Branding is an essential tool in business success. While we can’t all become Oprah, Martha Stewart, or Madonna, we can learn from their very successful marketing and branding efforts. According to the Improper, “successful people and companies today understand that talent can only take you so far. Today’s business world is all about visibility, credibility and marketing. Regardless of what industry you’re in, how you brand yourself is ultimately going to have a huge impact on your long-term survival and success.” Branding and marketing are great ways to get creative, develop new products, ideas, and branch out into other fields.Â
The five key steps to branding like a rockstar are
- Distinguish yourself from everyone else – realize your unique gifts and talents and incorporate those into your brand. Examples include Calvin Klein (simple chic), Southwest Airlines (on-time and happy employees).
- Stand for something- decide who you are and why people should care.
- Be consistent- establish a consistent brand image. Examples include Rachel Ray (cooking), McDonald’s (fast food).
- Create visibility- market yourself and your business, but target that market to get the best ROI.
- Branch out- expand the brand into other fields. Examples include Oprah (talk show, book club, Broadway producer, philanthropist, etc.) and Jennifer Lopez (singer, actress, clothing, perfume).
