(www.inkthinkerblog.com) — If you hadn’t yet guessed, Branding Bootcamp isn’t about bludgeoning you with brutal sarcasm or doing a million push-ups. It’s about the conscientious development of a personal brand that feels right without limiting your potential. Last week, you brainstormed your signature. Now it’s time to implement those ideas in lasting ways.
The Three Questions
When I work with marketing and branding clients, I develop each piece of copy, each SEO plan, and each strategy with the following three questions in mind: Is it authentic? Is it simple? Is it sustainable? These questions are the holy trinity of my work…because I know they work. Simply put, they’ve never let me down. Let me tell you why.
Is it authentic? Seem like an open-ended question? It is. Remember when you were channeling the angst of The Cure and My So-Called Life in high school? That felt pretty authentic…until you grew up and moved out of your mom’s garage. Nowadays, I bet authentic whining involves a bottle of wine and a few good friends instead of stomping around your living room and writing long, unsent love letters. Let’s put it this way: while authenticity can evolve and change, “is it authentic?” is a guiding question that never goes out of style.
Just as you can spot the fake “designer” bag at the flea market or the cheap imitation of honesty in your wanting-to-be-elected official of choice a mile away, your audience – be it recruiters, potential friends, clients, or family members – can smell the unauthentic immediately. It’s one of the reasons people cringe when they hear the word “sales” or “marketing.” The good news? Neither require selling out your true identity. In fact, admitting to who you are (and remember? You already know!) gives you a genuine starting point for any personal brand. I also find that it’s far harder to sustain an inauthentic persona or signature than it is to do what feels right.
Is it simple? As much as I’d love to say otherwise, I know from sad experience that people are fundamentally…lazy slow to act. Given the alternatives – more sleep, less deep thought, surfing the ‘Net – any kind of plan or implementation can seem daunting, boring, or downright scary. Simplicity doesn’t just make your goals easier to envision and remember – it makes them easier to accomplish.
Is it sustainable? Sometimes, a botched personal brand can be like the wrong pair of shoes. They look good in the store…trendy, on-point, killer style. But when you get on your feet, you realize that you can’t stand for much more than an hour. Don’t make the same mistake when it comes to your personal brand. Sure, a reputation as a world traveler might leave a stunning impression, but can you afford to globe-trot for the rest of your life? If you can’t afford it, make time for it, or sustain it, you probably shouldn’t be doing it. Find another way to express your adventurous side.
You’ve generated some great ideas on a unique personal brand. Now it’s time to apply the S test. Ask yourself the three questions above…and come back next week to wrap up your exploration of personal branding once and for all!
– Erin Blakemore
Tags: freelance writing blog, small business branding, resources for writers, branding bootcamp, erin blakemore, voco creative, signature, simple, sustainable, inkthinker, kristen king
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