, your business gets promoted and the winner gets a service they need. Ideally, you will reach new prospects and the auction winner will become a client.

Last summer I donated a social media consulting session to Biz Bash, an event that takes place this year on June 3 from 5:30-8:30pm at The Murphy, located at 50 E. Erie in Chicago. I got to know Lynn Hazan of Lynn Hazan and Associates, who does a terrific job of heading up the Windy City Biz Bash Auction Team who says, “The Biz Bash auction brings together buyers and sellers in a fun and creative environment. It’s easy to talk with people, especially when they are bidding for your donation! The bidders love getting items that may not necessarily be available to the general public. Everyone wins, the donor, bidder and BMA!”

Thanks to Pon Angara of Barkada Creative, assistant BMA auctions chair, for the background information for this post.

Surprisingly, to me, my 2009 social media consulting package turned out to be a popular item. I enjoyed working with the branding agency that placed the top bid. It was their first BMA event and mine as well.

In thinking about what to donate to Biz Bash this year, I came up with 10 silent auction donation guidelines for business based on my many years of experience as an event planner, silent auction enthusiast and PR consultant. Matching your business to the organization’s member demographics or charity’s cause is really the first step. Look for opportunities to grow relationships.

10 Silent Auction Donation Guidelines for Business

1. Partner with a charity or organization that will promote your donation and involvement. Once a group called to ask my business for a donation. I said what do businesses get? Nothing was the answer. Oh, well, here’s what I think you should do, I said. Do you have event communications? Yes. Mention them there and at the event. How nice to see that this group now lists businesses along with their logos in all pre-event communications.

2. Package your donation to fit the event, both in terms of price and presentation. Silent auctions often display lavish baskets. Dropping off a shopping bag of stuff is impolite. Donate the frames that display certificates and baskets you use for packaging.

3. Consider donating art, tickets, or gift certificates to a restaurant or spa instead of services. Services firms might donate a night on the town package, which is simple to put together, may get higher bids and has no service strings attached. I’m thinking of the time someone donated a winter’s worth of snow clearing worth hundreds of dollars. The package sold for $125. Would it have been better to put together a warm up winter gift worth $125?

4. Set a deadline for professional services and be willing to extend it once or twice. I like to set mine within three months of the event. If you can, find out who purchased your services and for how much. Contact them right after the event to thank them and schedule the service.

5. Be absolutely clear on what you’re giving away – number of hours, appointments, etc. Don’t let the donation scope creep out of the agreed upon range. Position the package as an introductory consultation to determine whether or not you want to begin a business relationship.

6. Think about donating several smaller prizes instead of one jumbo package that most likely won’t get what you’re asking for. More prizes get you more attention. Ask the event planners about expected bidding ranges and minimum bids, though.

7. Are you an artist and a business owner? Show off your artistic side by donating a piece you’re willing to part with. Every time the winner looks at your art, they will be reminded of you and your business.

8. Go to the event, especially if you’re offering a bigger prize or your company will get good exposure out of being there. This is a huge opportunity that most people miss. You might even ask for a minute or so to thank the attendees and let them know if they have any questions – at all – about what you do you’ll be standing right by your prize to answer them.

9. Write compelling copy. Draw people in with a headline or a question. Then, list the benefits and features of winning. Add in a short bio and giveaway a book.

10. Promote your involvement via your social networks and company communications. BMA Chicago asked if I would consider writing a post about attending their 2009 BizBash. I said yes. Why? The event is well run, has a great reputation and gave my business good visibility. Here’s what I’m donating this year.

Social Media Espresso – One Strong Shot, Straight Up
Go from “I don’t get it” to “I’m working it and it’s working!!”
Tired of taking seminars, going to meetings, reading blogs and thinking without clicking? Then, it’s time to take strategic action! In this laser-focused 90 minute session, you’ll find out where to locate your people and how to become someone everybody wants to know on LinkedIn, Facebook or twitter. Wake up to what social media can do for you – personally and professionally. Session may be conducted in a conference call. You keep the recording. Must be redeemed by September 30, 2010. Choose one primary platform: LinkedIn, Facebook or twitter. Includes review of existing profiles based on the Wired PR Works approach. Value $500

About Barbara Rozgonyi . . .
Founder of Social Media Club’s Chicago chapter, Barbara leads CoryWest Media, LLC a marketing and communications consultancy founded in 1990. Package includes a copy of “Success Secrets of the Social Media Superstars” by Mitch Meyerson to be published by Entrepreneur Press in summer 2010. Barbara is the author of the LinkedIn chapter and was named one of the top 30 PR experts to follow on twitter by ereleases.com.

Can’t wait to get the package? Check out over 730 marketing and PR articles on Barbara’s blog, http://wiredPRworks.com and subscribe to weekly social media updates at http://savvysocialmedia.com

Written by Barbara Rozgonyi, publisher of Wired PR Works, CEO of CoryWest Media, LLC and founder of Social Media Club Chicago who loves to help businesses develop digital relationships.

Interested in trends, too? Here’s the Source: www.trendwatching.com. One of the world’s leading trend firms, trendwatching.com sends out its free, monthly Trend Briefings to more than 160,000 subscribers worldwide.

Being a Brand Butler means becoming a servant to your customers.

For me and my company, that means being there whenever they need us. We might construct marketing plans, potish ...]]> I love watching and reporting on trends. Trendwatching’s April brief reports on the Brand Butler, “why serving is the new selling” trend.

Interested in trends, too? Here’s the Source: www.trendwatching.com. One of the world’s leading trend firms, trendwatching.com sends out its free, monthly Trend Briefings to more than 160,000 subscribers worldwide.

Being a Brand Butler means becoming a servant to your customers.

For me and my company, that means being there whenever they need us. We might construct marketing plans, potish blog posts, tidy social media profiesl, write letters, drive traffic, put out fires, retell their stories or speak for them when they need a voice.

What is a Butler?
Maybe you’ll recognize some characters on this list of fictional butlers.. Butler is also a utility for automating repetitive tasks in Mac OS X by Peter Maurer. Download Butler for Mac. Butler is also a university in Indianapolis that won the NCCA western division last Saturday.

There’s so much great information in the Brand Butler brief, including dozens of real life examples, that I know you’ll want to read it in detail after you take in these highlights I selected to share with you.

Build a Brand Butler omnipresence online and offline.

Online: To get ideas, scan the iPhone App Store, Google’s Android Market, and Blackberry’s App World.

Offline: One popular offline Brand Butler tactic is to open permanent or temporary branded public spaces tied to events or locations. At these Brand Butler stations, brands interact and assist visitors and customers with brand-relevant services.

Brand Butler relationships allow for built-in feedback and co-creation in eight categories
1. Transparency & ‘In the know’
2. Saving money
3. Finding
4. Connectivity
5. Health, nutrition & exercise
6. Skills & advice
7. Eco
8. Tools & amenities

Brand Butlers in Action from Trendwatching’s Report

Van Cleef & Arpels offers a day in Paris iPhone app with a gudie through ‘a poetic ballad in Paris,’ discovering romantic venues around the city.

Beck’s Gig Finder app map and GPS finds local music gigs.

Chevrolet teamed up with the 2010 SXSW festival to offer the Chevy Volt Recharge Lounge with where visitors could enjoy refreshments and recharge their electronic devices. The brand also offered a ‘Catch a Chevy’ service, which offered festival-goers lifts around Austin.

In 2007, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and Nutricia opened the free Schiphol Babycare Lounge, featuring seven circular “cabins”. Facilities include a changing area, baby baths and a microwave for heating food.

A hands-on start would be to establish the themes your brand is about, and dream up an integrated ‘suite’ of Brand Butler services, both online and offline.

Source: www.trendwatching.com. One of the world’s leading trend firms, trendwatching.com sends out its free, monthly Trend Briefings to more than 160,000 subscribers worldwide.

Sometimes butlers rescue their masters from fires as Alfred did in Batman Begins.
“Why do we fall sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.”

Quite often, we serve as storytellers who solve mysteries as Wadsworth, who plays a butler, in the movie Clue. How do you serve as a brand butler for your customers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vjJRWQQXA8

So, what we can get you today?

Image source: Thanks to shutterstock.com for granting usage rights in exchange for credit, which I am happy to give.

The Top 10 Most Trusted and Recommended Brands in ...]]> A new report, “Beyond Trust: Engaging Consumers in the Post-Recession World,” defines “trust” and “recommendation,” as the key ingredients to brand success. Amazon.com, a site where customer reviews influence buying decisions, is number one. To measure results, the researchers developed the TrustR factor; 27% of brands scored above average. Compare these results with another study of the most valued brands in the U.S. and you’ll see two different lists.

The Top 10 Most Trusted and Recommended Brands in the U.S.
Amazon.com
FedEx
Downy
Huggies
Tide
Tylenol
Toyota
WebMD
Pampers
UPS (United Parcel Service)
Source: Millward Brown
Note: Study conducted over the course of 2009, prior to Toyota’s recent recall

Millward Brown’s “Beyond Trust” study also revealed:
- consumers spend less or no money on brands they don’t trust in a tight economy
- the number one brand was nearly seven times more likely to be purchased
- consumers are 10 times more likely to have formed a strong bond with these brands

“When a person recommends a brand they put their own personal trust and credibility on the line. They are only willing to recommend brands which themselves have proven reliable and trustworthy,” said Nigel Hollis, EVP and Chief Global Analyst of Millward Brown. “Amazon.com, the brand ranked first in the U.S. by TrustR, has achieved that status through exceptional service and providing its own recommendations to users. This combination has made Amazon the gold standard of trust and recommendation in the U.S.”

The BrandFinance® Global 500′s Most Valued Brands in the US
Brandirectory is an online encyclopedia of brands where financial results, visual identities, trademark histories and the latest marketing news will be compiled and shared.
Wal-Mart
Google
Coca-Cola
IBM
Microsoft
GE
HP
AT&T
Bank of America
Verizon
Amazon – number 24

The top 10 most trusted and top 10 most valued brand lists are different. What do you think? Would you rather be most valued or most trusted? How does PR affect value and trust?

Image courtesy of shutterstock.com

Adding another layer of personalization, LinkedIn now lets you present your profile in the order that best represents you and your profile.

Customizing your profile’s section ordering is quick and easy. You will notice that the headers of each of the sections on your “Edit Profile” page now have handles that can be dragged. To reorder a section, all you need to do is click and drag one of these section headers up or down the body of your profile. ...]]>

Adding another layer of personalization, LinkedIn now lets you present your profile in the order that best represents you and your profile.

Customizing your profile’s section ordering is quick and easy. You will notice that the headers of each of the sections on your “Edit Profile” page now have handles that can be dragged. To reorder a section, all you need to do is click and drag one of these section headers up or down the body of your profile. When you release the mouse, the section will drop into place where you dragged it, and your adjustment will take effect immediately. LinkedIn Blog

Former LinkedIn Profile Layout
Summary
Applications
Experience
Education
Recommended By
Additional Information
Personal Information
Contact Settings

Now, it’s up to you to rearrange your profile in the way that best represents you.

Want more connections? Move personal information up.

Have some really cool app action? Put it at the top.

Profile brimming with recommendations? Size it up first to see how the list looks to the reader.

And, while you’re at it . . . check out the top 10 ways to quickly become a subject matter expert using LinkedIn.

What will you place first, last?

1. How do we manage negative feedback about our product/services? Monitor comments, respond immediately online and contact personally. Most blogs give you the option of approving all comments before they go up. On Facebook, you can delete ...]]>

How do you handle negativity, privacy, branding, security on Facebook? Thanks to a reader who asked these questions about Facebook and their business. Have IRL [in real life] questions you need answered? Leave them in the comment box, text 630.207.7530 or email corywestmedia @gmail.com.

1. How do we manage negative feedback about our product/services?
Monitor comments, respond immediately online and contact personally. Most blogs give you the option of approving all comments before they go up. On Facebook, you can delete comments on your page. The biggest concern here is not monitoring mentions. You can almost always reply. If you don’t then there’s a comment out there against you.

2.How do team members manage security of their personal information vs. business information?
Set profile views to friends or connections only. Companies may choose not to list employees in their profile. Employees will show up automatically on a LinkedIn company profile. People may choose not to list their employer on Facebook or twitter.
Educate your team members on how to protect their privacy with resources like these USA Today on Facebook privacy and Facebook on privacy.

3. From a business ethics perspective, how do we keep from telling team members what they can or cannot put on their Facebook profile (which might be viewed by people coming to the company site?)
Unless team members are listed on the company fan page, people will need to search the company name to see who’s profile it pops up in. If the team member has an open profile, yes, everyone can see it. You really can’t control what people post on personal social media platforms. You may want to offer some suggestions like the ones in this Tech Republic article on Facebook company policies. You may want to let them know how much information they can share that relates to accounts, clients and business practices.

4.There is concern about the amount of time it takes to keep the site relevant. Who manages it?
Depending on how active your company wants to be, managing social site interaction can take as little as a few hours a week to a few hours every day. For most companies, having a main communicator and an alternate works. You can also share the responsibilities; having a consistent strategy will save time and be more effective.

5.What about the time management issue of team members spending business hours on personal Facebook?
Ask your team members for their input and think about giving them time for a social media break here and there. They can help monitor and report what’s going on within their own personal networks.

6.As for team members establishing their own personal Facebook “brand”, which face do we show our business audience? Our personal brand or the company brand?
ersonal and professional are merging into a hybrid approach. Presenting an online persona requires some thought and strategy. It’s okay to block off personal information from your business site. Every update reflects on you, personally and professionally.

Images: owl on van [in my driveway 01.18.10] copyright 2010 Barbara Rozgonyi. All rights reserved.

Your turn: How do your protect your privacy while promoting your personal brand on Facebook – or any other social media platform?

Butterflies used to be my visual brand. Why? Because I like photographing them and with the tagline “Marketing Transformations,” I though they were a natural fit. So I posted a series on my site: one for every page. But, did the images fit the brand? Here’s a replay of an article about branding methods, updated to merge with today’s contemporary takes.

Ten Branding Methods: Butterflies and Rainbows Optional

by Barbara Rozgonyi, founder of CoryWest Media, LLC

To request permission to reproduce or ...]]>

Butterflies used to be my visual brand. Why? Because I like photographing them and with the tagline “Marketing Transformations,” I though they were a natural fit. So I posted a series on my site: one for every page. But, did the images fit the brand? Here’s a replay of an article about branding methods, updated to merge with today’s contemporary takes.

Ten Branding Methods: Butterflies and Rainbows Optional

by Barbara Rozgonyi, founder of CoryWest Media, LLC

To request permission to reproduce or republish this article, contact connect AT corywestmedia DOT com.

Do your customers see you as the company or person you think you are? You can define your business and personal branding style with values, messaging and images that match the perception you want to project. In this article, you’ll take a look at the variety in the ways you can brand yourself and your company. Being consistent across the board builds brand equity and makes it easier for your customers to recruit new prospects for you.

1. Identity Design – logos, layouts, look must match your brand

While you may be a fashion plate, your business doesn’t have to be. Are your customers conservative? Then go with a strong, yet neutral image. If you’re confused about your look, your prospects will pick up on that. Interview a few graphic designers and don’t think about cost – at least at first. Investing thousands in an image pays off as your look becomes well-known. Or, you can outsource your image project to a company like CrowdSpring who has 45,000 designers ready to work on your project.

2. Virtual – Search results, Social Networking Sites

What’s your virtual branding profile? It’s easy to find out. Search for your name or company in several search engines. Click on news and images to see what’s out there. If you’re on LinkedIn , Facebook or flickr, your crowd is your brand. Be careful about who you associate with and always check profiles before you accept invitation.

3. Multimedia – videos, audios, podcasts, radio shows

If you’re a speaker or want to be interviewed as an expert, you need at least one video. Recording audios is less intimidating than shooting a video, but seeing is believing. Podcast short interview or tips to build up an audio library. Offering multimedia products positions you as being ahead of the game.

4. Word of Mouth – what’s your reputation?

What do people say about you or your company? If you ask your best customers, they’ll tell you what you want to hear. Search in forums to see who’s talking about you. Set up a survey to get anonymous feedback.

5. Awareness – do people know about you?

Some businesses and organizations think everybody knows who they are and what they do. Probably not. Employees may not even have the story straight. Think about how much awareness you need versus what you want. It’s okay if your major clients know who you are and what you do, but your neighbor only knows you grow roses.

6. Personality – what are your traits?

Do you tolerate change or fight it? What do you champion? Realize that your personality won’t click with everyone. That’s good. You want to attract people who like you. The ones who don’t will naturally go away and find someone who suits them.

7. People- who represents you – board members, staff, partners?

Cloning the perfect employee won’t work, but you can teach everyone who represents you to model the same public image with messaging, language and ethics training so that anyone who comes in contact with one of your representatives will recognize your company right away.

8. Experience – what is your customer experience, could it be better, different, more impactful?

Everyone’s customer experience is part of their brand. Don’t be fabulous one day and mediocre the next. Aim for a level experience that’s set to high standards and be ready to react right away if something goes awry.

9. Community – who carries out your message????

Grow your own community and communicate with them frequently. If you do it right, you’ll know what’s on their mind and how you can better serve them.

10. Word of Mouth

The trickiest to manage and the most powerful branding of all, word of mouth is how your customers and prospects talk about you to their own community. Strategic public relations campaigns can fuel word of mouth and energize a company.

How did you do? Which of these is your most effective branding method? Which ones will you work on first?

Image credits: Shutterstock.com illustration, photography by Barbara Rozgonyi from social butterflies collection for www.thesociallens.com, copyright 2006
Disclosure: Shutterstock is waiving the licensing fee in exchange for credit, which we are pleased to provide.