May 16, 2013

MY Brand - by our very own First Impression Specialist

Hello, my name is Donnetta Mcleod. I am the First Impression Specialist at The Icebox, LLC. Most people would call me a receptionist, but I am much more than that. I represent a company that offers branded apparel, products, and strategies, but what people fail to realize is that I, THE FIRST IMPRESSION SPECIALIST, am a brand myself, as are you. According to Entrepreneur.com’s Small Business Encyclopedia, the definition of branding is “the marketing practice of creating a name, symbol, or design that identifies and differentiates a product from other products.” Well my job title not only identifies what I am offering, but it differentiates me from every other greeter that you first meet when you walk into the doors of a business. It is MY brand.

Regardless of what you are offering; a product, a service, or just yourself, everyone has a brand, “derived from who you are, who you want to be, and who people perceive you to be.” The goal is to promote your brand, as the preferred option, of high value and quality superior to that of your competitors. As I mentioned earlier, I am a SPECIALIST when it comes to MY brand. I take pride in dressing presentably and make it a priority to greet everyone coming or calling into the office, whether it is a coworker, customer, or vendor interaction. My job is to present an initial impression of excellence to be maintained throughout the customers’ entire visit and even after they’ve gone home. This speaks volumes about MY brand while MY brand echoes throughout The Icebox. MY job is MY brand.

In conclusion, who you portray yourself to be is in direct correlation with how you carry yourself and how you interact with others. If you don’t brand yourself, someone else will, and the outcome may not be favorable. The world is your audience, you are the brand, and your target market is the group of people that you want to reach out to. Your market should positively reflect your brand and have something beneficial to offer you in return, such as networking opportunities and social relationships to help guide you along your pathway to success. So remember when you’re at work or out on the town, you are always promoting your brand. Just ask yourself, “How do you want the world to perceive me?” and then start promoting the answer. It’s all about what you have to offer and what makes you different from the rest. No one wants to blend in, so start standing out.

Brand Yourself!