Branding expert and author Dorie Clark first came on my radar when I saw a powerful video about bravely being yourself and not allowing others to define your brand. Inspired, I began following her work: Harvard Business Review, Forbes and Entrepreneur columnist, TEDx speaker, professor at Duke University, consultant for Fortune 500 companies.
This woman clearly knew how to build a recognized and influential brand that stands out.
And she seemed so…..nice.
In 2014, I boldly reached out to her to offer a free copy of my book, Branding Basics for Small Business, 2nd Edition. If you dig it and you have the time, I emailed, I would so appreciate a kind Amazon review. She didn’t know me from Adam. But she kindly read the book, enjoyed it, and gave me a lovely review.
We developed an Internet friendship: Sharing posts, retweeting each other, and occasionally emailing. Dorie is seriously one of the most generous people I know.
In 2016, we finally met in person when Dorie kindly invited me to an intimate dinner gathering. She was in town for business and curated a group of interesting and accomplished people who simply “needed to know each other.” It was such an amazing night! I met authors, philanthropists, and savvy business consultants. Dorie even facilitated the lively discussion so we could share both personal and professional happenings.
Dorie is smart and savvy and understands how valuable these face-to-face connections are in an Internet-fueled world. They open doors, build your personal brand and enable you to connect and promote in a friendly, comfortable environment. She organizes these dinners everywhere she goes in the world.
To learn more about why and how she organizes these dinners, so you might do something similar, please read this great article she wrote.
You can’t just hide behind your screen 24/7 and expect to make a name for yourself or your business. I know, the introverts out there are shaking in their boots, but you can do this in intimate groups or one-on-one, not just at chaotic, crowded conferences!
If you want to increase your visibility and become a recognized expert, make time for face-to-face connections. (TWEET THIS!)
The personal touch cuts through the clutter. Nothing can build your brand like shaking hands, sharing a cocktail and looking each other in the eye. And yes, giving each other big hugs at the evening’s end!
Image Credit via Flickr
