The 20 Something Year Old Entrepreneur

“People care a lot about controlling information about themselves.  Their reputation, their privacy.  And there was a big question whether the world would evolve this way that people would have control over that themselves, or if that information would just be available…Everyone has an identity that they want to express.” ~ Mark Zuckerberg, Founder & CEO of Facebook.

“Personal Branding” has really taken off within the past few years.  All these Web2.0 tools and social media platforms on the Internet, allow for anyone to create and shape their own personal brand.  People like Chris Brogan, Dan Schawbel, Gary Vaynerchuk, etc. have all made names for themselves by building their personal brand online.  Now, if you strive to be like any one of these individuals, it may not be as easy as you think.

There’s a lot of planning that goes into building an online presence such as finding a niche that you are passionate about, deciding what tools to use (blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.), and most importantly the content you want to provide to others.  And despite all that planning there is no guarantee you’ll reach even half the fame as the aforementioned individuals.

On the Internet, content is KING, and in theory, if you provide quality content that people are looking for, they’ll keep coming back for more.  The problem I see with a lot of the books on how to “brand” yourself on the Internet (how to become a “Trust Agent” or build a personal brand, etc.) is similar to the current state of marketing and advertising: CLUTTER.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the world population is around 6.792 Billion.    Now, think of something you are passionate about and would like to share with the world via a blog, Twitter account, Facebook Page, etc.  Of those other 6.792 billion people how many of those people do you think share that same passion as you?  Just like some of the advertising messages, your personal brand will get lost in the clutter.

I agree 100% with all the authors that building your personal brand is about trust, transparency, and relationship building.  But as more people become comfortable with the social media tools out there, how is your personal brand going to be found?

I envision a shift from trying to think of what you are passionate about to how can I be different from the rest, which may not be who you truly are, thus going against what these author wrote about.  We might see a shift in personal branding from the “authentic you” to the “fabricated you.”

Thoughts?

Tags: authenticity, chris brogan, dan schawbel, gary vaynerchuk, personal branding, transparency