A couple of weeks back a friend and I were sat in Urban Coffee in the centre of Birmingham (it’s a really cool place!)  having a healthy debate…well, it was probably more of an argument.

“I don’t have a brand…I am not in business like you!” he declared

He was wrong.

HE IS A BRAND. 

YOU ARE A BRAND.

The trouble is that when most people thinking of branding they think about logos, graphics, websites etc.

Any brand consultant worth their weight in gold will tell you that a brand is way more than than any of those things.

A brand, personal or business, is the experience someone has when they come into contact with you by whatever channel they find. It is what they feel about you, think about you and say about when you are not in the room. It’s essentially your reputation.

Whether you are young entrepreneur, high powered executive or a graduate climbing the corporate ladder you need to understand that you are a brand and be aware of what it is and how you can influence it.

Here are 5 key things to think about in terms of  YOU the BRAND.

# The same on ‘stage’ and ‘off stage’.

Have you ever had that experience when you finally got to meet a real sporting hero or someone you really look up to? Were they what you expected or where you disappointed?

The have been people over the years who I have respected, admired and looked up to until I met them in person and it was like they were two different people.

We live a world where the lines between the public and private persona are becoming more and more blurred – in fact I am going to be bold and say it is becoming almost impossible to be able to separate the two.

You are a brand.

#You are Multi Channel.

People can access you in more ways today than at any other time in history. They can learn so much about you way before they ever decide to you in person. For example, I connected with someone on LinkedIn the other day who had googled me, read my story, researched my work and watched my videos on Youtube before they asked if we could have a meeting.

We often read stories of HR departments and recruiters searching social networks for profiles of candidates before they even invite them for an interview.

If someone searched your social media, what would they find? Will they find a different you? Will they find the mild mannered Clark Kent described on your CV or will they find a “wild thing”?

You are a brand.

#Go old school. 

In a high tech world it’s sometimes easy to forget the old school ways in which people will experience you.

For example, if I were to call your mobile phone right now and was diverted to your answerphone what would I hear? Would I get the standard operator network “You’ve called the voice mail of…” or  would I get a personalised greeting? What would that personal greeting say about you? What is the energy like in your voice? Does it say “this is someone I want to speak to!”  or “Man, they don’t sound like they enjoy life!”

When I meet you in person are you a few years older that your photo? Do I get a warm welcome and a genuine interest in connecting with me or am I just another meeting in your calendar?

You are a brand.

#The Card Shark.

When you hand someone your business card does it match what you are representing?

As employee you won’t always have a choice around this but if you work for yourself or run your own business then it’s something you should really think about.

For example, if you are running an investment business or something to do with helping people make more money and you hand them a business card made on your home computer, what does that say about you?

Your business card is an extension of you. It represents you to the other person when you are not there.

You are a brand.

#Walk the talk. 

You could have a great business card, awesome voice message and all there other facets that portray a great brand but none of it will make a difference if you don’t walk your talk.

Would you hire a personal trainer who didn’t workout themselves or who was massively overweight?

Would you work with someone on your goals who didn’t set goals for themselves?

Would you pay a web designer who had no website?

People ultimately judge you on the consistency of your actions against the standards you have set them up to believe you have and who you have portrayed yourself to be.

It’s called being authentic.

You can’t fake this…someone is always watching.

You are a brand.

“Your reputation online, and in the new business world is pretty much the game, so you’ve got to be a good person.” – Gary Vaynerchuck.

I don’t make the rules. You don’t have to like it but it’s something we all have to accept, we are ALL brands carrying a message, a promise and an expectation. The questions is this :

“Is ‘you the brand’ the brand that you want?”

If not, then you must begin to implement strategies change it quickly.

If you need help, advice or tips in this area get in touch.