The New Media Has Changed Everything!
That is the poster that hangs on the wall in my “lab” and serves as a constant reminder that with the New Media, the smallest things can make the biggest difference. It was only a few years ago that a comment to your “friends” would not effect your lively hood, but today a misplaced tweet or status update can have great effect. Athletes must approach the New Media (i.e. facebook, twitter, etc.) with a well thought out “Self-Brand Design”.
Just as a business or corporation, plans and invests great amounts of resources in developing and cultivating a brand, athletes at all levels must do the same. Now, I am not just talking about the professional athletes. Sure, they may have the largest audience, but even the star high school athlete needs to operate in the New Media with an awareness of their self-brand. Remember, your misplaced “tweet” , may have real consequences when it comes to opportunities. Tone is hard to relay in 140 characters, the power of the New Media should be the vehicle that 
propels you.
Who is thriving in the New Media?
Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose, are examples of athlete’s that are having great success in the New Media. Dwight Howard has over 1.8 million followers on his twitter account @dwighthoward, so when he “tweets” about his new foundation (the D12 Foundation), he has directly marketed to 1.8 million people for free! A well placed print, TV, or radio commercial would never have the same effect.
Derrick Rose has over 1.6 million facebook followers that he can communicate and share ideas with 24/7. An example of this mobilization is when Derrick was behind in the all-star balloting for this year’s all-star game a well planned social media campaign pushed the numbers in his favor and propelled him to the starting line-up for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game with 1.914,996 votes. The connections that can be made through the New Media give the individual a link to their fans and anyone interested in connecting with their image like never before. Any many of the great initatives and opportunities within the medium are yet to be realized.
How do you create a Self-Brand that is true to you?
The most important part of Self-Brand design is to remember the words self-brand are linked together in this instance for a reason. You as an individual (self) will always be linked to your brand. Get chased by your wife with a golf club on Thanksgiving (you all know who I am talking about!) that image of you is now linked to your brand. Work to convey the real you while allowing the flexibility for your Self-Brand to change as you do. You will not be the same person at 28 and in the prime of your professional career as you where when you were 18, but your image will grow from its “roots”. The New Media is the water and the nutirents that will grow your Self-Brand.
Which athlete(s) do you think does the best at Self-Brand Design? Let me know in the comments.
Updated 6/26: All of the photos have been added to the 2011 Rody Run gallery. We will tag the photos with your race number and shirt color to help in your search. Thank you for your patience and enjoy!
Self-Brand Design: You Are A Brand Now Act Like It!
Posted by: JLandis | Comments (0)The New Media Has Changed Everything!
That is the poster that hangs on the wall in my “lab” and serves as a constant reminder that with the New Media, the smallest things can make the biggest difference. It was only a few years ago that a comment to your “friends” would not effect your lively hood, but today a misplaced tweet or status update can have great effect. Athletes must approach the New Media (i.e. facebook, twitter, etc.) with a well thought out “Self-Brand Design”.
Just as a business or corporation, plans and invests great amounts of resources in developing and cultivating a brand, athletes at all levels must do the same. Now, I am not just talking about the professional athletes. Sure, they may have the largest audience, but even the star high school athlete needs to operate in the New Media with an awareness of their self-brand. Remember, your misplaced “tweet” , may have real consequences when it comes to opportunities. Tone is hard to relay in 140 characters, the power of the New Media should be the vehicle that
propels you.
Who is thriving in the New Media?
Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose, are examples of athlete’s that are having great success in the New Media. Dwight Howard has over 1.8 million followers on his twitter account @dwighthoward, so when he “tweets” about his new foundation (the D12 Foundation), he has directly marketed to 1.8 million people for free! A well placed print, TV, or radio commercial would never have the same effect.
Derrick Rose has over 1.6 million facebook followers that he can communicate and share ideas with 24/7. An example of this mobilization is when Derrick was behind in the all-star balloting for this year’s all-star game a well planned social media campaign pushed the numbers in his favor and propelled him to the starting line-up for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game with 1.914,996 votes. The connections that can be made through the New Media give the individual a link to their fans and anyone interested in connecting with their image like never before. Any many of the great initatives and opportunities within the medium are yet to be realized.
How do you create a Self-Brand that is true to you?
The most important part of Self-Brand design is to remember the words self-brand are linked together in this instance for a reason. You as an individual (self) will always be linked to your brand. Get chased by your wife with a golf club on Thanksgiving (you all know who I am talking about!) that image of you is now linked to your brand. Work to convey the real you while allowing the flexibility for your Self-Brand to change as you do. You will not be the same person at 28 and in the prime of your professional career as you where when you were 18, but your image will grow from its “roots”. The New Media is the water and the nutirents that will grow your Self-Brand.
Which athlete(s) do you think does the best at Self-Brand Design? Let me know in the comments.