Have you ever found that your favorite musician consistently writes songs that you swear are specifically written for you? It’s as though they opened your heart, flipped through your memories, and pushed the buttons that transport you to place that can only be experienced deep in their songs. And with each new song, you’re frantically searching iTunes to download the mp3 so you can play it on repeat a gazillion times over.
There’s an element of branding in the music business that most listeners never realize when they turn the volume up. You see, in order to compose a hit song, the lyricist follows this “simple” formula: (Melody + Lyrics) x Fans = Platinum Selling Song.
So what does this have to do with your personal brand? Everything. A strong personal brand follows the same formula: (You + Brand Message) X Target Audience = Rock Star Brand.
START ME UP!
Why do you buy your favorite artist’s music? I bet they have a unique sound or message that sets them apart from all other bands in their genre. Take The Rolling Stones; the experiences you get from attending their concerts and listening to their albums are different than any other experience you’d have with another group.
The same holds true to your personal brand. It starts with knowing who you are and what makes you unique from your peers and competition. Let’s start up the melody of your brand by answering the following:
- What is your foundation? Determine your purpose, passion, goals, strengths, and all things that go into the makeup of who you are and what you stand for.
- What unique situations (professional and personal) have you encountered that brought you to where you are today?
- What is the emotional experience others can expect from you? List the attributes people consistently use to describe you.
IT’S NOT ME, IT’S YOU!
Okay, Lily Allen probably wasn’t thinking about your brand when she named her second album. However, the title lends to a great point. A critical component of your personal brand is your target audience because, when it all boils down, your personal brand is how you are perceived by others.
Who are you selling yourself to? For a musician, it is their fans and music executives. Depending on your goals, for you, it may be your clients/prospects, venture partners, mentors, etc. Determine who your target audience is and create a detailed profile including:
Demographics:
- Age range
- Gender
- Job Description
- Income
- Location
- Education
Psychographics:
- What television shows do they watch?
- What do they like to read?
- What activities do they do in their spare time?
WHATS THE STORY, MORNING GLORY?
Your brand message correlates to the lyrics of a song. Remember, while your brand is authentic to you (the melody), your message must be expressed in terms that matter to your audience (the fans).
The final step of your personal brand process is to determine how you can craft your message in ways that resonate with your audience in everything you do, including your:
- Environment (dress, office, personal and professional activities, etc.)
- Content (website, blog articles, sales copy, etc.)
- Marketing (colors, fonts, pictures, etc.)
- Sales (customer care system, referral follow up, sales questions, etc)
- Social Media (profile/bio, status updates, tweets, links, etc)
Nobody becomes a top selling rock star over night. How many times have you heard that? In addition to having talent, you must work hard to promote yourself to your fan base in a way that is compelling to them; the same goes for anyone pursuing rock star status of their industry.
Keep the conversation flowing… What experience can your fans expect from your rock star brand?
Kimberly Bordonaro has over a decade of experience developing successful personal brands and marketing campaigns for business professionals and entrepreneurs. She is president of ProStyle Image, a company that provides BrandspirationTM to young achievers through customized coaching programs, workshops, and seminars. She’s the author of the upcoming book “BRANDSPIRATION”. Kimberly blogs at http://prostyleimage.com
Totally enjoyed your guest post Kimberly and quite frankly I wish I had this list when I first began my personal branding journey.
Many of these items are now in my journal with a note to revise my plan to rule this portion of the universe.
Can’t wait for your book to come out!
Thanks again my friend!
Thanks, Paul. This was a fun piece to write. The take-a-way is that if any one of these three areas (you, your audience, or your message) are neglected, you run the risk of:
1. Being fake – your personal brand must always come from sincerity and authenticity.
2. Being self absorbed – your personal brand must bring value and relevance to your target audience. It is not solely self promotion.
3. Being unclear – nobody will buy what you’re selling if they don’t know or understand what you’re selling or why.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my insights with your rock stars Paul.
Totally enjoyed your guest post Kimberly and quite frankly I wish I had this list when I first began my personal branding journey.
Many of these items are now in my journal with a note to revise my plan to rule this portion of the universe.
Can’t wait for your book to come out!
Thanks again my friend!
Thanks, Paul. This was a fun piece to write. The take-a-way is that if any one of these three areas (you, your audience, or your message) are neglected, you run the risk of:
1. Being fake – your personal brand must always come from sincerity and authenticity.
2. Being self absorbed – your personal brand must bring value and relevance to your target audience. It is not solely self promotion.
3. Being unclear – nobody will buy what you’re selling if they don’t know or understand what you’re selling or why.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my insights with your rock stars Paul.
Loved the article. I’ve been looking into personal branding for a while and I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve seen from you. Keep up the excellent work, I’m going to look forward to your book coming soon!
Rock on, Timm! Thank you.
Rock on, Timm! Thank you.
Well put Kimberly. You are “Born to Run!”
I agree in fact “Now I’m A Believer” 🙂
“Break On Through (To the Other Side)” of personal branding! Lol. Lyrics and blog comments = HUGE grin on my face.
Thank you, Robin and Paul!
I agree in fact “Now I’m A Believer” 🙂
After reading this, I’ve changed my philosophy from, “We don’t need no education”. Now I’m listening to, “Every Breath You Take.”
Thanks for the tips!!! “Pretty Woman.”
Love it, Brian!
Your philosophy will get you “The Skills to Pay the Bills”. 🙂
I hope so! I’ve definitely, “Paid the cost to be the Boss!”
Love it, Brian!
Your philosophy will get you “The Skills to Pay the Bills”. 🙂
I hope so! I’ve definitely, “Paid the cost to be the Boss!”
This is awesome Kim!! Totally relates to the business I am about to begin a journey with. Can’t wait for our phone meeting tomorrow and finally “get branded”…because “maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me…and after all…your my wonderwall”. So proud of you and can’t wait for the unvailing of the book!!!
Thanks, Chris. 🙂
I am looking forward to helping you discover and craft Brand Christina! Going back to the days of Sabotoge on Kimberly Blvd., You KNOW first hand that I can do the lyric ping pong game for days. Lol. Thanks so much for commenting!
This is awesome Kim!! Totally relates to the business I am about to begin a journey with. Can’t wait for our phone meeting tomorrow and finally “get branded”…because “maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me…and after all…your my wonderwall”. So proud of you and can’t wait for the unvailing of the book!!!
Thanks, Chris. 🙂
I am looking forward to helping you discover and craft Brand Christina! Going back to the days of Sabotoge on Kimberly Blvd., You KNOW first hand that I can do the lyric ping pong game for days. Lol. Thanks so much for commenting!
It’s essential to find your personal voice while developing a brand, something that puts you ahead of others in at least one field, for how small it might be. It can be a technological advantage, it can be a particular trait of your business, it can be about customer care or quality of the overall service.
With an ever-growing competition, it’s important to write your own lyrics and make them special and able to put a dent in the soul of those who listen to them.
Great point, Gabriele. Cover bands are a novelty to listen to and may be fun for a little while – but what we really crave to hear is a musician’s original lyrics … Just as we want to experience a person’s true voice when it comes to who they are and what they stand for. Thanks for commenting!
Great point, Gabriele. Cover bands are a novelty to listen to and may be fun for a little while – but what we really crave to hear is a musician’s original lyrics … Just as we want to experience a person’s true voice when it comes to who they are and what they stand for. Thanks for commenting!
Love it Kimberly, you are so right. Thinking about all those questions and answering each one makes all the difference. Making your brands vision very clear.
Thanks, Connie!
Thanks, Connie!
“I feel the earth move under my feet!” Thanks Kim. Great article.
“I feel the earth move under my feet!” Thanks Kim. Great article.