There is a big difference between your “brand” and your “branding.”
Your brand is YOU: who you are, what you do, what you stand for, your DNA personality. You are a tangible artifact, which you create into a brand that is an image that lives in the mind of people that come to know you and you interact with.
- Are you a water color nature artist?
- an NBA athlete?
- a criminal trial attorney?
- an 8th grade science teacher?
- a cup cake baker?
- a heart doctor
- a business or career consultant
- a French food chef?
Your branding is everything that YOU DO, your brand in action, that creates the attention to and associations with you.
- your website
- blog
- email marketing
- community involvement
- social media platforms
- collaborations
- partnerships
- sponsorships
I recently discovered a brand website called www.rankingthebrands.com, which lists and profiles some of the most trusted, popular, core power brands that are out there today. Coca-Cola, Google, BMW, Microsoft, Walmart, Hershey’s, Apple, Harley-Davidson, and UPS to name just a few.
What do these-stand out brands have in common?
- First, they are laser focused on what they do, who they are and whom they serve.
- Second, they differentiate themselves from their competition.
- Third, they evolve how they serve through their brand story.
These brands have built legacy and leadership through their paying back and paying forward. They have built schools, donated food, supported the Olympics and encouraged educational and philanthropic activities, which is why we want to support them and what we remember them for.
Here are 5 things that your brand and branding does to define you and your business
1) It’s your calling card, piece of real estate, your stake in the space.
2) It’s the only way to make a footprint and imprint.
3) It tells a story about you and what you do.
4) It’s the way people remember, recall and recommend you.
5) It is the single most important way to establish your credibility, authority, and niche.
Sam Walton wanted Walmart to be remembered for saving people money so they could live better.
Milton Hershey wanted to open new doors for children in need.
Deborah Shane wants to be known as someone who cares deeply about helping people succeed in their careers and business.
Here’s the new Forbes Top 100 Entrepreneurial Websites for Women. Some stand out brands in here for sure!
Does your personal brand and branding say what you want it to about you and your business?
Author:
Deborah Shane is an author, entrepreneur, radio host and expert. She is the heart and soul of her business education and professional development company, Train with Shane and is in her third year of hosting a weekly business radio show on blogtalkradio.com. She writes for several national business, career and marketing blogs, and websites including smallbiztrends.com, careerealism.com, Internationalbusinesstimes.com, Smartbrief.com and blogher.com Her new book Career Transition-make the shift-the 5 steps to successful career reinvention is available now on amazon.com. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Blogtalkradio @Deborah Shane, or visit www.deborahshane.com.
