Personal Branding Basics for 2011 | ChrisBrogan.com: "Here are my thoughts for how to move the needle with your personal brand in 2011 (and yes, you should start planning now). Oh, and Batman is going to help me illustrate along the way."
The past year or so "my thing" has been to do the work necessary to fill out "my personal brand". Time and commitment is needed to make whoever you are memorable to folks looking to fill in a blank with someone like whoever you might be. (Read that last sentence again - not sure if it made sense or not on my first reading either.)
Chris' post above is spot on for beginning to, and following through on, working out who you are for others to see. Notice I didn't say "persona" or "brand spokesperson" or "who you are online" - instead, I think there's a greater need for you to be you, and let that come through in every facet of where you interact.
First, be real. Be who you say you'll be, act how you want to act, promise and provide as you've promised.
Second, be real everywhere. When someone meets you IRL (in real life) who's been following you online or has been in contact with you only across business emails, let that person know you're the same as the one who's been typing text on the other side. It's that important, to be the same person on and off the grid.
Last, be real everywhere with everyone. Favoritism is a bad brand trait, and you want everyone in your radius of influence to feel like the most important person in the world. That's another piece that's up to you.
What are some things you'd add to "the list"? How are you working out your personal brand?