How to create an ICONIC Personal Brand Signature

The TO-DO List after writing that BRILLIANT POST
May 31, 2012
Be Brandtastic: 5 Golden Rules for an ICONIC Personal Brand Experience
June 17, 2012

So you are on your way to becoming an ICONIC Brand of your Industry! Kudos! I couldn’t be more thrilled about your journey of Personal Branding. Journey, Yes! The beauty of Personal Branding lies in the way it’s woven in every humble aspect of your Professional as well as Personal Existence, all lifelong.

It is how people Know You, How people Think of You and How people See You! The ultimate reward of Personal Branding for your Brand Community is HOW they experience your Brand-in Action. It is how they See you, literally! The Brand You is a beautiful mosaic of your 3 distinct dimensions: The Virtual Brand Identity, The Intangible Brand Identity (Your Brand Reputation) and The Physical Brand Identity. The Physical Brand Identity is Your Brand-in-Action: how your brand looks, talks, walks and behaves; it is the live experience of your Virtual Brand Identity and Intangible Brand Identity, together.

So Looking good is certainly on the cards; but looking ICONIC is what I will show you how!

I am going to help you create an ICONIC Personal Brand Signature for you, which could be known as your Brand’s Signature Style Statement; your Signature Style Statement is the distinguishing and discerning trait of the Brand You.

ICONS are known and loved for a striking trait that endears him or her to the world. What is the Secret of these ICONS that makes them ICONIC? You guess it right! It is undoubtedly their Passion that rules the Roost; they have been following their Passion since time immemorial and have become successful in creating an ICONIC Place for themselves in this world and our hearts!

Now I want you to answer these two questions for me:

1. What is that one thing that you do, that you want to be known for?

The answer to this question will guide you towards your Personal Brand Signature; it could be the way you speak or the way you dress or the way you write. But I want you to focus on the ‘dress’ part for now.

2. And what is that one thing that you wish to be reborn as?

Now, if you meet a genie and he gives you one wish to be reborn as any object of your choice-hypothetically speaking, of course– what would you want to be reborn as? The answer to this question will bring you closer to your most beloved object of possession-one that you don’t mind being turned into! This is your Alter Ego Brand Signature: Your Brand Experience with a twist.

Here are the 7 steps to an ICONIC Personal Brand Signature, for the Brand YOU:

1. List out passions/activities/things/people that you love 

E.g.: I am passionate about vintage style and elegant glamour; I love to enchant people with one exquisite accessory on me; I love people like Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Coco Chanel,  who have a strong individualistic style

2. Identify 2 values that you believe are an integral part of your physical brand identity

E.g.: I believe I epitomize signature style and personify elegant flamboyance

3. Explore avenues for expression of these 2 topics

E.g.: I can express my signature style in the following ways: a scarf, a neckpiece, a brooch, a watch, a handbag, and signature shoes. I can express my passion for elegant flamboyance via an Iconic car, a custom made phone or a gizmo, a legendary watch and fine jewelry

4. Identify 3 brands that share your brand values, and declare loyalty

E.g.: The Brands that reflect my personal brand values are Chanel, Cartier and Dior.

5. Conceive the best 3 options from both the topics

E.g.: I loved the expression of my brand values via a neckpiece, a brooch and a scarf and the most beloved way of my alter ego expression could be my watch or my phone or my car.

6. Take a brief feedback from your inner brand community on the alignment of your 2 style statements with your brand

E.g.: My brand community resonates my sentiments unequivocally! The unanimous choice for my signature style statement was my statement neckpieces that are the most popular highlight of my brand; and the perfect alter ego of my brand identity was found to be my Iconic Watches.

Give them the 3 best options from both your lists (above) and quiz them:

  • What is that one thing that you associate with my personal dressing style?
  • What is the most remarkable thing you have noticed about the way I dress?
  • Which is the most intriguing piece of accessory or clothing that you have observed on me?
  • Which is that one item I sported that you wish you had?
  • What accessory do you think compliments my personality?
  • If you were a genie for a day, which of these things would you magically transform me into & why?

 7. You may honour the feedback and christen the best favored look from the former set as your Personal Brand Signature, and from the latter – your brand’s magical alter ego transformation as your Alter Ego Brand Signature or trust your own Selection! And God forbid if there is too much disparity with your feedback and your own perception, it’s time to buckle up and take control of your Brand’s Perception & Reputation in the world.

To summarize this activity-The Brand Signature for Tanvi Bhatt:

My Brand Signature: I personify my passion for elegant flamboyance, with ‘classic yet chic statement neck-pieces’.

My Alter Ego Brand Signature: I would wish to be reborn as ‘an ICONIC watch’

Just follow these 7 simple stpes, and I assure you that you will enchant your audience with a Brandtastic Experience of the Brand YOU! Now don’t forget to share your Personal Brand Signature with me right here…would love to know.

P.S: All you gentleman out there, I know I have disappointed you in this post; but I promise to make it up with an exclusive post of “10 Brandtastic Signature Brand Ideas for the Perfect Gentleman!” Keep watching this space for it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *