So I was thinking about television programs today compared to when I was just a wee lad. Today we have a bajillion programs that all fall under the Reality TV genre. We have Real World and Survivor to thank for this. FYI: Survivor is conducting an Open Casting Call for their next show if you’re game… I wonder which of my character traits would get me cast on a show? Talk about personal branding! Producers are looking for very specific, definitive characters. You can’t be wishy-washy or plain. You’ve got to be strong willed. You’ve got to know who you are and not only know it, but be it. To me, that’s the first step, and often the one we race past, in defining an online marketing strategy. How can you market something you haven’t truly defined? On the www, there is competition for your time, money, and membership around every click. Your website must have a voice. It must have a personality.

It must have character traits that are endearing and trustworthy. It must have the ability to make friends. You have to know who you are, and why you are who you are, if you want people to sign on. Don’t jump in headfirst if you haven’t worked hard to define your character traits and attributes! To get started, ask yourself some questions… Who am I? How am I different from everything/everyone else? Why should someone give their time, money, or membership to me? What is it I have to offer? What benefits do I bring to the table for THEM? If I, or my business, was cast on a reality TV show, what would keep me from getting voted off? What alliances will make me stronger? Before you run out to tell the world who you are, you better be able to answer these questions! Take your time with the process… really think about it. At this point, you still have the ability to define who you are. Once you put it out there, you can’t get it back! Once you allow popular opinion to embrace you, if you haven’t defined yourself, popular opinion will do it for you! Don’t miss this crucial first step in developing an online strategy. Don’t be in such a hurry to tell the world who you are that you forget to figure it out for yourself. And remember, as we discussed yesterday, be authentic.