The Biggest Mistake Related to Your Personal Brand.

This is going to read as obvious but it has to be said – your personal brand is a direct reflection of you. Additionally, everything you put on the internet is going to stay on the internet via deep linking thanks to Google. So, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it!

Your brand will help or hurt you professionally, even if you don’t intend on having a brand. For example, Justine Sacco was an executive who Tweeted from her personal account, not her company account, that she was “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS! Just kidding, I’m white.” Can that be any more offensive? She was fired from her company because, and rightfully so, her brand was offensive!

While people like Howard Stern and Wendy Williams make money being offensive, this tactic doesn’t work for most people. Look at everything you write and every photo you post with personal consideration as if you are a corporate brand. Ask yourself what it means to your brand or if you are creating a confusing message with your opinions and photos.

You need to identify who it is you truly are and express it with valuable content and photos that support this statement online. If you are a PR professional, be one online. Don’t post videos of you drunk and singing Karaoke. It isn’t professional. If you’re a pro basketball player, don’t talk trash about the NBA! It is all about common sense and social media these days when developing a strategy for your personal brand.

Until tomorrow,

Coco the CEO