Vanessa Williams is establishing an online persona and brand as Vera Verite. She was previously a journalist but is now pursuing a Masters in Communications. She establishes her persona as friendly, intelligent and engaging through her blog posts, tweets, and social media profiles. She writes about media, current affairs, and shares personal stories and observations in a light, conversational tone. Her goal is to thoughtfully express opinions while maintaining an approachable personality.

1. Vanessa Williams is Vera Verite
http://flavors.me/veraverite

2. About me
I used to be a journalist for the mainstream media (and it
was a whole lot of fun) but I’m launching a new life. I’m
spending 2013 as a Masters of Communications student at
RMIT before kicking off a career in communications. I could
say I love travel and a new challenge – but everyone says
that, don’t they?
I have a four-year old son whom I adore, and I love
science, politics, newspapers (yeah, I know, old-fashioned),
storytelling in any form, genuine attempts at rational
thought, hugs, and mugs of tea. I write about media,
current affairs and, well, whatever passes under my nose.
No spits, no rants, no ideology. Promise.
So drop by my blog or my twitter feed or find me on
http://flavors.me/veraverite I’d love to meet you.

3. Why I said what I said
Positioning statement: intelligent, friendly, engaging.
The personal hub of a professional person.
Value proposition: I love ideas and stories but am up-
to-date and relevant.
Brand story: I am a professional media-savvy person
who doesn’t mind expressing her opinion but doesn’t
try to hide her personality.

4. How I achieved my persona
• Where possible, every blog introduced as a personal story, observation.
Fits with blog post title (Vera Verite: come away with me) and picture of
a country lane.
• Used the name Vera Verite throughout as a key identifier. For example,
``Vera says’’ is the name of my blog twitter feed
• Adopted light conversational tone in blogs and tweets
• Identifying picture was kept deliberately casual
• Began and ended blog posts the same way: Hi there; Love and truth,
Vera
• In the ``about’’ sections, used key words to imply personal
characteristics.
• Mother, loves hugs, cups of tea = friendly, approachable
• Reasoned opinion, no rants (loves science, rational thought, newspapers)
• Logical (doesn’t believe in fairies)
• Professional (identifies past career and future plans)
• Main pictures on blog and flavors.me site were of green, calm nature

5. MY BLOG: 11 posts since March 8
• Thinking about the literature
http://veraverite.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/my-
identity-my-culture-my-hybrid-and-pass-me-the-
popcorn/
• Media
mappinghttp://veraverite.wordpress.com/2013/03/
20/signs-of-the-times/
• An interest relevant to my
objectivehttp://veraverite.wordpress.com/2013/04/
22/nothing-social-about-being-alone-in-a-crowd/

6. MY TWEETS: 98 and counting
• I talk to the outside
worldhttps://storify.com/VeraVerite/vera-takes-the-twitter-
chat-challenge
• I tweet during a
lecturehttps://storify.com/VeraVerite/vera-tweets-during-
a-lecture
• I talk with my
classmateshttps://storify.com/VeraVerite/vera-chats-
about-things-gloco13
andhttps://storify.com/VeraVerite/finding-the-soul-in-twitter

7. MY
IDENTITY
MAP
Flavors.me/veraverite
Blog
Twitter
Flickr
Good
reads
As the blog matures,
vimeo and
instagram would be
interesting features.
( I had planned to use
instagram, but the app
wouldn’t let me use a false
identify from my phone.)