Online Branding Tool You Must Have

There is so much noise online. You want to stand out. To build your brand identity and increase your brand equity online. You don’t want to be a faceless mystery. Your goal is to build visibility and recognition. And today, I’m going to tell you about the one online branding tool you MUST have to do just that.

Your Non-Negotiable Online Branding Tool

What’s the simplest, quickest way to spread your presence across the internet? Do this one thing: get a GRAVATAR!

 

This will help you leave your digital footprint across the internet with an image – for FREE. It enables you to stand out and get noticed in a noisy world.

What is a Gravatar?

A Gravatar (which means Global Recognized Avatar) is an image that will follow you from site to site every time you leave a comment on someone’s blog post. It also gives instant brand recognition and the ability to link to your website and other personal information. BACKLINKS BABY! (These are links from other websites leading to your website, social media profiles, or other online content)

What should your Gravatar be? I’d suggest using your profile picture on all your other social media channels to brand yourself. Don’t use a logo. People want to connect with you – not a logo and not a book cover!

Show some teeth. Smile. Look me in the eyes. People are more likely to want to find out more about you if you look friendly. It is called “social networking,” right? People like to network with people – not logos. So, show your face with pride and watch your brand presence skyrocket.

(Speaking of building your online presence, here’s another post you won’t want to miss next: How to Increase Social Media Followers: 7 Steps to Social Media Swag)

Why You need this Online Branding Tool

Now, let’s take a look at an example of what makes having your own Gravatar so important:

Notice the first comment does not have a “Gravatar” image, but the second one does. The second Gravatar I personally recognized because the commenter, Regina Baker, uses that same picture for her Facebook and Twitter. It’s like I know her, even though we have never met in person. I know her BRAND online. I feel a connection to her.

The first one just takes a little more work. I have to click a link to see who they are – and most times, people “skip over” the faceless comments all together.

You don’t want that to happen. So if you took the time to leave a comment, let your FACE be known.

To get your own Gravatar, go here.

It’s simple; it’s easy, it’s free. Now, after you do that, leave a comment. I want to SEE your face in the place!

Now, this is a small thing to build your brand – but something very basic that you don’t want to skip doing.

It’s the little foxes that spoil the vine. Success lies in attention to detail.

Your brand is too important to remain a “mystery” comment on high-traffic blogs.

What one simple thing have you done that has really helped build YOUR brand online? Maybe it’s an online branding tool, a course, a quote, or book. Let me know in the comment!

Before you go, you might also be interested in learning more about a social media audit. This will tell you what’s working, what’s not, and where you can improve your social media efforts to build a stronger online brand. Click here to find out more.

Did you learn a lot about online branding tools in this post?

Here are three more posts to read next:

8 Ways to Get Started in Social Media (It’s Not Too Late!)
How to Build Your Social Media Platform: 5 Stages You Can’t Skip
How to Get Media Attention

This article was originally written in 2012 but has been updated in 2021.