What Jimmy Buffett Can Teach Us About Branding

Branding isn’t just a buzzword. People seem to have several ideas of what branding actually includes and looks like, and it can get confusing when trying to jump on the bandwagon jargon. You want to brand yourself, but how do you know you’re doing it right? Take a lesson from the master: let’s go to Margaritaville.

Buffett can be considered the king of branding by all accounts. He took a lifestyle and monetized it into restaurants and products complete with a fan base, the parrot heads, who act as ambassadors of the brand by simply embracing it.

More than a musician, Buffett took a concept that everyone could understand, that it’s “5 o clock somewhere” and infused his lyrics, music, clothing, and entire persona with it. This is branding. It’s instantly recognizable. It’s authentic to a single person yet speaks to the people you’re trying to reach. It’s present in all things but feels natural and is embraced willingly by its fans.

If you’re struggling to be seen, if you’re trying to be memorable, if you’re wanting to create new fans or simply turn existing transactional business into a base of customers that will be raving recommenders of your work, you need to brand yourself. The biggest mistake made in branding isn’t that companies aren’t doing it, it’s that they’re inconsistent with it or doing it halfway. It shows a lack of commitment, and the minute customers or prospects catch a whiff of your commitment phobia to yourself, they’re going to assume it extends to your work and your treatment of customers as well.

Take a page out of Buffett’s playbook. The man makes a hell of a living by encouraging others to kickback and relax. What speaks to you? What speaks to your customers? What’s true? How can you convey it through every single experience your clients have with you? Need to find out more about branding? Check out what Alias does to help you discover and commit to your branding.