Personal branding is partly about being a rockstar. Someone who stands out from the crowd in a radical way.

Chris Brogan had this thing he did a few years back where he referred to his readers/followers as social media rockstars. He even created a huge list of rockstars on his website with links.

I liked his idea – it made sense that “rockstardom” was now democratized.

And it’s true. Really anyone with enough hustle can create a unique and compelling personal brand online. But here are a few thoughts…

First up…Don’t be boring

“There are no rules in filmmaking, only sins, And the cardinal sin is Dullness”
~ Frank Capra | The Name Above The Title

It’s really the one thing that most people hate in life… boredom. That’s the real punishment when someone is sent to prison. It’s what causes kids in school to have behavior problems. Boredom causes people to do crazy stuff like split up with their spouses after many years, abuse drugs and alcohol or  threaten their own lives and the lives of others with reckless behavior.

Worse – boredom will drive away potential partners, clients, customers and associates faster than you can say “I’m really not a dull person.”

So how do we deal with boredom?

One of the ways we can stand out is with the Peacock Theory

This is the idea that by being outrageous on the outside (appearance, attitude or behavior) will cause excitement and attention. A great example of this is the 1990′s basketball star Dennis Rodman.

He was a little extreme with his attention grabbing techniques. By dying his hair blond and piercing his body he definitely stood out from the crowd. He was a rockstar. It’s up to you whether you’d like to use this style or not. It works – but you also have to make sure you have the substance to back it up.

One variation of the peacock theory is to do something that isn’t radical but it is congruent with your personal brand. For example, Mari Smith always wears the same color. Watch her live, on video or meet her in person and she is wearing the same turquoise color. It works.

One of the ways I’ve employed this technique is to use the greeting “good morning” during all hours of the day. People often will respond “good morning” back to me without thinking. Then they catch themselves realizing it’s NOT morning and stop to consider why I’d greeted them that way.

That’s all I need. I’ve broken down their automated response and I now have a better chance of sticking out in their mind for the future.

Command the room

Another great technique that I’ve observed Eben Pagan do on a number of occasions is “command a room” with his presence. He enters the room with confidence. His personal branding is strong because he’s poised and has himself together.

You will also see politicians “command the room” and “work the crowd” by shaking hands and smiling at people. They are very focused on being the center of the crowd and gaining attention.

Build Social Proof

Social proof is talked about a lot in Robert B. Cialdini’s book Influence. Social proof is the idea that most people believe something is valid, good or worthy if they see enough other people believing something is valid, good or worthy. You really need to apply this principle in personal branding.

Probably the best example of social proof that I can give you for personal branding is from Gary Vaynerchuk’s Facebook Page. He is standing in the midst of a group of people who all seem to be having a great time together.

The group is smiling and seemingly enjoying themselves. When you land on his Facebook page, you can’t help but think “I want to join this party.” And you will most likely click the LIKE button.

In the beginning stages of personal branding you may need to manufacture social proof. I’m not talking about lying, but rather asking people for testimonials, references and endorsements.

Be visible

Today’s lesson is this … above all else – be visible. Don’t be boring. Stand out from the crowd while surrounded by a crowd that loves you and your personal brand. To do this takes some effort and hustle. But it will be worth it as you build a personal brand that will earn you more money and create endless opportunities for you.

Today’s Action Step

Take the idea of the peacock theory and apply it to your personal brand or business. For example, when I meet someone new I use the phrase “good morning” no matter the time of day.

Choose something that can use to stand out and break people’s patterns. Then begin to incorporate this new technique into your regular interactions. The goal is to work toward “rockstardom.” So get started.

Now go take action.

This article is part of the Internet Marketing Basics series where we cover the fundamentals of internet marketing and social media.

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership. He is a producer, author, speaker and social media marketing coach who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

At Folk Media, we want to think about you first. Because, in the end, without you we would be nothing. So, everything we do here is meant to be focused on you and your understanding of social media and business.

That said, we know that you don’t have much time. In fact, you probably only have about 15 to 20 minutes a day to browse the Internet while you’re not working, paying bills, running a family, or having a social life.

See? We get it.

In order to give you the social media nuggets that you want, we’re going to occasionally post some social media one-liners, quick hits of what is going on in the realm of social media.

We want to focus on good content, too, so we will include some food for thought, too.

Here are today’s quick hits:

• The Internet has over 26 million “mommy bloggers” and they play a pretty big role in the advancement of social media.
• If you think that Twitter cannot be integrated into business and personal careers, think again. Here are 10 professions that actively use Twitter for marketing and communication.
• Losing customers can really put a damper on your business. Have you tried implementing a social media customer retention program?
• According to a recent study by Oxygen Media, one in five young women check Facebook in the middle of the night. Are they addicted to Facebook?
• Do you want to be a movie star? Film your entire day on July 24 and upload it to YouTube to earn a chance to be in the movie “Life in a Day.”
• Mashable nicely summarizes the top 5 social media trends to watch. Read about mobile payment methods and more.
• Are you benefiting from making your customers smarter or dumber?
• Where are you on the ambition flowchart? What can you do to improve your life?

Stay tuned for more social media one-liners next week.

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by magicmarie

This post was written by guest author Chris Tompkins.

With the numerous books being published on social media marketing, intense media coverage and more people joining sites such as Facebook and Twitter than ever before, it is obvious that many of us are hungry for social media materials.

Since more people adopting the use of social media channels, the need for new resources that will help us utilize them in a more effective manner is great.  Honestly, it is extremely encouraging that so many people are eager to learn before they act, rather than just plow blindly ahead.

With that said, I wanted to share a useful list with you. This list focuses on a few social media blogs that I suggest you visit. As these are well known, they may have appeared on other lists, but who cares – they have great information!

The blogs below are not only informative, but they offer great tutorials on new and existing social media tools, talk about the latest technological advances, offer free downloads….and can be pretty entertaining at times.

So, without further ado, here is my own personal list of favorites blogs (in no particular order):

Mashable
This is my top favorite. A great blog with loads of content and so many updates it only makes sense to subscribe to the RSS feed or be left behind. No nonsense advice, lots of fresh perspectives and multiple bloggers make this one a slam dunk in my opinion.

Chris Brogan
If you have read the amazing Trust Agents (which I absolutely love and endorse 100%) then this is the blog behind one of the authors – Chris Brogan. Great blog, great information and written in an engaging, conversational style.

Social Media Today
Another site in the same vein as Mashable, with comprehensive content written by many different authors. This is another one with so many regular updates its a smart idea to subscribe to the RSS feed.

Guy Kawasaki
Terrific blog from the ever-present Guy Kawasaki. He talks about anything and everything from upcoming tech conferences to how to build iphone applications. Always an enjoyable read and his positivity is catchy.

Ma.tt
Another extremely interesting blog with one heck of a blog design. Matt Mullenweb (aka PhotoMatt) dishes the dirt on many topics and is heavy on video, pictures and great content. Worth a look to see if it is a good fit for you.

Altimeter Group
This offers a holistic approach to emerging technologies (which I support). If you liked the book “Groundswell,” this blog will be right up your street.

Rashmisinha
I like this one as it really dives into more technical subjects and discusses them in an easy to understand way. Worth a look for sure.

Seth Godin
The wonderful blog of Seth Godin, author of more books on marketing and sales than you can shake a stick at (most recently the bestseller Linchpin). I enjoy Seth’s take on the social media and his posts are always well written, witty and full of takeaways.

TechCrunch
Are you more interested in the latest applications, toys and software to make the online experience more enjoyable? Then this is the blog for you. A clean and clear design and “regular folk” language make this a must-read for anyone who wants to stay up to date with the latest technology.

Now, let’s remember that these are just some of my favorites. What are yours? What sites do you visit to get the best information? Please share them below! Also, let me know what you think about the sites I suggested. I would be interested to hear your take on them!

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Chris is the CEO of Go! Media International, LLC – an integrated marketing firm specializing in cutting edge social media strategy and online marketing campaigns. Chris is a fundamental supporter of education in the online marketing technology sector (for companies and individuals) and speaks at national and international conferences alike. If you’d like to find out more, visit his blog or follow him on Twitter.

*Photo by Martin Kingsley

I can remember the first time I met Chris Brogan. I thought the guy was a whackjob. He was speaking at Bootcamp Pittburgh (a Podcamp offshoot) in 2007. I was there also to speak and make more connections with others interested in online media.

Chris was sporting a “free hugs” T-shirt and showing us YouTube videos of people embracing. At the time I can remember thinking, “what a bunch of mumbo jumbo hippie crap.” But he seemed to be a leader in the new media/podcasting space, so I interviewed him for an early episode of our Folk Media podcast. Little did I know then that meeting Chris Brogan would change how I thought about new media and the internet, and ultimately my career. He had insights into the internet culture that made no sense to me then – but were downright prophetic when I look back on them.

Chris is at heart a community guy. He looks to bring people together from all walks of life and has been a mentor and cheerleader for me and countless others in social media and online content creation. When he shared with me that he would be starting a new membership community for online entrepreneurs I was very excited. I joined as one of the founding members of the Third Tribe community.

The Third Tribe is run by Chris Brogan, Brian Clark, Darren Rowse and Sonia Simone. If you are unfamiliar with some of these names – all four of them are full-time bloggers and internet entrepreneurs that have greatly influenced how businesses and individuals market online using social media and blogs.

Written By: Chris Brogan

I ask this question because I believe most people advising organizations about social media go straight for a blog as their first option. I’m going to step out and say that maybe a blog ISN’T a good first choice. Why? Because I think that blogs are fairly substantial steps, and that an organization might feel really exposed if their first attempt at clearing their throat is an A Cappella moment on stage in front of thousands.

Why not start with a tumbleblog? In fact, an organization could even do a stealth trial of the feel of blogging by doing a few “throwaway” tumbleblogs that AREN’T about the organization. Start with something that appeals to the person who might be asked to blog. If they’re into Texas Hold-Em, cool. See if you can get them to post once every few days about poker.

Find some blogs that you’d want your organization to emulate in tone or style or content, and subscribe to those in the reader, too (at this point, you might consider adding some folders to the reader, one for “listening” and one for “blogs.” Add a mix of related business blogs and maybe even some “fun” blogs to read, like poker blogs (to match my idea above).

Blogging is fun, empowering, and a great way to build the “face” of an organization, but it’s also some people’s version of standing naked out on stage. Ease them into it. Give them a chance to get comfortable, and then break out blogging.

Internal, External, or Both?

I advocate for blogging inside the firewall (privately), as well as having a public facing blog. The internal blogs make a great way to share and compare knowledge, and now that your company is full of professional RSS listeners, they can learn quickly the benefit of using a blog for information sharing instead of email.

Back outside the firewall, facing the public space, your organization will want to be able to use their voice and talk about what matters to their organization. Some companies, like Sun and Microsoft, have TONS of company blogs, several written by engineers and people in the trenches. Blogging is NOT the responsibility of the Mar/Com team, nor the CEO. It’s whoever should be sharing their voice to open up the conversation to the company.

Choice of Platform

This isn’t very important in the scheme of things, but I’ll put in a plug for WordPress as being simple, configurable, and non-threatening. Hosting a copy of the application on your own site makes it a lot more configurable, but if that’s an issue for IT reasons, or some other roadblock, there’s a free, hosted version too.

Other platforms you can check out in the free and hosted camp are Blogger, TypePad, Vox, and then about a gazillion others. Like I said: it’s not especially important, except in understanding the level of customization you want at your disposal.

Topics of Conversation

If your organization has been reading other blogs that you’ve recommended, or blogs in your space, you should start to get a sense of what’s important. From there, I’d recommend just trying it out. Post something. See what happens. See how people respond or not (comments should be enabled, but we could have another huge whole post just on comments, couldn’t we?).

Here, at [chrisbrogan.com], I tend to talk about things from two levels: starting with a simple strategy, and then finishing with some actionable ideas. I call this notion “giving your ideas handles.” Meaning, I want you to take what I share and apply it to your own needs, make it your own. It’s a great strategy for me, because it keeps people engaged, and it is, I hope, most often helpful.

There are tons of ways to get the conversation started. Don’t bog down on that. Just try something, and see what happens. With that said, read this.

Things to Avoid

Some easy landmines to avoid:

• It’s okay to remove potty talk and unruly trolls from your blog’s comments section (lots of people cite the: “if I wouldn’t allow it in my living room, I won’t allow it on my blog” rule).
• But DON’T delete comments that criticize you, provided the people stay civil. This is just begging for a brawl. It’s considered in poor taste. Besides, that’s one part of blogging: understanding what people think of you. If you can’t learn from your critics, where are you getting all your advice? Your raving fans only?
• Don’t repurpose other people’s content without appropriate permissions. Learn about the Creative Commons and about the difference between RSS making it easy for people to consume content versus making it easy for people to steal content. (A hot button with creative types.)
• Don’t just post press releases and marketing junk into a blog. No one will read it, and things will go ghost town quickly.
• Try to keep your blog open to more than just pitching yourself, your organization, and your services. It’s your place, so you can do what you want, but if it’s just a big fat ad, that gets boring fast, too.

Sounds like there are lots of negatives to this blogging stuff, huh? Not exactly, but there ARE lots of ways to make a crummy first impression, so that’s why I wanted to cover all those.

What You Should Get Out of Blogging

Blogging, when you’re comfortable with it, is a great way to keep people in the loop about what matters to you. It’s a great way to represent your organization. It’s a wonderful way to share information back and forth, especially once you start learning from experiencing other people’s blogs.

Chris Brogan is a ten year veteran of using social media and technology to build digital relationships for businesses, organizations, and individuals. Chris speaks, blogs, writes articles, and makes media of all kinds at [chrisbrogan.com], a blog in the top 20 of the Advertising Age Power150, and in the top 100 on Technorati.

This post was originally published on January 12, 2008 and is republished with permission.