Thing 3: consider your personal brand

This is definately not something I've ever considered as being relevant to me before!

I've seen it as something that people who are more active in Social Media then me might want to think about - design features of their blog, or whether they make sure to use the same names for Twitter and blog accounts.  I've only thought of personal brand / reputation in terms of applying for jobs - and when I've done this in the past I've always relied on my CV, qualifications, experience and references to speak on my behalf and explain who I am.

It was good to read through the linked blog posts on the cpd23 page for Thing 3.  What particularly stood out for me was the concept that you already have an online brand / presence by default, just by using the internet in various ways.  The important thing is to purposefully create the online brand which you want to have, explaining your professional skills and interests and showing you at your best.

This seems to me a good attitude to have, to actively create something, rather than passively letting your electronic paper trail stack up with negligable (or embarrasing?) activity.  Hopefully cpd23 can be the start of this.

Thing 2: Investigate some other blogs

I've just had a look through some other cpd23 blogs (from the Delicious bookmarks).  It was great to see so many others, from a range of Library sectors. I was encouraged to see a fair few in a similar position to me, setting up a blog for the first time to take part in cpd23.

Breaking through the pain barrier of reserve to actually comment on someone else's blog was another matter!  I think my primary fear was that I would breach some unknown 'blog etiquette' and accidently cause offence.

I did take the plunge in the end and left a brief comment on another blog.  This was partly motivated by the thought that if I failed to complete Thing 2 then the prospects for completing the other 21 didn't look too good.  Also by reminding myself that the whole point of joining cpd23 is to give me the opportunity and motivation to try out new things, so it would make sense to actually try them!

So, Thing 2 complete, along with a little step outside my comfort zone.

Thing 1: Blogs & Blogging

Hello!  Here it is, the first blog post for CPD 23 2011.
I'm taking part in this course to find some motivation and structure to investigate new things.
I Chartered about a year ago and graduated 2 years before that.  Since then, day-to-day work and life have taken over a little bit and my CPD could probably be refreshed!
I'm hoping to gain some confidence to try out new web 2.0 / social media tools, alongside the encouragement of doing this at the same time as lots of other Library/Information people.
As a 'new blogger' I feel a bit apprehensive - it feels a bit strange to be talking about myself 'in public'.  Hopefully it will become less strange and more natural as I update this blog during the course of CPD 23.