If you believe, as we do, that your brand is the sum of the conversations about you, then what do you say to get a conversation started?

Nicole, a Marketing Expert and Dating Coach we know, asked me recently about personal brands and how to craft an approach to your online presence. That started me thinking about a cheeky way to engage people, create interest and add a dash of humor to everyone’s day. In some circles, that answer might be to start a rumor…..and there’s nothing to say you can’t start a rumor about yourself. Heaven knows, lots of Hollywood starlets employ Press Agents to do little else. For the rest of us, however, a safer approach might be one that employs original humor. Here’s one idea to ponder.

Suppose you read a blog post from ‘Mary’ that began “I have a guilty pleasure to confess. I started my day with ‘Tall, Dark and Handsome’”. For one of Nicole’s single female clients, that might be an affirmation of hope or a true confession. Why share that information? How well do you know this gal? Do you care, and whom might you tell? These are all good questions. Did she want to get a conversation started, or was this an unintended share’?

Let’s suppose the post is from ‘Anne’ – she has a great partner, and he meets the criteria. No harm, no foul here – everyone who knows her will fill in the blanks, chuckle, maybe comment or send a Tweet. What happens, however, if no one who knows ‘Anne’ knows who Tall, Dark and Handsome might be? Is there more interest, now? Did this pique some curiosity? The answer to this identity question does reflect on branding, though not the way you might think.

The concept of a ‘tall, dark and handsome’ man is pretty well engrained in Western culture. Iconic leading men have built careers on those elements many times in the history of film. Tell the truth, now. When you read those words…whose face or name come to mind for you?

Here’s MY guilty little secret. See if it’s what you would have guessed. I do start my day with ‘Tall, Dark and Handsome’. He hails from Lansing, Michigan, courtesy of a company that distributes coffee – Joe Coffee, to be exact. They are an employee-owned company with a charity sponsorship program and some great coffee blend names like ‘High Test’ and…..yes….my friend ‘Tall, Dark and Handsome’. I bought my first pound for the name on the label, but it’s actually good coffee, and I just can’t pass up the mileage from the name. Their creative brand could enhance my social proof….or start a great rumor. If my brand is the sum of the conversations about me….where do we go from here?