Become a One Man Brand — Napa Consultants, International

Become a One Man (or One Woman) Brand

If you are interested in becoming a luxury real estate market leader in your area, become a one man (or one woman) brand. Think of a famous living, modern, avant garde, architect. Who comes to mind, first? Chances are, if you are interested in modern architecture, your answer will be Frank Gehry. Now, he is an outstanding example of a one man brand.

Mr. Gehry designed Disney Hall in downtown Los Angeles. It is a gathering of odd shapes that all seem to work together in a single architectural composition. The building illustrates the innovative brand of architecture that characterizes Frank Gehry's style. Like Gehry and his work, your personal brand, your unique way of doing business has to have a look, an experience that is unmistakably yours.

If you want an avant-garde building and you can pay the price, Frank Gehry is the go-to architect. His buildings are always distinctive, the stand-outs in the skyline. They make a statement. They become landmarks. He experiments with all types of building materials and he strives to make the impossible possible. This is his brand, his niche, and his legacy.

Marketing is a deliberate strategy in which the unique signal of a brand, which summarizes the entire experience of interacting with a person, product or service, is broadcast to the precise audience who is a match to that brand or signal. Without a well defined brand and the awareness of the target audience who is looking for that brand, signals will get crossed.

In the absence of a clearly articulated signal, marketing is reduced to generalities and can be a waste of time, energy and money for you and your potential clients. It is the like asking someone for a referral for an architect without stating what style you prefer. If done right marketing presorts the potential audience. Those looking for a traditional style would simply not be interested in Gehry. And, Gehry (or his organization), doesn't have the time to field inquiries made by those seeking a conservative look.

Take note of the market leaders in other professions like Frank Gehry, to get clues for your own luxury real estate marketing practice. Clearly define your market niche (avant garde architecture) and your unique brand of doing business. Send out a clear signal to your specific target market and you will see for yourself that marketing completely factors out sales in the equation of acquiring new clients, because they will be pre-sold!