A brand can be absolutely anything – a symbol, a design, a name, a sound, a colour and much, much more.
Traditionally, cattle breeders “branded” their cattle so that their animals could be distinguished from those of other breeders when taken to market.
The brand served as a proof of ownership or purchase.
Nowadays brands are the synonymous shorthand for companies and what they sell – think of the Nike swoosh, McDonald’s golden arches, or the Apple.
These symbols are simple, distinctive, and easy to remember. But the brand of these firms is so much more that that!
These logos are in fact visual short cuts that trigger a complex emotive response whenever we see them.
Don’t believe me? Try this: [SWASTICA]
Businesses invest millions in their brands to promote and create positive associations with their corporate identity.
But what about your personal identity?
Can you create a brand for yourself?
The fact is, whether you’ve defined it yet or not, you already have a personal brand.
Now, some people brand themselves more aggressively than others – think the Kardashians and the Beckhams – they are brands!
However, in a world where “cut through” and “getting noticed” is becoming more and more important, our ability to identify, create, cultivate and communicate our own personal brand directly affects how well, and how much, we influence the world around us.
Take a look at the video at the end of this presentation. It uses humour to show the very real intersection between corporate and personal brands.
