Comments on: (Personal) Branding is Closed-Source

By: A Brand is not a Conversation

A Brand is not a Conversation — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:04:43 +0000

[...] Branding is the same. Branding is not a conversation. As I have said previously (here), a Brand and the act of Branding is read-only, closed-source. The Brand is shaped and formed to [...]

By: Stephen Pierzchala

Stephen Pierzchala — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:17:56 +0000

The power of social media lies in the connections that it fosters between people. Between people attempting to create a brand, and those who interact with the brand/person and create the reputation that person has.

The conversation is still in charge. Branding is an attempt to control the conversation. Just watch what people are saying when you aren't listening.

Thanks for stopping by.

By: Trace Cohen

Trace Cohen — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:31:34 +0000

I never really thought about it that way, but it makes sense. A brand is something that we create and shape our-selves, hence closed source. Your reputation is the feedback you get from society based on your brand and how well you where able to perform and act on your word. This is what makes personal branding so difficult.

People can brand themselves as anyone or anything, but it holds no weight it if doesnt get accepted by everyone as a whole. But in response to your first comment you made, i believe that social media IS now about personal branding. Before web 2.0 the regular Joe never had a voice and now has the opportunity to be heard and put their brands out there. With such a massive blogosphere, where everyone can speak their mind, reputations are created and destroyed every day. This I feel is the TRUE power behind social media.

By: Stephen Pierzchala

Stephen Pierzchala — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:17:56 +0000

By: Trace Cohen

Trace Cohen — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:31:34 +0000

By: Branding v. Reputation: Idea Pairing

Branding v. Reputation: Idea Pairing — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:31:39 +0000

[...] I spent some time today pairing ideas that separate Branding from Reputation. These came from my discussion of Branding being closed-source and Reputation being open-source [here]. [...]

By: Stephen Pierzchala

Stephen Pierzchala — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:48:18 +0000

Exactly. My blog started as discussion of politics, life, and my travels. It morphed into a discussion of my Web performance service, my battle to get a Green card, and bipolar. Now I talk about Web performance strategy and advertising/marketing/branding/conversations/community.

Who knows where this will go? Who knows who will read what I write?

You write because you have something to say, and then you respond to those who read what you write and have something to say.

In the end, it's the conversation within whatever community you participate in that defines your online reputation.

By: Chris Brogan

Chris Brogan — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:13:05 +0000

Ten years ago, I started blogging (then called journaling) to share my short stories. Then a few years after that, I started writing about fitness and nutrition (when I lost 65 pounds and ran a marathon). A year or so later, I wrote about self-improvement, and then productivity. Last few years, I've written about how the Internet impacts communication and relationships. Who knows what I'll cover in the years to follow, but the whole notion of branding is just one aspect in the pile. In my mind, Madonna was the act to follow. Something new every year.

Still thinking that way.

By: Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:08:44 +0000

Good thought provoking post. A lot of people confuse personal branding with reputation management, when that is only one piece of the puzzle. In order to take your posts seriously, it helps to have the credentials to back you up.

By: Stephen Pierzchala

Stephen Pierzchala — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:36:32 +0000

Exactly. I mean, I don't see myself talking to “april dunford” â„¢ when we are having an active and engaged conversation. I am talking to a person, whose reputation I know and trust, or whose reputation grows through the act of having the conversation.

I wanted to stir the pot a little because personal branding is not what social media is about.