Here is the recap from the #smbiz Twitter chat on spreading your personal brand across social media networks. Special guest for this chat was Neal Schaffer (@nealschaffer):

@smbiz Tonight’s #smbiz is w special guest @nealschaffer discuss spreading ur personal brand across social media networks

@smbiz Welcome back to #smbiz @nealschaffer ! Can’t wait to have a great discussion on personal branding via social media.

@smbiz There will be no formal structure for tonights #smbiz. We want tonight to be a conversation Q&A to discuss how to use SM for branding.

@smbiz Lets get the convo going by talking generally about your personal brand #smbiz…….

@smbiz Q What is a personal brand and why is it important for #entrepreneur & #smallbusiness? #smbiz

@NealSchaffer Personal branding in social media is important for any professional to both differentiate themselves and showcase their strengths. #smbiz

@SternalPR With so many ppl joining the #entrepreneur world, everyone now has some form of a pers brand for pr #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @SternalPR Yes, it was Reid Hoffman of @LinkedIn who made this same statement, that everyone is an entrepreneur these days. #smbiz

@ValerieSimon @nealschaffer Do small biz owners need to build/utilize their personal brand to succeed using social media? #smbiz

@SternalMrktg Your personal brand showcases you, your talents, your personality #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @MediaCollective Your personal brand is how you differentiate yourself. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @MediaCollective It is important for the #entrepreneur and small business in that it defines how your value is perceived. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer If you are in sales, you will understand that your perceived value can influence the amount of your sale, especially if it is service #smbiz

@NealSchaffer Look at it this way: do you want to be seen as the generic drug or Tylenol? I want to be Tylenol = more perceived value. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @ValerieSimon Small biz owners need to consider how they brand themesleves as part of their social media strategy. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @garyasanchez Yes, reputation is an important part of your personal brand. In the LinkedIn World, for instance, these r your Recomms. #smbiz

@KitBook What if you serve more than one niche? Do you brand yourselve differently for each? #smbiz

@DesignLeap Choose a brand strategy and stick with it. Be consistent in all your social media profiles. #smbiz

@SternalMrktg By sharing your personal brand and not just business brand you also make it easier for ppl to like u and build a relationship w u #smbiz

@MediaCollective Personal brand is the face, spirit, credibility & value of service or product that U put out - differentiator U vs every1 else #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @KitBook “Jack of all trades” is one brand for multiple niches. But sites like Twitter give you the chance to manage multiple brands #smbiz

@garyasanchez I once had an ad agency advocate that brand = (word + emotion). It’s been a convenient way to think about brands #smbiz

@merylevans It sounds like some businesses are shopping around looking for best deal or price. In that case, maybe it’s not the client for you. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @designleap Yes, consistency of brand amongst all social media profiles is critical! Otherwise your brand is diluted! #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @SternalMrktg That is what social networking is all about: people talking with people NOT people talking with companies! #smbiz

@smbiz Q How can you use your personal brand to enhance your #smallbusiness? #smbiz (every1 feel free to answer)

@DIYMKTchat I’ve been focusing on competitive advantage as a focus of personal brand that gives clients a reason to choose you #smbiz

@SternalPR @DIYMKTchat Good point. I think also important to show value & results and equate to ur pers brand attributes. #smbiz

@SternalPR If others tie ur pers brand in with success, it gives you a big leg up on the competition. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer Social media is about creating content and developing relationships with people, like we’re doing right now! #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @DIYMKTchat Exactly! Your personal brand should showcase your competitive advantage for all to see and remember! #smbiz

@smbiz More specifically: Q How can you extend your personal brand across Facebook? #smbiz (specific examples here?)

@NealSchaffer @smbiz Facebook is like any other social networking site. Your personal brand is implemented through your photo, bio, and comments. #smbiz

@DIYMKTchat I’ve been reading this book lately “Creative Competitive Advantage” - AWESOME tool #smbiz http://bit.ly/Rswly

@NealSchaffer In fact I wrote a blog post of why I don’t use Facebook any differently than LinkedIn http://budurl.com/neal58 #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @DIYMKTchat For Personal Branding, I believe “Career Distinction” and “Me 2.0″ are the most famous ones vis a vis social media. #smbiz

@smallbizlady To build your brand on Facebook or Twitter think about exactly who you want to communicate w/ prior to posting think ideal customer #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @SternalPR I don’t really utilize the FB apps. and plug-ins. However, I think a Facebook Fan Page is a must for a brand. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @SternalPR Each social networking site will be slightly different in atmosphere, and thus what you do will be different… #smbiz

@wvpmc @SternalPR think these platforms have distinct cultures - need to handle content, approach differently #smbiz

@merylevans @nealschaffer But I think some brands are too small for a fan page — it doesn’t seem right based on Facebook’s desc of fan vs grp. #smbiz

@SternalPR @nealschaffer True. But eventually it’s all “content”, right? How similar shld content be used to extend same brand? #smbiz

@NealSchaffer So how you implement your brand on each social networking site will also be decided by what functionality each site provides you. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @wvpmc If you are a company I can see you creating a Facebook application. From personal branding I am unclear as to the value? #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @merylevans Anyone can start a Fan Page no matter how small or big you are. Can you elaborate on your point? #smbiz

@SternalPR @nealschaffer Do you work with any web designers that help ppl build a consistent look across multiple platforms? #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @SternalPR Content on each site may be different. On Twitter you want to gain mindshare which means often Tweeting above and (tbc) #smbiz

@MediaCollective @merylevans no brand is too small for a FB page or SM presence, a tree w/ wide spread roots starts as a seed right? Be a seed & grow #smbiz

@DesignLeap There are too many to keep up with, I suggest to pick no more than 3 and really participate as much as you can. #smbiz

@SternalPR @designleap Yeah I tend to agree. Unless you have a staff that can really get good SM penetration. Otherwise its difficult. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @wvpmc YouTube, blogging (WordPress), social bookmarking sites (Digg, Stumbleupon, Delicious), even Flickr. #smbiz

@smbiz Anyone have suggestions of how to use LinkedIn and Twitter together so that your brand is consistent and u play off each other? #smbiz

@SternalPR If you have a LinkedIn Group discussion going you can drive traffic and promote via Twitter, right? What else? #smbiz

@smbiz Any tips on how to use Digg, Reddit, BizSugar together for brand consistency? #smbiz

@SternalPR @nealschaffer Can you offer any specific examples of this (LI/Twitter playing off website, not each other)? #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @merylevans The same goes for Twitter. You have to be come a “channel” in something that will people will want to tune into. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @smbiz For Digg, Reddit, etc., I see them to be very similar to Twitter although it is centered around bookmarks and not ideas. #smbiz

@smbiz What R some different things #smallbusiness #entrepreneur do to build their networks (Twitter, LI, FB)? #smbiz

@DesignLeap If you have a Wordpress or TypePad blog, you can have the updates show up in LinkedIn - great way to keep LI updated #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @SternalPR When I create a blog post, I tweet it, update my LI status, and post to relevant LI Groups. The traffic filters in. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @SternalPR Then people’s reactions to the blog post on Twitter and LI become new conversations on each site? Make sense? #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @designleap Yes, LinkedIn offers the WordPress and Blog Link Applications. You can use Blog Link with any blog, even Twitter! #smbiz

@merylevans I do have my blog feeding into several sites and Tweets into several (NOT FB - diff types of users), etc. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @merylevans If your blogging has valuable content and is only 2 to 3 times a week, I don’t think it is overly promoting yourself. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @wvpmc Best tools for lead generation? Depends totally on the product and industry. Social media not the best answer for everyone. #smbiz

@ValerieSimon LinkedIn Group for #smbiz via @SternalMrktg: http://tinyurl.com/mbrzzb Great resource for networking & advice!

@SternalMrktg @merylevans A Fan page or Comany pg on FB is great so you aren’t sharing biz/networking thoughts w personal friends who arent interst #smbiz

@AaronWeiche @smbiz ask contacts to connect on SM, ask others for other good connections, use searches/filters, introduce yourself. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @smbiz For extending branding across sites, your profile information has to be synched up as well. Need to use same terminology. #smbiz

@DesignLeap @nealschaffer, @merylevans I think that your blog should be a hub for everything, which will lead them to your products/services #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @wvpmc Good point, so long as you are a friend. Well, LinkedIn can be very protective of the professional culture they are providing. #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @SternalMrktg Excellent point on Facebook Fan Page! Exactly! Don’t bore your real friends with your branding commentary! #smbiz

@CMM_PR @designleap A blog is an informal way of engaging an audience - it does not replace web content or participating in social networks #smbiz

@wvpmc @nealschaffer @merylevans showcasing other material than your promos feels more like sharing, offering added value #smbiz

@NealSchaffer @wvpmc Agree that it all comes down to providing “value”. Without that your brand is still on the generic shelf at a discount price! #smbiz

@NealSchaffer Feel free to connect with me through my website http://windmillnetworking.com #smbiz