Is personal branding a thing of the past?

**KellyWatson** · 08-02-2010 01:56 PM

I'm working on an article idea for Forbes.com and I'd love to get some quotes from other women in business.

Personal branding was a buzz phrase a few years ago, but recently I've heard several women mention they were turned off by the phrase. Some think the concept of branding turns business owners into commodities, while others think having a personal brand is just too limiting.

What do you think -- is personal branding a concept that has outlived its usefulness, or is it still alive and well in today's business world?

**ServiceBizBoost** · 08-26-2010 05:15 AM

Due to the vast invention of social media sites, personal branding helps to get more visibility and business too.

**RozPearcy** · 08-31-2010 10:41 AM

I think it's HUGE and still very viable. I don't view it as turning business owners into commodities, but rather it opens you up so that you can build a relationship with whomever is reading your blog or viewing your videos. It is most definitely NOT limiting. As an example, my blog as you can see in my signature below is a personal branding blog. I have a Network Marketing business that is my main business and through my blog as the central hub I get many visits a day from people who view my blog for very different reasons.

Some come to my blog to learn online marketing strategies for their own home business. Others are looking for a home business and through my value-based content they see me as a leader and know that I can mentor them to success in their business. Still others come to my blog looking to create a blog of their own and they want to hire me for mentoring services to save time on setting up their blog. People also will see the tools I use on my resources tab and know that if they work for me, they might work for them too. Eventually I will have my own products that I will create for an additional stream of income. So I have several streams of income coming in with these different avenues on my blog.

And should the unforeseen arise with my own home business where for whatever reason it is no more, I won't have to start from square one building everything up again because I will have my loyal list of readers and followers.

So although starting your own blog and getting out there via personal branding can take some time upfront and you won't see results immediately, within months you will start to reap the rewards.

I definitely don't think it's a thing of the past Kelly...you'll have to post a link to your article once it's posted!