Branding: Building your online Social Networking Identity

I am a writer, graphic designer, and ranked by Google,MSN and Yahoo America's Favorite Love columnist I am engaged to Rick London a writer, cartoonist and brand designer, together, we own the seo and branding firm Pen And Ink Inc.

Branding is often referred to as the “Goodwill Portion” of your business. It is an intangible that can be of greater value than your liquid assets. Being "brand aware” involves continuity in your physical and today more importantly your online presence. Social networking sites Twitter and facebook allow organizations to determine what people are saying, thinking and doing about their brands. What does differentiate these two from each other as branding tools is a difference of depth of information and rapid distribution.

There are several great business and celebrity examples of being proactive via social networking with their online brand. Whole Foods Markets can be found on both facebook and Twitter. They actively communicate with buyers providing both product information and consumer alerts. Facebook offers them a chance to provide forum based knowledge sharing, whereas Twitter has become a rapid alert venue for product update & recalls.

London Times Cartoons CEO Rick London takes a personal approach putting himself forward as the face of his company on both Twitter & facebook. He provides links to his humorous cartoons, promotes his celebrity clients & freely interacts within the online community.

Author, wife & mother Kathy Ireland takes a selfless approach on Twitter not promoting herself or her brand. Her tweets are both personal and focused on promoting her charitable causes. She shares the wisdom from her most recent book “Real Solutions for Busy Mom’s: Your Guide to Success and Sanity” is an invaluable resource for moms who struggle with real life issues.

Mariel Hemingway was born pre-branded via her last name (maternal granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway). On facebook you see her warm personal messages to keep her fan base informed while on her busy schedule. Twitter for Mariel it is a combination of educating people about healthier living and promoting her new book “Mariel's Kitchen: Simple Ingredients for a Delicious and Satisfying Life”.

Twitter and facebook each offer different active social networking features. Facebook is journal format that allows customers to add and comment on your entries. It is perfect for building a long term relationship with your customer base. Unlike facebook, Twitter offers businesses & individual branding via the design background feature and rapid 140 character tweets. Your background is billboard that can feature web and email addresses, product information and photos. Tweets allow rapid timely distribution of your product & service information. By integrating your branded advertising and marketing materials on Twitter and or facebook you will become more memorable in your prospective customer’s minds.