5 Fun Ways to Establish a Microbrand of You

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During the wonder years of high school, I had two choices in athletic footwear: Converse Chuck Taylors or adidas Superstars.

I worshipped both styles of shoe, customizing them by changing lace colors (Chuckie T’s) and dying the three stripes (adidas). My color? Green. It was a way to differentiate back then. Not until Hotmail in the 1990s could we even consider branding ourselves through email addresses. Brands were primarily our names and job titles. 

According to BrandSimple, a terrific book by Allen P. Adamson, “branding” comes from the Old Norse word brandr, which means “to burn.” Adamson says the Vikings branded their animals so they could identify them. Artisans and merchants in ancient China, Greece and Rome branded their wares to establish identities in villages. By the 19th century, whiskey distillers used brand names to stand out. (No wonder alcoholic beverage brands are big.)

Today you can brand yourself anyway possible — and for zero to minimal investment. Personal branding is mainstream. Here’s 5 fun ways to do it:

1. With your feet. NikeiD and mi adidas. Colors. Embroidery. Your nickname. Go nuts!
2. Through photography. Next time you’re on flickr, check the profiles. Notice how many have self-portraits. The human arm is long enough to snap pictures of one’s face at many interesting angles. Or in a mirror.
3. By writing a blog. Develop your voice and share online among the 8 million blogs. Overwhelming? You may never hit the Technorati 100, but turning up an account on WordPress, Blogger or TypePad is easy, frightening at first, and ultimately fun. People read them. Include your blog URL in your email signature.
4. By writing a book. Once your writing muscles are tuned, why not try a book? Tim Ferriss is known for his. Even a short eBook may be in order. We can’t make the excuse that publishing houses are a gatekeeper.
5. By being true to yourself. No matter what, be authentic. Find your passion and go after it.

I’m working with two entrepreneurs who are growing their passions into full-time work. Both started as hobbyists. They’re evolving those hobbies into real brands.

What’s your passion? Do you have a brand? How to get there? Just start, then stick with it. Try new things. You can do it. Microbrands are everywhere.

photo: mleak on flickr

   

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Filed under Brand, Creativity