Personal Branding as a 1099

On Twitter, there are a lot of "guy" accounts: restaurant guy, strip mall guy, car dealership guy, car wash guy, etc.

These are typically people posting their knowledge and experience about their respective industries to build a brand that helps them generate more credibility and ultimately, business.

As a 1099, you should have a brand too! And no, not as a 1099 guy on Twitter (though I am trying that myself).

No, your personal brand as a 1099 is essentially your professional reputation combined with your personality.

Professionally, if you bring a unique skill set (or even just a competent one) and can communicate well, you'll be perceived as someone who can get things done in whatever your domain is.

Your personality will bring the other key element. If you're a smart jerk, you'll be known as a smart jerk.

If you're ultra friendly or funny, you'll be the nice guy or funny guy.

Combined, your brand will give clients, program managers, and colleagues, a sense of what it would be like to work with you, for better or worse.

So build the personal brand, but do it in a way that makes people want to work with you.

---

Note: I'm not dumping on Twitter, but if you don't have your first 1099 gig it's basically a distraction. I think it can have some use if you're trying to build a broader reputation as an expert in something, but it's unlikely program managers or clients in the federal government industry are regularly on it.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.