Branding in Marketing–Make Your Brand Sizzle by Designing a Unique Logo!

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Here is my latest video in my series, Make Your Brand Sizzle!

What does it take to make a sizzling brand? A uniquely designed logo! Find out more in this video.

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Want more videos? I will be announcing an exciting new FREE video series soon! I’m in busy production mode! In the meantime, please do me a favor and share this! I really appreciate it!

My Latest Disaster Reminds Me to Backup My Computers

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Well, disaster struck last night. It happened. My son dropped my Macbook and the hard drive is possible permanently damaged.

Two weeks of work lost. Mostly my article marketing. That’s primarily what I do on my laptop.

Fortunately, I had backed it up before. Most everything is on there. But those two weeks are hard to let go of. I am devastated and discouraged.

But this is progress. Last summer my hard drive crashed and I had NO backup. That hurt.

I at least had set up a manual process. But honestly, it’s one more thing that takes effort. I have too much to think about.

I love how my backup service, Carbonite, automatically backs up my iMac. I never have to worry about it. I can access the disk anywhere.

If my laptop survives, you can bet I will be adding that computer. It’s just not worth it to lose all that work!

What about you? Have you considered an automatic backup service? Are you REALLY going to manually backup your laptop or desktop? What happens if disaster strikes? What will it cost you in time, money, and frustration?

Backup those files today. Believe me, you will not regret it when disaster strikes!

And please, if you like this post, do me a favor and share it! You can save people a lot of heartaches if you do so!

HARD DRIVER
© Jun Li | Dreamstime.com

Advertising Your Name As An Author-Why You Need A Brand

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So you’re writing that novel you’ve always wanted to write and you’re thinking of sending out query letters and book proposals. Or maybe you’ve decided to go the self-publishing route and have your book on Amazon.

You get that nod from a publisher and that’s it, right? Or you stick your book on Amazon and buyers will automatically come, correct?

Wrong!

Publishers are looking for authors with a following. And even if you get published, you still have to market your book and your name! This is the little known secret that publishers don’t tell you!

And plus, just because you stick something up on Amazon doesn’t mean you will sell your books, or at least not at the rate you are hoping for!

So what is an author to do?

Build a brand!

And what is a brand? A brand is a graphical representation of your business or pen name that helps prospects (whether publishers or online customers) recognize who you are and what you do.

Brands build recognition. By consistently applying your brand to online and marketing methods, you will advertise your name as an author.

Make sure your brand is professional and of high quality. You want to stand out amongst the slush pile on acquisition editors’ desks or the pages and pages of similar books on Amazon. If your brand looks cheesy or like everyone else’s brand, you will not get noticed. And then you will not be advertising your name!

When you build your brand, make a plan to get it in front of your target market. If you plan on submitting manuscripts to publishers, have professional business cards and return address labels printed. Think of creative promotions that will make your name memorable to an editor. Make a plan on how many editors you will write per week and stick to it!

Whether you are looking for a traditional publisher or a self-publishing opportunity, develop a blog. Provide excellent content and draw your target market to you. Implement online strategies like article marketing, video marketing, or social media marketing to get your name in front of people on a consistent basis.

However you market yourself, make sure your brand is consistently applied across all mediums, both online and offline. Be professional in your approach to advertising your name and you will soar above the competition and reach your dream to be published and known!

And your author’s brand will sizzle!

Branding in Marketing-Make Your Brand Sizzle by Knowing Your Audience!

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Here’s my second installment in my new video series, “Make Your Brand Sizzle!”

Learn why your audience is so important when building a brand!

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For more ways to make your brand sizzle, download my free report at Make Your Brand Sizzle!

Want to get started immediately? Get started right away with my online branding course.

How To Start Business Without Money-4 Steps that Will Make Your Dream Into Reality

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So you want to start a business and you have no money. How can you make your dream a reality?

In today’s Internet age, it is more than possible!

Here are some ideas to help you in your endeavor:

1) First think about what you are passionate about. What do you love to do in your spare time? What service-oriented skill do you have that people need, want, and desire? What ideas keep you up at night? What are your life experiences?

Choose a business that does not require much equipment. Service businesses are perfect for this. Are you good at organizing? Then start a home organization business! Do you love to restore furniture? Buy some forgotten treasures and spruce them up with paint! You might even have the paint in your home if this is already a favorite hobby.

2) Select a target market. Whom are you in business for? Who are you trying to serve? Learn all about this target market. What are they afraid of? What pain do they have in their lives? What kind of people do they admire?

3) Develop a brand. What is that? A brand is a graphical image that communicates the essence of who you are and what you do. It is an appealing combination of fonts, colors, an image (but not totally necessary) contrast, and balance.

Combine what your passions are, your USP, with your target market. What solution to your target market’s pain can you bring? Design this into an image representative of that.

You want to make sure you have a professional brand, not one that looks sloppy. How can you do this with no money? Learn about how to design a logo yourself. There are many free design software programs out there to help you get started. Or take advantage of free trials applications like Adobe Photoshop offers.

4) Get your name out. Make people aware of your products or services.

Send press releases to your local papers. Advertise your business in Craigslist or other free online classified advertising sites, like Facebook Marketplace, if you feel comfortable. But be careful. Never give out your home address and always make sure you are safe.

Take advantage of Facebook and other social media sites like LinkedIn. Get involved in online communities and give gold nuggets of information. Start a blog and talk with passion about your chosen product or service. Write articles, make videos. Use what you already have at home. You don’t need fancy equipment to get started!

Starting a business with no money is possible. It just takes sweat equity, determination, and consistent work. Keep at it and you will find that pot of gold your looking for at the end of your particular rainbow!

Then your business will truly sizzle!

Cost of Logo Design–3 Ways to Dramatically Lessen It!

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Logo design can be expensive. In fact, most corporations spend thousands upon thousands on creating brands.

And even though cheap and free solutions run rampant online, obtaining one of these can result in a cookie cutter logo–it won’t stand out above the crowd because it’s not uniquely designed for your business, ministry, or artistry.

Typically, design agencies charge at least $75 per hour. Some freelancers charge less than that, but still, the money adds up.

How can you dramatically lessen the cost of logo design?

Here are some ideas to help you:

1) Do as much research as possible up front.

Ask yourself important questions, like “What am I trying to communicate with this logo?” and “Who is my target market?” If you already have a logo, analyze why it’s not working for you.

2) Provide a rough sketch to the designer.

Designers think visually. If you give them an idea what you are looking for by sketching it out, they will be able to satisfy your vision of your logo more quickly. This will save you money!

Communicate up front all your expectations to the designer. The more they know, the more effective your logo will be, and the more money you will save!

Now that you’ve given him all the information and your vision up front, any written estimate will be accurate and you will have no surprises when the bill comes due.

3) Don’t try to change the job specifications in the middle of the project.

Decide up front what you are wanting. This is why initial analysis and thorough research is so important.

If you decide from the beginning that you want blue angels to represent your logo, but then change your mind and decide you want red fairies when your designer has already done the majority of the work, you will be increasing the cost.

You can’t expect the designer to charge his original estimate when you have made a dramatic change and it’s not in the original parameters.

Changing job specifications will mean the designer will have to work longer or buy more artwork. There is no magic button that a designer can push to make your vision come true. It takes skill and knowledge to implement a vision into a tangible design that can be used online or offline. If you change your mind in the middle of a project, it will take more time to complete that project and you will have greatly increased the cost of your logo design.

But following these three ideas when hiring a designer will dramatically lessen the cost of making a logo!

And when you have a dynamic logo, you have built not only a brand, but a brand that sizzles!

Brand Identity-Make Your Brand Sizzle by Building Your Passions!

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Is your brand falling on deaf ears? Is it falling flat of your expectations? Or perhaps you’re just beginning to think of starting a business. Either way, this video will help you make your brand sizzle!

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For more ways to make your brand sizzle, download my free report at Make Your Brand Sizzle!

Want to get started immediately? Get started right away with my online branding course.

Branding Definition – What It Is And 3 Ways to Make Your Brand Sizzle!

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What is a brand? Why should you care? And how can you make that brand sizzle?

Today, I am going to share with you a branding definition and explain why it’s important and what you can do about it.

A brand is an image or identity that captures the essence of who you are as a business. It includes a logomark and your business name.

Face it. On the Internet, image is everything. Your prospects will only look at your site for a few seconds until they make a decision to stay or go. This is usually decided based on first impressions. And if you don’t have a brand that distinguishes you from other companies, you will make no sales, have no conversions.

As a graphic designer and Internet marketer, I have a unique vantage point in creating brands that sizzle. I understand thoroughly how to construct a logo and I know the importance of making that brand visible across the Web.

So how can you make your brand sizzle? Keep reading to find out!

3 Ways You Can Make Your Brand Sizzle!

1) Build your brand from your passions

A brand identity is all about the essence of who you are. Spend some time brainstorming on the answer to key questions like, “What am I in business for?”, “What makes my product or service different than my competition?”, “What is my personality and how do I want it reflected in my business?”

A brand is more than a perceived image. It is about who you are, what you do, and whom you serve. Making your brand a reflection of your passions, purpose, and mission for your business will build credibility for your brand. This in turn will build profits.

Your brand will truly sizzle!

2) Know your audience

If you aim at nothing, you will hit at nothing. You cannot possibly be all things to all people.

Niche marketing, or affinity marketing, is very powerful. Decide in detail who your audience/target market is. Who are you in business for? Who can most benefit from your product or service? Whom do you have an affinity for? Who can you relate to?

Also ask questions like, what is their income level, education level, gender, age, marital status, interests, etc. The more specific you are, the better. If it helps, even cut out a picture of your ideal prospect and post the picture on your monitor. When you create your brand, create it for that person. And additionally, when you write an article, or send an email, or produce a video, create that marketing piece for your ideal target market!

Finding a pain point of your audience and finding a way to solve that problem is one of the best ways to build your brand. If you can communicate to your audience in that way you will have a brand that sizzles!

3) Create a unique logo design

Beware of services that promise images for cheap and free. Why? Because these images are not specifically tailored to your Unique Selling Proposition, target market, or message you want to get across.

Plus, cheap or free logos look all alike! You will not stand out above the crowd. If you feel you must use one of these due to budget constraints, at the very least understand the process behind creating a logo for your brand.

If you do not treat your logo seriously by putting some time and effort or investment into it, it will reflect poorly on your business. Why should your prospects take you seriously when you don’t take yourself seriously?

So what about your logo? Are you proud to show it off or do you know you can do better? Invest in the look of your logo and your brand will sizzle!

To learn more about creating your own brand image and how you can make that brand more effective, download my FREE report, 10 Ways You Can Make Your Brand Sizzle at http://www.makeyourbrandsizzle.com

Want to get started right away to make your brand sizzle? Check out my extensive course at http://www.brandidentityquest.com that will teach you how the basics of brand design and marketing.

Dana Susan Beasley is principal and publisher of AngelArts, and the author of a 3-month graphic design and marketing course called Brand Identity Quest. An experienced and creative graphic artist, she has been helping companies, organizations, and artists reach new heights in their branding for over 17 years.

 

Branding Definition-What It Is and Why You Should Care

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Branding is one of those words that gets bandied around a lot. It loses its meaning after awhile.

So you may wonder, what is branding, and why should you, as a business owner, organizational leader, or artist, care about it?

In this article, I am going to share with you, from the perspective of a graphic artist and Internet marketer, a branding definition that will help you make a brand that sizzles!

You as a business owner, ministry leader, or artist need to pay keen awareness to brand building, especially in this Internet age we live in.

It only takes a few seconds for a prospect to decide whether or not to click on your link. Is your lack of branding or ineffective branding keeping prospects away from your product or service?

So if the answer is yes, then what? You need to build an identity, with an effective image, that sets you above your competitors. A brand that reaches your target market, brings name recognition, and furthers your brand visibility. A brand that compels an online visitor to click on your link, to subscribe to your mailing list, and ultimately, buy your products.

Even if you are part of a network marketing organization, a franchise, or direct selling company, you need to brand yourself.

Why? Because primarily you need to be investing in yourself. You need to have a way to distinguish yourself from other associates or representatives. And in the worst-case scenario where your MLM, franchise, or direct selling business goes bankrupt, you will have already built a following, a fan base. You won’t lose as much business because you have already built yourself as a brand, not that failed company.

So what is a brand? What is a good branding definition?

A brand is a logomark that encapsulates the unique selling proposition of a business.

But a brand is so much more. Here are just some of the things a brand does:

  • Communicates the identity of a business through that image or symbol.
  • Builds name recognition and grows in value over time as that brand gains visibility.
  • A successful brand brings customer loyalty, almost like a trusted friend.
  • Consists of a logomark and business identity name. Some brands contain only the company name set in a specific font style.
  • Distinguishes a company from competitors.
  • Protects ownership of intellectual property, especially if trademarked.
  • Can be a business or a specific product or service. Corporations have several brands that they manage.

What is your brand doing?

To learn more about creating your own brand image and how you can make that brand more effective, download my FREE report, 10 Ways You Can Make Your Brand Sizzle at http://www.makeyourbrandsizzle.com

Want to get started right away to make your brand sizzle? Check out my extensive course at http://www.brandidentityquest.com that will teach you how the basics of brand design and marketing.

Dana Susan Beasley is principal and publisher of AngelArts, a creative arts agency and publishing house, and the author of a 3-month graphic design and marketing course called brand Identity Quest. An experienced and creative graphic artist, she has been helping companies, organizations, and artists reach new heights in their branding for over 17 years.

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