A Brand Expert Enhances His Online Brand

8/31/2011

Does it get any better than a shout out on Twitter? A really good brother posted this tweet this week: "Big shout to my man @herbertlowe for schooling me on the site builder weebly.com. Herb, the site is now official: www.jessewashington.com." Man, amazing how someone typing 140 characters can really make your day!

Last month, I shared how Jesse and three other branding experts had wowed a crowded session, "Brand You: Creating Your Own Online Identity," at the NABJ convention in Philadelphia. Moments after the session, Jesse texted me, asking to meet so we could catch up. Minutes later, he and another friend of mine, Austin Fenner, chatted some more about branding and how to create a personal branding website. I showed them this site on Jesse's iPad and recounted how easy it was to build using Weebly.com. I could tell Jesse was feeling it.

The next week I shared the "Brand You" Storify I did with Jesse. Urged him in no uncertain terms to get a website ASAP after only finding online about him a short story on USA Today's site. The story is very inadequate considering Jesse's career. He assured me his site was soon to go live. Hence, the tweeted shout out this week!

Jesse's site looks very good, very distinctive. I really like his home page, especially how he is explicit about what he does and what he doesn't do. Looking forward to reading the articles he has posted as well as his blog. I'm sure that when I do, he'll be schooling me – and my students – about great storytelling about what he calls "real people."

9 Comments

Ryan Ellerbusch

9/1/2011 01:14:20 am

This is a great example on how social media and Twitter once again grab the national spotlight. It must've been a great experience to see a friend be featured on USA Today's website. I visited Jesse's blog and liked the homepage with his personal and career information.

Alec Brooks

9/1/2011 02:28:26 am

I agree that he does a good job outlining what he does and doesn't do. It was interesting to hear some of the background on the website and your own role in it.

Heather Ronaldson

9/1/2011 03:32:16 am

Jesse Washington's website marks his progress and presence in digital media. How humble that he recognizes mentors who helped him along the way!

As a current student about to create a Weebly, I am encouraged that the process will not only be easy but beneficial to my career.

Liz McGovern

9/1/2011 03:54:58 am

I really like Jesse's homepage. The quick intro feels conversational. It is not pretentious or self promoting.

I also like his use of photography. His pictures tell a story, and capture a lot of emotion that instigates an emotional response from the reader.

Ben Stanley

9/1/2011 03:57:14 am

This post further legitimizes the idea of branding, and making yourself more accessible, visible and distinguished than anyone else. Everything is moving online and changing so fast, that you have to stay on top of the trends to be at the top of the industry.

Katie Doherty

9/1/2011 04:24:46 am

Branding oneself as a professional on the Internet has become not only beneficial, but necessary to finding success. I agree with Liz. Jesse's homepage shows confidence, but does not seem too overambitious.

Sarah Hauer

9/1/2011 06:16:51 am

This post made me realize how it important it is to brand myself as a journalist online. This morning in another journalism account we set up weebly.com accounts. I am very excited to see how it all works and how I will be able to use it to brand myself online as a journalist.

Erica Breunlin

9/20/2011 04:08:39 pm

I haven't quite figured out how to brand myself in a way that will both reflect who I am and set myself apart from all other brands. Jesse Washington's site is so encouraging as he accomplishes both so well. He is very straightforward in how he conveys his background, but he seamlessly weaves pieces of his personality into the site, too. He has managed to create a brand that is both informative and colorful and has definitely pushed me to begin thinking more seriously about my own.

David Tukesbrey

9/4/2012 11:21:54 am

Just looking at the website above, it looks simple and to the point. In a day and age when people's attention span can only be measured in "nano-seconds", this is a perfect way to brand yourself. It looks professional and it looks like something that I would genuinely be interested in reading; as well as getting to know this person.

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A Brand Expert Enhances His Online Brand

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