The Best Brand There Is

It’s a pretty common story that goes something like this:

Once upon a time there were a bunch of people with blogs that were like most blogs: read by friends, family, and a few strangers. One day — after their blogs sat untouched for a long time — these people announced, “I am rebranding myself!”

Blogs were redesigned and, after a few new updates announcing the rebranding, the blogs went back to gathering digital dust.

The end…

THE ALIGHTY BRAND!

Anybody promoting something online has probably seen the advice:

“It’s all about the brand!”
“My brand is…”
“The brand is everything!”
“BE YOUR BRAND!!!”

I can only think of a handful of people who are their brand; most others are a boring copy of something they will never become. If “who you are” is all about copying others in attempt to repeat their success, that’s not a brand — that’s desperation.

There’s nothing wrong with being inspired by others
. Hell, there’s really nothing wrong with trying to copy the success of others instead of following who you really are and finding success (or at least happiness) on your own. Just don’t shove it down the throats of others with a wooden spoon and call it a “brand worth following.”

The Best Brand There Is

It’s a sad thought, a person saying, “I need to rebrand myself.” It indicates that they were either not honest about who they are from the start, or that they are unhappy with who they are and trying to be somebody else. I’m not sure one can fake being something they are not. Maybe some people can, but it takes a certain skill and effort that seems so tiring. (At least a skill and effort that seems better spent on being themselves.)

It seems simple, really: be yourself. Create your own content from the heart, even if mimicking the work of others and making noise will bring more attention. Eventually, most people tire from noise and look for something genuine. I’m not saying volume and preying on those wanting to be loud in their own right can’t work — you might even make money along the way with that plan — but the best brand out there is yourself.

No one else is you, and that makes all the difference.