Branding

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What is branding and identity?

Branding is how people view you, your company, your products, or your services. The personal identity of your brand consists of your color scheme, logo, and much more. Strong brand identity, brand image, brand culture, and brand personality are necessary for a successful brand.

One can easily find teachings on personal branding and identity in the Bible. The Bible, which was once and is still the best-selling book in history, contains some insightful lessons about personal branding and identity that, when put into practice, can help you understand who you are, enhance your brand, and make a lasting impression. I believe that there are inspirational and colorful lessons to be learned that, if applied, can help amplify your brand and help you stand out and shine.  

 Here are some points that I believe will help you on your quest to stand out and shine: 

Thought Leader

 A thought leader is an authority in a certain area of knowledge. They are reliable sources that transform concepts into reality, motivate and move others, and teach you how to achieve their level of accomplishment. Jesus, the knowledgeable narrator, is the main figure in the Bible. Believers accept His narrative or narratives. He is the thought leader who offers hope, direction, assistance, inspiration, and wisdom. He has no fear of being unique. He stands out from the crowd by questioning the status quo. People find him interesting and captivating, and they want to follow him. Defy convention, be a thought leader in your field, and make a name for yourself. 

 Brand Personality 

 When you connect a brand with human qualities or traits, your brand personality comes to life. For both company and personal brands, these attributes lend the brand relatability, which boosts popularity and brand awareness. There's a lot to be said about using a recognizable persona or character (I am the Personal Brand Storyteller) to promote your brand. This persona or character should embody the qualities that appeal to your target audience and help them respect you and what you have to say. 

 The personal touch came from Jesus. He was approachable and used parables and stories to communicate with the populace in a language they could understand. His distinctive brand personality was apparent. We have many wonderful instances of people in the modern day whose personalities have affected companies and, consequently, the world; these include Truett Cathy, Do Won Chang, Jin Sook, and others. Even though you're not Truett Cathy, Do Won Chang, or Jin Sook, you are the person your industry needs. 

 Brand Narrative 

Your brand story is your brand narrative, to put it simply. The narrative that permeates every word and action you take. The way you engage, display yourself and show up. It's the dialogue that makes the connections between your beliefs, vision, mission, and individuality. The Bible is essentially a powerful story told in a language that its audience can comprehend, one that purposefully engages, inspires, challenges, and connects with them. The story spread the Kingdom's message, which is still being spread today. Your brand narrative is the story you tell, one that draws readers in and invites them to accompany you on a journey.

 Storytelling Style 

A story is useless if it isn't told by a skilled storyteller. The best part is that we possess this natural ability from birth. We just need to know how to access it and then use it effectively. Learning how to tell stories is not a skill. Jesus was a fantastic storyteller, and He skillfully condensed all of His most significant teachings into a potent and captivating parable, which is a brief narrative that serves to highlight one or more essential lessons or ideas in a story.

 Framework 

When something needs to be planned or decided, a framework is a set of guidelines, precepts, or ideas. The Ten Commandments are central to both the believer and the Bible. The Bible and other books and works are based on these ten principles. You too need "the rules" to grow your business and be successful in your commercial endeavors. Make your brand guidelines, defining your voice, your values, and your guiding principles. You may even like to jot down your list of ten personal brand guidelines.

 Multiple Touch Points 

Repetition is essential because we are surrounded by 500–5000 messages a day from the media, and you have your work cut out for you because it's likely that someone else is doing something similar. Developing successful relationships with your consumers requires purposeful connections made over a range of platforms and touchpoints to capture their interest, establish a connection, and keep them engaged. One of the touchstones of believers is the Bible. Believers as a brand offer a multitude of methods and avenues via which its audience can interact with its message. Songs, speeches, artwork, testimony (user-generated content), etc. are examples of these.

Advertisement

 The finest kind of advertising is word of mouth, but it takes effort to generate word of mouth. To make anything happen, you must plan for it, provide a framework for it, and then take action. The Bible is full of anecdotes and first-hand reports of people's experiences with God and Jesus that they felt compelled to share with us. Provide your clients with a wonderful experience that they will be compelled to tell others about and spread to others. 

Tell Your Story

I believe that the term "evangelism" is not limited to believers. It all comes down to telling your story with passion and the main goal of fostering an atmosphere that your clients will find compelling. That's exactly what Jesus and His disciples did; they told their story and built their brand everywhere they went, even in undesirable places. Even those who despised and punished them understood what they stood for and the significance of their story.

Here are some questions to ask your brand:

1. In what ways are you the thought leader for your customers?
2. What is your brand’s personality? What’s your persona?
3. How strong is your narrative? Who are you engaging with?
4. How many different ways are you engaging with your customers, connecting with them, and reinforcing your message?
5. How are you evangelizing and practicing what you preach? Do people know and understand what you stand for?

A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

- Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)