Tips For Becoming a Brand Influencer
“This will go in your permanent file…”
Who dreaded those words when they were in school? We all (okay, most of us) worked hard to ensure that the only thing going in our “permanent file” were positive marks that would help us succeed. Honestly, I used to think it was unjust that other people were in charge of what was said about me.
Online Reputation and Becoming a Brand Influencer
Fast forward a few decades. Here we are and things sure are different. Now, we’re in charge of our permanent files. So, how’s that working out for you?
Your online reputation is your adult permanent file now. Every comment you make, every tweet you send, every Facebook status update (yes, even when you have it set to “friends only”) dictates to the world who you are as a person.
Wow, that’s big. Let’s sit and think about that for a second. Can you back up everything you’ve said online with confidence and pride? Have you said anything that you’re not proud of? If so, can you make it right? What do your online interactions say about you?
When you’re the face of your company (meaning you and your blog) your personal interactions affect your brand. It doesn’t matter if you have a separate personal account or if you’ve stated that “all opinions are your own.”
What Do Brands Look For When Considering You As A Brand Influencer?
When companies are looking to partner with you and brands are looking to hire you, they look far beyond your stats. They look at your tone, brand consistency, and they look at how big a risk you might be to work with. Do your online actions align with their company philosophy? Do they align with your company philosophy?
They’re also looking at who you’re associated with and who you’ve worked with in the past. If they reached out to someone you partnered with in the past, you should get a glowing review. Does this mean that you can never disagree with someone or handle an uncomfortable situation? Absolutely not! But always, always think before you type.
Handle difficult situations with grace and understanding. Take an honest look at what you are asking another person or company. Remember that everyone you are dealing with has feelings, family, and stresses just like you. Is what you are requesting (or demanding) reasonable? How would you feel if the tables we turned? Generally, sticky situations can be resolved simply with kind words.
And finally, ask yourself which is more important: your reputation or getting the final word?
As a blogger and a content marketer, you have immense power over your brand in this digital age. Just make sure that what goes in your permanent file are things you’re proud to own.
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