You probably think you have a darn good grasp of how you portray yourself to the world wide web – and maybe you are right.  But, is it possible that the overall message you convey is different than expected?  Here is an unusual method to potentially discover unseen truths about your online communications – and three ways to go about it.

The following semi-unscientific method uses Wordle.net to create “word clouds” of any website or chunk of text you specify.  Essentially, the application ranks all the words used by frequency, and enlarges those words used most often.  Learn more about word clouds and Wordle here.

What do you think the most commonly used words would be for your:

• Blog?
• Twitter stream?
• Linkedin profile (or resume)?

Here is the word cloud for this blog, Personal Branding 101.  See anything interesting or unexpected?  I notice that my own name doesn’t show up anywhere and I mention social media tools a heck of a lot.  As expected, “personal branding” and “personal brand” dominate the page.  What would the top four or five words be for your blog?

This image is a little more interesting – it is the word cloud for my Twitter stream, going all the way back to my first tweet a year ago.  Who knew I sent so many RTs about personal branding?  (OK, maybe that was obvious).  But, who knew I said “thanks” so darn much?

To gather data for your entire Twitter history, visit TweetStats.com, enter your Twitter ID, and click “Tweet Cloud”.  In the middle right, there is an option to convert to a more aesthetically pleasing Wordle.

This final option will be most intriguing for job-seekers.  Ever wonder what the net impression of your resume or Linkedin profile might be?  Simply copy/paste the entire contents into the Wordle text field, and…presto.

Here is the word cloud for my Linkedin profile.  Interestingly (yet expected), the focus shifts from personal branding to advertising, media, and investments (as that is what I do for a living).  What would you expect yours to show?

This method is by no means fool-proof.  It is simply a fun, easy way to explore the messages you broadcast across the web.  Try it out, and let me know what you discover.

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If you are reading this article, chances are strong that you are technologically savvy.  Either you’ve bought an iPad, are thinking about it, or are dreaming of the possibility.  In any case, you are likely wondering if the iPad is just a fancy toy, or if it is a powerful personal branding tool like we’ve never seen before.  I’m leaning towards the latter – check out these ten iPad apps and decide for yourself.

[Note to you: Check out this similar article on Personal Branding Blog that beat me to the punch by a few hours. Note to self: Publish your posts immediately!]

1.  WordPress (free)

Admittedly, blogging from the iPhone version of WordPress was a tall task due to the small size of the keyboard.  Now, the experience is not unlike blogging from a desktop or laptop.  Check out Ben Parr’s Mashable article detailing one of the first blog posts written via the iPad.

2.  Tweetdeck (free)

Tweetdeck has always been my favorite desktop Twitter app.  Given that the folks at Tweetdeck are always one step ahead of the curve, it comes as no surprise that their iPad app was ready immediately, and launched without a hitch.  If your motto is “Give me Twitter or give me death”, this app is for you.

3.  Sketchnotes ($2.99)

When I first heard of the iPad, I wondered how long it would take to create an app that allowed for both typing and manual “writing” of notes.  The answer?  It took no time at all, as Sketchnotes was available immediately.  Here is a video of Sketchnotes in action.

4.  Kindle (free)

In 2010, books aren’t dead – they are just “different”.  In fact, technology like the iPad may actually help the book industry long-term, not hurt it.  Going on a beach vacation?  Bring one iPad, not a suitcase full of books.  Which leads me to #5…

5.  iBooks (free)

At the outset, many will stick with the Kindle app they know and love – but eventually, Apple’s own iBooks will likely rule the digital book scene.  Incorporating with iTunes, your music, movie, and book libraries will all become one.  Efficient, cheaper, and better for the environment.  Can’t argue with that!

6.  Box.net (free)

Today’s version of  “the dog ate my homework” is “I can’t access the file”.  And you know what?  Box.net pretty much blows that excuse out of the water.  With the web-based service of box.net, you can store all your content and access it via desktop, mobile, and yes…even iPad.  Saving to desktop is out, storing “in the clouds” is in.

7.  Evernote (free)

All the cool kids today are in love with Evernote, and the iPad version is only going to take that love to a new level.  Evernote is a cloud-based application that allows you to take notes, pictures, and audio recordings, and store them by date, category, or location.  Never let another brilliant idea slip into oblivion – capture it with Evernote.

8.  Dragon Dication (free)

Dragon Dictation is a simple, yet brilliant, application that is truly the wave of the future.  You speak, it types, you use the text however you like – text message, e-mail, blog post, whatever.  With Dragon Dication, “write” your next blog article while laying on the couch.  How is that for productivity!

My only caveat is that the speech-to-text function is not perfect.  But, with the iPad’s larger keyboard, editing is now a breeze. Check it out in action.

9.  Feeddler RSS (free)

My Google Reader feed has replaced any traditional outlet as my #1 source for news.  Completely customizable, I cut through the clutter and read only what I want to read.  Why use Feeddler RSS for iPad instead of simply accessing Google Reader directly?  Because it stores and syncs your feeds for offline use while you are away from wifi or 3G.  Brilliant!

10. iWork ($10 per app)

The iWork suite combines Keynote, Numbers, and Pages – roughly equivalent to PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.  In a world where we demand everything be free, $30 seems like a steep price for the lot.  But, the ability to create powerful documents and presentations from a park bench is priceless, so let’s not squabble.

Given the fluid and ever-changing nature of technology today, this list of top iPad apps might be outdated by the time you read this.  Picture and video related apps are noticeably absent, as the iPad has no camera.  Facebook and Linkedin do not presently offer official iPad apps.  Expect that to change.

What do you think?  Does owning an iPad offer a competitive advantage, or is it just another shiny toy that serves as a distraction?

Photo credit, www.Apple.com.

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Remember when “one” used to be so amazingly exciting? Your first car, your first kiss, even your first job.  You’ve probably experienced some pretty thrilling “ones” while building your personal brand as well.  Every one of your early Twitter followers or blog subscribers probably knocked your socks off.  Fast forward to today.  Does every new “one” pump you up like it did before?  If not…why not?

I’ll admit it.  I remember my first few Twitter followers vividly.  I couldn’t believe that each of them wanted to follow ME, and listen to MY silly tweets.  I studied their profiles carefully and pondered how they might have found me.  I also remember my first blog comment, and the proud feelings that surrounded it.  But, unfortunately I must admit that today I sometimes forget to even check my new Twitter followers.  Who are they, what are they about?  I don’t have the slightest clue, because sometimes I forget the value of “one” – and fall into the trap of seeing “just another one”.

If I hadn’t written this article, I never would have noticed that my last few new Twitter followers included:

• Mary Boyle, @CareerExplore, a psychologist with IT, career, and accounting expertise (wow!).
• Matt Javit, @MattJavit, a passionate guy who runs JoeBots.com, helping average Joe’s get “wired and inspired”.
• Todd Schnick, @toddschnick, a radio show co-host and business blogger who is training for a half marathon.

Those three people sound pretty damn interesting, don’t they?  Each one certainly offers something unique that I can learn from.  BUT…I almost missed them.  I almost let my laziness and take-people-for-grantedness prohibit me from seeing the value in paying attention to each of them.  What about you?  Are you missing valuable “ones” every day that simply fade into the crowd?

Technology has made it so we can automate just about everything – especially social media.  Brilliant, right?  We can be “social” without ever lifting a finger or actually paying attention to anyone.  Except for one thing…those kind of actions turn social media into a wasteland of senseless, thoughtless, robotic self-broadcasting.

What can you do about it?  Easy.  Remember what it was like when “one” felt like a million. Make real connections.  Make less connections if you have to – but just make them count.  Did someone retweet you?  Seek them out, and retweet something of theirs.  Get a new blog comment?  Find their best blog post and leave a thoughtful comment of your own.

None of this is rocket science, to be sure.  Just a simple math lesson, and a subtle, self-directed kick in the ass to remind me that “one” is as valuable as ever.

Image credit, John Ayo.

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Many blog experts graciously and frequently share their secrets on how to create and maintain an amazing blog.  Unfortunately, I’m neither a blog expert or willing to pretend like one.  Instead, I’ll share with you seven features of my own blog that presently keep it from being superb.  As you read the public airing of my own “suckiness” below, ask yourself whether or not you are making any of these same mistakes.

1. Inconsistency

The top blogs pump out consistently great content literally every day.  Me?  Not so much.  I post an average of 1 article per week here at Personal Branding 101.  I can imagine that if my favorite blog only posted once a week…it wouldn’t be my favorite blog any longer.  Consistency is key when attempting to establish and continue an ongoing relationship with blog readers/subscribers.

For a great example of a consistently awesome blog, check out Altitude Branding by Amber Naslund.

2. Boring design

You know the popular joke about blogs that have clearly been designed by someone’s 14 year nephew?  Well, I don’t even have a 14 year old nephew.  Loyal readers might see the inner beauty of a site, but new visitors are fairly likely to “judge a blog by its cover”.

Check out Jorgen Sundberg’s site Undercover Recruiter for an example of a simple, yet cool design.

3. Lots of words, no video

Last I checked it was 2010, not 1998.  Adding video to a site is so incredibly easy today that there is no justifiable excuse for omitting the element.  Simply including a quick video now and again allows you to connect with your site visitors in a way that just isn’t possible with text articles alone.

For a great example of a wordsmith who also uses video extremely well, check out Chris Brogan and his video archives here.

4. Few links to external resources

No blog is ever going to be a one-stop shop on a subject, no matter how small the niche.  Since my goal is to help educate my readers on the subjects of interest to them, I need to do a way better job of linking to external resources.  By not including a blogroll or resources page, I am doing a disservice to my readers who want to learn more elsewhere.

Check out  Mohammed Al-Taee’s “Resources” section of AltaeeBlog.com for the best example I’ve seen yet.

5.  Lame “About” pages

About pages are the digital equivalent of the Wal-Mart greeter for your blog.  Unfortunately, my About pages are a bit like a bored, out-of-date greeter who is barely interested in making eye contact.   I haven’t done a good job of addressing the likely question on the mind of every About page reader: “How can you help me?”

For a superb example of how a page can answer the question above, check out Miriam Salpeter’s About page on Keppie Careers.

6.  No guest articles

I think I’m a pretty bright guy (and humble too…), but in no way do I consider myself to be the final authority on personal branding, social media, etc.  By not including any guest posts by peers in my field, I’m inadvertently taking a somewhat pompous stance that my opinions are all that need to be shared.

(Consider this an open invitation – would you like to guest post on Personal Branding 101?  Send an e-mail to ryan@personalbranding101.com)

For guest blogging inspiration, check out Matt Chevy’s page detailing his incredible Guest Blog Grand Tour.

7.  Lack of comments

On the surface, a lack of reader comments might not appear to be the blogger’s fault.  But, there is certainly a reason that some bloggers always generate a ton of comments (besides having more readers).  Comments come as a byproduct of an intriguing call to action.  Personally, I need to do a better job of engaging readers, and highlighting the importance of your opinions – not just mine.

Let’s start now – leave a comment below with a link to your site, and be honest – what could you change to improve your blog?

“Sad cookies” by jima. “Comment” by premasagar.

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While engaging in social media, many focus intently on the absolute number of connections they’ve made – and assess progress based purely on the size of their network. Instead, I prefer to review social media efforts on a more granular level, making certain my actions are focused, effective, and received well by others.  Here are 5 uncommon ways to measure social success that can be calculated no matter the size of your network.

Since I only have access to my individual stats, I’ve used myself as an example for each metric below -  help me make this more interesting by providing your results in the comments section.

Twitter “Follower to List Ratio”

Inclusion within a Twitter list is maybe the purest, most sincere form of appreciation in the social media universe today. The fact that one of your followers respects your opinions enough to single you out and closely track your communication is no small gesture.

When Twitter lists first debuted, I surmised that a new metric would replace absolute follower count as the measure of a Tweeter’s worth – the “Follower to List” ratio.  To calculate your ratio, simply divide your follower count by the number of lists you appear within.  (At present, my ratio is 4,529 to 124, or, 36 to 1. What is yours?)

As Twitter lists have matured and become more prevalent, my stance hasn’t changed a bit.  A high follower count is great, but show me how many of those followers care enough to include you within a specific list.

Retweets per Page View (Blog)

New bloggers (including myself at times) tend to judge blogging success based on page views.  The more readers the better, right?  Well – maybe.  Common sense tells us that more articles on a site will equate to more total site visitors – and in turn, more visitors per new post.  How then, can a blogger truly measure the success of new articles?  One metric I calculate is “retweets per page view”.

Simply put – how many people read the article, and how many of those retweeted it?  The beauty of this metric is that it works whether your article has 12 views or 12,000.  For example, my post on 5 Personal Branding Errors You Can Fix in 5 Minutes has received 800 page views and 74 retweets (or, 1 retweet for every 10.8 page views).  Measuring this post against others, I can easily see that it resonated with my audience in a way that others did not.

Comments per Page View (Blog)

Similar to the above, this metric pits page views against unique comments for each individual blog post (not counting your own comments).  For some, building a community and increasing engagement within their blog is the number one goal – if so, this metric is likely to be a huge indicator of success.

Personally, many of my posts rate pretty poorly for this metric, something I definitely need to evaluate.  But, when I compare ratios across articles, I see that it is “thought pieces” that receive more comments per page view, up to a ratio of 1 comment per every 24 page views.

Which posts of yours rate highest for this metric?  Why?

Linkedin Profile Views

I find huge value in the little-referenced “Who’s viewed my profile?” section of a Linkedin profile page.  In this section, Linkedin identifies how many visitors have viewed your profile in the last X days, and identifies these visitors by name, title, and/or industry.

If you are looking to build a solid, reputable network, the number of outside profile views should be of major importance to you.  Essentially, this figure helps signify how much interest folks have to connect with, or learn more about you.  A low number might suggest that your profile is difficult to locate, or that you’ve failed to provide folks reason enough to seek you out.  Make sure to snag a unique URL for your Linkedin profile.

What is your number of Linkedin profile views lately?  Who exactly has viewed your profile – and why do you think they chose to do so?

Linkedin Search Results Appearances

Like the above metric, you can determine the number of times your Linkedin profile has appeared in a search via the “Who’s viewed my profile” section.  For job seekers, this number should be routinely scrutinized.  A low or declining value suggests that your Linkedin profile is lacking the keywords that recruiters are searching for – not good!  The power of keywords in your social media profiles can make the difference between getting found and getting ignored.

Reconfigure your profile to include relevant keywords, and keep an eye on your number of search appearances.  See any difference?

The 5 social media success metrics above are not often quoted, yet I think there is value in each one.  How did you fare for each of the metrics?  Find any gaping holes in your social media presence or strategy – or any huge victories you hadn’t previously identified?  Let me know in the comments section below!

Tape measure by Darren Hester.  Comment Love by miss miah.

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I apologize for the profane headline.  Pretty shitty move by me, I won’t let it happen again.  But, there is simply no way around it, the “social media shit test” is the perfectly titled way to determine if your social media presence is awesome or awful.

Finding success in the social web is fairly simple, really. Be yourself, be honest, and be respectful.  Constantly add value to your network, and build relationships – not meaningless numbers.

Sometimes though, in a sea of tweets, blog posts and status updates, it is easy to lose sight of the principles above.  Here to keep you on track is the social media shit test – pose these 4 questions before taking any social media action.

1.  Will this get me into deep shit?

Correct answer: NO

Ask yourself this question before every step you take across the social web.  Sure, 99.9% of the time the answer will be no anyway, but it is worth the millisecond it takes to pose the question.   The most obvious example of failure here is this young woman, who ranted on Facebook about her creep of a boss…whom she forgot was one of her FB friends.

Keep in mind it is perfectly reasonable to rile up a little controversy via a well-stated and unique opinion.  But for your own sake, avoid anything egregious that will ruin relationships or your reputation.

2.  Does this make me look like a selfish piece of shit?

Correct Answer: NO

In person, we generally keep a pretty close eye on how our activities are perceived by those around us.  But online, our judgment is often clouded by the heat of the moment, or the irrational quest for web stardom.

The Honda product manager referenced here decided it wise to provide a Honda Accord review on Facebook without mentioning his employment.  Careless, short-term thinking – and the social web made him pay the price.

What about you?  Is your Twitter presence an endless stream of links to your web page or blog?  Are you spamming your followers with automated direct messages, like these?  Constantly ask yourself “Am I adding value, or am I acting like a selfish piece of shit?”

3.  Is anyone really going to give a shit?

Correct Answer: YES

If you send repetitive updates to your network regarding your herd of sheep and crop of corn on Farmville, do you really think they care?  I’m sorry, but nobody cares that you reached Level 17 of Mafia Wars.  By bombarding your network with such updates, you are signaling loud and clear that you care about you, and not them.

If your network begins to lose interest in some of your updates, ignoring or blocking you completely is not far around the corner.

Take a look at Chris Brogan’s Twitter stream at any given moment.  I’m certain it will be packed with information and interaction, not with a barrage of self-serving updates that don’t benefit his network.  Emulate Chris, not the farmers and mafioso.

4.  Are my methods complete bullshit?

Correct answer: NO

Today’s social web is dominated by tools that make social interaction easier and far more efficient than ever before.  But, always remember that social media is still meant to be just that, “social”. Ignore the fact that you can run scripts to send tweets every ten seconds.  Resist implementing automated tools that steal content and publish it without consent or attribution.

I hate to point negative attention towards just one person, but I feel I must give an example.  This user is heralded as a social media expert (by himself, mainly).  At the time of this writing, he has sent over 356,000 tweets, almost all via automation.  Also, he accidentally published an e-book produced by someone else (although later apologized).

In my eyes, these methods are complete bullshit, and the antithesis of what social media should be.  Instead, aim to mirror the social media activities of Glen Gilmore (@trendtracker).  His tweet stream is filled with three things:

1. Added value to his followers, by way of informative links and opinions.
2. #Hashtags to signify relevant categories.
3. Citation to the original Tweeter(s).

What about you?  Do you see yourself making any of these mistakes, even on a smaller scale?  I’m certain I’ve missed a few other ways to administer a self-diagnosed social media reality check.  I would love your feedback in the comments section, or for you to say hello on Twitter (@RyanRancatore).

Dog sign by funtik.cat, ironically.

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To benefit the Twitter community, I’ve taken on a task so horrifying that I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy.  I’ve learned the secret language of the Twitter automated direct message <gasp>.  It is a tricky language, one in which spam is wrapped in pleasantries, and exclamation points appear more often than periods.  Below, I translate 11 common Twitter Auto-DMs into plain English. (Be warned – they are not for the faint of heart.)

But, let me first explain why I hate automated direct messages so damn much.  I feel they are impersonal, spammy, and a thinly veiled way to sucker folks into clicking a link.  Twitter automated direct messages are the exact type of action that gives personal branding a bad name. You want to send a DM upon meeting a new follower? GREAT.  Write it yourself, and include their name so you don’t come across as a selfish, formulaic robot.

I’m certain I will offend some of my closest tweeps here, as quick math reveals 1 in 7 of my followers to have sent an automated direct message.  If so, my apologies - I’m only calling it as I see it.  That said, on to the translations. (These are all real and unedited, except for the names and website addresses, to protect the idiots innocent)

• Actual:  Hi! Thanks for following. I will follow you too. Oh Yeah, here is a neat little Twitter trick that will help you grow followers: www.spam.my
• Translation:  Hi! If you are obsessed with building an army of faux-llowers like I am, you will surely click this link.  And it is a virus, LOL! www.spam.my

• Actual:  Thanks for following. Want to lose 2-6 inches and make money at the same time? Find out how at www.fat.ty
• Translation:  Thanks for following.  If you are on Twitter you’ve got to be either fat or broke.  Either way, click my link and make me ten cents!

• Actual:  Thanks for the follow! Wanna Increase Your Followers And Start Making Money From Twitter? www.notasc.am
• Translation:  Ignore the fact that I have 12 followers. I’ve got a fool-proof system!

• Actual:  Hello! Nice to meet you. Thanks for following me!
• Translation:  Hello! I’m actually probably a nice person, but I’m just too busy lazy to say hello myself.

• Actual:  Hi, thanks for the follow. I look forward to reading your tweets. As it is almost impossible to read so many direct messages please add me…
• Translation:  It is impossible to read so many direct messages because all these damn spammers keep…oh wait, nevermind.

• Actual:  Thank you for following me. It’s amazing in this day and age that at a click of a button how many new friends you can make. Have a powerful day!
• Translation:  It is amazing in this day and age I don’t even have to click a button and I can spam you.  Brilliant!

• Actual:  Hi! Thanks for your following, I will follow you back soon. Nice to see you here!.. Have a great day!.. I will be waiting to see your tweet.
• Translation:  Hi!  Allow me to prove I don’t understand how Twitter works by telling you I will follow you after I’ve already sent you a direct message.  Yay time machines!

• Actual:  Hi, my name is Bob. Unlike a lot of people on Twitter, I REALLY am here to meet people and get to know them better.
• Translation:  Hi, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me. Oh yeah, and pretending to care about you. Me.

• Actual:  Thanks for the follow! Let’s connect on my Facebook fan page as well. www.facebook.com/fanmeplz
• Translation:  I’m not comfortable only spamming you here.  Can I spam you on another site too?

• Actual: TweetMan221 uses TrueTwit validation service. Please follow this link to validate your profile. www.truetwit.com/vy158485 Thanks!
• Translation: I’m worried about spammers, so I’ve sent you this spammy DM to make sure you won’t spam me.  Smart, huh?

• And finally, my personal favorite, one that really needs no translation.  Yes, this fine gentleman sent me 9 identical automated messages within 2 minutes.  Hell of a way to get your point across!

What do you think?  Do you agree or disagree with me?  Either way, send me a direct message on Twitter, and type it yourself!

Purple Auto-DM Robot by peyri. No Spam by hegarty_david.

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In 2010, building your personal brand via mobile will no longer be a competitive advantage, it will become a necessity.  The ability to respond in real-time to that e-mail, job opening or blog comment will be more important than ever before.  Here are the 33 best iPhone apps for building a personal brand on-the-go.

Note: Links below go straight to iTunes, apologies to the non-iPhone users out there.  My guess is that most of these apps are available via other platforms as well.

Publishing

WordPress 2 (free, pictured)
Did you ever think of an awesome topic for a blog post at the most inconvenient of times?  Now, no matter the time or place, you can start a draft or fully publish your WordPress blog post from your phone.  Also, view and respond to comments, or update pages.

Flickr (free)
Most of your best photos occur while you are away from home.  Why not share them right away?  Or, search for photos from the community to use on your blog.

Photoshop.com Mobile (free)
What makes this one of the best iPhone apps out there?  It is even easier to use than the desktop version of Photoshop!  Really, it couldn’t be simpler.

Dragon Dictation (free)
Say you’re stuck in traffic, you think of the next big idea, and you simply have to get it down on “paper”.  Instead of trying to write and drive, have Dragon Dictation convert your speech to text.  From within the app you can initiate and populate a text or email.

Your Own App (free-ish, pictured)
As Chris Brogan and Dan Schawbel have mentioned recently, via MotherApp you can create your own iPhone app that displays your blog posts and tweets.  The service is free if you allow ads and share revenue 50/50, or you can pay a one-time fee of $99 to avoid ads.

UStream Live Broadcaster (free)
UStream allows you to broadcast yourself in real-time to anyone and everyone.  How cool (and scary) is that?

GoDaddy.com Mobile (free)
Great domain names are hard to come by.  In a “you snooze, you lose” marketplace, the ability to secure a domain name from anywhere is priceless.

Speller – Free Spell Checker (free)
A single typo or misspelled word can kill any email, presentation, or blog post.  Wouldn’t you argee?

Networking

Tweetie 2 ($2.99, pictured)
Are there free Twitter applications out there that are pretty damn good? Yes.  Are there free apps that can match the power of Tweetie 2?  No.  Tweetie 2 is the best iPhone app for Twitter in existence, making tweeting from the road an absolute snap.  Twitter list integration and the ability to view saved searches pushes this app over the top.

Facebook (free)
Admittedly, the app I use the most day in and day out.  Needs no explanation.

Bump (free)
Bump allows you to exchange contact information with other iPhone users by literally “bumping” your phones together.  It makes for a pretty cool ice-breaker with a business contact you’ve just met too.

Skype (free)
Personal branding is a global activity these days.  Maybe your next consulting offer will come from a distant country.  Skype is a way to stay connected to anyone and everyone.

Linkedin (free, pictured)
This well-designed app lets you check your Linkedin inbox, send connection requests, update your profile and status, and more.  A must.

Cisco WebEx Meeting (free)
The next time you have 3 companies fighting over your services, why not schedule a WebEx meeting and have them bid for you in a live auction?  OK, maybe I’m dreaming…but there are lots of real reasons why a quick conference on-the-go might be necessary.  This app can help.

Business Card Reader ($1.99)
To me, business cards are like socks – you can never find the right one when you need it.  This app eliminates that problem.  Simply scan a business card and add the information straight to your contacts.

Job Search/Interviewing

Jobs by Career Builder (free, pictured)
In this market, good jobs go fast.  Real fast.  Don’t miss out on the latest job openings just because you are away from your computer.

Indeed.com Job Search (free)

Did I mention that good jobs are hard to come by in this job market?  It never hurts to have a backup source – and this app is a good one.

Resume PRO ($2.99)

The ability to update and send different versions of resumes from the road make this app an absolute must for job seekers.  If it helps land you a job, it just might be the best $2.99 you’ll ever spend.

vTie Necktie Guide (free)

Mainly for the male Gen Y-ers out there…let’s be honest, we have no idea how to tie a tie.  Until they outlaw this ridiculous piece of business attire, we can rely on this app to get us through.

Reference

Bing (free, pictured)

Sorry Google, for once you’ve been trumped.  The best iPhone app for web search is Bing – it includes voice search, business listings, directions and more.  Plus, you get those cool photos that Bing uses as its background.

Wikipedia Mobile (free)

A world of information at your fingertips.  And as you know, 60% of the time, Wikipedia is right 100% of the time.

Kindle for iPhone (free)

Why spend a few hundred dollars on an actual Kindle, when this app is free?  Provides instant access to literally millions of books.  Amazing, when you think about it.

Quickmark QR Code Reader ($0.99)

QR Codes are becoming more prevalent, thanks in part to Google distributing codes to thousands of small businesses.  Maybe you’ll even include one within your resume?  Either way, this is the best iPhone app for decoding any QR Code you come across.

Any Website You Want (free)

Did you know you can turn any website you visit into an “app”?  Just click the “+” and select “Add to Home Screen”.  If you are viewing this via your iPhone, give it a shot. (Overly sneaky tactic to get you to come back to Personal Branding 101?)

Organization

Google Calendar (free, pictured)
Available via the Google Mobile app – a simple, free way to keep track of appointments and to-do’s.

Google Docs (free, pictured)
Also available via the Google Mobile app.  You might be on the road, but all your documents are stored “in the cloud”.

Evernote (free)
Because fleeting moments of brilliance are just that – fleeting.  Record your every thought via Evernote in a variety of ways, and don’t let those great ideas escape.

Personal Assistant (free)
Let’s face it, who can afford a real personal assistant these days?  Keep track of travel, finances, subscriptions and more.

On The Road

Yelp (free, pictured)
If you’ve yet to explore “Monocle” mode, prepare to be amazed.  Never take your clients to a terrible restaurant again, put the power of peer review to work wherever you are.

Mint.com Personal Finance (free)
If you’re putting in late hours at work and blogging the night away, chances are your personal finances could use a little help.  Let Mint.com pick up the slack.

Kayak Flight and Hotel Search (free)
Whether you are traveling for business, or just getting away, this app will ensure you get the best possible deal.

OpenTable (free)
Your presentation ran long, and you forgot to book reservations for your anniversary dinner?  Never fear, OpenTable will book your table at almost any restaurant you can think of, right on the spot.

That is my list of the 33 best iPhone apps for personal branding.  But, given that there are over 100,000 apps out there, I’m sure I’ve missed a few.  Know of a great app that is absent from the list above?  Let me know in the comments section below – thanks!

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If you read Personal Branding 101, you likely know at least one social media fanatic.  In fact, chances are pretty high that the person is you! To reduce your holiday stress a bit, here are 25 gift ideas for the social media lover in your life – go ahead, splurge.

For the Budding Blogger

1.  A personalized domain name from GoDaddy.com, ideally firstlastname.com.

Hurry, quantities are limited!  Snatch up a great domain name for that social media buddy who crushes Twitter and Facebook, but has no official web presence “of their own”.

2.  One year of web hosting from Rackspace.com.

The perfect compliment to a domain name – really get them started in the right direction with a year’s worth of hosting from one of the rising superstars of web hosting, Rackspace.

3.  Thesis premium theme for WordPress.

Simply put, WordPress is the best blogging platform out there, and Thesis is the best premium WordPress theme that exists today.  And really, Chris Pearson’s updates and improvements to Thesis are the gifts that keep on giving.

4. 31 Days to Build a Better Blog (by Problogger).

Darren Rowse’s popular e-book outlines how anyone can transform their blog from good to great in just one month.  Well worth the cost.

5.  Subscription to the ProBlogger.com community.

An exclusive community for elite bloggers to learn and grow from one another – a unique, thoughtful gift that could change someone’s path.  Pretty cool.

It’s the Thought That Counts

6 through 10 cost less than one of these.

6.  A Twitter Retweet.

Sure, it doesn’t cost anything.  But retweeting a few key tweets from your social media amigo might just be the “purest” of all social media presents.

7.  A Twitter #FollowFriday recommendation.

Christmas falls on a Friday this year, and so does New Year’s Day.  Send a #FollowFriday recommendation, with one or 2 reasons why your friend is well worth a follow.

8.  Put your pal on a Twitter List.

Twitter lists are like a permanent #FollowFriday recommendation, and a cool gift that might benefit your connections for years to come.

9.  A Linkedin recommendation.

Reserve this gift for only those truly deserving, as Linkedin recommendations are somewhat sacred – only meant for the connections you can truly vouch for.

10.  Stop playing Farmville and Mafia. (Apologies if you adore these games, you really are a social media geek!)

What better present to give than an uncluttered Facebook stream?  It sounds terrible that your wandering sheep was kidnapped from the farm, but take it somewhere else, would ya?

Kicking it Up a Notch

11.  A premium Linkedin account.

A premium Linkedin account comes with all sorts of goodies that might be of real value to power users.  Plus, you get that cool little icon next to your name.

@unmarketing's cool Twitter background.

12.  A personalized Twitter background.

Design one yourself, or go to TwitBacks.com for templates and inspiration.

13.  Professional headshots to use as profile images.

Could your social media fanatic friend benefit from a better looking profile pic?  Send ‘em to a pro.

14.  A crowdsourced personal logo.

Logos are just plain cool, but who can create them?  The “crowd”, that’s who.  Check out 99Designs.com for access to some of the best graphic designers across the globe.

For The Wannabe Video Star

So easy a blogger can use it.

15.  HD Flip Cam

Flip Cams are so amazingly simple that even I figured out how to operate one.  Give one as a gift, and by the end of Hanukkah your friend might already be a viral sensation.

16.  Movie Editing Software

Windows Movie Maker probably isn’t going to catapult anyone to the top of the charts.  Try some of these top rated programs from Amazon.

17.  Logitech Webcam Pro 9000

I stream, you stream, we all stream on UStream (You heard that tagline here first, by the way! UPDATE: Just happened to see an ad with nearly this same tagline.  Guess you did not hear it here first…)  This webcam/microphone duo is highly rated, and can have you streaming live in no time.

Mobile Madness

18.  iPhone

Guarantee yourself the title of “best friend for life”, give the gift of a computer that can (sometimes) make phone calls too.

19.  Droid

For the social media lover who refuses to join AT&T, the Droid will have them Googling, Tweeting, and YouTubing all day long.

20.  Tweetie 2, Smartphone Twitter App.

For just $2.99, Tweetie 2 can make your pal’s mobile Twitter experience 1000% better.

21.  HootSuite, Smartphone Twitter App.

If you are into social media and statistics, HootSuite is the Twitter application for you.

Books, Books, Books

22.  Kindle

People still write books? Yes, and good ones too!

Thanks to Kindle, the digital crowd can now read books without fear of vicious papercuts.  If your social media buddy is still unsure, just tell him that books are like really long blog posts – that should ease the sting a little.

23.  “Me 2.0″ by Dan Schawbel.

“Me 2.0″, the preeminent book on Personal Branding today – solid advice for the Gen Y crowd looking to use social media to kickstart their career.

24.  “Crush It!” by Gary Vaynerchuk.

130 pages that will pump you up more than a dozen Red Bulls.  Get “Crush It!” for folks who have a passion hiding deep down that just needs to be coaxed out a bit – best value on this list.

25.  “Trust Agents” by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith.

A unique look at the social web, get “Trust Agents” for the thinkers out there.  Written by a real intelligent duo…for a real intelligent crowd.

That is my list – what do you think?  Any glaring omissions that would make an awesome gift for social media fanatics?  I already have most of these items, but can never have enough of items 6 through 9, if you’re in the mood to send holiday cheer my way.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Holiday bow by kevinthoule. Penny by matthiasxc. Kindle image courtesy Newsweek.

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For job-seekers today, the most difficult hurdle to overcome is simply getting noticed.  Even with impeccable credentials, you will need something extra to separate yourself from the stack of identical-looking resumes or business cards on the hiring manager’s desk. Why not try something innovative?  Including a personalized QR Code just might catapult you to the top of the stack.

A QR Code is a 2-dimensional “quick response” bar code that contains a set of data (text, numbers, or a hyperlink).  This data can be decoded by QR Readers, which are widely available as Smartphone apps.  Free options are available for iPhone, Droid, and Blackberry – simply take a picture of the QR Code with the phone’s camera, and the embedded information instantly appears.

If you have a Smartphone, let’s give it a try.  Click on the QR Code to the right, print it out, and scan the image with a QR Reader.  The data embedded within is a hyperlink to this very web page – like magic, it should take you straight to this page from within your phone’s web browser.  Definitely cool, but how can this help your job search?  Here are 3 ways:

1. Include a QR Code within your resume that links to your blog’s “About Me” page.

If you are pumping out awesome, niche-related content, your #1 goal should be directing hiring managers to your blog.  Will they type in a URL included within your paper resume? Maybe, maybe not.  Try capturing their attention by including a QR Code in the header of your resume.  Maybe they won’t scan your QR Code either.  But I guarantee they will take note of this unique aspect of your resume, which in itself is a major victory.

In all instances recommended here, be sure to include both your URL and the QR Code, so those without Smartphones can still reach your web destination.  Also, consider optimizing your blog for mobile browsing.

2.  Include a QR Code on the back of your business card, linking to your blog’s “Contact Me” page.

Chances are strong that the back of your business card is a blank slate, just waiting to be thrust into action.  Why not include a QR Code?  Link to your “Contact Me” page, and encourage folks to actually contact you.  After all, isn’t that why you handed out the card in the first place?  See below for a quick example of what this might look like.

3.  Run a print advertisement in a trade show program or local newspaper, linking to your blog’s “Hire Me” page.

This option works particularly well if your industry holds local trade shows or conferences, and small, cheap ads are readily available.  In this instance, you might be the only individual placing an ad – and if you aren’t, you are certain to be the one to stand out!

An alternative to linking to your “Hire Me” page is linking to a particularly relevant blog post, and making certain that your “Hire Me” call to action is extremely visible.

Want to create your own unique codes?  Try this QR-Code Generator Tool.  To really put this method to the test,  monitor the results of your QR Code placements by using bit.ly to shorten your link before creating the code – and use the bit.ly analytic tools to track specific site visits.

Are you skeptical that QR codes are too obscure to become mainstream?  Just yesterday, Google  sent QR stickers to 100,000 small businesses, for display in storefront windows.  These little codes just might make it big before we know it.

What do you think?  Are these ideas crazy, or just crazy enough to work in one of the toughest job markets in recent memory?

Spark image by JonPayne.

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