4 Things Artists Can Learn from Ricky Martin’s Announcement
April 6th, 2010
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Posts Tagged ‘Penelope Trunk’
Picture by Cool Pixels on Flickr
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock and haven’t heard yet, Latino pop star Ricky Martin came out last week, making headlines on almost all major news sources. With pop songs like “Shake Your Bon-Bon,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and “She Bangs,” who would’ve guessed!
What interested me about the announcement was not necessarily the content, but how Martin chose to deliver the message. Instead of grabbing a cover story from a magazine like so many celebrities have done (Clay Aiken, Adam Lambert, Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen DeGeneres, Lance Bass, and Sean Hayes all come to mind), Martin released a short but eloquent statement on his personal blog. This is what artists can learn from Martin’s announcement:
1. Be transparent while being conscious of what you are saying.
We hear the word “transparent” all the time in social media. Transparency basically means being personable. Twitter, Facebook, and blogging all give your fans a means by which to learn about you personally. If done right, this transparency leads to a stronger connection and ultimately a stronger fan base.
Photo by Beachy on Flickr
However, if done wrong (think Tiger Woods), this transparency can alienate your fans. The trick is finding a balance that works for you. Some people like to discuss the intimate details of their personal lives (example: Penelope Trunk), while others prefer to leave those details out. Write what you are comfortable writing and be aware of how your audience reacts.
2. Control social media, don’t let it control you.
Social media is a tool for you to use. It is a resource for you to make connections and disseminate content. By using his own blog to post his announcement as opposed to a public magazine, Martin was able to control the content of his message and how his fans would view it.
3. Engage your audience by adding your own personal twist.
I’ve talked about how to build your personal brand by telling your story. This is exactly what Ricky Martin did. By writing his statement in a narrative fashion that showed his personality, we feel more connected to him as an individual and an artist. Infuse your work with little bits of you and your history. No one lived your life but you, so promote yourself by highlighting those distinguishing qualities.
4. Doing something buzz-worthy before you are about to release a product is a good idea.
I have no doubt that Martin’s announcement coinciding with the release of his personal memoir wasn’t a coincidence. While you might not have a personal publicist to plan these maneuvers for you, if it is possible, try to plan big announcements and appearances around releases of your products.
April 6, 2010 | Filed Under Post, Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Have you Googled your name recently? While self-searching might seem a little narcissistic, it is becoming a vital practice in managing your personal brand and cleaning up your online reputation.
According to a survey by Jump Start Social Media:
- 48% of hiring managers use Facebook, 75% use LinkedIn, and 26% use Twitter to research candidates before making a job offer.
In addition, according to CNN.com:
- 34% of hiring managers choose not to hire a candidate based on what they find in online profiles.
Managing your online reputation is becoming more and more important, whether you like it or not. Penelope Trunk writes that you do not have to quit your day job to pursue a career in art. To help maintain or obtain that day job, let’s look at some of the things you can do right now to start cleaning up your digital dirt.
1. Start by Googling Yourself
If your employers are going to be googling you, then you should know what they are going to see. This preliminary search will give you an idea of where you stand with your online identity. Is there a lot of embarrassing stuff out there about you? Is there nothing out there about you (this is an equally important problem that I will discuss later)? Set up a Google Alert that will let you know every time a new search result appears with your name.
2. Make a list of your online profiles
Compile a comprehensive list of all your profiles on social networking sites and any other profiles that might come up in a search for your name. The object of managing your personal brand online is not becoming invisible, but rather controlling what future business contacts, employers, and colleagues will see. For profiles and accounts that you do not want to show up in search results, simply use an ambiguous display name and avatar. Use Google to remind yourself of profiles you might have that you forgot about.
3. Clean up your “Big Three”
If hiring managers are looking on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, then you definitely want to be visible in those places.
CNN says that “of the hiring managers who use social networking sites for candidate research, 24 percent said profiles encouraged them to hire the job seekers.”
Being on these sites can give you a leg up against the competition, but only if you are conscious and cautious of the material posted. When considering any social network, keeping in mind that privacy is a precaution, not a solution. If content is online, then it is accessible one way or another.
There is a happy medium between being private and being invisible. If employers search for you and find nothing, then you look sadly out of touch. Check back tomorrow for specific steps to privatizing and cleaning up your Facebook profile.
To get a head start: Untag your keg stand pictures.
August 6, 2009 | Filed Under Post, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment