The document discusses personal branding, emphasizing that everyone has a brand defined by their emotional attributes and strengths. It suggests leveraging online platforms and social media for building a personal brand and the importance of networking and authentic relationships. The presentation also covers practical steps to establish a strong personal brand, including defining strengths, starting a website, and maintaining authenticity.

1. Personal
Branding
James McCrae | nobrandlikehome.com | 01.26.2012

2. WARNING:This presentation
includes the following*:
Vanilla Ice A guy with a mustache
Shameless
Twitter plugs (follow
me @jamesmccrae) No nudity
*Proceed with caution

3. PERSONAL BRANDING

4. “Brand” = Emotional
attributes of a company
= Friendly technology The value
of brand?
= The pursuit of excellence
Product (99¢)
= Adventure and exploration
= Reliability
Brand ($2.50)

5. Here
Branding requires
focus. You can’t be
everywhere at once.
This That
There

6. Fun
Of Montreal
Outkast
Beyonce
The Killers
Traditional The Beatles Innovative
The Strokes Animal Collective
Wilco
U2
Elliot Smith Serious Radiohead

7. Companies have
brands. Musicians and
artists have brands.
Celebrities have brands.
You have a brand too.

8. Personal branding =
• Deciding who you are and what
you stand for
• Focusing on your strengths and
being OK with your weaknesses
• Asking yourself “What is the
ONE THING I want people to
remember about me?”

9. PERSONAL BRANDING

10. PERSONAL BRANDING

11. 1) Online
The easiest place to build
your personal brand in online.
Why?
• It’s immediate
• It’s cheap
• It’s open (go ahead
and experiment)
• It’s new (You can start
fresh - no peer pressure
or expectations)

12. 1) Online
Jake Sasseville (cityofsass.com) Colin Wright (exilelifestyle.com)
uses his website to promote his runs a website about business,
various TV projects. As of 2011 minimalism and world travel.
he is using the internet as an Every four months he lets his
experiment in book publishing. readers vote on which new
country he moves to. He only
owns 50 things.

13. 1) Online
?
Who used YouTube to become world famous?

14. 1) Online
Musical genius Justin Bieber

15. 2) Social Media
• Develop a style.
• Follow the right people.
• Use it for fun, informal networking.
• Don’t just talk. Don’t just listen.
Participate.
• Sometimes, it’s OK to be stupid.
(After all, it’s only social media)
PRO TIP: It’s easier to meet people online. There’s no barrier
between people. Use online introductions to build real-life
relationships.

16. 2) Social Media
• Develop a style.
• Follow the right people.
• Use it for fun, informal networking.
• Don’t just talk. Don’t just listen.
Participate.
• Sometimes, it’s OK to be stupid.
(After all, it’s only social media)
PRO TIP: It’s easier to meet people online. There’s no barrier
between people. Use online introductions to build real-life
relationships.

17. 3) Resume
Matthew Epstein
launched this
website to get
Google’s attention.
There’s no excuse for having a boring resume

18. 4) Style
These guys have
used style to get
noticed and stay
remembered
Nick Wooster
Scott Seekins Theophilus London

19. 5) Relationships
You are who
you hang
out with.
Kanye West started
Kim Kardashian became associating with Kid Cudi to
famous by association gain an underground pedigree

20. PERSONAL BRANDING

23. 7 BILLION PEOPLE
(WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT?)

24. According to ‘AOL jobs’...
70%
of new jobs are filled by networking with
people within your social circle.
(if you’re not connected you’re neglected)

25. PERSONAL BRANDING

26. 1) Define who you are
CHOOSE YOUR MOST
IMPORTANT STRENGTHS
Mary’s strengths:
• People person
• Organized
“Mary” • Good researcher
• Good writing skills

27. 1) Define who you are
RANK YOUR STRENGTHS
(And build off this foundation)
Good researcher
Good writing skills
Organized
People person

28. 2) Start a website
Having a URL is becoming as important
as having an address

29. 2) Start a website
How to get started: Platform options:
• Launch anything. Even a blog
or brief bio.
• Share the real you. (Resumes
don’t tell the whole story)
• Find your hook (this might have
nothing to do with your job)
• Develop online relationships.
• Start small. Grow.
• Don’t be “publish-shy”

30. Let’s talk about
authenticity...

31. Remember this guy?
THE GOOD
• First hip-hop single
to reach #1
• Dated Madonna
• American Music
Award for “best
new artist”
• Over 40 million
records sold

32. What do you remember most?
THE BAD
FAKE
• Lied about his past
• Stole the beat for
“Ice Ice Baby”
• Entire persona was
a fabrication
• Music industry
puppet

33. Be
Consistent
Be
Authentic
But don’t get stuck

34. You’ve found your personal
brand. Now what? Don’t just
stand there. Pivot.
Your
skill set

35. “Pivoting” is planting one foot in your
core skill set while exploring new
directions.
Side
Experiment
project
Your
skill set
Learning
Curiosity
more

36. Suddenly your skill set looks
like this...
Your
skill set

37. LET’S RECAP...
= How you show the world
who you are compared
to everyone else.
= Wherever works for
you and your goals
= To control your
reputation and be
noticed.
= With authenticity
and without fear.

38. Don’t forget to smile!
The best brands are happy, friendly, and fun.

39. Thank You!
Find me on Twitter
@jamesmccrae