Tuesday, April 13, 2010

There is no discount price on me!

So, today I was feeling philosophical and was thinking about how hard people try to create a
certain image for themselves, whether it is "sweet girl" "tough guy" "overachiever" "sophisticated know it all" or whatever else. Each and every person is in all actuality a brand. I am not just Amanda Smith the person, I am the founder, CEO, branding manager and crisis management associate for the Amanda Smith brand. Each and every word we say, movement we choose and decision we make is a direct reflection of our brand. In life we subconsciously are all PR people. We don't like when people say things that make us look bad and we try to make people like us and attempt to create an overall positive image for ourselves.
We market ourselves on a daily basis. Whether it is to an employer, a love interest, or a new group of friends. We all have unique characteristics and selling points that we bank on and that make us different. A quirky personality, or dry sense of humor are qualities that contribute to a person's overall brand. Some people go out of their way and cognitively alter their behavior to adhere to a certain brand type to maintain an image. There are tons of self help books and articles out there that tell you how to market yourself and brand yourself etc. But in all actuality most people already do that. A brand is defined by our likes, dislikes, hobbies, interests, personality, actions, experiences and lifestyle and by combining all these things in a unique way, we each create a new, original and different brand. Just like the products on a shelf in a store, the people in a crowd each have something different to offer. A brand is something that is reinforced, consistent and built on the foundation of meaningful relationships and with people who buy into the brand. Well, each and every person in your life has bought into your brand in one way or another. Whether it is teachers and influencers who are shaping and extending your brand, or friends and family who are loyal to your brand and have found desirable qualities to it, everyone we expose ourselves to is a potential consumer in that brand. These days it's not just who we represent in person but it's our internet presence as well. Your brand can be heavily effected by the way you represent yourself on your Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and other mediums that do not always portray people in a way that may be supportive of the brand they want to expose. It is important to be aware of your brand and the way people perceive it, because after all life really is shaped around public opinion, which is formed not only by our actions but also from the way people perceive our actions. Invest in yourself, be smart about your actions and be aware of your brand and you will see a big difference in the way people look at you and the way people respond to you.

For more in-depth information about how to market yourself, read:

Brand You for Marketing:Real People, Real Choices

By: Kim Richmond and Michael Solomon













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