I received an email via my contact page the other day asking why I felt it was important to build a personal brand. It went on to say that “…everybody don’t want to be famous”
Famous?
As it turned out, the email address submitted was invalid, much like the personal brand of the submitter, but it made me wonder if others thought that building a personal brand somehow equated to fame.
It’s no secret that most famous individuals have an instantly recognizable brand, but it is not the brand that made the person, it’s the person that makes the brand.
Personal branding is not at all about becoming famous, it’s about being who you are and what you specialize in doing as your life’s work. When your name is called people think about your personality, your values and your expertise. It’s what you stand for and represent that come to mind, not fame.
Your medical doctor is a trusted personality with whom you would place your health and well-being.
Is he or she famous?
They could be but in most cases they are not.
Your auto mechanic is probably not famous, but they have a trusted brand. You depend on that person to keep one of your most expensive possessions in good working order.
These professionals bring a certain quality that makes them unique among the competition. It’s the reason why some are more successful than others.
Fame may be a by-product of building a tremendous brand but in the business world, I doubt that fame was ever the main objective. People start businesses because they want to make money and live a lifestyle of their dreams.
In the world of blogging, people like Darren Rowse and Brian Clark are well known but do you think they set out to be famous?
So what do you think?
Is building a personal brand about becoming famous or is it about building trust and helping people understand that your brand represents a promise to deliver a certain product or service that they will be more than satisfied with?
Build your brand for people not fame
This whole thing struck me as silly, but I felt compelled to write about it.
In my opinion, brand building is a means by which you design your product or service for the needs of your ideal customer while recognizing and leveraging your own unique skills. It’s about how others perceive you and how you deliver the goods, consistently.
Your name becomes the product and when your customers or clients call upon you, they have a fairly good idea of what to expect, there’s little mystery.
Once you begin the process there’s no turning back as you will be branding or maintaining that brand for the rest of your business life. Just be sure to do it for people.
Keep Blogging!
24 Responses to Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous
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" @TMLPhotography Thanks for the shoutout! :-) " — JimiJones
Some really good points here, Jimi – branding is definitely not about fame, but about the perception of your clients/customers/readers, and how it translates into credibility and, hopefully, $$. I like the way you drew the correlation between defining your ideal customer and identifying how you were going to meet their needs, and the importance of consistency, as it is that which will build the most favourable perception of your business/brand.
.-= Tracy Rudd´s last blog ..Interlude: Doing It All…Or Not =-.
Thanks Tracy!
I am still amazed at the number of folks who think this is just something to do in their spare time, if at all.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
Some really good points here, Jimi – branding is definitely not about fame, but about the perception of your clients/customers/readers, and how it translates into credibility and, hopefully, $$. I like the way you drew the correlation between defining your ideal customer and identifying how you were going to meet their needs, and the importance of consistency, as it is that which will build the most favourable perception of your business/brand.
.-= Tracy Rudd´s last blog ..Interlude: Doing It All…Or Not =-.
Thanks Tracy!
I am still amazed at the number of folks who think this is just something to do in their spare time, if at all.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
I definitely see the value in branding and I am able to clearly see the brand of some- I think.
My question is: Is there a difference between Brand and Trademark? And what should my brand be?
.-= Ms. Freeman@Baby Steps of an Internet Entrepreneur´s last blog ..How to keep socks on their feet and food in their stomachs =-.
Your trademark is a sign, logo or some sort of image that represents your business or brand, usually registered to prevent others from using the same. Take you “Baby Steps” logo for instance. If that were registered (and it may be) no other business or legal entity would be allowed to use it, similar to a copyright. Think of Coca-Cola, the way that script is written is a registered trademark for that company. Their brand is the actual soda (and a host of other products these days).
You brand is whatever you decide it to be, but it relates to your product or service. What are you providing to your customers? If it’s consulting services, then you build your personal brand on providing top notch, professional consulting services. You will become recognized for providing that product. Eventually when people see the Baby Steps logo they will associated that image with you and your product.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
Your brand… Can’t seem to find the “r” today. LOL
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
I definitely see the value in branding and I am able to clearly see the brand of some- I think.
My question is: Is there a difference between Brand and Trademark? And what should my brand be?
.-= Ms. Freeman@Baby Steps of an Internet Entrepreneur´s last blog ..How to keep socks on their feet and food in their stomachs =-.
Your trademark is a sign, logo or some sort of image that represents your business or brand, usually registered to prevent others from using the same. Take you “Baby Steps” logo for instance. If that were registered (and it may be) no other business or legal entity would be allowed to use it, similar to a copyright. Think of Coca-Cola, the way that script is written is a registered trademark for that company. Their brand is the actual soda (and a host of other products these days).
You brand is whatever you decide it to be, but it relates to your product or service. What are you providing to your customers? If it’s consulting services, then you build your personal brand on providing top notch, professional consulting services. You will become recognized for providing that product. Eventually when people see the Baby Steps logo they will associated that image with you and your product.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
Your brand… Can’t seem to find the “r” today. LOL
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
The concept of being famous is an anathema to me. As part of my day job I have to do a lot of TV interviews and the fallout after doing one of those is a PITA. I blog because I want to help people not achieve recognition. I quite like the relative anonymity that blogging gives me. I can blog, tweet and respond to other people’s problems without coming over as some big I Am and I have learnt to write for my readers and not for myself.
With this blog I cannot see me being lead speaker at a conference and that suits me down to the ground.
.-= Kevin Tea´s last blog ..Google Calendar A Powerhouse For Organising Your Life =-.
I know what you mean, Kevin.
Working in the background has always been my style, never been one for a lot of attention. Fame is and always will be the farthest thing from my mind.
When you see some of the really famous people of the world, I sometimes wonder how happy they really are with all that attention all the time. It’s nice to be normal, everyday people.
After all, you can be highly successful without the fame and headaches.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
The concept of being famous is an anathema to me. As part of my day job I have to do a lot of TV interviews and the fallout after doing one of those is a PITA. I blog because I want to help people not achieve recognition. I quite like the relative anonymity that blogging gives me. I can blog, tweet and respond to other people’s problems without coming over as some big I Am and I have learnt to write for my readers and not for myself.
With this blog I cannot see me being lead speaker at a conference and that suits me down to the ground.
.-= Kevin Tea´s last blog ..Google Calendar A Powerhouse For Organising Your Life =-.
I know what you mean, Kevin.
Working in the background has always been my style, never been one for a lot of attention. Fame is and always will be the farthest thing from my mind.
When you see some of the really famous people of the world, I sometimes wonder how happy they really are with all that attention all the time. It’s nice to be normal, everyday people.
After all, you can be highly successful without the fame and headaches.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
This is very helpful information. Thanks for breaking this down, because I had a few questions about personal branding.
.-= Evelyn´s last blog ..Get Back Up =-.
Hi Evelyn.
Hope this helps. There’s an awful lot more to about branding but this represents the basics.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
This is very helpful information. Thanks for breaking this down, because I had a few questions about personal branding.
.-= Evelyn´s last blog ..Get Back Up =-.
Hi Evelyn.
Hope this helps. There’s an awful lot more to about branding but this represents the basics.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous =-.
[...] Personal Branding – It’s Not About Being Famous [...]
im definitely not famous.. but my blog is more famous than i am, i guess.. =P
im definitely not famous.. but my blog is more famous than i am, i guess.. =P
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