Brand Your Name!

Have you ever thought about branding your name? Does the idea sound too egotistical for you or does it make good business sense? Let's examine personal name branding and how it can help you achieve the recognition you need for your business and put you quickly on the path to success!

Promptly upon receiving my layoff notice from my position of nearly eleven years, I decided I needed to venture out on my own. I formed a limited liability company and named the concern after my name. Why? Because my name was more known than what I did. I possessed a lengthy work history as an accomplished technical writer but mostly everyone I dealt with in and out of my company knew me more by my name than by what I did for a living.

It also helped that I did a lot more than technical writing including public relations, creative writing, resume writing, etc. Usually when someone needed any type of writing project done, they contacted me first even if it was outside of my realm of responsibilities. Hence, for me, keeping my name "front and center" has been invaluable as I grow my business.

Think of some other names that transcends what these individuals do for a living. Martha Stewart is one of the most famous people -- or infamous depending on how you define the category -- that has used her name wisely over the years. KMart carries a line of her name branded products, a magazine is named for her, and popular books bear her name. Indeed, while Martha was in jail, her company's stock tripled in value. Investors knew that the success or failure of her company depended chiefly on her direct involvement with the company. What a valuable name!

Tommy Hilfiger Corporation, through its subsidiaries, designs, sources and markets men's and women's sportswear, jeanswear and childrenswear under the Tommy Hilfiger trademarks. You may not know what Tommy looks like, but you know the name.

Donna Karan, a/k/a DKNY, is another pervasive name that has been popularly branded as has Louis Vitton [fashion handbags]; Michael Dell [computers]; Alexander Graham Bell [telephones]; Estee Lauder [cosmetics]; Dr. Atkins [diets]... the list goes on.

No one is saying that your name will become as well known as any one of these esteemed names. Few people reach the pinnacle of pervasive name recognition. However, in the overall scheme of things, your name may have more value in marketing your products than would an unknown generic name. Consider your options and weigh them intelligently!

Matt branded his name -- Matthew C. Keegan, LLC -- and has successfully launched a pair of websites off of his business at http://www.corporateflyer.net and http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com

Telegraph.co.uk
Palin the 'hockey mom' is just an exercise in political branding
guardian.co.uk, UK - 2 hours ago
This was a cold-bloodedly deliberate attempt at political branding. Palin referred to herself a hockey mom in her carefully scripted and vetted acceptance ...
Defending Sarah Palin: Ross Douthat and Jonah Goldberg on McCain’s ... New York Magazine
McCain's Palin Pick Proves His "Put My Country First" Hypocrisy OpEdNews
all 837 news articles

New Branding Initiative Dots Green Bay Area
WBAY, WI - 13 hours ago
It's part of a new branding initiative to change the perception of Northeast Wisconsin. Green Bay is synonymous with Titletown -- it even says so right on ...
New initiative says it’s ‘Better By the Bay’ Green Bay Press Gazette
New Branding Initiative Planned for Green Bay Area WBAY
all 4 news articles

Seattle Post Intelligencer
Palin's brands shake up presidential race
Bizjournals.com, NC - 3 hours ago
Sarah Palin has shaken the presidential race in good part to the quick branding of herself as a small-town "hockey mom" to rural and swing voters while ...
Video: Female Republicans Pumped For Palin wbal
McCain camp doubles down on Palin experience claims AFP
all 2,716 news articles

Nigeria: Critiquing branding and advertising
Global Voices Online, MA - 7 hours ago
by Ndesanjo Macha Jeremy critiques advertising, design and branding in Nigeria arguing that they are “extremely low in quality, with no demonstrable ...

University unveils new branding campaign
Orangeburg Times Democrat, SC - 8 hours ago
By LEE TANT, T&D Staff WriterFriday, September 05, 2008 That’s the new branding campaign unveiled by Claflin University Thursday morning in hopes of raising ...

Branding takes the bluetooth way
Business Standard, India - 23 hours ago
Indian firms are now using wireless technology to advertise and create brand awareness among consumers for their products. The concept is being used mainly ...

New Book, ForwardFast, Just Released by Health Science Branding ...
PharmaLive.com (press release), PA - 4 hours ago
4, 2008 – Stinson Brand Innovation, Inc. announces the release of a new business book, ForwardFast: The 6-Step Model to Accelerate Your Health, Science, ...

Koch Logistics Conveys Smarter Supply Chain Management With Re ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 5 hours ago
St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) September 5, 2008 -- Koch Logistics' branding program isn't just a new logo. It's an expression of the company's evolution to a key ...

Plug 'n Play Underwrites Office Re-Branding
GlobeSt. com, NY - 4 hours ago
By Connie Gore DALLAS-With a new leasing team to lead the plan, the owner of Beckett Plaza is going re-brand the 75481-sf Beckett Plaza and redress the ...

CEDIA 2008: Pioneer Launches New Branding Campaign
Twice, NY - Sep 4, 2008
“Our goal this year is to take the brand from merely connecting people’s senses and emotions to their favorite entertainment, and illuminate the concept ...

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