How's Your Personal Brand

Have you ever been driving down a city street or walking along a restaurant row and smelled the aroma's of a succulent meal being prepared? Weren't you drawn to discover where the smell was coming from? Perhaps you followed your nose and rearranged your day to indulge in a meal from that restaurant. Your senses will either draw you toward or draw you away from an experience, much like your personal brand. What is a personal brand, you ask? Everyone has one.

Like a company brand, a personal brand is the persona that you reflect that ignites, convincing, meaningful perceptions in the minds of those you come in contact with. These perceptions shape how the receiver may feel they will either benefit or be hindered by an experience with you. Basically, it's who you are, the actions you take and what makes you unique from someone else. Consumers seeking a quick hamburger nearly anywhere in the world are more likely to seek out a McDonald's over Joe's Hamburger Joint (unless Joe's has a darn good reputation), because of the reliable brand McDonald's has created. Why is a personal brand important? If you are an entrepreneur, a good personal brand is crucial to your ability to gain credibility and influence your targeted customer to increase business. If you are an employee, your personal brand is an important key to influencing those who have a say in your career advancement. Your brand encompasses how you dress, talk, walk, where you live, what you drive, your character and your abilities.

Unfortunately, people make judgments about you more on the superficial areas of your persona than your actual abilities. Test it out, as you sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or a latte, observe passersby. What are your perceptions about a fit, custom -suit- wearing gentleman, verses a short-sleeved -dress shirt- outdated tie wearing, beer belly of a guy, with yesterday's shampooed hair? Be honest , one guy gets a better perception than the other.

How do you know if you need to improve your brand? Here are a few ways to find out if you are in need of a personal brand improvement:

1. You are not attracting the kinds of people or customers that you intend to attract.
2. You are earning considerably less than you know you are capable of.
3. Your business is slow or inconsistent.
4. Others perception of you does not line up with what you intend to project.
5. You are passed over for promotions or unable to obtain business on repeated attempts.
6. Your credibility is threatened; people do not trust you.
7. You are out of touch with those you are trying to attract.
8. You present conflicting or inconsistent messages.
9. You lack visibility in the marketplace or workplace (you are a wallflower)
10. You have out dated or no marketing material

If you can relate to any of these areas of improvement, you may be in need of a brand makeover.

Linda Hembry is the founding President and expert marketing consulting of Launch Marketing Solutions, LLC. Launch Marketing Solutions, LLC is marketing firm that helps growing business implement marketing strategies that are impacting and effective, yet butget conscious. You can read other articles like this at our blog athttp://www.launchmarketingsolutions.blogspot.com or contact us at (240) 788-0670. Our website will be up soon at launchmarketingsolutions.com.