Tag: brand development

What’s In a Name?

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“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” We all know that that famous quote by William Shakespeare applies to Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

But do you know it’s a crucial question to ask about your business?

What is in YOUR name? What is the meaning behind it? What does your name connote?

All these are important questions to ask when considering your branding.

Take my business name, AngelArts. Why did I choose that? Because I’m trying to be perfect? Never! It’s because I want to point people to God through my talents in art. I am always reaching new heights in my life and I want to help others do the same.

aagradientlogoweb

Where did I get the inspiration?

A picture my mother took of me when I was a child. I was reaching toward the piano to play it. I had to stand on my tiptoes. She thought it would make a cute Christmas picture, so she put a little halo on my head. To me, it encapsulates the meaning behind what I do with the talents God gave me.


How does that translate to the work I do today? Well, I think of the latest book I’m working on. Actually, while I’ve done many ebooks and designed printed books for others, it is the first time I will publish a book under my own company name.

It’s a dream I’ve had for a long time. So my first book is combining my gifts in graphic arts and writing to point people to God by sharing with my readers that stress can be transformed into blessings. Every page of my book has been lovingly written, designed, and edited.

While I am reaching toward new heights in my business and my life, stretching myself in new ways, I am also challenging others to do the same in their lives.

That’s the meaning behind my business name. That’s why I do what I do. It’s not always easy and there are times I want to quit, but my whole being is reflected in the name I chose for my company.

Because I want to make a bigger impact than just making a quick buck, or working hard for a little while and then getting a big payout. I want my work to mean something. I want my work to have a lasting legacy and be meaningful to the lives I touch.

What about you? What’s in your name? What does it mean? What impact do you want to create with your business?

Would you like to leave a lasting legacy? Learn how to get started through my free ecourse that will give you the basics on how to have a wildly successful business. Click here now to enroll.

 

Victorian Roses painting by Ann Neal at AnnsBrushes.com

To Create a Successful Brand Be Unique!

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It’s the night before Thanksgiving, and I’m sending my husband to the store for some last-minute items. Now thankfully he won’t need to purchase much. Only fresh ingredients for the salad I’m making tomorrow for the big feast.

But normally, if I send him with a long list, he gets lost. Every brand looks like another brand. They all melt together.

For a small business brand, that spells disaster. It’s kind of like going to cookie cutter houses. In these neighborhoods, it’s hard to distinguish one house from another. It’s easy to get lost! Why, I even know a story of a friend of mine (who is hosting Thanksgiving for us tomorrow, yay us!!!) who accidentally went to the wrong house for a bridal shower party a few months ago. Wow, she felt silly!

How does this relate to business? If your brand, specifically your brand image, is not unique, you will lose customers. Your customers will be confused. They won’t understand what you provide nor will they understand the value you offer to them. You will lose trust and credibility.

An effective brand is based on a professional logo that is uniquely tailored to your business. It communicates the essence of who you are as a business.

And an effective brand is AUTHENTIC. I think of a local talk show I was listening to this morning that our town’s mayor was being interviewed on. A lady called to share her opinion about an initiative here called “City for Champions,” a project meant to bring economic vitality back to our area.

She pointed out that as a long-time resident, she doesn’t want some identity super-imposed on our city. She didn’t want something fake.

She was looking for something real. And so are your customers. That’s why the more clarity you have about your vision, mission, values, target market and other key factors, the better your brand will be and the more you will attract your ideal client. And that means an improved bottom line!

Are you ready to get started improving your brand? Why not get started today by taking my free video course, Make Your Brand Sizzle. What do you have to lose? Click here now to get started.

 

Toy Houses © I-bag | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Want a Successful Brand? Be Bold!

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So confession time. For many years I suffered with low-self esteem and extreme shyness. I believed that I didn’t matter, that there was no value in what I had to offer. As a consequence, I was too timid. I was not bold enough. And that has cost me dearly.

Now I am shifting my “stinking thinking.” I’m realizing the importance of boldness and starting to practice it more and more.

While it is uncomfortable, I know that it is the action that will get me where I want to be. So how can you be bold and how can that help your brand? Here are some ideas for you:

1) Find key influencers on social media, whether Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Look for people that you admire and you want to be like, that are where you want to be. Get to know them by commenting on their posts. Write about them and when you do, send a shout out to these people that you have done so.

Years ago, I asked a successful author if she would endorse one of my books. I had gotten to know her by commenting on her posts and asking for help. She was happy to endorse my book and she did!

2) Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Whether it’s in a Facebook group, at a networking group, or in an email.

For months now, I have been struggling with a publication project that seemed dead in the water. Yesterday I finally got the boldness to ask for help in a writer’s Facebook group. I received several responses and even got offers from people wanting me to interview them for my radio show. Bonus! I need to ask for help from these groups more often!

3) Ask for what you deserve. Don’t undervalue yourself. Don’t think you have to ask “how high” when someone asks you to jump. Be confident about the value you offer to your customers and don’t feel guilty for asking for a price you deserve.

My husband, who owns his own architectural business, was vindicated today. Several months ago he received an inquiry from a nail salon wanting him to design some plans. They didn’t like the price and went elsewhere. Today he received a call from them and it turns out this nail salon had hired an architect who did things “on the cheap” for them and then went out of business. They were asking my husband to do a quick turn around and fix the problems so they could get it submitted to the building department.

My husband responded that he couldn’t look at it until next week and explained that he is very thorough and thinks holistically. Through that action, he boldly proclaimed he was NOT going to design cheap stuff and in a hurry.

4) Get out of your comfort zone. Try your hand at speaking, blogtalk or podcast interviews, writing a blog, publishing a book… whatever scares you, do it. When you stretch yourself, you activate that “boldness” muscle and the result, more action and movement for your brand.

5) When negative responses come, move on. Yes, it happens. I will not sugar coat the fact that sometimes you will be rejected. If that happens, just “shake the dust off your feet” and keep on moving!

It’s happened to me several times, and after I get over the initial shock I realize it wasn’t me that they were rejecting, but other factors at play. These factors could be that it’s simply not the right fit, not the right timing, or there might even be some jealousy or favoritism going on. Just keep your head up and keep being bold!

Boldness is key for building your business! And when you are bold, your brand will sizzle and your future dazzle!

Are you ready to be bold? Take a huge step and get some one-on-one help today. Click here now to take this step.

 

Formidable Towers © Joy Prescott | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Investing in Yourself–You Are Worth It!

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“Because you’re worth It.” Remember that old L’Oreal commercial for hair color? If you’re over 40 like me, you might recall. It starred Meredith Baxter-Birney and in it she demonstrates vividly that choosing premium hair color is worth the extra cost.

You also are worth it. As a business owner, you are worth investing in. Without it, you will die. Your business will die. Investing in yourself causes growth. It is a process. It takes nourishing, waiting, sowing, and harrowing.

Like planting a vineyard. You need seed, good soil, fertilizer, pruning, water, sunlight…

Your business needs certain things to in order to grow. First you have to create a vision and mission for your business. Why do you exist? Whom are you serving? What is the purpose for being in business? These questions take time and thought to answer.

You need good soil. The right target market. If you attempt to reach the wrong market, you will experience frustration, lack of clients, and eventually your business will die if not corrected. Reaching your target market takes an investment.

For instance, for the first year my husband and I used Craigslist to promote his architectural company. But it is attracting cheap clients who want something for nothing. While we made some money using this free platform, we are realizing that if we want to reach the right clients–those who value quality over price–we need to pay for that advertising. We need to go where they are and they are probably not on Craigslist.

Your marketing materials are like fishing poles. If you are trying to catch fish (your clients) then you need the proper equipment (fishing pole, hook, bait). That requires investment in branding that expresses accurately the essence of who you are as a business. That requires marketing materials that communicate your message effectively to your prospects and gets them to buy from you or sign up with you. Cheap and free is not investing in yourself. It is the easy way out.

But ultimately, these free or ultra inexpensive options only lead to stagnation. You hurt your credibility. It’s like driving through a cookie cutter neighborhood. It’s easy to get lost. When you use cookie cutter logos and marketing materials, you are confusing your prospects. And they will not find you. You will lose business.

Do you believe you’re worth it? Do you believe that what you have to offer is worth it? After all, how much is one customer worth to you?

Stop using sub-par branding, cheap graphic design, and free marketing material templates. Invest in yourself and your business and you will grow.

And your brand will sizzle and your future dazzle!

Are you ready to invest in yourself? Check out the various packages I have to help you refine and define your brand. I can build an excellent one for you specifically tailored to your business and your vision and then I can create branded marketing materials that result in more clients and revenue. Click here now to find out more.

Bait © Colleen Braun | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Branding in Marketing – Step 1 to Make Your Brand Marketing Soar Above the Competition

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In this Internet age, branding in marketing is absolutely essential. It’s not just for big corporations anymore.

Think about this: At best, you have 30 seconds to get your prospect to click on your image. First impressions are everything!

So is your brand attracting the kind of attention you want? Or does your brand leave your traffic snoozing because it looks indistinguishable from every other brand out there?

If your brand is less than exciting, don’t worry. Over my next several posts, I’m going to share with you five steps that will help your company brand soar above the competition.

5 Steps to Make Your Brand Marketing Soar Above the Competition

Step 1) Make sure your brand represents the essence of who you are.

Your brand should accurately reflect your company’s reason for existence. Call this your mission, your vision, your Unique Selling Proposition.

Whatever you call it, the more clarity you have on why you are in business, the more your brand will accurately portray the essence of who you are as a company.

The result? You will increase your name recognition and brand awareness. If who you are is reflected accurately in your business image, your prospects will be naturally attracted to your brand and ultimately the products or services you are offering, which will increase your bottom line. Further, congruence between image and essence translates to customer trust and loyalty.

In other words, your brand delivers what you promise. When your brand does not accurately reflect your business, your prospects may feel jipped. Like you overpromised and underdelivered. You do not want your brand reflecting this bad business modus operandi!

Relationship marketing is the new wave of business. Social media makes this more relevant than ever. Don’t be left behind in the dust. Learn how to be authentic and you will soar above your competition!

Keep checking back for the next four steps! Better yet, subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss anything!

Want more valuable tips on how to soar above your competition? Check out my FREE 10 Day mini course that will have you soaring in no time at all!

Want even more help so your brand can truly slam your competitors? Sign up for my extensive course on brand marketing!