The
key to branding yourself as an author, expert, and personality may seem to come
down to things like social media savvy, having time or resources to promote,
and creating some type of gimmick or event from which you can build on. Though it would be helpful to possess any and
all of those items, it really comes down to your attitude. Your frame of mind and vision for your brand
will shape and dictate your success.
I’ve
seen it time and time again. Writers are eager to have a brand, but few are
willing to do what it actually takes to build a platform. It all starts with how they view themselves
and the brand-development process. If a
writer lacks the will, confidence, or proper mindset to dig in and launch his
or her brand, nothing will blossom.
The
author brand that you create is one that has to come from within your heart. It
logically flows and emanates from you.
You don’t become your brand – you are your brand and it is you. It comes directly from your idea, your energy,
your vision, your experience, and your connections. It comes from your personality. You drive the path of your brand with
everything you think, say, and do – and everything you fail or purposely don’t
think, say, or do.
So
how do you go about branding yourself when you are reluctant to do so?
Give
the keys to the car to someone else.
Let
a paid professional do what’s needed to publicly establish who you are. But you need to help that person help you –or
their efforts go to waste. You need to determine
your writing persona, that image or personality that you want to be presented
to others in your blog and social media posts, that gets shown to people in
videos and public appearances, and that comes through in your books.
You
become a character in your own book. Who
are you and what would or should such a person in your position say? Who do you want to be?
Maybe
you are incapable of being branded – or so you think? Everyone has a brand, even if that brand is
boring, stupid, ugly, quiet or any other negative thing. But no one is brand-less
or brand-free. We all become known for
something – or nothing at all. That’s
still a brand.
We
establish our brand with:
·
What
we say.
·
What
we write.
·
What
we do.
·
What
others say or write about us.
·
Whom
we associate with.
·
What
causes we link to.
There
isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that we can’t contribute to the shaping of our
brand. It reflects who we are – or could
be. Our brand can have attitude,
emotion, and color. It is clay, waiting
to be modeled and shaped. Every step you take to claim you are x is a step away
from being y. If you are a serious
person, humor won’t be your brand – and vice versa. Once you commit towards one direction it
automatically disqualifies you from claiming some other real estate. But the narrower your brand becomes, the more
of a brand you have.
So
many people are masters at branding.
Some brand based on a single incident or event that dramatically defines
them. Others have a brand that
represents success, power, and wealth, based on their career in politics,
business, sports, entertainment, and other arenas. Other brands are personality driven, where
they use a certain kind of humor or give a particular piece of advice. What will drive your brand?
The
details of a brand can be worked out.
What can’t be ironed out is one’s natural desire and ability to be a
brand. Just as you need to make huge
decisions in life. Who should I marry,
if I marry at all? Do I want kids, and
if so, how many? What shall I major
in? Where will I live – you must
determine if you have a brand, what it will be, and what you will do to
establish and market it.
Are
you a brandable writer?
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