Four Personal Branding Tools any Professional Should Consider in 2009

I use all of these social media tools and although they haven't put me on my own island in the Caribbean, I'm very pleased with the combined results.

1. Twitter – It’s the fastest way to share that you have created something of value. As a bonus, Tweetdeck or CoTweet are good ways to manage your Twitter efforts and research. Huge audience with lots of active participants. There are a few shady characters on Twitter but just like being at Grand Central Station, you just step aside and keep moving. It doesn't mean you eschew the benefit. Micro-blogging is probably here to stay so it's a good idea to get up on good habits regardless of what future tools look like.
2. Linked In – It’s the professional network standard where people will find you. A terrific way to maintain knowledge of what former colleagues are doing now. You can also join groups at Linked In that are focused on topics that matter to you.
3. Ning – Build or join a community that wants relevant information and discourse – and blog consistently with professional passion. Use Twitterfeed to automatically update Twitter with your blogs. If you are building your own community, Ning will most likely be a slow build membership effort unless you have an existing group lined up. I have placed my BuyerSteps site there and I allow other approved marketing and sales professionals to post writings.
4. Ulitzer – Reach an existing and broader audience than your own blog with your writings. It automatically uploads your postings from your blog site once you have set it up in the author administration panel. You will need to go in later to spend a few minutes to further categorize the articles. As a bonus, you can see how views you are receiving on each story which allows you to do your own research. You will want to spend time in the author administration panels early to better understand how to categorize your writings.

There are different opinions on these sites, but I focus on raw functionality not hype. By working daily to learn the nuances of how these social media tools work together, I have been contacted by professionals I would have never met through my own network.

All of these tools are improving their ability to work with other social sites and blogs. This is important over time since it allows the professional to better leverage their activities. If you are a marketing or sales professional and want to discuss this or learn more, please drop me an e-mail at john@buyersteps.com or tweet me at @BuyerSteps.