Branding & You: How to Amplify Yourself

Brand new digital agency
specializing in:

 Community Building &
Management
 Content Marketing
 Social Media Strategy &
Management
 Branding

 …More to come!

Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakDC)
 Gen-Y Digital
Native/Blogger
 Conversation Driver

 Writer

 Amplifier

 Community Builder

 Social Media Junkie

 Rare D.C. Native

 Has a Penguin Posse

 “People talk about brands. Brands fill our
lives because they fill our
eyeballs, ears, memories, and hearts. The
trick is to become one. It never happens
overnight, but you know when you’ve
become one. Your
fans, followers, friends, and freaks will let
you know.” - Sam Davidson, Proof Branding
 “A brand is the set of
expectations, memories, stories and
relationships that, taken together, account
for a consumer’s decision to choose one
product or service over another.” – Seth
Godin

 Is recognizable
 Incites emotions
 Has to be trusted
 Has to be competitive
 Can be weak and get lost in the noise
 Is the whole package

Is your strongest asset. Control it.

Shouldn’t happen by accident.

If you haven’t already:

Someone is probably
Googling you right now.
What will they find?

"Personal branding is about managing your
name — even if you don’t own a business —
in a world of
misinformation, disinformation, and semi-
permanent Google records. Going on a
date? Chances are that your “blind” date
has Googled your name. Going to a job
interview? Ditto.“ - Tim Ferriss, Author of
the 4-Hour Work Week

 Have a place online where all of your networks
are linked.

 Blogger since 2003 - Including LiveJournal &
Myspace
 On Facebook since August 21, 2004
 On Twitter since May 17, 2007 (Formerly
known as DCPrincessQ, DC_PQ)
 Until 2010, blogged & networked online as
Jordan Q.
 Became an entrepreneur in 2011 after
freelancing for 2 years.
 Used Twitter to change careers.

“A rose by any other name would smell as
sweet.” William Shakespeare

 Used a pen name for years so my brand was
built under a fake name but it was still
strong.
 Authenticity & consistency were the
cornerstones in my accidental strategy.

Ilearned by trial &
error.

Branding & You: How to Amplify Yourself

“We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc.
To be in business today, our most important
job is to be head marketer for the brand
called You. It's that simple -- and that hard.
And that inescapable.” – Tom Peters

 What are the top qualities you want people
to notice about you?

 Don’tspend your time trying to fit the mold –
you have qualities that make your brand
unique. Figure out the pieces and then
amplify yourself using the tools available to
you.

 Ifyou’re not on Twitter, you’re doing it
wrong
 Participate in chats
 Engage and contribute to the conversation
 Follow industry leaders
 Be yourself
 Build your brand in 140 character increments

 Your brand is your story. How can you share
your story without writing it down?
 Blogging is your chance to show your
opinion, experience, and increase your
brand’s visibility.
 Blogging generates conversation.
 Blogging will help you establish credibility in
your field.

 Ifyou’re not using LinkedIn, you’re missing
out on a substantial network.
 Make sure your profile is updated, and if
possible, get recommendations from past &
present coworkers.
 Answer questions to establish yourself and
your knowledge.
 Join groups to connect with other
professionals & increase your presence.

You don’t have to
scrub your
personality clean
but don’t put up
anything you don’t
want coming back
to bite you.

Your Facebook is a
part of your
personal brand.
Make sure there
aren’t any
skeletons in the
closet.

 Consistent
 Transparent
 Authentic
 Helpful
 Engaging
 Focused
 In Charge
 A good listener

“If you don't get
noticed, you don't
have anything. You
just have to be
noticed, but the
art is in getting
noticed
naturally, without
screaming or
without tricks."
Leo Burnett

 Don’t ask “How can I get more followers?”
 Instead, focus on what you bring to the
conversation.
 Engagement = Visibility

 Go to networking
events and
introduce yourself
to someone new
every time

 Meetpeople for
coffee to chat
without an agenda

Want to continue the conversation? Find me
online?

 berrakdc@gmail.com
 www.twitter.com/berrakdc
 http://www.linkedin.com/in/berrakdc
 www.berraksarikaya.com

Branding & You: How to Amplify Yourself

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