Alright, so today I decided to actually do this whole “show off your brand like a pro” thing instead of just reading about it. Heard some tricks online, thought they sounded simple enough for even me to try. Buckle up, here’s how it went down.
Starting Simple & Trying Things Out
First off, I grabbed my phone and started snapping pics of anything even vaguely related to my brand – my messy work desk, my favorite coffee mug, the notebook I always carry, even the stray dog that hangs out near my usual cafe spot. Didn’t overthink it, just clicked. Figured “real” was better than perfect. Totally botched the first take on a lot of these, lighting was garbage on most.
Then came the writing bit. I sat down and tried to bang out a short post about what I actually do, why I do it, and kinda who I am. Man, it felt awkward. Took me like three drafts to sound halfway decent and not like a robot. Finally settled on something like: “Yo, I basically try stuff out and write down the chaos (mostly fails!) so you might avoid the facepalm moments. Real life, no BS.” Felt weird putting it out there.
Next trick: being visible. Made a pact with myself to actually talk to other folks doing similar stuff online for a change, instead of just lurking. Left some actual comments instead of just hitting like. Super nervous hitting ‘post’ every time. Also finally used those damn Story features people keep talking about. Did a super quick video showing my setup – super shaky cam, my ugly mug popping in awkwardly. Faked it till I almost puked.
The “Pro” Part (& A Major Faceplant)
Feeling kinda brave after surviving that, I decided to step it up. Heard using one specific color everywhere helps people remember you. Picked this mustard yellow color – thought it looked kinda cool. Stuck it on:
- My profile picture border
- Little highlights in my crappy graphics
- Even a colored pen on my desk in pics
Kinda subtle, but hey.
Then came the big swing: I actually made a simple template for my posts. Just a plain background with my logo small in the corner and the mustard yellow accent line. Felt fancy. Used it for like three posts straight. Consistency? Who am I?
Alright, feeling bold, I took one of my slightly-less-awful photos and tried putting my actual quote from earlier right on top of it. Used a free app, messed around with fonts forever – simple wins, right? Ended up with something half-readable.
The Reality Check (Because It’s Me)
Feeling like a pro now? Not really. Fast forward to this little local meet-up thing I went to. Feeling slick with my new yellow branding and my practiced “no BS” spiel. Got chatting with this really sharp guy running a small bike shop. His energy was infectious, his passion clear. He wasn’t using any fancy graphics, just really knowing his stuff and lighting up when he talked about fixing chains or finding the perfect vintage part.
Suddenly, my whole “show off like a pro” felt… kinda plastic. Here I was trying to remember my mustard yellow lines and generic “authentic” lines, and this guy was just being himself. Gut punch moment. My carefully planned little tricks felt small next to his genuine connection. It kinda worked – people noticed the yellow – but it felt hollow compared to the real vibe this dude had.
So, What Actually Stuck?
Look, the tricks? They helped a bit.
- Posting anything was better than posting nothing. People actually saw me.
- That yellow touch? Weirdly, a couple people DID mention it.
- The simple template? Made posting slightly less painful.
But that bike shop guy? That was the lesson. No trick beats being genuinely stoked about what you do and connecting with people. My fancy mustard felt like cheap glitter next to his welding sparks. The best brand showing-off isn’t an act. It’s just showing up – with maybe one consistent color touch.
