Sunday, December 1, 2013

Personal Branding


“Don’t judge a book by its cover”

In MCOM we talk so much about personal branding. Apparently personal branding is essential for the future success of an individual or a company. I’ve never quite understood what personal branding entails; and while we have certainly discussed it in depth in class, I still feel it is sort of a bottomless topic.  Let me explain.

Personal branding is how others perceive you. Perhaps this is in person, via email, or a company website. There are countless ways you can build your image: repetition of a logo, good customer service, the way you dress, mannerisms, and so much more. Honestly, it’s a lot to think about!

So what is to be done if you fall short in your attempt to create a successful personal brand? One may believe that success is now out of range, that to bounce back would be impossible. But I believe that is a close-minded approach. Sure the business world may consider you a flop for a bit, but it’s the consumers that matter.  Consumers grant you your success; but I feel this knowledge is often lost in the endless attempts to build a specific image.

Personally, I would much rather deal with an unknown company with great customer service than a well-known company that has nothing but its name going for it.


So what am I getting at. . . quite frankly I don’t even really know. So don’t feel bad if you felt lost in my first paragraph. My thoughts usually don’t make much sense on paper. But I do know this: Don’t judge a book by a cover. Ultimately, the greatest risk may result in the greatest return. You can’t be afraid to take the road less traveled. Pride yourself as an individual, or as a company, in how you treat others. Because at the end of the day, that is what really matters.