http://sidit.org

A few weeks ago I was presented with the concept of personal brand as a fad; a mere buzzword that no one would care about in a few months. I immediately shot back in defense. I mean, it would be pretty upsetting to be crafting my own brand only to have no one care, right?

Public Relations is all about two way communication. It's about getting personal and crafting messages that are well received by certain segments of you target population. The addition of social media to PR makes it easier for practitioners to communicate with people that are talking about the brands, products or services that are being monitored. Social media is both a blessing and a burden for PR. On one hand, social communicators can broadcast their messages to people who want to hear them, and they can interact and engage with potential customers. On the other hand, social media allows anyone who may not agree with a message to voice their opinions. It's a way for the complainers in the world to make a PR professionals work for their money. Managing these messages can be a pain, but it's something that must be done. If it's done right, negative messages can turn positive, and positive messages can be spread with credibility.