Cut Through The Personal Branding Clutter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Cut Through The Personal Branding Clutter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Have it your way. Talk all you want. Converse on Twitter. I do it too. But at the end of the day, results speak for themselves. Networking by conversing on Twitter is plain and simple, a terrible way to network. Look at the top people on Twitter based on followers. The majority of them have created real-life tangible results that are changing the world. Are they using Twitter the same way you are? Information overload Everywhere I turn these days, I am inundated with advertising. Everybody wants my attention. Brands try to reach me on television, online, when Im on the bus, listening to the radio, and even when Im working out in the gym. Lately, Ive been swarmed by personal branding. When Im on Twitter, I feel like a Ive walked in to a storm of terrible personal branding. Everybody has a platform, wants to be heard, and yells in my ear. Its like coming to a party where theres no host, everybodys screaming, and the only thing that matters is what kind of car you drive, or in Twitters case, how many followers youve amassed. I could talk for hours about my wrestle with Twitter. Is it worth my time if Im trying to have an information-light diet? Is there a real ROI? What is the value if almost everyone on there is selfish and I dont have any real experiences with 99% of my followers? As Alana Taylor puts it, Twitter satisfies the selfishness of being famous, the greed of wanting instant results, the need to speak and be heard, the freedom and equality in being able to take part in a conversation no matter your economic or social status. So, if everyone is on Twitter for their own benefit, then is there an extremely attractive ROI from it? I think there are other ways to build your brand in a more tangible and meaningful way. Its one that may not garner you Twitter followers, but its one that will expand your network of people who have had more memorable experiences that cut through the clutter of noise on the web. Network by doing What a concept! It speaks for itself, but its simplicity is the core of its power. By getting involved and taking action, you will create incredible relationships that have amazing value. The relationships you can create by taking action will far exceed any Twitter relationship you can make. What are some ways to make this happen? Get involved politically Create cross-company initiatives Go to lunch with people across your organization Do philanthropy work Join a professional organization in your area Find a hobby By all means, if you can think of other ways you can network by doing, then please voice up. We need a generation of doers not a generation of big talk. This is the real networking. Its the kind that will build lifelong relationships, and allow you to connect with people who will help you out at the drop of a dime. Author: Adam Salamon is Partnerships Director at Bazaarvoice, Inc., blogs about social media, entrepreneurship, and pop culture. Follow him on Twitter for daily updates.