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Could your brand be having no brand?
November 12th, 2008It’s really strange and interesting at the same time how things can happen. This morning I woke up and thought about branding yourself or your website and how much I like talking about it. This led me to ask myself an important question: “Am I full of shit?”. This is a very honest question to ask and I think you should ask yourself very often as you can look at things from a different angle. What that made me think of is: “What if I stop advertising what I am or my brand? Could it be possible to have no brand, still bring visitors and have a certain feeling of success?”
Your ‘no brand’ is your brand
Here’s my take on this branding Vs no branding situation: even if you claim not to be branding yourself or your website, in the end you will be marketing the idea that you have ‘no brand’ and that you are not branding! Woah, what?
let’s start with an example my friends. As you probably all know by now, I recently started doing videos and I had some pretty nasty editing problems with the first one. The outcome of this was that I decided to just drop the bomb without any editing and see what happens (Thanks Freddie). The result is that it seems like everyone liked the “one take” concept with no editing or anything and this was particularly appreciated in the Rubik’s Cube Vs Internet Marketing video I think.
Now here it is: “Ben you’re full of shit, you talk about branding and you don’t brand your videos”. What if my brand, trademark or what characterize my videos is to not have a brand? What if what make things special is the “one take” concept, no crap, no editing or whatever? You see, I’m not branding them, but the best part is that I’m currently selling you the idea that doing videos without editing, branding or whatever is awesome! So, what am I doing here? Marketing my friends!
Half full of shit
OK, I’m half full of shit! I want to do some editing, but only an intro would be enough for me as I want to keep the one take concept. I like the idea because I can’t really afford to screw up and I think it brings fluidity to the videos, but at the same time I’d like to have a recognizable introduction for proper branding! The previous example was really just a situation where you could be openly marketing the fact that you’re not branding!
You can even be cocky
I’m sure you know a blogger or maybe even a friend that are like this: “I don’t like flashy stuff, branding, marketing or whatever. I don’t have to hide behind marketing techniques to promote or give value to my stuff, my content is good enough, I don’t need that crap”.
What is that person doing? Branding my friends. What makes that person special is that she doesn’t want to get into heavy marketing/branding and tries to capitalize on that. Keeping things simple can be your trademark just like being completely crazy and flashy can be.
Bottom line: you’re always branding
Bottom line is that whatever you do, you’re branding. So, if you don’t like marketing or flashy stuff and you’re much more sober, why not just brand that? Use it as your trademark just like “I don’t do marketing, I don’t need that crap” can be part of your strategy! Then, you might be famous one day and be the guy who never did any flashy or branding stuff. But you know what? In fact that was your whole strategy from the very first beginning. That was exactly what you were trying to sell to other people: “Cut the crap, I don’t need that stuff”.
Brand whatever you want, but brand. Even if that means marketing the idea you’re not branding. Do it now because one day, you’ll have to do it anyway.
This probably is my most confusing article.
24 Responses to “Could your brand be having no brand?”
What do you think?
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Yeah what every you do, you are branding. Of course at long as what you do is very unique. I have seen a frogstr logo in your videos and that’s good.
Husseins last blog post..Birthday Bash Contest Winner
Branding is not a process – it’s a result. You know how people say “that company has awesome brand/logo!”. It’s not the case. That is actually awesome company that is awesome enough to have very recognizable brand.
When people come to my blog and say “Hey, I’ve seen you around!” it’s not because R on my gravatar is awesome looking. It’s because that R is always near my comments.
That’s what branding is about in my opinion – it’s just an image that sits close and like a sponge gathers vibes coming from you.
Rarsts last blog post..Creating disk images with DriveImage XML
Dead on.
I think in this issue, the confusion is just about definition. sometimes we confuse branding to personality. Of course, in whatever we do, even without thinking about it, we reflect some character, attitude and attribute and that is your personality. If we take branding that way, we can really say that whatever we do, we are branding ourselves. But for me, branding is way higher than just reflecting a personality. Branding is pushing yourself to promote a particular image or personality. That’s how business works, you need to push and give effort. We cannot just say, branding is just doing anything. Just a thought thouh.
willbills last blog post..Gmail can Look and See Now
true. You’re always branding. In a way, like you pointed out, there could be a branding by ommission. The important question really is, are people becoming more aware of your brand? And is it the kind of brand that you want to be known for?
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If you read this post twice, it wont be confusing at all
. You simply said that you are producing double effect by not branding. And at the end it might give you better results then if you did branding.
Anyway, the conclusion is, that if you are branding, than you shouldn’t be too much transparent and with too much exposure, because it might give a bad contra-effect.
Judits last blog post..Creating an Aromatherapy Retail Store Online
It’s true we are always branding. Im not sure what my ‘brand’ is yet, lol, but I never deny to have one…I have said I won’t be putting adverts on my blog – maybe that’ll be my branding point!
Oh, you do brand your videos already without the ‘one take’ btw, with the frog sitting behind you on the chair
Dans last blog post..Make Money From Blogs With No Readers
@Hussein: Yep exactly, branding is an everyday process and just by pumping out good content and unique content every week you are branding without knowing! Yeah, the frogstr logo is on the vids which I think is a must!
@Rarst: You are absolutely right buddy: brand recognition is a result. While brand recognition is a result, I think branding and marketing is something you have to work hard on to eventually get to the mass brand recognition point. You know, McDonald’s logo is pretty simple and basic. I would come with that kind of logo today and people would be: Man this is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. Yep, but is it brandable? and eventually when it’s all over the place people will think it’s a great logo and that you’re doing well as a business. ANyway!
@Mike Henry: What else can I say? hehe thanks!
@willbill: I totally agree with you mate and it’s true that defining ‘branding’ is very hard. What is it? It also depend what you are trying to market: a website, yourself or whatever. Marketing a person is a lot different than marketing a website as you will focus a lot more on personality as you said. But yes, in the end it’s about working hard.
@kouji: Oh yeah, didn’t mention that but you raise a really good point here: Are people more and more aware of your brand and is it what you want to be known for? I love that. It’s important to be remembered for what you want to be remembered!
@Judit: You read it twice? Thanks!
hehe jk! But yes you can be producing pretty good results by actually branding the fact you’re not branding. I don’t know about too much exposure and stuff, but it’s like everything else: a good balance is recommended.
@Dan: haha I understand, it can take time to define what your ‘brand’ is and what side of you you want to market. As for the ads on the blog yep it might become your trademark at some point because you are driving money with something else, not just banners all over the place. If you think it can work I say do it. If you’re not sure, wait a bit before marketing that idea
haha you’re right with the frog, almost forgot about that
May I know what video editor you are using?
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@Hussein: NONE!
Really, I’m not kidding. I record using the cam and then use SUPER (http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html) just to compress the video and lower the file size and also to increase volume because the audio level isn’t very good with my camera. Then I just upload to viddler!
I played with Windows Movie Maker at first but it crashed all the time so I lost patience and decided just to drop the bomb without editing. I will try playing with Adobe Premiere probably and see what it can do, but for now I only use SUPER to compress and increase audio volume!
Hope this helps
I really don’t understand all the branding stuff. I just love to write about what I write about, and then network to get others to see what I am writing about.
It seems that when I notice someone having a “branding” it usually is because that is what they have become known for.
Which can be bad or good depending on the circumstances I think. hmmmm… this is something to think about. Thank-you!
~K
K. Fieldss last blog post..ARCTICULATES
I’m not confused at all. Great post!
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K.Fields – The Passionate Blogger – How’s that?
Dennis Edells last blog post..10 Effective Joint Venture Ideas To Get You Started
Hmmm…. Just stick to who you are and that’ll be the best.
Franklin Bishops last blog post..How to Lose Subscribers
I am clear , not confused on this
Internet Blogs last blog post..6 Tips for Improving site conversion during recession
Sorry guys, took me some time to answer back!! But you know I love you and answer every comment
@K.Fields: I agree that if you just write about what you’re passionate and that you network with others, a certain form of “branding” might automatically surface. I don’t think it’s bad though to force that branding a little bit
@MadMadMargo: Thanks hehe!
@Dennis: You don’t an answer because you weren’t talking to me!
@Franklin: Of course, just be you. I think it works for a lot more than just blogging.
@ZK: hehe I’m happy to hear that!
Duuuuude – you are so awesome! The king of my blogging world!!
Better?
Dennis Edells last blog post..We Will Stay Do-Follow, But…
Lot better now my friend haha
Ben,
I am not gonna lie, I skimmed this so if what I say has been covered well, then just ignore it.
Brand is simply a method of marking what is yours so that it is more easily identifiable. Now if you don’t have a mark that makes you recognizable then it is going to be more difficult for people to remember you which is in turn going to make your chance at success lower.
With that said your concept of “no brand” becoming your brand is exactly what will happen. Think about it like this. You run a blog with no name, no logo, and no domain name. Simply have a static ip address. That means that the only way people are going to remember you is by a set of numbers. It will suck for branding purposes, but you fans will remember it and associate your blog with it.
Cool post even if I did only skim it.
Adam
Adams last blog post..How To Make Money By Creating Wordpress Themes.
I am often in favor for branding then choosing the “no brand” path. It is important to build a brand of your own to differentiate your blog from others.
Branding makes the entire site more solemn and serious compared to those that just create for money making purposes.
Wei Liang
Wei Liang | ABloggerBlogs last blog post..Lesson 17: Social Media Marketing
I agree that everyone has to brand. I’ve been guilty of just letting things be and ‘hoping’ that I am heard!
tracys last blog post..Name That Asian
Didn't get the point. Sorry, Need more infos. Gotta read this again.
It's true we are always branding . I won't be putting adverts on my blog – maybe that's will be my branding point!!! in other words, simple and clean is my brand…..just like google's brand
I am guilty of not even thinking about branding, I guess I figured that since I'm an affiliate and not a product creator that I shouldn't even consider branding. I guess I'll have to rethink my current position.
Thanks Again
Stanley