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Personal Branding: Does It Work to Use Your Name as Your Personal Brand?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Napa Consultants DRE00893924

 

 

Using your own name as your personal brand name can be tricky in luxury real estate marketing.  It may work well to help you sustain a “top-of-mind” position among sellers, if you already have achieved celebrity status in your marketplace.  But, buyers, particularly those from out of your marketplace, cannot differentiate one agent from another, especially if your website does not stand out as unique.

To grasp the significance of how using your name as your personal brand plays out in the minds of consumers here is an example in the realm of celebrity perfumes.

Last month Harrods department store in London was the “launching pad” for Jennifer Aniston’s new perfume.  The brand name of the perfume is Jennifer Aniston.  It was supposed to be called Lolavie which means “laugh at life”.   Now, that would have been an excellent brand name because Ms. Aniston is most famous for her role in Friends, a situation comedy on television and also for her romantic comedies on screen.  But, the name was changed at the last minute because another brand would have been too easily confused with her new product.  Expediency won out and the perfume now has the celebrity’s own persona brand name.

So, here is the big question for the ladies:  Would you buy a perfume with another woman’s name?  Elizabeth Taylor has her own perfume line. But, the main brand names are White Diamonds and Passion. Gentlemen, would you buy Lebron James cologne?  Certainly, if you identify with this celebrity, a better brand name would be King James. Imagine your wife or girlfriend asking you what scent you are wearing and you answer, “LeBron James”.

If you already have an established website with your name as your domain it may be wise to keep it because starting over with a different domain name may upset your current ranking with Google.   Keep the domain but create a new brand name for your blog and play up the blog brand.  However, if your current website does not rank well you are better off to begin anew with a new domain name and a brand that people can easily remember.

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Comments(14)

Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

For me, my name and face are my brand, that's how I look at it, whether I'm a celebrity or not.  Thanks for the interesting post.

Aug 04, 2010 07:16 PM
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

Would I buy a frgrance with another woman's name on it?  Depends...

Fragrance can also be a signature.  My favorite is Oscar de la Renta..its flowery, crsip, pleasant and never overwhelming.  Many people compliment me throughout the course of the month.

I often ask men what fragrance they are wearing that is so pleasing to my senses.  Nine out of ten times, they do not know the answer.

You offer excellent advice about branding and re-branding.  If I may suggest, it is always a good idea to revisit all your communication tools and update quarterly or seasonally to give someone else a reason to visit you and comment.

Aug 05, 2010 01:30 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Pamela,

Good for you, and thanks for your comment.

Aug 05, 2010 02:57 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Eileen,

Oscar de la Renta is couture.  The association is taste and quality and great clothing designer, so it makes sense that as a woman you would wear that besides the fact that it smells good.  My favorite is Hermes, 24 rue de St Faubourg, I love what the brand stands for and the fact that the perfume adapts to one's body, and does not smell the same on everyone. 

Men I know who wear fragrances do know what they are wearing.  Thanks for commenting, I am not quite sure what you mean about revisiting and updating, As always, I appreciate your comments.

Aug 05, 2010 03:03 AM
Cherise Selley
Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realtor

Good advice.  And I would be appalled if any of my family members confused King James with Lebron.

Aug 05, 2010 05:35 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Thanks Cherise, you are very funny...

Aug 06, 2010 04:56 AM
Cara Marcelle Mancuso
Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes - Tucson, AZ
Call a Marana neighbor, I'm THERE!

EXCELLENT post.  I'd hate to have my husband all romantic and snuggling close and he says, "MM, you smell good, what are you wearing...." and I say, "Jennifer Aniston" and then he starts thinking of HER!!!  HA - great post.  Branding is so important.  To me, the celebrity in OUR local market is the beautiful SWDesert!!!

Aug 06, 2010 05:36 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Cara,

I feel the same way...Thanks for the comment.  Have a great weekend.

Aug 06, 2010 06:12 AM
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

Our communication tools include

photos on our business cards  

Uploading different photos for each one of your social media sites 

your personal note cards 

your signature gifts

newsletters

ezines

articles

Any touch with your clients should be refreshed with the seasons...even reminding them of the change so they can focus on new goals, referrals and so forth. 

Aug 06, 2010 10:40 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Thanks Eileen for sharing, this is helpful to everyone.  Have a great weekend.

Aug 07, 2010 03:46 AM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Ron and Alexandra - Very interesting.  I think my name works for me in my business because I have written newspaper columns about real estate, given seminars about real estate, and I have consumer readers of my blog - all with my name and photo.  I get business from folks who feel they know what to expect from me after getting to know me through these outlets.  But I do think your premise carries merit for many.

Aug 08, 2010 02:29 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Susan,

Given your track record, then you are a star.  You have developed a following with your seminars and articles.  Wishing you continued success.

Aug 09, 2010 03:43 AM
Maya Thomas, Broker
Tampa, FL
Please see my client recommendations.

Coco... yes, I buy perfume with another woman's name... but not a movie star or athlete.

Aug 11, 2010 06:47 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Maya,

Could not agree with you more...Coco is great.

Aug 11, 2010 07:25 AM