With so many people trying to rise above others with branding and social media techniques, it is bound to cause some confusion with the masses. Are people still confused about you even months or maybe even a year after you starting branding yourself as a public figure or business?
If you are having problems, you might want to ask yourself a few questions. Here are a few that you might want to consider asking yourself:
- Do you still get strange questions that have nothing to do with you?
- Are you telling everyone just about everything about you?
- Are you sending mixed signals?
- Perhaps you like to be a bit radical – however, are people not sure what to make of you and might be put off by what you say or do?
- Are you saying one thing, but doing something else, or perhaps not even doing what you said at all?
If you are facing some of the above, you need to stop and reflect on how you want to present yourself. There is a point to being honest and true to yourself, and there is a point where you might be too in the face that people really do not know how to approach.
If your followers expect and love you for being off the top radical, then great. However, if you are trying to reach a wide variety of people, your attitude may not be welcomed by others. While you might not care – you probably should.
Your followers understand you have opinions, values, and a life outside business and the Internet, but you have a responsibility to be consistent and honest. You can still be loud and proud, but maintain an air of civility. Probably sharing that you do drugs might not be the best thing to be shouting online, nor whom you are having relations with – in detail. I am sure there will be a few that may disagree, but really:
This is an attention seeking behavior, not someone seriously looking to brand themselves as a public figure or even a business person.
Engage with people and get a feel of them through conversation. Conversation is a two way street – you speak, they listen, and then they speak, and you listen.
When reflecting, you can always ask close friends or seek a consultant on how to help you come across less confusing to your followers and clients.
What advice do you have for people having troubles branding themselves online without confusing others?
Hi Nile,
It's always a good idea to take a step back once in a while and ask yourself questions like those. It's one of the most helpful ways to regroup and get a fresh perspective on what you're really trying to accomplish. My one main goal I set for myself is to be as transparent as possible in my social media and branding efforts. I feel like people appreciate it when you're open and honest with them, and they can also easily tell if you're presenting a fake persona. Thanks for all of the helpful information.
My recent post Social Media & SEO Trends in 2011
That is awesome that you bring your genuine self to the table. Some people have a hard time with it, but it really is not as difficult to do. lol.
Taking a breath and reflecting is something I recommend in any situation in life – that is where balance comes from. If it takes going to get pampered, a visit to the gym to workout, a quiet drive, or even meditation – it helps. Then once that reflection is done – time to get back to work and be better than ever. 😀
Another trick I use is to look at the people's blogs/websites that I visit regulating and think about what it is that they do that makes me warm to them and want to come back. How they approach subject and how they relate to their readers. I find this a very useful tool.
What is constant in this world is change and I hope you agree with that. In my own opinion, I think there’s nothing much to worry on how people would think about you. Whether they’re confused with that way you’ve become today. Probably, they just need time to adjust to the “new you”.We can’t avoid changes and we know that. There are times that we need to be true to ourselves and go out to our comfort zones. It’s fine to change your ways but never forget the way you were before.
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