Tag Archive for ‘Personal Branding’ at DrivenLeaders.com

Tag Archive for 'Personal Branding'

Contest: Win 1000 Free Business Cards!

Published

on April 14, 2009

. 11 Comments

businesscard Contest: Win 1000 Free Business Cards! Thanks to the generosity of UPrinting.com, I’ve been able to organize the first contest the year on DrivenLeaders.com. With the economy in its current state and networking continuing to be a hot topic, what better way to promote yourself than having your very own business cards. Whether your goal is to promote your entrepreneurial venture, get noticed in the crowded job market or build your personal brand, the traditional business card continues to be a very powerful tool. Get yours for free by entering today!

How to Win

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment as to “How you would use the business cards or brochures.” Two winners will be selected at random (via random.org) to receive the 1st and 2nd prizes. Only one entry per person will be accepted. The contest will run until the end of day Wednesday April 29, 2009 and winners will be announced on Friday May 1, 2009.

Prizes

1st Prize -1000 free standard size business cards
2nd Prize - 500 free standard size brochures

Winners are able choose from any of the UPrinting’s stock for these items. Shipping is free for contest winners in the United States and Canada. Shipping fees will apply to winners outside these areas.

The Sponsor

UPrinting is a trusted online printing company committed to providing a high quality printing experience at affordable prices. Their specialties include brochures, business cards, canvas prints, labels, postcards, posters and more with the convenience of their all-inclusive online printing site. For over 25 years, UPrinting has been a trusted leader in online printing, featuring its signature easy-to-use website and the famous Free File Review, a complimentary proofing service which requires no upfront payment. Get inexpensive business cards printed at UPrinting to promote yourself, your business, or whatever you see fit.

Best of luck and spread the word!

Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success

Published

Anthony

on April 8, 2009

in Book Reviews, Job Hunting and Personal Branding

. 4 Comments

The way we manage our careers is changing and the Internet has become the new ticket to post-graduate success.

A recent Careerbuilder.com survey showed that one in every five hiring managers used social networks to conduct background checks on candidates. In his new book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, Dan Schawbel explains how anyone can become successful by using social media tools, such as blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, in order to stand out and make a name for themselves. Me 2.0 is the first book about personal branding written for the millennial generation by a millennial, that bridges the gap between the current business environment and the progressive best practices of the future.

“In a tough employment environment, it is absolutely essential to move past old rules and embrace job hunting 2.0 — Dan Schawbel’s new book will show you how,” explains Sydney Finkelstein, Steven Roth Professor of Management, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Me 2.0 teaches you how to use social media tools for personal empowerment, confidence building, and professional networking that can actually result in attracting jobs directly to you.

Highlights from Me 2.0 include:

A 4-step proven personal branding process for career success.
Over 40 expert quotes from leaders, including Don Tapscott, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, Chris Brogan, Laura Ries, David Kirkpatrick, and Steve Rubel.
More than 70 research reports, three personal case studies and examples to offer a broader perspective on the topic.
Tested advice on how to create an online and offline presence for career protection and self-promotion.

I’ve had a chance to preview Dan’s book and agree that if you implement the suggestions he’s outlined, you will be well on your way to setting yourself up for success. If you already feel confident brand and want to put to the test, enter the Personal Branding Awards before August 1, 2009 to be considered for the award. This year Dan has added me to the list of judges, who be announcing a winner on November 1st 2009. Contest or not, as technology evolves your personal brand will be increasingly visible. Thus making it ever more important to be represented the way you want to. Don’t wait, if you haven’t started yet, think about it today, this book is an excellent place to start.

The Power of Personal Branding (drivenleaders.com)
Dan Schawbel, Me 2.0, and Personal Branding (myventurepad.com)
HOW TO: Leverage Social Media for Career Success (mashable.com)

Free Copy - Personal Branding Magazine!

Published

Anthony

on January 26, 2009

in Personal Branding

. 1 Comment

In today’s troubled economy, personal branding is more important than ever before. While it can yield many fruitful results, building a successful personal brand undoubtedly takes time and effort. To help you help you get off on the right foot, Dan Schwabel is releasing has the latest edition of Personal Branding Magazine entitled “Brand Discovery.” Though the complete issue will not be available until February 1st, Dan is making a free sample issue available today at http://www.personalbrandingsample.com.

This issue features interviews with Marcus Buckingham & Marshall Goldsmith, as well as my first contribution to the magazine with an article entitled, “Boosting Sales with Your Personal Brand.” Don’t miss out on your free copy!

“Volume 2, Issue 3 focuses on the first step of the personal branding process, brand discovery. Many people rush into personal branding, without first taking precious time to discover who they are and what they want to do for the rest of their lives. In this issue, we expose how to unlock your true potential, unearth your passion, acquire the necessary skills and how to set achievable goals. We’ve interviewed some of the leading businessmen, such as Marcus Buckingham, to help you with your own personal development.” - Dan Schwabel

Personal Branding Magazine - Free Sample!

Published

Anthony

on October 28, 2008

in Gen-Y and Personal Branding

. 2 Comments

Dan Schwabel just released the latest edition of the Personal Branding Magazine, and as expected, it’s better than ever. Entitled “The Personal Branding Gold Rush,” this issue is a call to action. I’ve written previous posts about the importance of building your eBrand; Vol. 2 Issue 2 takes it another step further. It contains interviews with, Gary Vaynerchuk, David Allen, Keith Ferrazzi and Robert Cialdini, along with 26 other articles on developing a powerful online presence. I think Dan’s description says it best:

“Now is the time for building your personal eBrand. Laggards will be lost in a Google cloud of dust, while early adopters will rank #1 for their name. Stop watching everyone else steal your gold (your THUNDER) and get involved today. Many people are scared to develop an online presence, yet it’s the only way you can safeguard your brand and have “job security.” This issue will highlight Gary Vaynerchuk, who will passionately force you to get involved in the GOLD RUSH. As you read each page, you will gather the knowledge needed to not let these opportunities pass you by.”

The full issue won’t be available until November 1st for subscribers, however a free sample is available today at http://www.personalbrandingsample.com If you haven’t seen the magazine or subscribed to it yet, I would highly recommend it. I’ve had a sneak peak at the complete issue and I have to say, you won’t be disappointed…

You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself

Published

Anthony

on October 4, 2008

in Book Reviews, Personal Branding and Personal Development

. 1 Comment

Fitting in with the personal branding theme, I recently finished reading You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself, by Harry Beckwith and Christine Clifford Beckwith. In a nutshell, You Inc. is an easy and enjoyable read that covers off on all the basics from cultivating your personal image, to providing tips on delivering a ten minute speech. Each “lesson” makes up about two pages and is presented with stories and anecdotes that make them easy to follow and understand. The authors not only reinforce the importance of selling yourself before anything else, but also provide tips and real world examples on how to do so. Though you won’t find any one earth shattering lesson among the pages, the combination of many small concepts create a very powerful presentation. In a way, Harry and Christine have created a quick reference guide for both the eager reader and the seasoned veteran when it comes to building brand you. To give you an example, a few of the quick lessons in include:

People value - and pay more for - the way your make them feel.
The first thing to plan for is your first impression.
Tricks and shortcuts: There are none.
Simplicity gives people certainty, and certainty they can deal with.
In your sales story, put the audience, not you, in the hero’s shoes.
After you write something, be sure to hear it. (Read it out loud.)
Listening makes you captivating.
Don’t impress them. Move them.
Visual aids regularly diminish everyone’s understanding of the material.
Be yourself. It is easier to remember, for one thing, and works dramatically better.
Never try to fool anyone.

Overall, You Inc. is excellent read for those looking to reinforce many of the basic concepts in selling yourself and therefore is among the top on my list when is come to personal and professional development.

The Power of Personal Branding

Published

Anthony

on September 19, 2008

in Gen-Y, Personal Branding and Thought Provoking

. 2 Comments

personalbranding The Power of Personal Branding

Personal branding is the red-hot buzzword these days and for good reason. The term, first discussed by Tom Peters in 1997, is a powerful topic whose significance is growing by the day. No one will disagree that in the digital age, the importance of establishing and maintaining a strong personal brand is vital to your future success.

“It’s what you do that makes you who you are and how you project that to others that makes you memorable.”

- Dan Schwabel, Personal Branding Blog

Incase you’re new to the subject, personal branding is treating your personal image as if it where a consumer brand. It’s a process of articulating your unique values and attributes, consistently, across multiple platforms. Being a marketing guy at heart, this concept has intrigued me ever since I first heard it years ago.

In today’s marketplace, a strong personal brand gives you the ability to stand out in a crowd - a competitive advantage. Tomorrow, on the other hand, will be different. The absence of one (or a negative one) could be devastating. Just this month, careerbuilder.com released some eye-opening statistics related to employers using social networking sites to screen potential employees. Here are a few memorable stats directly from their site:

Of those hiring managers who have screened job candidates via social networking profiles, one-third (34 percent) reported they found content that caused them to dismiss the candidate from consideration. Top areas for concern among these hiring managers included:

41% - candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs

40% - candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information

29% - candidate had poor communication skills

27% - candidate lied about qualifications

On the other hand, social networking profiles gave some job seekers an edge over the competition. Twenty-four percent of hiring managers who researched job candidates via social networking sites said they found content that helped to solidify their decision to hire the candidate. Top factors that influenced their hiring decision included:

48% - candidate’s background supported their qualifications for the job

43% - candidate had great communication skills

40% - candidate was a good fit for the company’s culture

36% - candidate’s site conveyed a professional image

To see the complete results of the survey, view the full report.

Though I won’t claim to be an expert on the subject, it’s hard to deny that the power of personal branding is only growing by the day. Below are some of my favorite resources in regard to personal branding. Each provides a slightly different outlook and strategy as to creating and promoting your own personal brand. My only advice is, that you don’t wait, start today…