The word “brand” or “branding” is thrown around a lot in the business and marketing world, but what does it really mean? The “official” and dry definition of a brand is a name, term, design or symbol that represents a company or idea. Here at Duo, we believe that a brand is much more than that. A brand isn’t just the visual representation of your company, but also what people think and feel about your business – their mental and emotional response to who you are as a company.
You are your own brand, whether you think you are or not. You may not own a company, or maybe you do, regardless, you are always representing yourself. You have your own presence, personality, and style. You have something that sets you apart from everyone else. The way we present ourselves and interact with others will affect what people think of us and how future interactions will evolve. This is especially important in the digital world we live in. What we post, participate in, and say online stays online.
In order to convey a positive image and make sure you’re communicating what you want about yourself, we have a few quick pointers you can keep in mind as you manage and develop your personal brand:
- Define Who You Are In order to send a message, you have to know who you are. Are you a salesman? A chef? A stay at home mom? Make sure you’re communicating clearly and that what you’re sharing is “on-brand”.
- Deliver Value Communicate clearly what you bring to the table in your realm of expertise. People are on social media to be social and to invest in brands they care about – not to be manipulated or sold to. Find the balance.
- Be Consistent. Conflicting messages are bad for everyone. Be sure to use the colors and fonts in your style guide whenever possible. Share only quality content (professionally written and designed). Don’t share anything that you wouldn’t put on a billboard in your front yard.