Personal branding is getting tons of press lately (hell, I even started a blog about it!). The question is: does personal branding deserve all this hype? This very debate is going on right now at GetPerspectives.com. Involved in the debate are two fine scholars – myself, and Jonathon Schuster. I won’t try to sway you in one way or the other. Below are both perspectives, I would love your feedback and vote – no matter your opinion.
Please click here to vote and voice your opinion on the debate. Thanks!
Does Personal Branding Deserve the Hype: Absolutely! (by Ryan Rancatore)
Personal branding has received oodles of attention recently. Is it deserved? Absolutely! Put simply, personal branding is a method by which individuals can showcase their unique attributes – just as corporate brands have done for decades. But why all the recent hype? Because new technologies, “Web 2.0”, and the emergence of social media have broken long-standing communication barriers. Armed with a blog, a flip cam, and a Twitter account, you can now broadcast your message like never before.
Previously, your life experience and career expertise were represented by a black and white resume, lost somewhere in a stack of identical pages. But in 2009, your unique characteristics can shine through – in real-time, broadcast instantly around the globe. How empowering is that? And hiring managers are taking note as well. Studies show that 75% of hiring managers research a candidate’s personal brand or social media presence while making a decision. They’re convinced that personal branding is more than just hype. I suspect many of your colleagues and competition are convinced too, and are building and promoting their personal brands as we speak.
Today, a strong personal brand can truly impact your career path – believe the buzz, it’s more than just hype!
Does Personal Branding Deserve the Hype? Definitely Not! (by Jonathon Schuster)
Personal branding is getting a ton of hype these days, and I can’t quite figure out why. Personal branding has been around since the dawn of time, but we used to just call it reputation. (I’d like to take this opportunity to point out that I’m not that old.) Everything you do, every way you present yourself, and even more importantly every way people perceive you influences your reputation.
Perhaps the rise of digital and social media is causing a rise in the understanding of the concept of branding across multiple platforms, but really digital and social media are just channels for the same communication. Put more simply, new media is just another way you can build and define your reputation, not a game changing way people perceive your reputation.
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Fireworks by chrisirmo. No! sign by christopherdale.
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