As a marketer I know the value of keeping up with the times. Brands that stay relevant and look fresh connect better with their target markets. Brands making strong emotional connections to consumers also sell better – which of course is the whole point!
Same science applies to your personal brand. Whether we like it or not, snap judgements about our expertise, abilities, skill sets, etc. are made in seconds by how we talk, dress, text or email.
Change the outcome …
It’s never too late to refresh your personal brand. Sometimes trying a new hairstyle gets the ball rolling. Take a good hard (honest) look at your brand. Does your “packaging” (image, performance, communication skills, etc.) shout – “Fresh”, “Creative”, “Strong candidate” or “Cool” or do you (as a brand) look and sound outdated, tired and/or replaceable?
Change is hard but it can be a positive, liberating step that connects you with new opportunities and better results. So don’t delay another day – do an honest assessment of where you and your brand stand. Then come up with a brand refresh plan – one that will be a good fit with your unique personality, industry, profession and goals.
So maybe a new “do”or some stylish new clothes are the ticket. Maybe it means practicing your personal pitch so you sound poised and professional, reframing how you speak to colleagues or your boss (putting things positively versus not). Perhaps it requires getting a new logo, refreshing your communications materials (updating your website and promo card) or joining the 21st century by posting a well-branded business facebook Page and using several social networking spaces to connect, inform, help and engage new prospects and clients. Whatever it is – your efforts will be noticed!
Tell us how a brand change provided the “push” forward for you or your business – we’d love to share your story and tips here!
Initial Impact has been in the branding business since 1984. We changed the look of our logo several years ago to have a more corporate feel then a family run business. We hired a business coach over the last four years and our revenues are up 48%, the coach demands change and it was the number one best thing we did to force us to change the way we did business. I highly recommend hiring a great business coach.
If, you need one contact me our coach has clients throughout the USA.
This advice is even more broadly applicable. I know of one company where it was put into play when the “IT” department had to be reformed, and overcome a poor and fragmented reputation. By adopting the Forrester terminology BT (Business Technology) in lieu of the old IT label, the “new” department at this company started out with a clean slate. In fact, the name BT implied more focus on business and less on technology. This put a positive spin on the department which played well in the eyes of the business leaders, at the C suite level and even the Board.