Friday, May 16, 2008. My Boss Hermawan kartajaya told me and other more than 100 markplus workshop participants about a story on his facebook account.

“This morning, someone new from my facebook contact propose me about a product he have. And I am sure all of the audience here can guess what is my answer.

Yes… the answer is “NO“.

” Think about this.
First, I don’t event needed the product
Second, He hardly express a hard-selling technique with me, although he is just connect with me yesterday.
Third, I don’t know anything about him. ”

” Well, I’m sure it will be a bit differ if he start it with a more polite ways. Getting more closer with me (offline or online ways), tell me more about the product with a very well maintained explaination.”

Well.. I guess My Boss decision for saying “NO” was best answer for this case. The Person that offering HK a product, it just get a introduction (skin-layer) and not yet trying to influence HK event far away from engaging with HK heart.

To explain this case, I create this “Direct Connecting to Heart Marketing” model to be a guide for building a good connectivity in term of personal branding development.

The most easiest ways on creating connection with other people/ other company is by “Reach” them, you can use a phone, email, or blogwalking on their blog by commenting on others blog article.

But “Reach” is only the skin-layer of connection. It’s what I call an ordinary Introduction. It will gain nothing if we don’t follow it up with Inner-layer “Influencing” which is mean, more frequently interactivity with them. Let them know more about You, share interest topics each others, make your own red-line that bind both of you more closer.

And then you will realize that, You and them are ready to “Engage” Deeper-Layer, create more great opportunities, because you are their close-friend now, both of you are in one big family connected by heart and emotion.

So what happend when you sell/ offering something to them?

Well… it is not guarantee 100% they will buy your product/ service/ others offering. But be sure it will create a good consideration for them to accept your offering.

In personal brand we need to build this good connectivity, with other person or company.

We are now moving from just a personal brand building to personal brand engagement, in an effort to increase our good connectivity loyalty.

© by Hansmagelssen Dreamstime.com

Main Purpose of personal branding is to marketing and selling yourself as a brand. To gain your ultimate success in life. It is continual process to recognize who you really are.

When i read Jesse Randall Warden article in web2journal.com it makes me think more. And more day i finish more i realize that branding myself is can not be avoided. It;s extremely important base on fact that globalization are in the house. I must be able to compete with others during my professionalism expertise on online branding.

Here are the personal branding checklist that must be done by all of us as a Personal Brand!

1. Know what you want: Identify what you want, and start walking toward it.
2. Be able to articulate what you do: When someone asks what you do, answer them immediately with a clear, concise, and confident response.
3. Elevator pitch: Be able to describe who you are and what you do in the time it takes to ride an elevator.
4. Be positive: Be positive.
5. Business card: A 3×5 piece of paper or mini-CD that has your personal contact information clearly printed on it.
6. Have a blog / Website / MySpace, or other online presence: Get your brand online.
7. Multiple e-mail addresses: Get more than one e-mail address.
8. Phone: Get a phone.
9. Signature: Your signature is who you are, your title, and your contact information. You should put this on everything you touch.
10. Logo: A visual image that positively identifies your brand.
11. Personal goals: Set goals for yourself that help you reach what you want.
12. More than one resume: Customize your resume to the potential employer or client.
13. Mentor: Find a guru and have them teach you.
14. Networking outlets / contacts: Continually develop your network by attending industry meetings and conferences.
15. Wardrobe style: When you are going to be near people who you wish to sell your brand to, dress to impress.
16. Multiple IM accounts: Get more than one IM account.
17. Alias: Obtain a positive nickname.
18. Mantra: Collect sayings that enforce your brand.
19. Speaking and PowerPoint template: Speak about what you do and have a hot-looking PowerPoint template to show.
20. Passion: Love what you do.

Thorough Definitions
You can get more thorough in our definitions, by reading Web 2.0 – Personal Branding Checklist