If you are serious about your personal brand, then you are probably aware that effective personal branding requires that you have a Gravatar, a Globally Recognized Avatar. This is your dedicated avatar that appears wherever you go, blogs, forums and social networks, along side your content.
I am frequently amazed and how many people I see online who still do not have their Gravatar set up!
If you do not have a Gravatar, then you will often be a faceless name in the comment section of others’ blogs, and forums, wherever you have left a comment, ending up with the symbol here that looks like a blue ‘G’ on its back.
Let’s face it. The point of social media marketing, or any marketing for that matter, is to build know, like, and trust.
Well if you are doing your marketing online, it really helps people to get know you if you get your smiling face out there!
So if you want all of those blue G’s that you’ve left scattered about to be replaced by your pretty mug in one simple move, then all you need do is jump over to Gravater.com and start branding yourself properly, let the world see you.
Watch the little introductory video there on the page, it shows you how to set up your Gravatar really simply.
And bloggers, be sure that you create your account using the same email that you have on your wordpress blog. This is essential if you want your picture beside all of your follow up comments there. You can also set up a Gravatar for any other email accounts that you use online.
One thing I will mention is that if you do have a blog, make sure that you have enabled the Gravatar in your wordpress Settings / Discussions by selecting ‘Show Avatar’ and under that to use the ‘Gravatar Logo’. This way, others who come and comment on your blog will have their Gravatar displayed!
Now you may want to use a graphic logo for your Gravater, but I will tell you this, if you are focused on social media marketing you are much better off with an actual photo of yourself.
And use the same photo as you have in all of your social networks. People will recognize you far more easily, allowing them to know you sooner.
Effective Personal Branding begins with being recognizable, so get out there and be recognized by your Gravatar wherever you go!
Coach Freddie (28)
Oliver Tausend (28)
Gabriele Maidecchi (24)
Amy Hagerup (23)
Chris Fairchild (21)
Jennifer May (20)
John Engle (18)
Ryan Yokome (17)
Audrey Ross (15)
Steve Nicholas (15)
Great post Vicki.
We often times we forget these little things that can make HUGE difference in our marketing efforts.
And something like this is so easy to do that everyone should have their Gravatar.
Thanks again for the post.
.-= Michael Novak´s last blog ..The Best Industry to Learn Leadership =-.
Hi Michael!
You’re right, it IS the little things that make the biggest difference. Someone told me the other day ‘I see you all over the place!’ and I am sure it is due in part to my Gravatar which shows up everywhere I make a comment on other blogs and forums! It IS so easy and simple that everyone in business online should do it!
Thanks for stopping by, great to see you again!
Wishing You All the Best!
Hi Vicki,
It’s still is really amazing how many people have not set this up, people do business with people not a blue G. Also good point about using the same picture, people will remeber a pitcure of yourself a lot more than anything else.
Tristram Lodge
.-= Tristram Lodge´s last blog ..Facebook Marketing Secrets Exposed =-.
Hi Tristram!
Yes it is hard to imagine doing business with or getting to know a blue G!
And thanks for mentioning that it is true, people will remember a picture more easily. Most of us are visually oriented and an image becomes familiar often before a name!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
Wishing You Brilliant Success,
Hi Vicki, Sometimes my gravatar comes up and sometimes it doesn’t. I will go to the site you recommended and be sure I am there too. Thanks for this great tip. I’m always a bit perplexed when I get a silhoutte instead of my photo showing up. Blessings, Amy
.-= Amy Hagerup´s last blog ..Seven Unhealthy Responses to Stress to Avoid =-.
Hi Amy!
If you do find that your Gravatar is set up, (which I think it must be since I do see your smiling face here!) then it could just be that the place you are posting does not use Gravatar. I know that they all do not (I think I even remember that the default setting on WordPress is to use something else).
Thank you for taking the time to stop and comment here!
Wishing You Many Blessings and Great Success,
Hi Vicki,
I fully agree with you that it’s crucial to set up a Gravatar. It’s easy to do, but also as easy not to do.
Thanks for sharing that.
Take care
Oliver
.-= Oliver Tausend´s last blog ..The Anatomy Of Quitting – Would You Like To Change Places With Another Person =-.
You are so right Oliver! So easy Not to do as well as it is easy TO do! Some of that slight edge philosophy – make it work in our favor!
Wishing You Brilliant Success!
hy vicky,
yeah you are totally right about this post. everyone wants to see a pic of whom they are in contact with. by posting on other blogs without having a gravatar most people won´t remember or notice you.
gravatar is an absolut must for every serious networker.
i wish you an incredibly enjoyable rest of your day!
Gerald
.-= Gerald Gigerl´s last blog ..How To Create The Most Stable And Beneficial Relationships You’ve Ever Had =-.
Hi Gerald!
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I agree completely, without a gravatar most people won’t notice or remember you, it is a must for building know-like-and-trust as you go about your online business!
Have an Absolutely Awesome day!
Great reminder,
Everyone should have one as soon as they start blogging and having a web presence. It is so important in building that brand. Hope people will take your advice and get themselves a gravatar.
Beth
.-= Beth Hewitt´s last blog ..Easy Social Bookmarking =-.
Hi Beth!
Such a pleasure to see you again, thanks for stopping to comment!
You’re right, a Gravatar is something everyone should have to begin with. But the good thing is that if you don’t have one, then whenever you do set it up, all of your previous posts will automatically pick it up!
Wishing You Brilliant Success!
Hi Vicki,
We sometimes overlook something so simple as needing our photo next to our comments everywhere we go… especially if we are trying to get our name our there (Personal Branding)!
There are many people out there needing this information… I get people leaving comments on my blog that don’t have their pictures (much of it is spam)… are they trying to hide their true identity?
Thanks for the post Vicki,
John Engle
.-= John Engle´s last blog ..The Fundamentals of Comments for Personal Brand Marketing! =-.
Hi John!
Great to see you today, thanks for stopping by! I know, I see quite a lot of faceless icons, and ALL of them that are intercepted by my WordPress Akismet plugin are faceless! But the ones that aren’t snagged there may be people who are starting out and don’t really get how important personal branding is. They’ll figure it out eventually, especially if they come upon this post of someone else who tells them!
Wishing You a Wonderful Weekend and Fantastic Success!
Hi Vicki! DITTO on this one!!!
Gravatars are so important to your presence and personal brand online. I am way more likely to want to visit someone’s website that has a face with a name… verses someone who does not.
Very important factor to your success online and especially in blogging communities it is a must!!
Thanks for sharing girl!
.-= Jennifer May´s last blog ..Gravatar Icons… Why And How To Add A Gravatar Icon To Help Your Blog Presence Adding A Picture To Your Blog Comments =-.
Great advice Vicki. Like you said, it is important to use the same picture as your Gravatar and on all of the social sites. I’m amazed at all of the people who try to build themselves as a brand using a picture of their dog or something.
.-= Wayne Woodworth´s last blog ..Environmental Illness =-.
Thanks Wayne! I had to laugh reading your comment, I seem to have several ‘doggie’ friends on Facebook and Twitter! Lots of cartoon characters too! Obviously all people aren’t into personal branding but if they are on line to do business then they should be!
Wishing You Wonderful Success!
Hi Vicki,
Great point! Something so simple, yet most people don’t bother or simply over look it.
Anthony McNeil´s last [type] ..MLM Leads- A New MLM Lead Generation Tool
Hi Anthony!
Well some may not know about Gravitar.com and that this is where you create the one that many blogs (like this one) display in the comments, so I figured it bears pointing out from time to time!
Wishing You Massive Success,
