When it comes to rebranding, the general rule that I was taught was that if something is going to be rebranded, it should happen for one of two reasons:
1) The product/service/brand has changed somehow; or
2) Something has gone horribly, horribly wrong and the only way to move forward to start fresh.
(Okay, maybe something doesn’t have to go that horribly wrong to justify rebranding but you get the idea.)
Well, I’m in the midst of somewhat of a rebrand at the moment and I just wanted to state that, for the record, it’s not because something has gone horribly wrong.
By process of elimination, that leaves me with option number one: Something has changed.
That something, the brand in question, is me and my personal brand. I suppose it might be too much to say that I’m planning a complete overhaul – maybe I should just be calling it an evolution of my brand. All that I know is that things are changing, and I’m pretty excited about it!
When I graduated and started this blog, I knew that my personal brand was something that I was going to need to spend some time fine tuning. But I was just getting started in the world and in my career and I felt like I was really taking big steps to explore my interests for the first time. I wanted to know exactly who I was and what I had to offer before I officially gave “brand me” a cohesive structure. But that moment of clarity never seemed to materialize and before I knew it I was swept up into a flurry of activity that didn’t really allow me the time to sit and think about myself.
Then along came BlissDom and I realized that now is the perfect time (and probably the most ideal time) to really start hammering out those details. I’m about to meet hundreds of other bloggers and learn how to maximize this space so I want to go in with my best foot forward (and preferably that foot would be prepared with a shoe that coordinates with the rest of my outfit. Well developed personal brand = coordinating footwear. Am I stretching it here?)
In the just over a year that I’ve been out of school and off finding myself in the “real world” I’ve had some incredible opportunities, met wonderful people and learned a great deal. I’m a lot more confident in who I am as a public relations professional, writer, blogger and as a person.
So I’m working on some changes, which includes giving this blog a whole
new look. Lots more details on that too come!
For now, I need your help! Because I value your opinions and because I feel that the image of one’s self is only half complete without the consideration of how others regard you, I would love your feedback in choosing the news colours that will make up the visual components of my brand.
After much searching, contemplating and rearranging, I’ve come up with the following colour palettes that I’m interested in working with:
I rank colour schemes pretty high on the scale of self representation due to the various moods and images that a simple hue can conjure in the mind of the beholder. With that having been said, I’m interested in hearing what colours you think best represent me and how you currently perceive me. Your feedback will help me make my final decision.
I know it probably sounds like an odd request but I think it would be interesting to have you, my readers and peers, involved in my personal “re-branding” process. After all, you’ve all played a big part in getting me where I am today, so thank you!
7 comments
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September 14, 2010 at 11:06 am
Sarah
I like 3 best for you but i get the feeling that you want warmer colors from looking at the palette choices so i’ll also say 7. (The palette that i’ll always think best for you will always be one of cool colours)
September 14, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Bryna
I think #1 with #5 being my runner up! Number 7 is a close third, but please don’t use #4. Good luck choosing!
September 14, 2010 at 3:55 pm
esquared
form what i know of you via twitter and the blogsphere, i like # 1, #3, and #6, in no particular order.
September 14, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Marina
Really liking number 1 for you. Good luck in your decision.
September 15, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Joe
Hmm, I really like # 2 for a couple of reasons. It seems to balance a bit of the earthtones that you seem to like with a bit of pastel that fits your personality. It also has shades that will work from a web design point of view but it feels like an unfinished idea. There are a few shades that could be added.
My second pick is # 7. It feels like a walk in the woods but the shades need to be lighter. Not so serious (and difficult to work with). It also doesn’t show me gold shoes in the afternoon. So not a complete thought either.
September 16, 2010 at 9:28 am
Tommy Vallier
My top 3, in order, are #1, #5, then #3. I don’t know you super-well, but here’s my thoughts from a personality (and web/brand dev) point of view.
#1 is the one that IMMEDIATELY screams “Sara” to me. I can’t really put a finger on why… But if someone were to have me pick a person for each scheme, you’d honestly probably get #1 anyway. The only real downfall to this set design-wise is that you’d end up relying heavily on black, white and grey to round things out. Not a problem, exactly, but it would depend on what you’re going for.
When I think re-brand, I think complete change, and #5 does that for me. Not only is it so far away from the pastels that leap to mind, but it’s got no pink or blue (The two colours I think of in relation to you) in it at all! From a design point, it’s got everything: Bold tones in the red and brown, pales in the two beiges, a few nice accents… Toss them together with some alternate shades for specific elements and you’ve got something new, clean, fresh AND fun – PERFECT for the new Sara brand! This would have been my first pick (By FAR) had you not phrased the question with a “currently perceive me” spin.
#3 is my compromise choice. It still says “current Sara” to me, thanks in most to the teal, but also has some exciting potential for “new Sara” in the navy and beiges. A couple of shade adds and a “pop” (Like the brown or orange from #4, perhaps), and you’ve have a great little “transitional” set of colors: Something that still would/could be saying “Sara”… But also says “New and Improved” without the complete overhaul.
If given free choice, I’d go for #5 for and above the rest. I say, go all in and go complete overhaul (at least on the look and feel) – and evolution may not make a big enough splash.
September 24, 2010 at 9:55 am
Stacey
I want to say #1, but it’s missing something. I see you with jewel tones; perhaps with a bit of soft blues thrown in. The blues and purples of #1 (not the pinks so much), mixed in with some reds… a little bit of fire is always good.