Model Branding - It's not just for cattle

I could make a few cow jokes here but I shall refrain.

Branding: Do YOU know what it is and how it applies to models?

Let's do a little exercise . What is your email address? Do you have an email address with nicknames or numbers? Does your email address look something like cutiepromodel555@aol.com?

If you answered yes to either of the last two questions then you definitely don't understand branding.

According to Webster s Dictionary, branding is "to mark with a brand" and "to impress indelibly".

In the world of marketing one of the most important elements of branding is name recognition. As a model this is incredibly important to you. You want agencies to hear, use, and remember your name as often as possible.

There is only ONE format for your email : YourName@xxxxx.com

It doesn't matter where your email is hosted. Hotmail, Yahoo, Netscape and Mail.com all offer free email accounts. Even AOL offers multiple user accounts so you can even set up a separate account for your agencies to contact you.

DON'T feel the need to add words to the address, like model, professional, etc. Remember this is a visual business your portfolio and comp card should prove that you are a model and professional.

Your email address is a simple communication tool - keep it simple and use it to your advantage to help agencies remember your name.

Companies who offer free email addresses:

• Gmail
• Yahoo Mail
• Windows Live Hotmail
• AIM Mail (AOL)
• GMX - Global Mail Exchange
• Inbox.com

True Story... "Recently, a booking agent that I regularly dealt with left one modeling agency and moved to another. Before I had the opportunity to get in touch with her, she emailed me from her new agency to let me know she had a potential booking for me. When we spoke, she mentioned that she was glad that my email address, which is my name, is very easy to remember and that made getting in touch with me possible since she wasn't able to bring my information with her from the old agency. This piece of advice really paid off!" -- Jenna Fletcher, Allentown, Pennsylvania