“YOU” is the Brand New You

As a follow up to this article I published on August 25, I found it interesting that so many companies are now repositioning themselves with the focus of “You” as a branding strategy. I began to understand the power of blogs, social networking, etc. this past summer as a more effective way of giving people and potential employers a more rounded idea of who we are aside from the typical resumé and interview.

From Yahoo!, HTC and now CNN, 2010 is sure to see the “You” brand elevated to the next level. Millions are now unemployed and searching for a way to distinguish themselves in this over-saturated market. Read my insight on this new self-marketing opportunity and what CNN wrote recently.

“YOU” is the Brand New You – Originally published August 29, 2009.

Jessica Dickler of CNNMoney.com recently wrote an interesting article on the growing trend of people using social networks, blogs and other community-based tools to help them build a positive online reputation. By describing and promoting your interests, experience and expertise, you are taking that extra step beyond the resume and showing employers another dimension of yourself.

Elizabeth Ragone co-founded a clothing store in Wisconsin. After the recession hit, the business began to wither and eventually Ragone decided to leave the company to find employment. Rather than focus on the traditional means of browsing the classifieds, making a phone call or sending a resume, Ragone used  social networks, her own personal blog and a post of her resume and experience to “establish a personal brand.” Later, Ragone was given a tip that a company was hiring. After an interview with the company and a mention that she had her own blog with knowledge of the industry, she was hired the next month.

In many ways the idea of a Brand is beginning to turn inside out. In the corporate realm, businesses continue to spend millions of dollars in advertising and strategy, but no longer see a significant ROI in print, television, radio or internet. In many ways, this is due to the economy, but we as people are emerging as the more powerful facilitator of brand loyalty and trust. The fact that an individual can be interconnected with hundreds or thousands of people through social media, blogs and networks, then share their unique opinions, experiences and background with others is a very powerful tool.

As more and more people begin to build and solidify online reputations, others will flock to them as a way to establish relevancy, purpose and quality. The “YOU” brand is quickly emerging as a richer and more fulfilling reflection of who we are, what we like, how we express ourselves and ultimately why we do it. Let’s just hope that others find “YOU” interesting.