Many people/brands search for magic wand that will place their brands on the pinnacle of success. In my little research, I have come to understand that the obvious are not seen. Many have eyes that are not trained to spot their opportunities.

Opportunity can fall on a person’s laps if the laps are well positioned. In a recent chat with a group of college graduates, I discovered many of them are looking for outstanding opportunities meanwhile they are squandering the ones that are available to them unintentionally. In the bid to take hold of ‘outstanding opportunities’ many had messed up their chances to success.

Every brand has target audience. Every audience, client has families, colleagues that they have influence on in their decision making process of what to buy or not through auto suggestion. These families, friends ‘receive referral advice’ with regards to a particular brand. This is why brands should not overlook their opportunities that are close by and why they should see from their target perspectives in order to take advantage of their immediate opportunities. To me this is the secret to ‘big successes. So let us examine how brand’s audience rate most brands. This list is no means exhaustive.

Brand’s aesthetic/image: people are moved by sight. Sight influences many clients’ feeling. So how much concern are you giving to your brand image: online/offline? Many have great blog contents whose designs are not appealing. This lack of attention to design often robs many of greater opportunities to excel.

Feelings/Impression: Branding is all about impressions. Impressions are formed based on personal biases and not on great facts, reasons. ‘I feel good’ is a popular byline of a noted beer here. People fall in love with what makes them feel good about themselves and they are willing to spend their entire dime on that. Does your brand work hard to make sure the targets egos are fanned? So, while looking for big breakthrough, does your brand know your target’s biases? What do they associate with certain vibes your brand sends out?

Communication tool/innovation: realize that people buying decisions are not based on logic. This has been substantiated and there is no reason to argue with facts. So how coherent are your brand’s communication tools? Are their compliances at all level? One of the things that made me stay with the church I am attending today is because when I first joined, I received a personalized encouragement email from the senior clergy every week and that was close to a decade now. At that time, most congregations did not use that tool even till date.

Association/ Colleagues: What kind of imagery is associated with your brand? For personal brands, who are your closest friends? If you keep company with those who dictate the phase in your society, your personal brand will be consider as powerful by association.

Have you critically assessed these areas in your effort to brand’s breakthrough? It is important to consider and manage these spots well in the brand’s search for relevance as these may constitute a cog in the wheel of that brand’s ‘big success’ mentality. Do you have any other lists that can help? Share with us.

Sometimes we can be sincerely wrong because we do not take enough time to study how something works. Even though we put enough energy into it, the fact remains that our efforts can still be in disarray. Or what is the need for speed when destination is not properly determined and mapped out before one sets out for the journey. There is a lot of noise out today in the name of personal branding. Most of these noises are good but because they have titled their efforts on an aspect at the detriment of a complete package, their efforts have made them to become a unique idiot- sorry if it hurts. This is majorly due to the fact that they are only doing cosmetic and dirty branding without knowing as Dr. Rampersad said. Dr. Rampersad outlined certain factors that can make that happen and I quite agree with him. So let us examine these factors and watch against these so that we can avoid being sincerely wrong in our personal branding effort.

1. Focus on personal marketing: We have noted in the past that personal branding that is focused on personal marketing alone will never go anywhere. Personal branding is not only about marketing; it entails several other communal benefits to the community or niche.

2. Image building: In addition to the above, if a brand concentrate on building or selling cooked up or real image without other vital concerns of personal branding, it will be seen as a ‘Me too’ game. Like we know Me too game will never remove one’s name from the pack. If it does anything at all, it damages the ROI.

3. Self promotion: This is always seen by the niche as egocentric and pursuit of selfish end. It does not add much value to anyone than the person involved. It is a matter of time before such individual earn the name of a jerk

4. Personal selling: this may be good, but if this is done at the expense of other mutual beneficial efforts it can boomerang and followed by outright rejection of the brand through negative response instead of desired response.

To get full benefit of personal branding, understand who you are, unearth your real personality, have a vision, craft unique selling point out of your own uniqueness, offer value and continuous value, ensure you have sound integrity and build an enviable, untainted reputation. These all help so much and do not hurt your brand as the identified points above. Have a great day.