Benjamin J. Balter discusses using WordPress to establish a personal brand, emphasizing that branding goes beyond logos and is about perception. He offers practical steps for users to create and manage their online identity, including domain registration, blogging, and consistent self-promotion. Additionally, Balter presents a framework for personal marketing, incorporating the four P's: product, place, price, and promotion.

1. Using WordPress to Craft Your Personal BrandBenjamin J. BalterwebBen.Balter.comemailBen@Balter.comtwitter @BenBalter

2. “ Ben Balter ”

8. Benjamin J. BalterJ.D./M.B.A.New Media FanaticFirst WP login: 2005

9. Why Brand?

10. A Brand isNot a Logo

11. A Brand is aMetaphor for Perception

22. You’re Hired!

23. Search result managementNetworkingPersonalProfessionalPotential Clients / EmployersYou have something to sayWhy Brand?

24. Old and Busted

25. zOMG56k!

26. Analog vs. Digital Brandvs.WordPressGuy123Andrew Nacin

28. There is noSuch Thingas Online.

29. New HotnessPeople as a product (PaaP)Plant a flag on your corner of the InternetTake control of your online identity

30. For the Developers, that’s://establish brand elements$brand = array( ‘name’ => ’Benjamin J. Balter’, ‘photo’ => ’http://cdn.benbalter.com/wp-content/uploads/ 2010/09/suit.jpg’, ‘bio’ => ‘J.D./M.B.A. Candidate, New Media Fanatic, Documentary Junkie’, );//loop and add user metaforeach( $brandas $key => value )add_user_meta( $id, $key, $value, true );

31. What’s Your Brand?

34. Who Sees Your Brand?

35. Who’s Looking at Your Brand?

36. WordPress Makes itDumb Simpleto Tell Your Storyto the World.

37. How To Grab your DomainDescribe YourselfStart a BlogBe SocialGive Your Resume an Upgrade

38. Grab Your DomainThe .Org RouteGrab some shared hosting spaceDownloadWordPress from WordPress.org2Install and ConfigureCost: ~$75 / yearThe .Com RouteRegister for WordPress.com and create a site1In your Dashboard, navigate to Upgrades -> DomainsRegister your DomainCost: $17 / yearFree as in beer.Free as in speech.

39. Describe YourselfWhat makes you different?Find the big things that define youMind mapWord cloudWork backwardsAsk your friendsJust sit down and write

41. Social NetworksSite Tagline

42. Social NetworksSite Tagline

43. Author Bio

44. Author Bio

45. Bio Page

46. Examples

47. ExamplesJournalistGeekHuman

48. Examples

49. Examples

55. Add an About Me Widget

56. Customize Your Menu

57. Give Your Visitors Background

58. Give Your Site a VisualIdentity

59. Start a BlogExpress yourselfAdd value to the blogosphereFind topics you are passionate aboutHave a strong opinionEngage others in your networkShare your work

60. Blogging BasicsPretty Permalinks!Prune your slugsTag, Tag, Tag (and categories)Hand craft excerpts

61. The Nuts and BoltsAll in one SEO Pack (Torbert)Google XML Sitemaps (Brachhold)Google Analytics for WordPress (Joost)Simple Facebook Connect (Otto)Simple Twitter Connect (Otto)Subscribe to Comments (Jaquith)For Geeks: Syntax HighlighterFor Journos: Emphasis

63. Be SocialBe consistentBe on messageBe tactful in your self-promotionBe linking to your fancy new siteBe contactable

64. Upgrade Your ResumeGrab a plugin or throw it into a pageLink to relevant contentSame rules apply to resumes onlineConcise, easily skimableSituation, action, resultUse the keywords employers will be looking forMake sure your site is featured prominently on your resume

65. Next StepsCalling cards with QR codeNetworking (online and off)Digitize your portfolioEvaluate and refineSite’s Look and FeelAdvertiseVanity URL ShortenerEstablish a Board of Directors

66. Advanced BrandingCrafting Your Personal Marketing Plan

67. The Four P’sProductYou, your ideas, your unique skillsetPlaceYour site, your social networksPrice What is the cost of following you?PromotionHow do you promote yourself?

68. SWOT AnalysisStrength DC’s best WordPress coderWeakness DC’s worst graphic designerOpportunity Going to SXSW next weekThreat Drupal.

69. Other ConsiderationsTargeting Who visits?Brand Loyalty Do they care?Brand Extensions Do I have Partners?Promotion Stickiness Am I Catchy?

70. Additional ResourcesThe Brand Called You, Tom Peters, Fast Company, Aug. 31, 1997The Brand You 50, Tom PetersNever Eat Alone, Keith FerrazziThe WordPressCodexThe Internet

71. Photo CreditsProduct logos courtesy captcreatehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/27845211@N02/2616906744/WordPressGuy123 courtesy d_vdmhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/d_vdm/520785351/Generic coffee courtesy librarymanhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/libraryman/109470649/Starbucks cup courtesy patrick_qhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_q/250746594/Tap water courtesy joeshlabotnikhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/joeshlabotnik/2881872151/Bottled water courtesy sskennehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/sskennel/4818299373/Coca-Cola can courtesy s0mphohttp://www.flickr.com/photos/s0mpho/2005550103/All photos used under a Creative Commons License

72. Photo CreditsGeek Squad courtesy leonarchienhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/leonardchien/3385270752/Disneyworld courtesy expressmonorailhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/expressmonorail/4538390020/Biebercortesydanagonazleshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/danagonzales/5480900854/Obama poster courtesy anthonybakerhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonybaker/2228158870/Modem courtesy markusramhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/markusram/3479962160/Anonymous user courtesy stianeikelandhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/stianeikeland/3696386615/Mullet courtesy kennyfergusonhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/kennyferguson/12404708/All photos used under a Creative Commons License

73. Benjamin J. Balter webBen.Balter.comemailBen@Balter.comtwitter @BenBalter