Nextcat Newsletter

Your Name, Your Brand

By Enci

Are you R2D2? Are you pnkbrry83? What message are you sending out to the people in the industry? Are you incognito or would you like people to recognize your name everywhere as you leave your footprints online? If I don't know someone's name, I have difficulty trusting them. If I don't know someone's name, I'm sure not going to meet with them!

How do you gain that trust? How do you "brand" your name? It's very easy to get started: Since you already have a profile on Nextcat, make sure that your display name reflects what you're trying to market. For example, if your name is Phil Jones and you market yourself as "Philip D. Jones," you'll want to make sure that your profile name is consistent, and use Philip D. Jones. Don't title your profile name with PJones or PJ or PDJ.

As an artist in the entertainment industry your name is your brand! Your brand needs to be on everything and everywhere you appear to effectively market yourself. The more people see your name with your promotional material, the more they'll start trusting you, your "brand," and your legitimacy.

Now if a person is interested in hiring you, they'll know who to address their message to and with whom they're talking. If they want to find more material on you, they'll know what to "Google." If you are marketing your company, for example, remember to include a contact person's name at the company. It's very difficult to make connections with people who are nameless. It's pretty embarrassing or awkward to contact them with "Hey you!" or "To whom it may concern," or "Hey, I don't know your name but I like your work."

So, make your display name your name, your band's name, or your company's name and be sure and include some background information about you. You want people to read about you and find relevant information or shared interests –that's how most every relationship starts. For example, if you're at a party and you don't talk at all, you won't meet people. Same goes for your Nextcat profile. Read other people's profiles before you befriend them. Consider getting to know a bit about them before you connect, and likewise, introduce yourself when you are asking for new connections!

More about your profile in the Next-Cat-Zine. Until then, have a great summer and remember to be professional, smart and curious!

See you online!
Enci

Enci is an accredited SAG actress,
acting coach/teacher, photographer and
avid Web 2.0 aficionado & blogger.
She serves on the SAG Hollywood
Conservatory Committee.