Conversation and Brand Evolution

Recently, I was interviewed by my friend Carol Ross, founder of Carol Ross & Associates, and prolific blogger at A Bigger Voice, and Ordinary Life, Extraordinary Living. The interview, done for members of her Networking Naturally community, focused on my experience in making powerful in-person connections as a result of online networking. Specifically, Carol wanted to explore more deeply some of my learnings as I went face to face with Twitterville.

It was a fun interview! Sure, it’s true that I always enjoy chatting with Carol. Yet, for this inteview, she did several things to make the experience even more engaing and powerful. Prior to the interview, she prepared and sent me a thoughtful and orderly series of questions – questions that helped me think more deeply about what I planned to say. During the interview, she drove the conversation forward with periodic summaries of her understanding, and she asked on-the-spot questions that made the information more nuanced and useful to the audience.

When we debriefed the interview, I shared with Carol that an unexpected result was how she had pushed my own thinking to a new level. My expectation had been to have a great time simply sharing my experiences for the benefit of the audience. Yet, our chat clearly generated new learning for me – including fresh perspectives on  the brand value I offer to others.

Yet, there’s an additional outcome: my heightened awareness of brand evolution. As a Personal Branding Strategist, I’m always focusing on the clarity, consistency, and constancy of messages that clients  deliver. And while I tell clients that brands evolve, I haven’t been particularly focused on what drives that evolution. It’s conversation. If brands rely on brand communities to exist, it’s the ongoing engagement of that community that helps refine and differentiate value. Clearly, our brands develop and become stronger as we engage others. So, who are you talking to? 

Cross-posted at The Personal Branding Blog.

Comments

[Debbie]

Walter your point is spot on- you have to be very engaged in your community to evolve .

[Mohammed Al-Taee, PMP]

You are totally right.

I read the last paragraph 10 times.

Thanks You!

[twitter.com/WalterAkana]

Hey Debbie! Hey Mohammed! Thanks for your comments. I value your perspectives and it's great to have your validation.

As I see it, networks are important, yet the real power is in shared community - and communities allow for and thrive on a higher level of intimacy in conversation! We’ll see this become clearer as more people begin to get it!