You = Brand
"...building and marketing your brand"
What do you and Nike have in common? Well, clearly you both live by the motto "Just do it" or you would not have come as far as you already have, but there's something else that makes you just like Nike. You, dear reader, are a brand.
Now whether or not that is something you truly desire, it is definitely something the modern world of entertainment requires of you if you want to succeed on a large scale.
The concept of "the brand called you" hit main-stream media around 1999 when writer and business management expert Tom Peters published the book The Brand You 50 which suggested that individuals (regardless of their profession) must brand themselves in order to stand out in the modern branded world.
Today, it is no secret that aspiring performers are among those with the highest need for self branding. By definition, personal branding is the process in which a person markets him or herself to others and uses this leverage to appeal to society at large. And whether they are posting videos on Youtube or volunteering for homeless shelters, this tactic - when done right - is working for many young performers.
Love it or hate it, teen pop sensation Rebecca Black got her start in 2011 when her mother helped (and paid for) her to release the single Friday. This was done as a vanity release through the record label ARK Music Factory. Since then many performers, young and old, are taking to the internet to garner much-needed attention, but it is those who master this art in a meaningful, appealing and long-lasting way who truly make personally branding work for them.It's a continual process that requires dedication and a unique viewpoint, but one that you can start today.
"I still feel like I'm a brand in the making," noted CIF member Zach Callison who practices self-branding in a variety of ways. "I have found some success in the entertainment industry, but I am not a household name yet. I think it is important to market my work and activities to try and gain fans through this process. I don't believe in going for 'shock' value, it's not who I am. I want to promote myself as a positive role model"
Want to learn CIF's top tricks for building your own brand?
