First of all, I am so not an expert on branding or social media. But I read and listen to people who are. So this post is really a mash-up of ideas I’ve learnt from all over the place, with a bit of my experience.
On the way home from work the other day, I was thinking about how blurred the line between our work lives and personal lives has become, especially in the age of social media and the internet. I mean, anyone from work – or wherever else – can find a LOT about me from a quick Google search. But what am I hiding?
Well, nothing, really lol. And I think that’s one beautiful thing about business in the 21st Century – we don’t need to have an awesome job title or big company name behind us: we are enough.
How awesome is that?
Basically, you are your brand. You work history, your upbringing, your ideas and your flaws; you, just as you are, with your glasses halfway down your nose and the three-day old coffee mug next to your laptop. (No? Just me then? Sigh.)
So what do you need to do in the world to build your brand? Be you – online and off. Be nice to others. Make friends, then share in your successes – for the success of one is the success of many.
Zee Southcombe 
Reblogged this on Today, You Will Write and commented:
Best advice there is!
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Authenticity is waaay underrated by some of the social media “gurus”. I’m so glad to see someone who appreciates and promotes it! 🙂
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Thanks, Nicholas. The world is changing exponentially, and the traditional methods of marketing are losing traction in the 21st century. We don’t like being marketed ‘at’ – we want to be informed consumers, who choose when and what we buy.
Really appreciate your comment 🙂
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This is lovely in its simplicity. Thank you. :)—Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne 🙂
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Reblogged this on Seumas Gallacher and commented:
…a blog post worth another look , from Zee Southcombe…
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…yes!! it’s as complicated and as simple as that! sharing! 🙂
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Simple and complicated indeed! It really makes the idea of traditional marketing almost redundant.
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Reblogged this on cicampbellblog and commented:
An article about the thing I’m best at…being me!
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Helpful post and helpful comments, girls. Thank you. X
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In one way, it’s brilliant that we are everything we need, but I also find it scary. Unlike Vashti, whom I admire tremendously, I’ve been very timid about sharing anything personal – but I think people can still get a sense of you are, by what you say (she says hopefully!).
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There are many ways of showing ourselves and our personality to the world. I limit what I share about my relationships. We need to decide what and how much we are comfortable with sharing.
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I completely agree, Zee! Some people (usually other writers) ask me why I blog about trips I’ve gone to, recipes, my pets, experiences at the supermarket along with my short stories and articles. You answered that question. I do this because my readers want to know about me––the woman behind the writer. I am the brand. Every part of me not just the one that writes. I love writing but I enjoy doing other things as well like reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends . . . I want to show my writing style and I do this through my short stories but I also want to show who I am as a person. That’s how you sell yourself. That’s what makes people want to visit your blog again and again. They feel like they know you. And you know what? They do. 😉
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Oh yes we do! We’re in a time where friends and connections can be built online and off. We need to embrace the opportunity.
Beautiful comment.
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