Brands are hugely recognizeable both in the public relations and advertising fields, but many people don't realize the thought and reflection that must go in to creating a brand for something or someone.
This became apparent to me this week as I worked on an advertising project that involved writing a 6 word memoir about myself. In essence, I was looking to cut out the clutter of my hectic life and focus on something that was important and meaningful to me as a person. I really had to focus on the one aspect of myself that I wanted to represent, although there are many different routes I could have gone with. My six words that I chose for THIS particular assignment, however, were "The world's bigger than it seems." I used these six focused words to represent the fact that I often live in a bubble, (my school, my job, my close friends) and that I need to realize there's more out there than what's inside my own bubble.
Now, while this assignment was eye-opening and helped me learn to focus my energy into a short, concise point, I feel that it's also important to learn the art of branding oneself in a way that would be appropriate for general recognition/cohesiveness of my blog, twitter, facebook, resume, portfolio, etc. I haven't taken this step yet, but I've been brainstorming on some ideas so that I have a brand that I can put on whatever it is I'm dealing with.
Some important factors in a brand include a consistent color, font, logo, and name. I've been looking through some social media sites belonging to people named "Shannon Twomey" and there are a lot of people with that name. My first step needs to be branding myself so that I am recognized by the name "Shannon Kate Twomey." This way, when future employers/businesses are looking for me online, they'll know me because I include my middle name in everything that belongs to me.
I haven't decided on a logo yet, but I'm going to get a friend to give me some photoshop lessons so I can create something truely beautiful, eye-catching, and memorable. I think it's important to have the skill to create an appealing logo so that you will stand out from the rest of the crowd. The color that I am currently using on my resume is a burnt orange/red color that really pops off the page, and it's used on a swirly corner design I have placed by my name. I plan on changing this depending on what type of logo I create, but I really like the color that I have chosen.
As my creative branding process continues and I come up with my FABULOUS logo, I'll be sure to post it! Be on the lookout!
