How Personal Branding Can Help Your Love Life

From the long-haired siren of the Starbucks logo, to the simple white lettering of the Facebook trademark, to the ubiquitous Nike swoosh, branding is everywhere. And though it might seem like the domain of marketing execs in Manhattan, the skyrocketing popularity of social networking and online dating sites has brought branding out of the office and into cyberspace.

We're taught never to judge a book by its cover, but let's be honest - packaging matters. If it didn't, dating profiles wouldn't be filled with lies about income and photos that are a decade old. Branding experts know that emphasizing your assets, whatever they are, is the key to selling a new brand of soda to the target market and making a powerful impression that distinguishes you from the millions of other singles looking for love online.

The field of personal branding is full of helpful lessons for the online dater:

• Put your best face forward. In the corporate world, this means dressing for success and hiring a crack PR team to maintain the company image. You don't need to employ a PR rep to maintain your online image, but it's worthwhile to invest a little time and effort in making sure that your profile represents you the way you want to be represented. Examine your photos carefully. How are you dressed? What are you doing? Who are you with? Are your answers consistent with the image you want to present to the world? Review your profile with the same idea in mind.
• Understand your target market. A toy salesman knows what children want. When it comes to your ideal match, you probably know what you want. But do you know what your match wants in a partner? Learn as much as you can about the kind of people you're interested in dating, and tailor your profile to appeal to them. When you start communicating with potential dates, ask questions and show genuine interest in getting to know them. When it's time to meet in person, go on a date that shows that you've listened to everything your date has told you and you value who they are as an individual.
• Make the first impression count. On a first date, take a few cues from job interviewing strategy. Dress well. Have a smile on your face as much as possible. Exude confidence. Use strong body language. Maintain eye contact.

What else can personal branding do for your love life? Continue on to part two...