Your Avatar=Your Brand

[Risk]

Lurking this forum for a couple months I noticed that people with distinct avatars completely separated themselves from the pack. I thought this coincided perfectly with brand awareness.

You could have 10,000 posts and all the rep and knowledge in the world, but if you have a picture of sports car in your avatar, as a lurker I didn't remember you at all (keep in mind this is as an observer scrolling through the forums, not directly interacting with different people). But is this idea any different than a customer scanning the shelves at your local retail store?

Even if I didn't directly remember them "I'd be like oh ya I've seen that avatar before, I kind of remember the type of poster they are." And post count really didn't matter, if I'd seen it once I'd remember it. And people that kept their avvy for long periods of time became more and more engrained in my little reader brain.

Keep in mind I'm not trashing generic avatars at all and I know you don't care or put any effort into it, as you're not selling a product here (mine is the first Google search picture, ha). I'm just pointing an example of the consumer mindset. Just some observation on a Friday morning.

 

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[Gsuz]

I find myself getting confused when people change their avatar.

 

[Blackadder]

I find myself getting confused when people change their avatar.

That's one reason I use this avatar on every forum i'm on/in (and try to keep my same name also)

 

[Charnell]

I guess my avatar says I come in fast, say what I need to say, then jet. No riff raff, just straight to the point.

 

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[Writer]

what does my avatar say?! lol

 

[DeletedUser394]

I honestly don't think it matters at all.

I remember the forum members that I like, and especially the one's I've met in person.

 

[MoneyDoc]

Yeah, I own Lamborghini Motors. No big deal, though.

 

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[The-J]

My avatar before this one was my 'dream house'. Now it's a weird bear with 3d glasses.

I thought the avatar was weird and kinda funny. Plus, people will remember it. Hopefully as my posts become more and more valuable, people will begin to seek out the bear with 3d glasses. (My first 2,000 posts are pretty worthless to the forum, admittedly. LOL still learning how to lurk more)

I used to be here to learn how to x y and z. Now I'm here to help, even with my very limited experience in a couple of things. I mean, I'm still here to learn, but I'm more here to shoot the shit now because I like most of you cats and am looking forward to meeting you IRL.

I still have my own personal goals, including a nice house, a nice car (don't really want the Lambo anymore though!), and a relaxed life with lots of freedom and few worries, but I realized that my goals are honestly nobody's business but mine. Nobody cares what I want, they only really care what I can do for them.

Therefore, bear.

 

[GravyBoat]

Mine comes from the last C&B and is a pic of some girls taking pictures of @nitroheadz28 and myself, who just finished climbing up onto some huge horse statues at PF Changs

 

[The-J]

Mine comes from the last C&B and is a pic of some girls taking pictures of @nitroheadz28 and myself, who just finished climbing up onto some huge horse statues at PF Changs

I'm pissed I missed that LOL

 

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[Vigilante]

I have this sign hanging in my office.

 

[vinylawesome]

I uploaded mine a few days after I had gone on a hike.

I suppose it could be interpreted as, "The Road Less Traveled."

 

[sle3pyguii]

I've got no idea what I'm doing, so mine's pretty damn accurate.

 

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[ChasingPaper]

Mine is currently just the generic sports car you referred to :S

 

[Viral]

A Smile a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

 

[Esquire]

From the History Channel series: The Men Who Built America ... (Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan)

Amazing series. Buy the DVD set. You'll be glad you did.

 

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[MorgothBauglir]

Hmm.

 

[theag]

Putin just rocks.

 

[jon.a]

mine is handy at meet-ups

 

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[nitroheadz28]

Mine comes from the last C&B and is a pic of some girls taking pictures of @nitroheadz28 and myself, who just finished climbing up onto some huge horse statues at PF Changs

One of the best weekends I've had, oh look matching avatars

 

[wzrd]

People remember "unique", because it reminds there's something else to discover.

Interesting thread - As a forum user over the years I definitely make the association between the user and his avatar, wether generic or not. I guess you could see it as a smaller exercise of Personal Branding.

 

[GravyBoat]

I'm pissed I missed that LOL

I'm sure it will happen again

One of the best weekends I've had, oh look matching avatars

Aww $hit yeah son, needs to happen again soon

 

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[MyronGainz]

Do you like Huey Lewis and The News?

Their early work was a little too new wave for my tastes, but when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.

 

[Michael ingram]

What does my avatar say about me? That I'm incredibly lazy, because I haven't taken the time to post one yet?

 

[Mattie]

hmm...mine just means I tend to watch a lot of people (goldfish) go around in circles and can't seem to jump out of the fish bowl (Matrix)

 

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[Testament]

I like cats.

And also money.