Personal Branding

Bret L. Simmons, Ph.D.

NNSDG April 25, 2012

Main Points Today

1. Personal branding is a huge opportunity and responsibility

2. Being searchable and shareable is good for your business

3. Proper operating principles are the key to success

Personal BrandIf people don’t select you, spread the word about you, or pay a premium for your services, it’s because they don’t recognize your value.

(Seth Godin)

ValueWhat you can do uniquely well to help others address issues or solve problems that matter to them.

Personal Brand

1.Who are you?2.Who do you want to

help?3.How do you want to

help them?

Why You?Why Now?

New business card

www.namecheap.com

New business card

1. Associate your name and face with your value

2. Create content and connections that will get you indexed and ranked for your name and value

Social MediaYou must be personal and conversant

Lead with valueWrap the personal around your value

Name, Picture, Purpose

• E-mail, Google Profile• Linkedin• Blog• Twitter• Facebook• Other (Pinterest)

Bret.simmons@gmail.combret@bretlsimmons.com

What most companies think

1.When we get started, people will show up

2.Well, we gave it a couple months, and no one showed up, so let’s quit

Falls & Decker, 2011

The Reality• It takes at least SIX MONTHS

before you will start seeing any demonstrable results and success from your blog

Falls & Decker, 2011

The Fundamentals

• Listen first• Be responsive• Be honest• Provide value• Sell last

Falls & Decker 2011

Remember

• Social media marketing is about building relationships, not receipts. The receipts will come, but only if you invest the time and attention it takes to build relationships with your customers. Think lifetime value, not sale value

Falls & Decker, 2011, p. 180

Questions?

Bret L. Simmons, Ph.D.www.bretlsimmons.comBret.simmons@gmail.com(775) 336-9576