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) Damage Control - combats negativity/bad publicity/rumours Fulfillment - creates a happier you (e.g. personal satisfaction, recognition, ego) Power - elevates personal authority and autonomy Differentiation - make you stand out from the crowd Leverage - benefits employer/important stakeholders Networks - fosters connections, collaborations and discussions Reputation - builds trust and credibility Word of Mouth - build referrals and buzz Skills - exhibits your expertise and leadership Self-awareness - clarifies focus & goals Revenues - creates wealth, directly or indirectly Exposure - enhances awareness and presence 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): CEO Finance Customer Service Prospective/New Hires IT/Technology Senior Directors/Managers Entrepreneurs/Small Business Owners Human Resources Operations/Production Junior Managers/Staff Sales Executives/CxOs Legal/Regulatory Supply Chain/Procurement Marketing Other (please specify): Question Title * 8. What are the key success factors of a great personal brand? (max. three choices): Commitment - persistence/stick-to-it-ness in personal brand efforts Credibility - substance/track record to support personal brand Distinctive - memorable, differentiated personal brand Passion - enthusiastic, infectious delivery of personal brand Clarity - coherent/understandable personal brand promise Authenticity - genuineness/transparency of personal brand Content - interesting/provocative/widely shared media Network - wide/deep/multi-channel presence and connections Affinity - likeable/trustworthy/positive image and perception Appearance - style/tone/first impressions support personal brand Purpose - noble/higher-order vision/values behind personal brand Other (please specify) Question Title * 9. What are best media/content tools to promote a personal brand? (max. three choices): Media Appearances Association membership/involvement SEO/Links Podcast/Webinars/Webcast Blog Offline Tools (e.g. business cards/appearance/giveaways) Offline Networking Awards/third party recognition Video/Photo Sharing Social Media/Networks Presentations/Speaking Opportunities Collaborative Forums/Wikis/Q&As Articles/Guest Contributions to Media Partners Authoring Book Personal Website Direct Outreach to Influencers Email Newsletter Other (please specify): Question Title * 10. What are the most frowned upon/negative aspects of personal branding? (max three choices): Shameless/over self-promotion Out of sync with employer/partner brand(s) Unethical behaviours - (e.g. spamming/backstabbing) Valueless - not enhancing follower/fan's lives Lazy - not willing to put in time and effort Sameness - looks/feels like everybody else Absorbed - solely in it for themselves Too much time spent on themselves vs. bigger purpose Boring - does not provoke interest/provocation Tone wrong - (e.g. too serious/too casual) Erratic - no consistency of focus/tone Absence of credibility/substance Lacking authenticity/fakery 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 Facebook 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 Wikipedia 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 LinkedIn 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 Vine N/A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 N/A Quora 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): Entrepreneurship as an aspirational career focus Younger generations driving more open, social culture Enhanced technology/limitless connectivity Enhanced ability to measure personal brand appeal Organizational acceptance of strong personal brands Increased globalization Rise of freelancing/free agent jobs helped by personal brand reputation Ease in building/scaling large personal brand audiences Ability to monetize personal brand 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
