Does your brand define you?
Do you define your brand, or does your brand define you? That may be a difficult question to answer, because your brand may consume your identity over time without you even noticing. Individuals can adjust and conform so easily. But, the path of least resistance may just be erasing your existence.
Standing out becomes blending in.
Branding is a very elaborate concept. It is difficult to do well. And, quite possibly impossible to get correct all the time. Both individuals and businesses try desperately to stand out from the crowd. It is even more difficult today with so many opportunities to reach out to the general public. All of us are completely saturated with marketing, content, and information. With so many people fighting for that space, many seem to all blend into the same thing.
The crazy thing is that most times those things that successfully stand out may be completely arbitrary or happy accidents. But, fans of the late Bob Ross know that happy accidents may be derived from years of practice, training, skill, and sacrifice.
The brand taking over.
Many times a brand concept or idea is innocent and helpful at first. We will use my personal experience as an example. I spent nearly 5 years of my life with a handlebar mustache. Yes, at first it was new, different, fun, stood out and made people notice and ask questions. Then time passed, and everyone became used to the sight of the brand. It became an outdated gimmick. It was something that I was holding onto because of the effectiveness of the past. Yes, new connections and introductions noticed that there was something unusual on my face that caused me to stand out. I had to look at the man in the mirror with a critical eye.
But the shock factor was gone. No longer did the branding tool carry the weight or effectiveness that it once had. I simply became that one guy that has the mustache. No longer did I define my brand. I willingly allowed my brand to define and consume my identity.
Don’t be afraid of change.
I no longer wanted to be identified as “the guy with the mustache.” There is so much more to me than just a younger guy with an old man mustache. Once I got the courage to make the change, the response was overwhelming and positive. Breaking out of my shell of hiding behind something that controlled my identity allowed me to get the wow factor back. Once again, I had a buzz and stir about my look, sparking questions and conversations all over the place. Even Pepsi changes their look from time to time. So, embrace your brand but don’t let it suffocate you!
Matt Carnaghi | Twitter: @carnaghimd1 | Instagram: @carnaghimd1 | LinkedIn: Matt Carnaghi
About Tom Harness
Great Tips! Starting a business is not such a big deal. But managing the process for a long time is the primary challenge for every small business or startup. so Promotion is the important part. If you want to grow your business. Thanks for sharing this blog.
Digital Marketing has grown gigantically because nowadays social media has all the power to influence. So, as a brand, I think that you should go for Social Media to make a strong brand image and influence your consumers digitally.