Defining an Image - Figuring It Out
Having been ushered into etiquette school as a child, the importance of image and adherence to socially respected values were firmly instilled into my impressionable mind. Although I have abandoned many of those teachings, much to the dismay of my mother, I still find myself hyper-critical of appearance which admittedly leaves me feeling self-conscious in many social situations.
Despite my hesitations, I am set to attend my first marble show in a couple weeks, not to expand my collection but to expand my knowledge and network with like minded collectors - and I assure my mother that I won't forget my "suitcase of manners”. Given that this hobby is predominantly enjoyed by older generations who spend less time on modern platforms like Instagram, I doubt any vendor or visitor has stumbled upon my page - this is not a cause for concern, but simply a fact. I’m eager to discuss my project with veteran collectors, observing their first-impressions and gathering all of their feedback.
As both a means to provide contact information and share my project, I am producing stickers/slaps to hand out of my newly produced logo with a QR code to the website. If you are reading this blog and want some stickers, fill out this form and I will ship some free of charge.
Considering the importance of first-impressions, I want to seem both capable and professional which starts with a handshake. However, online this digital greeting starts with the logo of my project, which sits ever-present as my profile picture. While my new logo may still incur due criticism from experienced graphic designers, I think it’s a vast improvement from my prior MS Paint catastrophe.
In the pursuit of creating a cohesive and professional image, I have researched what’s required to build a whole and successful brand. There’s a plethora of literature to consume, more than any one person could ever conquer, and more than I could ever outline in a meager blog post. But through the myriad of viewpoints holds fast a few key components that all entrepreneurs unanimously agree must be nurtured: brand recognition, brand personality, and brand communication.
Brand recognition refers to the degree to which an audience can identify and recognize a particular brand among a set of competing brands - usually through visual or auditory cues such as logos, slogans, or jingles. It is a measure of a brand's awareness and popularity among its target audience, which is an essential component of building brand equity and achieving success.
This is the exact reason for the creation of my new logo, to reinforce recognition. While I would agree that the logo is not yet identifiable to a new audience, I feel that it is unique and recognizable enough to capture the attention of scrolling followers. My hope is that future logo iterations will better illustrate the MetaMibs mission to completely new visitors. But honestly, as of late I’m more confused than ever as to what that mission is.
Brand personality refers to the set of characteristics, traits, and values that a brand is associated with. These traits may be communicated through various elements and they can help create a deeper emotional connection with an audience. Brand personality can range from being serious and professional to being fun and playful, and is often used to shape a brand's identity and appeal to specific target audiences.
The anonymity I have relished will soon be coming to an end, and with that I worry what may happen to my project’s personality. I’m a pretty eclectic guy, who enjoys little more than sitting back and laughing at the absurdity of life but my decade of white-collar office work preceded by years of private schooling required me to master the creation of a social façade. My desire is for the MetaMibs personality to stay distinctly separate from my own, yet draw upon my whimsical tendencies while staying wholly authentic and purposeful.
I believe that my project’s personality will continue to develop as my artistic skills grow to better produce the mibs, scenes, and videos I envision. Because currently, they fall quite short of what’s in the mind’s-eye.
Brand communication refers to the process of creating, delivering, and exchanging information and messages between a brand and its target audience. It encompasses all the ways in which a brand interacts with the audience. The goal of brand communication is to build and maintain a strong identity, enhance awareness and recognition, and create a positive image and perception.
It’s quite obvious why TV producers air new episodes on a rigid schedule, constantly fighting for a “primetime” slot on the largest channel. The organization of my Instagram account was selected to provide the clearest outline for new visitors to explore the page while also providing existing followers with predictable content. It was a New Years Resolution/Goal of mine to achieve 168 posts on the MetaMibs account via regularly posted Marble Mondays, Random Ramblings, and Finder’s Keepers.
Marble Monday is intended to move the project forward in some way. Whether that be new marbles added to the website, a new graphic to aid identification efforts, or just a cool render that stresses my abilities - each Monday’s post should be moving the needle in some way. I would like to schedule my posts to a specific time each Monday, however due to my tendency to both procrastinate and scrap mostly-finish projects a rigid schedule continues to elude me. For now, Tardy Tuesdays may be somewhat frequent.
Random Ramblings are just that - my somehow coherent, but sometimes not, ramblings on a variety of topics that I try to keep related to marbles. As mentioned in my first RR post on Instagram, the intention of these blog posts is not to generate readers but rather to squeeze my creative juices into a format that I recognize carries merit (albeit, my Pokémon mib post is still the most comprehensive article on the subject I can find). I try my best to post these ramblings on Wednesdays, but this blog is an example that rarely happens. These ramblings are typically more spontaneous than my other two weekly posts and are predominantly written in the 24 hours preceding the post.
Finders Keepers is my way to engage with followers, rewarding the diligent and providing a unique method to build an exclusive marble collection. It’s been quite fun developing new entry methods, although the ideal contest continues to evade my imagination - I want to create a challenging puzzle that requires a clear flexing of marble knowledge attained through my project, difficult enough to remain unsolved for a considerable amount of time not due to a lack of attempts. I will jump for joy the day a Finder’s Keepers that’s gone unsolved for days or weeks (via difficulty, not desolation) is answered by a new follower.
While logos or taglines are important for brand recognition, the set of characteristics, traits, and values associated with a brand constitute its personality. It is crucial to create and maintain a positive brand image by delivering consistent and relevant messages to the target audience. Moreover, nurturing a brand's personality through content that resonates with the target audience can help create an emotional connection. As I reflect on the project and its growth, I recognize the need to develop and maintain a consistent image and a cohesive communication strategy.