Personal Branding Crash Course

A brand is a name, symbol, design, term and virtually anyother characteristic that can be used for identifying a productand distinguishing it from other products. Personal brandingcan, therefore, be seen as the characteristics of an individualthat can be used in distinguishing him from another individual. A brand refers to anything, whatsoever, that associates withany particular product; this can be the symbolism of thatbrand or the experiences that the end users derived fromusing or interacting with that product.
From the above definition, it can then be deduced thatbranding refers to the look, utility, and feel of a product, service or a person; not disregarding the importance ofcollateral, advertising and packaging of that product. Taking itfurther, the characteristic of a brand can equally be affected bythe attitudes of the promoters and the sales representatives;they can also form public opinion about that product, whichcan determine the progress and acceptability of the saidproduct.
A wise company or brand owner will work acidulously todevelop an acceptable image for its brand or productmeticulously. A goal-oriented company will be guided by all thevariables earlier mentioned in a given direction to reach thetarget audience, attain sales goals and increase the equity of thebrand in question. The way the company presents its brandwill determine how it will be registered in the minds of theconsumers and the general public.
Self-brandingDeveloping your personal brand has some association with theprocess followed by companies when developing their brandsand making it more acceptable to the consumers. Never forgetthat personal branding is a continuous process. Before youstart your personal branding journey, you should first considerthe purpose or goals of the branding process. Important questions to askStart by asking yourself1.
What do you want to achieve? You need to have a cleardirection before you proceed.2. Who is the audience you are targeting? This will help youstay focused3. What do you want your target audience to think about you, your person or brand?4. What kind of association can bring the best possible resultfrom your personal branding endeavor?5. What and who do you need to associate or affiliate with tomake the personal branding process a successful one?The questions above will help you to stay focused on thebranding process.