Category: Business Tips

What is Branding? And Why You Need It to Succeed!

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What is branding?

Many small business owners and entrepreneurs ask that question. And some don’t even know to ask that question in the first place!

Sometimes in business, it’s good to get back to the basics. And the most basic question of all is, “What is branding?”

It’s amazing how many small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs do not know the answer to this question. In fact, they don’t even know to ask the question!

Yet, corporations spend thousands upon thousands on what they see as their most important asset–their branding.

Why is it important and what is branding anyway?

A brand is an identifying mark that conveys ownership of a business or organization. Primarily a logo mark, it is consistently and strategically applied across all marketing mediums. This assists a target market in identifying the brand and distinguishes it from the competition.

But a brand is much more than an image. It’s the connection, an emotion, that the brand has with an intended audience.

A brand speaks of value and over time, it gains name recognition. A brand builds trust and credibility. But if the brand does not meet the expectations of consumers, the brand becomes associated with negative feelings, which can hurt the business.

A brand encompasses how a prospect is treated from the first point of contact to how repeat customers are treated. It includes the personality of the business. It speaks to the essence of who the company is, why it exists, and to whom it serves.

It speaks to products and services offered by a business. A good brand brings satisfaction and familiarity. A good brand consists of a well-constructed logo, excellent customer service, and a seamless integration of visuals that attract the customer and keeps them coming back.

Without a brand, and without that brand encapsulated into a logo, a business will not be able to distinguish their products or services from other businesses. A lack of a brand or inconsistent images will confuse prospects. It will scare them away.

A solid brand that includes a well-constructed logo is important because it communicates immediately to a prospect the value of the business and attracts customers like a magnet.

That means more leads, conversions, sales, and profits!

And that means you have a brand that sizzles and a future that dazzles!

Would you like more information on what a brand is and how to build a successful business? Register today for my free 5-day course, 5 Secrets to a Wildly Successful Home Business!

Why You Should Never Quit and the Secret to Being Wildly Successful Instead!

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It seems like in today’s world, we are all looking for that magic pill.

That one program that will make us automatically rich at the touch of a button. Or that diet that will easily make us super-model thin. Or the exercise video that will give us rock-hard abs in only minutes a day. Or that curriculum that will easily make our children advance two grade levels.

The problem is, these are delusions.

I know, we all want to avoid the pain. We all want it to be effortless.

But anything worth having is worth fighting for. It’s worth the pain. In fact, without going through the pain, we will not truly come to appreciate our successes!

Believe me, I’ve wanted to quit time after time. Perceived failures led me to want to throw in the towel sometimes and just walk away.

Some days I have cried in agony and could only sit before my Heavenly Father, soaking up His presence.

But then, a little sunshine breaks through and I get a fresh perspective. God keeps encouraging me onward and upward!

I heard it said once that, “It took me 10 years to be an overnight success.”

Everyday my job is to plant seeds and trust that God is going to bring the harvest in His time. It really is as simple as living out what He has called me to do on a daily basis.

It’s a journey of faith. You see, even last fall I was not confident enough to call myself an entrepreneur. I didn’t think that I was worthy of the title. How could God use me? After all, I’m just a homeschooling mother!

But something changed inside me. I began to cast aside the lies that were holding me back. I began to step out in faith like never before. I embraced God’s calling on my life, to be an entrepreneur. I have something of value to share with the world and what I do can make a real difference in the lives of thousands of families. I am invigorated by that vision!

And I discovered that what God’s really after is a change of my heart before He will change my pocketbook!

But how did I keep this mindset amidst what seemed like fruitless effort at the time?

I always keep my “why” before me. This is the secret to great success as an entrepreneur!

And it’s not just to make money. Yes, that certainly is a goal, but there’s a reason WHY I want to make the money!

To have economic freedom! To be completely independent. Able to do what we need to do for our family.

Especially when it comes to our Asperger son. He is my “why.” I can’t just “go out and get a job.” I am my son’s teacher and primary caregiver! He is counting on me to be at home teaching him. Besides, there’s very few jobs to find anyway!

Failure is not an option! I realized a few years ago it’s either be wildly successful or file for bankruptcy and give up our house and send our son to school. That is how serious things had gotten for us. I will not go there!

Because so often it is the fear of loss that motivates us rather than the hope of gain. We want to stay in our comfort zones where it’s safe. We are willing to just survive because it seems far more safe than risking it all in order to thrive.

But anything worth having is worth the risk!

So I keep pushing, I keep praying, I keep learning, and I keep getting my name out there, my brand, over and over again. Maybe people are sick of hearing about me, but I’ve got to get my brand out even more! To do that, I have to make a plan to get it out and I have to build a team!

A few years ago, I made a plan and I set an intention, a desire–to be a wildly successful entrepreneur. God has assured me every step of the way, mostly through a daily reading of the Psalms. It truly is a journey of faith as He reminds me that He is going to do it, not me, and that everything is going to work out. I can be confident in Him and that as my CEO, He is going to prove trustworthy.

He reminded me the other day that I am beautifully, fearfully, and wonderfully made. I need to step into His plan for my life and not look back!

What about you?

Think about Thomas Edison. He failed time and time again to get the light bulb working. But he never quit and think how he changed the world!

As I saw on one of my friend’s Facebook status awhile back, “Failure is simply feedback. Notice, learn and try again.”

It reminds me of my experience last fall. I had tried an online writing program for my son, thinking it would free up some of my time. But it actually took more of my time and my son was so frustrated he couldn’t even get past the first assignment. I told him that he was not a failure, we just needed to try something different. So I stepped up and did what I knew I needed to do all along–create a writing exercise based on visual learning using magnets and my freezer! The lesson went so much better and I can see that this method is going to be successful!

Never quit! Allow these times of frustration to be times where you build perseverance into your soul. Cultivate patience. I think we as the microwave generation could use a whole lot more of it!

If you have this attitude, then your brand will sizzle and your future will dazzle! And you WILL be wildly successful!

Do you want to create a wildly successful business? Sign up for my free 5-day ecourse and discover how you can build a lasting business and be freed from economic hardship.

Photo by Sam Beasley

The Christian Entrepreneur–3 Steps to a Dazzling Future!

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So I have a question for the Christian entrepreneur–how do you go about fulfilling the promise that God gave in Jeremiah 29:11?

In the video below, I share 3 ways that you can embrace this promise, to have a dazzling future.

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Want more ways you can embrace your dazzling future?

Take my free mini-course on how you can be wildly successful.

Watch my free video series on how you can create a brand image that will make a sizzling difference in your business.

 

Together may we reach new heights in our businesses and beyond!

Business Success Secrets–Your Second Way to Soar Like Never Before!

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Business Success Secrets.

Everyone wants to know that magic formula that will propel them to a six figure income. Or even better yet, a seven figure one!

But how do you get there?

In the next few posts, I will be describing ways you can gain clarity for your business and experience amazing success!

In the last post, I talked about letting go of the expectation that all it takes is a magic pill, that perfect program, that system, or that formula that will skyrocket you to wealth beyond your wildest dreams.

Today, I will talk about what you need to replace that expectation with. You need to shift your mindset to one of a magic pill to realizing that being an entrepreneur is a journey of faith.

Because that’s what Business Success Secrets is. It’s a journey of faith.

You see, even last fall I was not confident enough to call myself an entrepreneur. I didn’t think that I was worthy of the title. How could God use me? After all, I’m just a homeschooling mother!

But something changed inside me. I began to cast aside the lies that were holding me back. I began to step out in faith like never before. I embraced God’s calling on my life, to be an entrepreneur. I have something of value to share with the world and what I do can make a real difference in the lives of thousands of families. I am invigorated by that vision!

And I discovered that what God’s really after is a change of my heart before He will change my pocketbook!

It is not an easy process. I have had to face deep-seated fears. Fears that I don’t matter, that God is going to abandon me, that nothing will ever change.

While all around me, needs scream out to me in desperation. I am forced to be utterly, completely, absolutely dependent on Him.

I have to come to a place where I am an entrepreneur so I can serve others, not out of desperation. My efforts always fall flat when this is my primary motivation. It is hard, especially when finances get tight. Believe me, I’ve been there.

Because when you see your prospects not as dollar signs but as people who could truly benefit from what you have to offer, it’s not about what you can get, but about what you can give. And because you value yourself more with this mindset, you will charge what you are worth.

And that will help your success soar! And you will have a sizzling brand and dazzling future!

Are you ready to take that next step? Are you ready to soar? Then take my 3-month Brand Identity Quest course. You will learn step by step guidance on how to build your brand as you build your business in weekly downloadable lessons and actionable assignments. Get started right away by clicking here.

Photograph © Sam Beasley

Business Success Secrets–Practical Ways to Become Wildly Successful

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Business Success Secrets. How do you bridge that gap from failure to becoming a wildly successful entrepreneur? How do you go from frustration to soaring and excelling?

In the next few days I will be sharing with you Practical Ways to Become Wildly Successful!

Here is my first one:

1) Let go of the idea that all it will take a magic pill.

It seems like in today’s world, we are all looking for that magic pill.

That one program that will make us automatically rich at the touch of a button. Or that diet that will easily make us super-model thin. Or the exercise video that will give us rock-hard abs in only minutes a day. Or that curriculum that will easily make our children advance two grade levels.

The problem is, these are delusions.

I know, we all want to avoid the pain. We all want it to be effortless.

But anything worth having is worth fighting for. It’s worth the pain. In fact, without going through the pain, we will not truly come to appreciate our successes!

Believe me, I’ve wanted to quit time after time. Perceived failures have led me to want to throw in the towel sometimes and just walk away, even recently.

Some days I have cried in agony and could only sit before my Heavenly Father, soaking up His presence.

But then, a little sunshine breaks through and I get a fresh perspective. God keeps encouraging me onward and upward!

I heard it said once that, “It took me 10 years to be an overnight success.”

Everyday my job is to plant seeds and trust that God is going to bring the harvest in His time. It really is as simple as living out what He has called me to do on a daily basis.

And when it comes to your branding, there is no magic formua. It takes work, thought and preparation. You will not be able to find a cheap and free logo that fits your business message perfectly and connects to your target audience. There is no magic pill in graphic design or marketing, either!

Because truthfully, you get what you pay for. If you expect your prospects to invest in your business as customers, then you need to invest in your brand. And that’s going to raise the value of your products or services, which will positively impact your bottom line.

Are you ready to invest a little time in learning how you can make an effective brand? Then sign up for my free video marketing course. It will only take minutes of your time and you will gain an understanding of how the process works. Just click here to get started immediately!

Photo © Sam Beasley

How to Make Extra Income–Create Your Own Family Economy!

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How to make extra income.

It is a very popular question to ask these days in light of what’s going on these days.

Listening to the constant news of rising unemployment, exploding deficits, and weak economy growth can give us depressing thoughts about our futures But don’t worry. In today’s article, I am going to share with you some hopeful news! Yes, it is possible to make extra income!

No matter what is going on with the economy, you can recession proof your life! You can make money in a bad economy!

How? By creating a family economy!

What is a family economy?

It is creating several streams of income by each family member starting and running their own businesses.

It’s a lifestyle of entrepreneurialism.

What if you are single and have no spouse or children? Think about creating multiple streams of income.

Why does this matter so much to me? Because my husband and I have also needed to know how to make extra income. Last summer, we attended a homeschooling family economy conference. It was inspiring and confirmed for us that we are on the right track.

Then not long after that event he came home from the office saying, “That’s it!” It was another frustrating day of strange events and he decided he had to do something about it to advance his career. He contacted a possible freelance client and discovered that the best way to contact this company was through Facebook. He has never jumped on the social media bandwagon and he doesn’t even have a cell phone!

So he came home determined to do something about that. I helped him get a profile on Facebook and he connected with his prospect. The prospect wrote back and wants to meet with him to see how they can work together! Now he’s committed to developing a relationship with this potential client so he can eventually do freelance work for them. His plan is already working!

This was a little step he took to reach his goal of being self-employed.

Because our vision is for us to run several successful businesses out of the home. Not only that, we will involve our son and teach him to be an entrepreneur, encouraging him to run his own business at a young age.

There are many benefits to this, not just monetary. For one, we are all helping each other as a family unit. This makes us stronger and deepens our relationships. We will have the joy of spending time together working hard toward a common goal. Our family will truly be integrated, and our son will learn the value of hard work. He will be prepared for his future, whatever he decides to do.

Single? Create multiple streams of income. Think about cross-selling and upselling. For instance, if you provide a service where you blow out sprinklers using an air compressor, also provide pool service or sprinkler repair service.

Just make sure you don’t spread yourself too thin and not give 100 percent to each business!

Creating a family economy is an exciting endeavor! And the benefit is you will learn how to make extra income!

An endeavor that will enable you to have a dazzling future!

Want to learn more about how to make extra money? Download my free ebook on how you can create your own family economy.

Planting a tree © Monika Adamczyk | Dreamstime.com

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Why You Should Make a Plan for 2013

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Since it’s the New Year, I’m recycling a post from last year, since it’s just as relevant today:

It’s hard to believe that 2013 is now upon us!

Soon I will be setting goals for the year. In 2012, I aimed high and I achieved more than I ever thought possible.

In fact, I recorded a video of my planning last January.

Below, I have posted an excerpt of that video where I explain why planning is essential and how to find that time, even if you have small children.

[vsw id=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TozE4AY8U4&feature=player_embedded” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”260″ autoplay=”no”]

If you have a hard time viewing the video, click here.

I will be announcing soon my new planning system that will rock your 2013! In the meantime, please sign up for my free 30 day devotional that will transform your stress into blessings!

Is Your Commitment to Success Bigger than Your Circumstances?

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Is Your Commitment to Success Bigger than Your Circumstances?
It’s been an emotional, topsy turvy few weeks.

After the election, I have to confess that I was very disheartened. In fact, I wept, because I felt like I had lost my country.

Government only stands in the way of prosperity. Wealth does not come from government, it comes from hardworking people committed to pursuing their ideas that will better mankind. Wealth has always and will always come from free market capitalism. That is giving way to European socialism, and it is very scary to watch.

I saw the election results as a huge obstacle to my pursuit of this goal, that I would always be stuck in the same place that I am in now. It is not easy developing a product and getting it out in front of people! It takes time and effort for a target market to recognize the value you bring to them. And it seems like society does not value the small business owner or entrepreneur!

Then last Thursday I attended a teleseminar. It was life-changing!

On this call, I realized that I need to be more committed to what I want in life than to the circumstances that are holding me back. I needed to make an investment in me. Because as God’s child, I deserve better!

But the story progresses. Last weekend, I watched an incredible, inspiring movie, Faith Like Potatoes. In this movie, based on a true story, a farmer/pastor from South Africa takes a bold step. He plants potatoes even though the country is in drought. He did this as a step of faith: since he prayed for rain, he followed it up with a risky action, laying it all on the line for Jesus. The result? He had a bumper crop of potatoes! God came through for him, despite how impossible it was.

So after much prayer, I have taken the bold step I believe God is prompting me to take. I don’t know how it will turn out, but I know that just making a decision is the step in the right direction, one that will lift the fog that I’m feeling right now!

This is what I’m committed to: first, my business belongs to God. He owns it and He’s my CEO. In fact, He’s my King and I belong to Him. He is the only one I worship. My citizenship is with Him.

As far as down here on Earth, I am committed to being a transformational leader. That has always been my heart since I started my business. Now I have a fresh vision for it. I want to have a part in freeing thousands of families (including my own!) from being a slave to the system so they have freedom to raise their families according to their values. I am committed to helping people tap into their passions and callings so they can be equipped to help others.

I am committed to taking care of the needs of my family and friends, and beyond that, to be a giver. To bless others with what I have been given. I am committed to rising above my own personal circumstances and let God work mightily, so I can be a witness and encouragement to many.

I have been on this journey for many years now, but in a sense, I feel like I am just beginning.

What about you? What circumstances are holding you back? What do you want out of your life? What are you committed to?

Whatever that commitment is, you deserve better than whatever is stopping you! Join me today in this journey in taking a powerful stand to live out the callings God gave you, to get what you want out of life and business!

Because if you invest in yourself, you will have a life that dazzles!

© AngelArts

If you are ready to make a commitment, then download my free ebook! This will get you started on your road to economic freedom!

PDF Books-Learn How to Create A Family Economy with My New FREE Report!

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Grab Your FREE PDF Book Today!

 

PDF books are really easy to digest and convenient to read. You can get an amazing amount of information on these gems!

And the best part is, many PDF books are free, including my new report!

It’s called “Your Guide to Building a Family Economy that SIZZLES.”

There’s no doubt about it. We live in very uncertain times. Families have lost 40 percent of their wealth in this economy and it doesn’t look like there’s an end in site.

And what about our children’s future and grandchildren’s future? The fact is, we are not that upwardly mobile society anymore. For instance, I just saw a statistic that said only 14 percent of parents are optimistic that their children will have a better life than their own!

If nothing changes soon, we will be heading the way of European socialists’ countries. And Europe is not doing well, either. In fact, Greece is in bankruptcy, the world is in turmoil, and there are threats mounting all around us.

So you’re left with disappointment, frustration, even hopelessness. And sometimes even a paralyzing fear.

But there is hope. There is an antidote, and that’s what this free PDF book is all about.

In fact, this PDF book is packed with information. Just take a look at what you’ll learn when you download your complimentary copy of “Your Guide to Creating a Family Economy that SIZZLES:”

  • You’ll discover a stellar recipe for creating a solid business and a dazzling future that you can pass onto as a legacy to your family!
  • You’ll learn an effective way to create cash flow even in a bad economy.
  • What do successful work at home business people know that you don’t? You’ll find out!
  • You’ll learn how marketing experts attract their audiences to increase their sales — and you can, too!
  • You’ll discover 15 basic business building steps that will help you launch one family business after another!
  • You’ll learn what the number one key to your successful family economy is.
  • What are the 7 building blocks to effective brand development? I will be sharing with you my graphic design secrets which will help you get noticed above the crowd.
  • You’ll follow as I lead you through 9 steps to help you build an effective brand, including how to analyze your marketing objectives, how to find a business (and business ideas, even for kids!), how to design a logo using images, photography, typography, and color, how to write a slogan, how to name your business, and more.
  • You’ll discover how to put your logo together and you will learn about the process of creating business cards and web banners.
  • You can use this over and over again for each family member and each stream of income.
  • Single? You will also benefit from learning how to create a dazzling future for yourself!
  • Already in business? Improve the one you’re in and add more the SMART way, one in which builds a solid foundation!
  • You’ll find out how to discover your dazzling future NOW, no matter what your circumstances — you won’t want to miss it!
Are you ready to get started on your dazzling future? To Create a family economy that SIZZLES? Download my complimentary PDF book right now. What do you have to lose? Sign Up Now for Your FREE 115-page PDF book! Just enter your name and email below and you will have immediate access to my free PDF book!

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