I had a conversation yesterday about business, branding, marketing advertising and a host of other topics. The discussion centered around marketers and their ability to sell anything, no matter how crappy it is. I have a different view of that topic, for me, no amount of marketing can sell a crappy product. However, it was pointed out to me that marketing sells crappy product all the time.
While that may be true to an extent, I have never seen a company become and remain sustainable over time by selling a shit product. Maybe they can convince people to buy their product or service in the short term. But in the long run, no one will return if the product is crap. The point can then be made that if it’s one of those products you buy one off then maybe you can, I still say no. With the prevalence of social media, it’s effortless for people to get online and vent their frustration about your product and I think we can all agree that social media is like word of mouth on steroids.
I firmly that people should try to build a strong brand with a good product; it doesn’t have to be the best, is Dj Khaled the best like he says? But it certainly has to be good. I believe in building strong brand equity; it’s why when I consult with brands and businesses I try to get them to build their brand online. I think if we were to take away all forms of marketing and advertising in the world today, only organizations with strong brands would survive. That’s arguable but it is what it is, and I firmly believe that. Maybe as I progress in my career, I will change my mind.
The Brand Called You
For me, the best product you can work on and the best brand you can build is the brand call you. Jay Z famously said I’m not a businessman; I am a business, man. For the last year, I have been working on the brand call Kimron. I wanted to see if opportunities will come my way if I build my brand and wow, they did. Once I started building and nurturing my brand, I started getting opportunities I doubt I would have gotten otherwise. These opportunities range from business partnership request, job opportunities, request to speak at conferences, workshops, and school. I received invitations to work as a digital media consultant for different small businesses. I even had all expenses paid trips to various countries to talk about digital and social media strategies.
So go ahead, start building and nurturing the brand call you, you may think you do not have a brand, but if you’ve ever posted anything online, you do. People will talk about you and form a perception about you whether you want them to or not. Since that’s going to happen, doesn’t it make sense to try and ensure people see you the way you want them to see you? I think so, share your thoughts with me; I know you will say, ok so how do I build my brand, well, if you need help, feel free to reach out.