WHAT IS PERSONAL BRANDING AND WHY SHOULD I CARE ?

Written by YannicK KOUNGA on No Comments  minutes read

WHAT IS PERSONAL BRANDING AND WHY SHOULD I CARE ?

 

Whether we're aware of it or not, we are all affected by branding. It is, and has been, a persuasive and pervasive force in the marketplace for decades. It is a powerful marketing tool that has been proven, time and again, to have influenced people's purchasing choices. It is designed to work in concert with basic conscious and subconscious factors to affect decision making. If it's doing the job correctly, the customer isn't even aware of this influence or affect. Branding is amazing, almost magical, in its ability to impact opinion and, with the development of technology, that ability has grown exponentially.

The best way to understand the power of branding is to look at a few examples. If you were shown a picture of a stylized arch that happened to be a yellowish gold in color, what would be your first thought? What if you heard someone say the words "golden arches"? I suspect that nearly everyone's knee jerk reaction to these stimuli would be the same, whether they approved or enjoyed the underlying product or not. Let's try a couple further examples. What's your first thought when you hear the word "apple"? How about when you see a picture of a stylized apple in silhouette with a bite taken out if it? How about a stylized black and white mermaid surrounded by a circular green border? Each of these examples probably caused you to instantly think of the particular product or business they are associated with. You likely had no conscious choice in the matter. You read the description and you thought of the product. This connection happens even quicker, and more uncontrollably, when you can see the brand. The point is, these brands do what they are supposed to do. You see and you make a connection.

So, why should you be branding yourself? Well, there are numerous reasons. Maybe you have a business. It is priceless to have your face be associated with that business. Think about Steve Jobs and Apple or Walt Disney and the Disney Studios. The face becomes the logo. Maybe you're offering a product or service. The way you present yourself on social media is a way for people to associate you with that product or service. If people find you likable or memorable, in any way and for any reason, they will associate that emotion with what you sell. You are your business. Why not be the brand for that business as well

 

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