STRATEGY 3: Create Your Brand Identity - 6. Determine Your Brand Style

The way you do things is your brand style. It is your approach to creating solutions for your brand. Your brand style is the distinct fashion by which you do things. It is the modus operandi of your brand. You must make sure that there is a standard method of doing your thing. 

To start a new chapter in your life, you may have to slightly modernize your style while still maintaining your uniqueness.

STRATEGY 3: Create Your Brand Identity - 5. Showcase Your Brand Image

In Hamlet, Shakespeare says, "The apparel oft proclaims the man." Your brand image is the perception of your brand by others. You therefore need to put a lot of work into it. Epictetus, the Greek stoic philosopher, states, "Know first who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly." If you are building a personal brand, effort must be put into how you look. This will first of all tell people that you believe in taking seriously your image building efforts. 

Secondly, you tell them that you believe they are worth making an effort for. They need to see that you know that they're worth impressing. This is a display of respect and people will be much more willing to take you seriously.

Showcasing your brand image also involve maintaining a positive public image. After creating a positive image of your brand, publicize it. Publicity makes people aware of whom you are. It is very good for building brands. Find the place where you are created to be number one.

STRATEGY 3: Create Your Brand Identity - 4. Choose Your Ideal Brand Color

You need to have unique colors that your brand will be identified with. Color is important to validating your personal brand by passing a great message about your brand. Your brand color is the most significant element of your visual brand identity because it stirs up emotions in people. This makes them to remember your brand. Thus, choose colors that best represent your personality and your brand.

The Color Marketing Group did a study on colors, and it shows that:

·         Color increases brand recognition by up to 80 percent.

·         Color improves readership as much as 40 percent.

·         Color accelerates learning from 55 to 78 percent.

·         Color increases comprehension by 73 percent.

·         Color ads are read up to 42 percent more than similar ads in black and white.

·         Color can be up to 85 percent of the reason people decide to buy.

Colors communicate. Each hue signifies diverse attributes about a brand. You are a brand, and you need to know that colors have meanings and make bold statements. You must think through those meanings before you can determine that your preferred color will be your customers’ preference too.

You may have to invest in the services of a professional designer in choosing and/or combining your brand colors. It’s really worth the initial expense to ensure that you get your brand color choices right the first time. Just like your brand logo, your color selections should remain the same all through the lifespan of your personal brand.

Make sure that your brand colors are consistently used on all your brand items including: Stationery, Business cards, clothing and/or accessories, File folders, Cellphone case. Coffee mugs or giveaway items, Your office walls, etc.

Take a quick look at the meaning of the following colors for you to be able to choose the most appropriate for your brand:

Blue

Intelligence, wisdom, security, integrity, power, stability, leadership, authority, truth, peace, loyalty, reliability, confidence, hope, clarity, communication, imagination, expertise

Green

Growth, rebirth, nature, optimism, spring, change, fertility, relaxation, youth, luck, healing, environment, prosperity, safety

Yellow

Energy, Sunshine, joy, warmth, happiness, caution, warning, vision, intellect, creativity, light, self-motivation, independence, caution

Orange

Potency, energy, humor, optimism, enthusiasm, determination, encouragement, informality, success, competition, force, productivity, strength, vitality with endurance

Red

Power, attention, love, activity, potency, energy, desire, action, passion, determination, courage, vitality, motivation, playfulness, enthusiasm

Purple

Dignity, royalty, ambition, wealth, competition, mystery, spirituality, mysticism, inspiration, magic, dignity, luxury, personal power, self-worth

Brown

Solid, grounded, earthy, orderly, plain, not luxurious, politeness, coziness, warmth, helpfulness

Pink

Romance, love, warmth, friendship, children, affection, femininity, softness, thoughtfulness, caring, intimacy

Black

Protective, strong, luxurious, strength, power, class, elegance, boldness

Gold

Riches, wealth, fame, the sun

Silver

Mystery, intuition, the moon

Gray

Elegant, classic, well-established

White

Purity, cleanliness, spirituality, openness, truth, refinement, innocence, peace, tranquility

Brand Discovery: 6 - Identify Your Purpose

Man’s purpose is his assignment here on earth. It is what he was made for. Knowing our essence of existence is very crucial to the definition of our personal/individual brands. An individual’s personal mission should be in alignment with the kind of brand he/she carves for himself/herself. Apostle Tony Olukoyede said that the purpose of a man is his destination in life. Discover God’s Agenda for you.