Written on the 26 October 2009 by Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist @ Jump the Q
What is personal branding? It's not getting a tattoo with your own name placed a visible area of your body. It's taking your name or face, however plain you might think it is and branding it on people's minds. It can be for business or to become a household name for advertising. The actual application can be for anything.
Personal branding is a unique way of getting your name mentioned and people instantly recognizing your product, even if your product is your face. A great example is Donald Trump. When you hear the name Trump you know exactly who people are talking about, the name is branded on your memory.
Knowing how to brand your name is a bit tricky, most people think you have to have a catchy name or you have to change your name in order to attract potential clients. The fact is that your name is unique enough to market. Common names like Smith or Jones have often sought other names to accompany them but the branding still works.
If you want to market yourself as an entertainer then it's paramount that you get your name in front of as many people as possible. Consumers have short memories when it comes to catch phrases but when it comes to marketing the people associated with the product they tend to recognize common or uncommon traits. Branding is usually reserved for one person so it's best to choose a spokesperson to forefront.
Companies that are trying to sell their product are looking for a brand name; it can be a common name or a special name that sticks in peoples' minds. Think of all the brand names that you buy; do you know who the face of the company is? Personal branding moves the product aside and helps the person behind the product shine as bright.
It's all about impression, not how they see you but how you see them. There are bad impressions of people and many who see the personal brand won't buy the product if they don't believe in the name. The perception is key, creating a personal brand that lives up to what people want is very important.
When creating an impression it must stay the same throughout all diversity. People see the brand, they see the person and they want to feel like they know the person as well. It's also called personal identity, there are people you know from sight, and our memories are great for that type of recognition. It's the product they want you to identify with, only it's through them.
Placing your picture on the product is another type of personal branding. It gives those who shop for your product a clear path to purchase. Those who associate the product with the person have experienced expressive marketing. You react to their face, their personal brand and you will even defend them if necessary. Personal branding is a growing trend because in the world of business a photo carries more weight than a business card.
Brand Yourself! And Jump the Q! Your personal brand should reflect your abilities and potential. Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist, known as ‘the Authority’ on personal branding and author of must- have book ‘Brand Yourself’. Go to http://www.JumptheQ.com.au for FREE strategic branding tips. Rachel encourages Jump the Q clients to think strategically when developing a personal brand to get that job offer, gain that promotion or win that client.
Jump the Q assists you to strategically and systematically leverage your professional profile and build your personal brand to become the authority in your industry. Get your free personal branding tactics and tips at http://www.brandyourselfblueprint.com
We assist you to develop your Personal Brand Strategy by:
- Discovering your purpose.
- Designing your best personal brand.
- Devising a personal marketing plan.
- Developing your Signature Brand.
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