What do you do if your brand development success is not measurable during an internship?

Setting clear, achievable goals at the start of your internship is crucial. While overall brand development success may not be easily measurable, establishing personal benchmarks enables you to monitor progress and contributions. These goals might include enhancing networking skills or deepening understanding of market research. By concentrating on these objectives, you can ensure professional growth and a meaningful impact, irrespective of measurable outcomes.

Take initiative in seeking out additional learning opportunities beyond the scope of your assigned tasks. Engage in industry research, attend relevant workshops or webinars, and participate in cross-functional projects to broaden your knowledge and skill set.

Setting clear goals in an internship is like setting sail with a destination in mind! Even if the sea of brand development success seems unmeasurable, your personal goals act like guiding stars. They help you navigate, grow, and make waves in your professional journey. So, dive in, set those goals, and let's sail smoothly towards becoming a top brand development voice!

Whenever I started a new role or in a new company, I first set about identifying what I hoped to learn to fulfill my development needs to contribute to the success of the brand or enterprise. This means taking stock of where you are development-wise and where you want to go. That gap should identify what you need to focus on in helping whatever you are working on to be more successful.

First of all you need to define 'brand development success'. You can't measure the outcome without clearly defining the expectations. You need to be very clear what you are expecting from an intern who is most likely learning on the job but has a keen interest in the phycology that sits behind the power of creating and building a brand. Ask yourself what am I expecting from this person and how I can help to train and motivate them.

From my experience setting goals are a determining factor in moving towards achievement...People teand to learn this quite late in life. Learn it early, apply it in your internship, apply it in your life. Make sure that you revisit your goals regularly as in today's world the only constant is change and you need to be fluid.

Focus on what you can measure Brand awareness: Track social media engagement (likes, shares, comments) on brand posts you contribute to. Customer sentiment: Analyze if positive mentions of the brand increased after your involvement in campaigns. Website traffic: Did you help create content or design elements that led to a rise in targeted website traffic? Brand storytelling: Did you craft compelling brand narratives that resonate with the target audience? Brand voice and messaging: Did you help refine the brand's communication style to better connect with customers? Showcase these improvements. Customer experience: Did you contribute to projects that improved customer touchpoints? Explain how these changes enhance the brand experience.

Seeking feedback during your internship is like having a compass to navigate the murky waters of professional development. It's not always about measuring success with numbers; qualitative insights from supervisors and peers can provide invaluable guidance. By opening up to feedback, you gain a clearer understanding of your performance and the value you bring to the brand development team. This input helps you adjust your course, refine your skills, and steer towards making a splash in your internship journey.

Actively incorporate feedback into your daily practices and projects, demonstrating your receptiveness to constructive criticism and commitment to continuous improvement.

Yes, feedback is essential. When I started in brand marketing—more than 50 years ago—when I asked for feedback, I was told "You're doing very well. I'll tell you when you aren't." This isn't actionable feedback. I think that getting appropriate feedback requires the intern, or team member, to ask questions about specific performance. To me one of the best questions to ask, if you want to learn and grow, is how might I improve what I did and how I went about doing it. Certainly, get agreement about what you are going to do with your boss before you do it!

When faced with the challenge of not being able to measure the success of your brand development efforts during an internship, reflecting often becomes even more important. Take time to regularly assess and evaluate your actions, strategies, and outcomes. Reflect on the goals and objectives you set for yourself and consider the progress you have made towards them. Analyze the impact of your efforts qualitatively by seeking feedback from colleagues, supervisors, or stakeholders involved in the brand development process.

Maintain a reflective journal or digital log to document key learnings, breakthrough moments, and actionable insights gleaned from reflection exercises.

Ah, this is really about debriefing, which is clearly aligned with the previous question of getting feedback. As a former Naval Aviator, we spent more time debriefing than briefing. BTW, our briefs were very thorough. It helps to think through what you feel you did well and where you feel you could have done better. I think we marketers should not only reflect on our performance but that of other team members. It is also beneficial to get your head out of the cockpit and reflect on what other brands are doing—both success and failure.

When traditional metrics fall short, it's time to unleash your creative prowess and innovate! Think beyond the obvious and propose novel ideas or projects that could propel the brand forward. While these endeavors may not be easily quantifiable during your internship, they plant seeds for future success and demonstrate your proactive attitude towards brand development. So, don't hesitate to let your imagination soar and leave a lasting imprint on the brand's journey!

When I was hiring, I heard that I was the "best" or "worst" interview the candidate had ever experienced. Why? I'd ask, "What did you do that if you had not been on that assignment, it wouldn't have been as successful?' or "What did you do achieve success." When the candidate answered, I'd lift the hood and dive deep into what they did. I was curious. However, I learned if the individual really contributed to the success and had the "right stuff" to create new successes. Innovation—that is doing something in a new way or had been overlooked by others—was typically an important skill in driving success.

In the absence of measurable outcomes, it's essential to embrace creativity and find alternative ways to demonstrate the value of your brand development efforts. Look for unconventional metrics or indicators that can provide some insight into the impact you are making. For example, you can track increases in brand awareness through social media mentions, qualitative feedback from customers or stakeholders, or anecdotal evidence of positive brand perception. Think outside the box and come up with creative ways to showcase the value you are adding to the brand or organization. Explore new strategies, experiment with innovative tactics, and be open to trying different approaches to drive brand growth and success.

During an internship, your primary focus should be on learning and exploration. It's not common to have a fully formed understanding of your brand or unique talents during this time. Discovering your brand is a journey that unfolds over time, often through various experiences and pivots. Personally, I found my sweet spot in my 40s when I took on my first innovation responsibility. Take your time, gather experiences, cultivate valuable connections, stay curious, and don't be afraid to try new things. Along the way, doors will naturally connect, leading you closer to defining and refining your personal brand.