ask me about branding

 
 

I'm going to liven up my CBC TV, Connect With Mark Kelley segments - and White Hot Truth for that matter, and field some questions from...you, ideally.

This week's theme: BRANDING. The good, the bad and the how-to. Tell me what you need to know to do it right. I'll take basic to high-concept questions. Just ask.

Leave your questions or ideas in the comments and I'll try to refer to them on air and then answer them in a post.

Ever grateful,
Danielle

And while we're on the subject, you might dig these posts:
: 3 keys to un-branding…and why I changed my twitter name
: kissing ass, quantum leaps, and the power of being unqualified
: 4 questions to shine light on your vocation

join the convoposted 8 Feb 10 in: business + wealth articles   ·   tags: , ,   ·   View Comments

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  • (marlon)BRAND(o)
    hi! is there any way that i can make my own shape or design to brand into my skin? i have a curling iron and a regular clothing iron that i could use to press the design down, but i don't know how i could fashion my own person stencil or out of what.
    i'd really appreciate any help. thank you!
  • Elizabeth
    How about something about branding with no budget--like what are the completely free (or nearly free) tools & ideas you can use to create a really amazing brand as a total startup, providing examples of who has done really well at this.

    Or, top 10 branding mishaps--show us the wipeouts, with examples!
    Thanks!
  • What ingredients go into making up your brand? I know about the tangible things like colours, logo, tagline and design/aesthetic, but what are the intangibles, the things that the consumer may be unaware are even being communicated to them? Is branding your company/your self about adhering to a clear set of rules, or is it possible to be more fluid in your thinking and still achieve a recognizable brand?
    Thanks!
  • Came back to add that this is really what Danielle helped me with in my Firestarter session - uncovering my "geist" and that's one of the many reasons I love her.
  • Interesting question, deb.

    I'm conflicted on the whole branding idea. I get a lot from Tom Peters' writing, and he is the King of "Brand You". But that was awhile ago, and I'm wondering if the whole idea of branding is ripe for some re-imagining. I don't think of myself as a product, so do I want to brand myself as one? I think of myself as a poet, as an experience, as a soulmate - so I have started thinking of this using words that are more meaningful to me (after all, I grew up on the prairies where branding is done with a hot iron and looks like it hurts like hell).

    Instead of branding maybe something like geist. And then I see geist as something I already embody, who I already am versus something I manufacture. So where we talk about "building your brand", your geist would be more a process of uncovering or revealing.
  • deb
    coke is not a person...what is it? why dose it sell?
    what do we (western humans) really want? how do we change the paradigm in a capitalistic culture? peace our Deb P.
  • How tigerish can you get when defending your brand against people who are intentionally (or unintentionally) devaluing it or co-opting it.
  • @Leigh - are you working on this yourself or are you hiring a designer?

    Either way, a good place to begin is to find some things that have some element(s) of what you want. Not that you're going to copy them, but it's good to begin with some inspiration.

    If you're hiring a designer, have a conversation – whether in person or via phone/email – before committing to anything to make sure that this is a person who sees things in a way that makes sense for your business. The designer with the best portfolio and the most glowing recommendations may not be the best fit for you; listen to your instincts.
  • Dana
    I'm at a crossroads and wanting to be uber-clear on what I am presenting to the world. I don't know where to start. Can branding apply to a person who is working a good ol' day job but who wants more focus and clarity in her life?
  • I'm in the process of creating a brand of fashion accessory and home decor products for the handicrafts arm of a local NGO in Cambodia. We're offering a fresh and modern take on a traditional Cambodian craft. I'm confident about our products, our work, our vision, etc. But am stuck at trying to start the logo design process. Any ideas of how to dig in and start the logo/identity work of branding?
  • LifeBlazing
    Ooh, love Olwyn's question. Ditto that. As well as...

    ...having read your guest-post on IttyBiz, No Bullshit Branding & The Sustainable Empire of You, one of your tips was to:

    "Be open to the possibility of offending some people, of losing a few customers or readers. Be open to being worshipped, adored, and revered."

    This presumes a readership/following of some kind. What if tweetin', comment-savvy readers haven't (yet) agreed that the water in your well is cool and clean? How can a royal, authentic brand survive clique-culture?
  • LifeBlazing
    "click-culture." (((tee-hee)))
  • Olwyn
    Wonderful!

    If a person is trying to brand themself as a leader in a certain area, should their blogs, twitters etc focus on that exclusively or should they open up about other aspects of themself and their life to flesh out their personality more, make themselves more real so more people can connect with them?
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