Do You Make This Simple Personal Branding Mistake? If You’re Not Cher or Prince, Read On…
I’ve talked about online identity crisis issues. Here’s a simple personal branding tip that could help with your freelance writing or blogging business.
Use Your Full Name
Unless you’re Cher, Prince or even Britney, always use your whole name as a byline or as your comment id.
I see a lot of sites with just a first name e.g. Alice or Jim as the post author. If you only use your first name, you are losing a valuable individual branding opportunity.
If I keep seeing Alice Jones (as opposed to just Alice) popping up at sites I visit, that name is going to stick and I associate it with a professional writer who I admire. Think of your favorite newspaper columnist or news anchor. They go by their full name… their professional identity.
Refer To Other Bloggers By Their Full Name
The same applies when you refer to other writers. Rather than refer to fellow bloggers as Jill or Alan, use their full names… branding again. At least use the full name at the first mention.
Be Inclusive & Welcoming To Your Blog Community
Also, it’s best not to presuppose that everyone knows who Jill or Alan are. This can also make new visitors feel like they’re not in the “inner circle” and part of your “in the know” community.
Conversational and Casual Do Not Mean Unprofessional
While the web and especially blogs are more conversational and often more informal than mainstream media, it’s a mistake to be too casual about your name. It’s one of your biggest branding assets. And what’s more, using it doesn’t cost you one marketing cent.
Professional Connections & Name Recognition
The web is about connections - personal and professional connections. I want to know who you are. I want to know that Alice whose article I loved is the same Alice that I see guest posting on another blog, or commenting on sites I visit.
Nicknames like “pretty238″ or even just “Jim” aren’t going to help clients identify with you as a professional writer. The same goes for emails. I would be reluctant to offer work to a freelance writer who I know only as “pretty238″.
Your Personal Business Brand
Privacy is one thing, but if you’re building a business and using online marketing as one of your communication channels, you need to let us know who you are and build your name into a business brand. If you’re on the web, whether you like it or not, your name is your brand, or at least part of it.
If I Google “Jim” I’m not going to get far. I don’t want to have to go hunt for this information on Jim’s site either. Jim needs to help me out. He needs to sound, look and act like a professional. Your blog or site is like your calling card.
Catch me on the web - Yvonne Russell
www.growyourwritingbusiness.com
www.smallbizmentor.com
www.homebiznotes.com
Hi Yvonne
Well said!
One thing I was wondering about, how do you reply to people who leave their names as “soft furnishing” or don’t leave a name at all.
I tend to go just with “Hi” rather than addressing a business name or website address, partly because I don’t want to encourage this habit
Joanna
PS While not taking away from your point I am quite pleased to be on Google’s page 2 if you search for Joanna!
Hi Joanna
Yes, I use the “Hi…” approach too.
Hey, congrats on rising up the Google ranks for Joanna.
Maybe you’ll soon be so famous, you won’t need to use your surname at all. LOL.
Great statement and one that should be used more frequently by all bloggers. Michael Martine posted a great post regarding commenting a little while ago.
I used to be guilty of linking with my blog name or keyword I was trying to target. But after reading his post i realized that this wasn’t a good idea at all.
Good one, Yvonne Russell!
What you say is completely true, and is one reason I use my full name always - it’s far easier to track with Google, since - like Tigger - I’m the only one! ( I never thought of myself as all that unique, but so far as I’ve found, every single “Robert Hruzek” link is to me! Weird.)
Alas, ya got me on using first names when referring to others, though! In retrospect, it does sorta make it seem like an “inner circle” or something.
Thanks for the lesson today, Yvonne!
Instead of “hi” i use the “hello” approach. According to me it sounds more gentle and professional at the same time.
Yes, I’ve been making this mistake. Well, time to fix that…
Hello Yvonne,
Thank you so much for the tip on branding. I thought about what you said and promptly used my real full name on the “About Me” page on both of my blogs.
1. http://themaltesechronicle.blogspot.com
2. http://mydnighthour.blogspot.com
As you will note, I have also used my real full name on this reply to you. I was quite unaware of what branding is but after reading your article on it, I now understand what it is and what it could possibly do for me. The next step for me to undertake would be to get my own domain names for both my blogs. I will have to do some research in that area. Unbeknownst to me I have already signed up to receive your www.homebiznotes.com on viigo and I have also added this blog to viigo as well. It was a pleasure to bump into your blogs.
Thank you.
Hi Michelle
I think the idea of linking with a keyword is often to do with getting ranked highly for a certain keyword. There’s nothing wrong with linking with your business name either.
It depends on the purpose, I guess. As a freelance writer for hire, I prefer to use my own name for branding reasons.
Thanks for signing up to the Grow Your Writing Business and Home Biz Notes feeds. I hope you’ll find them useful.
Hi Robert
Thanks for the smile.
On the referring to someone by their first name e.g. Mary at blog xyz… I think it is very easy to do (and feels natural), as we feel we know Mary, especially if she is a regular visitor.
The thing is if others don’t know her, the “inner circle” perception can come into play, which is not very welcoming for new readers who may want to “test the waters” in your blog community.
Also, using Mary Jones instead of just Mary is better for her too - for branding, as it will show up in key word searches. (good for you too for the same reason).
Hello Mike
Yes, I like the sound of “hello” too.
Hi Laura
Pleased to hear you found the blog post useful.
Hello Yvonne,
Joanna Young invited readers to your blog and I am so pleased to have added you to my list of “must reads.” This is really great advice and while I help clients with branding I have neglected to consider my own branding needs! Thank you for the wonderful advice and welcome back!
Karen D. Swim
Hi Karen
Welcome to the Grow Your Writing Business community. Thanks for adding this blog to your list of “must reads”. I’m honored.
Look forward to seeing you here often. Don’t miss The Writers Cafe every Friday through Sunday. It’s a ton of fun.
Hi, Yvonne,
I’ve learned a very good lesson today. I would never have thought of that. Thanks for a simple yet so important tip.
Have a great week end, Yvonne.
Princess
Hi Princess
Good to see you here. Pleased you found the tip useful. Enjoy your weekend.
Excellent point, Yvonne. Like Joanna, I rank high in Google for Lillie - #3 after a movie and Lillie Langry.
But I use my full name whenever I post or comment.
I’d rather see a first name only instead of a name like “philadelphia lawyer” or “grow your wealth.” A large percentage of my commenters use keywords in the name field, and, as several others have said, it’s awkward to respond, and I don’t feel like I get to know a keyword as I do a person.
Hi Lillie
I agree a first name is definitely preferable to “top furnishing center” or the like.
Some bloggers have a comment policy where they delete any comments where the blogger uses business names as their “name”.
Mar 7th, 2008 at 6:33 am
[…] Rather than being indulgent, blogging as a professional can be a brave thing to do. This was evidenced just this week by a number of bloggers who let me know they took the step to use their real full names rather than their nicknames or a Christian name when blogging. This was after reading my post - Do You Make This Simple Personal Branding Mistake? If You’re Not Cher or Prince, Read On…… […]
Mar 9th, 2008 at 9:42 am
[…] Russel of Grow Your Writing Business prevents us from making a simple yet common mistake when building our online identity. It’s also seasoned with a few practical […]