Exit The 2016 Personal Branding Survey Pulsecheck Questions (* - represents optional areas) Question Title * 1. In your opinion, how important is personal branding/reputation management to business & career success? Very Important Somewhat important Neutral Somewhat Unimportant Very Unimportant Reasons Why:* Question Title * 2. Has "personal branding/reputation management" increased in importance over the last 5 years? Yes, it's a lot more important About the same importance as before No, it's a lot less important Why/Why Not?:* Question Title * 3. Are you comfortable with the term "Personal Branding"? Yes, that's what people need/should build No, people shouldn't be brands/should just be themselves N/A, don't have a strong opinion either way Why/Why Not? Alternative terms?:* Question Title * 4. Do employers value staff with strong personal brands? Absolutely, they consider them essential Consider somewhat important Neutral, doesn't really factor into employee value Consider somewhat unimportant Consider no value, potentially damaging Why/Why Not?:* Question Title * 5. How happy are you with your own personal brand right now? Very Happy Somewhat Happy Neutral Somewhat Unhappy Very Unhappy Why/Why Not?:* Question Title * 6. What are the top three reasons to invest in your personal brand? (maximum three choices) Exposure - enhances awareness and presence Fulfillment - creates a happier you (e.g. personal satisfaction, recognition, ego) Reputation - builds trust and credibility Skills - exhibits your expertise and leadership Differentiation - make you stand out from the crowd Damage Control - combats negativity/bad publicity/rumours Networks - fosters connections, collaborations and discussions Self-awareness - clarifies focus & goals Word of Mouth - build referrals and buzz Revenues - creates wealth, directly or indirectly Leverage - benefits employer/important stakeholders Power - elevates personal authority and autonomy Other (please specify): Question Title * 7. Within a business setting, which type of employee stands to gain the most from strong personal branding? (max. three choices): Human Resources Customer Service Legal/Regulatory Sales Executives/CxOs Prospective/New Hires CEO Marketing Operations/Production Senior Directors/Managers Finance Supply Chain/Procurement Entrepreneurs/Small Business Owners IT/Technology Junior Managers/Staff Other (please specify): Question Title * 8. What are the key success factors of a great personal brand? (max. three choices): Authenticity - genuineness/transparency of personal brand Purpose - noble/higher-order vision/values behind personal brand Appearance - style/tone/first impressions support personal brand Commitment - persistence/stick-to-it-ness in personal brand efforts Distinctive - memorable, differentiated personal brand Clarity - coherent/understandable personal brand promise Network - wide/deep/multi-channel presence and connections Passion - enthusiastic, infectious delivery of personal brand Credibility - substance/track record to support personal brand Content - interesting/provocative/widely shared media Affinity - likeable/trustworthy/positive image and perception Other (please specify) Question Title * 9. What are best media/content tools to promote a personal brand? (max. three choices): Video/Photo Sharing Social Media/Networks Email Newsletter Collaborative Forums/Wikis/Q&As Articles/Guest Contributions to Media Partners Podcast/Webinars/Webcast Direct Outreach to Influencers Media Appearances Personal Website SEO/Links Authoring Book Association membership/involvement Offline Networking Awards/third party recognition Offline Tools (e.g. business cards/appearance/giveaways) Blog Presentations/Speaking Opportunities Other (please specify): Question Title * 10. What are the most frowned upon/negative aspects of personal branding? (max three choices): Absorbed - solely in it for themselves Erratic - no consistency of focus/tone Boring - does not provoke interest/provocation Too much time spent on themselves vs. bigger purpose Lazy - not willing to put in time and effort Lacking authenticity/fakery Unethical behaviours - (e.g. spamming/backstabbing) Out of sync with employer/partner brand(s) Valueless - not enhancing follower/fan's lives Tone wrong - (e.g. too serious/too casual) Sameness - looks/feels like everybody else Absence of credibility/substance Shameless/over self-promotion Other (please specify): Question Title * 11. Within social media, rank the following websites/platforms for building your personal brand importance (1 being highest importance): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Snapchat N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Slideshare N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Vine N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Facebook N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Wikipedia N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Pinterest N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Twitter N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Youtube N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Quora N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Medium N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A LinkedIn N/A Question Title * 12. Think fast, who do you immediate think of as (and why, if you have a reason): A "great" personal brand A "horrible" personal brand Question Title * 13. What forces may drive the rise of "personal branding" the most in the future: (max three answers): Enhanced technology/limitless connectivity Younger generations driving more open, social culture Enhanced ability to measure personal brand appeal Rise of freelancing/free agent jobs helped by personal brand reputation Organizational acceptance of strong personal brands Increased globalization Entrepreneurship as an aspirational career focus Ability to monetize personal brand Ease in building/scaling large personal brand audiences Other (please specify):* Question Title * 14. Will you be investing more time/effort/resources into your personal brand over the next five years: Yes, a lot more Yes, a little more About the same as I do now No, a little less No, a lot less Why/why not?:* Question Title * 15. What is the best habit you have seen/used for building a personal Brand? * Question Title * 16. Your Contact Details: Name Email Twitter Done
