The 7 Sins of Personal Branding

When you’re building a personal brand, there are some things you will want to avoid. Disclaimer: The following is by no means an exhaustive list.

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1. Not having cards (or other take-aways) – In a world with LinkedIn, some question how relevant business cards are these days. Still, if you meet someone in person, how will they remember where to find you online? Even minimalist business cards (Moo Cards) are great to have handy.

2. Not sending a follow-up - Always send a follow-up after a meeting. Better yet, send a thank you. Better still, if this is your first time meeting someone, make it a physical thank you card .

3. Not having a website – Domains are cheap on sites like GoDaddy. Register a professional one — preferably in your own name (I had to wait 10 years for RyanLilly.com to become available). Create an email at that domain name for an even-greater professional touch (ryan@ryanlilly.com)

4. Not engaging on social media – Having a social media presence is one thing. Engaging on social media is another (and this does not mean simply messaging friends on Facebook). Get signed-up on Twitter, follow people in your industry, and start active conversations with them. Create a Pinterest portfolio. Join a subreddit based on your interests. Always be IN the conversation, not on the outside LOOKING IN.

5. Not having a sticky bio – Keep you bio concise and sticky. Phrased differently, keep it to the point and make sure it’s something people want to share. If you’re not a great writer, check out bio creation and editing services on a site like Fiverr.

6. Not consistently creating something (ex. content creation) – Whether it’s a weekly contribution to your blog, or a regular addition to your portfolio, make sure you are creating something new on a regular basis. Personal brands that center on innovation and being a game-changer are the ones that stand-out. And speaking of standing-out…

7. Not differentiating your brand – Make sure your personal brand is DIFFERENT. While it’s OK to model your personal brand after others, it should never be a duplicate. It should be genuine, authentic — YOU.

And maybe being you is a little weird (We Are All Weird).