So whats new in the Relationship Marketing and Social Network world this week? Here is what stood out to me in my Google Reader, in no particular order:
Marketing
Blow up the Box! – New Marketing Labs
Its probably because I was listening the Punk.mp3 from the “Question the Rules” guide to entrepreneurship just before I read this article, and it was the title that jumped out at me first, but this is a truly great mindset to be in. Are you reinventing yourself? Your company? Your world? Then take off the constraints of the box. By thinking outside the box, you have just switched your parameters, but the focus is still the same, the box. If the box is gone, what do you base your new ideas on? How do you move forward in your work? Spark some creativity and stop thinking about boxes.
Social Media
There is a personal branding wave going around some of the sites I follow, and being that I was just recognized for some work at CSU Fullerton, I’ve decide to share those with you this week.
When YOU are the Brand – Chris Brogan
Chris’ blog is one of my favorites, and if you are a reader of the blog or know me for real I talk about him a lot. In this post he offers up advice on what a personal (or business) brand should be and do. He takes a moment to remind us that our personal brand isn’t very personal at all. Its not about us, its about the VALUE that we can offer to others, its about the STORIES that connect us to our COMMUNITIES. He closes with “A brand is an asset. But it’s only ONE asset.” So go forth and DIVERSIFY!
The Bitch Slap: Be Offensive – Redhead Writing
Don’t know if I have featured Erika on the blog before, but I know I have recommended her writings:
“If you find that, at the end of the day, you haven’t done something that would potentially offend someone, what did you *do* all day? Stop acting as if the opinions of others matter more than your own and start LIVING. #shitivefiguredoutafter37yearsonEarth”
Too many people/companies are trying to be all things to all people, and quite frankly its annoying. Whats worse, is it confuses your audience. BMW in recent years has started to confuse the hell out of me with this same strategy. So this “Bitch Slap” is a friendly little reminder to stand up and stand for what YOU believe in, not what will make your audience happy. As a marketing major, this probably isn’t the best idea to have in my head, but its the truth.
Brand-Yourself Signs University Deal – Brand Yourself
The good fold over at Brand Yourself made quite the splash this week, getting Syracuse University to purchase accounts for all of its graduating seniors. Still think this personal branding stuff isn’t worth it? I guess you’d be wrong then…
Anything crucial I missed, let me know in the comments!
