You are a brand, think like one

Corporations spend billions of dollars on advertising, public relations and marketing each year to deliver their brand message. According to the Holmes Report, an expert source on the state of the PR industry, this number hit $15 billion in 2016 for those companies we call the “brand rulers.” A select few are considered household names because their brands are synonymous with everyday terms, such Nike, Kleenex and Coke.

WHY THINK OF YOURSELF AS A BRAND?

In order to understand why you should think of yourself as a brand, let’s start with the basics. A brand is defined as a trademark, logo or tool to promote goods and services, however, a brand is much more than symbols and marketing. It’s the act of delivering on a promise consistently to yield positive experiences for a specific target audience.

What it boils down to is that a brand is about the experience that people have when they interact with you or a company over and over again.

Whether it’s seen or unseen, branding is relational, which is why it’s important to a company’s overall strategic planning. And it should be just as important to the vision you have for your life and career. You are making a name for yourself consciously or subconsciously. Why not be strategic about it?

Your brand speaks to people, just ask. Go ahead, ask three people to describe you. The responses they will give you are what we refer to in PR and marketing as your brand attributes. When you put all of these attributes together, they form your reputation. You may or may not like what you hear but asking the question helps you understand if you are sending the right message. For more, follow me on Instagram or Twitter @malizy.

#PRChic