on The Book Designer:

What do you have in common with Apple, Coca-Cola, Disney, and McDonald’s?

You’re all brands.

You’re probably familiar with the term “branding,” but do you know what it means and how it applies to you?

Entrepreneur Magazine defines branding as “The marketing practice of creating a name, symbol, or design that identifies and differentiates a product from other products.”

But aren’t your books the products – not you? Yes and no. In most cases, you’re the brand, while your books are “brand extensions” – literally, extension of your brand onto additional products.

For example, Oreo, a “brand” we know and love, has recently introduced a flurry of “brand extensions” that include Birthday Cake Oreos, Oreo Thin Bites, and Peanut Butter Oreos. (Mmmm….)