Tag: brand identity marketing

To Create a Successful Brand Be Unique!

Leave a comment

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!

Leave a comment

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!

Leave a comment

“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

Successful Branding–The Importance of Brand Strategy

Leave a comment

Recently, I’ve run across many business owners who realize they need to update their Website, but they don’t understand the importance of having a brand strategy FIRST.

Here is a video to help you understand why it’s so important.

[vsw id=”R4WvT0_lBsU” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 

Is this something you are struggling with? Would you like to learn more about how to create a wildly successful business that will last a lifetime? Please take my free mini course by clicking here.

Re-Branding Case Study–How Changing the Branding for a Homeschooling Group Brought Me Success

Leave a comment
oldexplorerad
My first attempt at promoting an adventure club.

 

A few years ago, I started a homeschooling co-op specifically for others who were using the same curriculum we use, which is called KONOS. I made flyers and handed them out at our homeschooling support group. I gave them out at homeschooling fairs. I sent emails.

Finally, after a lot of work, I got two other mothers to sign up. As it turned out, it was a disaster. The co-op failed. Later, I tried to make it an adventure club. I got absolutely no interest, at least no one committed to coming.

A year or so later, I got an idea to re-brand it. I decided to call it Explorers Creativity Club. I found appealing artwork and created a logo. I honed the message of the club. I made it a monthly enrichment club where parents could come when they wanted to. There was no long-term commitment.

Although I still used the same curriculum, I just did the activities. Things like exploding volcanoes and going on scavenger hunts. No class time, no lectures, just creative fun. A time for parents and children to explore, have fun, and make new friends.

explorersexample
The re-branded look has brought incredible results!

The result? The response has been off the roof! From the start, I had tremendous interest and last year I hosted around 10 meetings, met a ton of people, and we all had a blast. Last week was my first event for the school year and I had seven kids. And the best result of all, my son made a new friend.

So what made the difference in this endeavor? Re-branding! I completely changed the scope, artwork, and messaging of my monthly get-togethers and the result was resounding success!

This may be the answer you need for a product or service that you have that you feel has flopped. Take it out, look at it with fresh eyes, and brainstorm on how you can re-brand it.

You never know: you may have a winner on your hands!

Do you want to invest in yourself and get fundamental knowledge about building a business? That is what my family economy homeschooling curriculum and Brand Identity Quest course is all about! Click here now to go to my Digital Store for more information!

Branding in Marketing–5 Steps to Make Your Brand Marketing Soar Above the Competition

Leave a comment

IMG_0073With the advent of Internet Marketing, branding in marketing is absolutely essential and not just for big corporations anymore. At best, you have 10 seconds to get your prospect to click on your image.

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. 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!

 

Step 2) Make sure your brand is specifically tailored to your target market.

When you aim at nothing, you will hit nothing. You need to completely understand the customers or clients you are trying to reach. The more detailed description you have of your ideal client, the better your brand will be, the more magnetic your brand will be.

You cannot be all things to all people. That is impossible. Instead, find your niche and research this niche thoroughly.

Don’t know where to start? Often, the best place to start is an audience for whom you have an affinity. One that you can relate to.

Are you a mother? Then market to moms!

Are you passionate about real estate? Market to fellow realtors!

Do you love animals? Then market to fellow animal lovers!

I think you get the idea. Whatever market you choose, outline specific details like education level, geographic location, gender, marital status, income level, interests, etc.

Keep this in mind when developing your brand. If you need to, cut out a picture that encapsulates your target market and stick it to your computer monitor. Never forget WHO you are in business for!

Because when you remember your target audience in your branding, your marketing is more effective. You will reach the specific people who are interested in your product or service and your profits will soar!

 

Step 3) Make sure your brand does not come across as amateurish.

Do it yourself logos and “custom” designs are a dime a dozen. But buyer beware! A cookie cutter logo may not do your company justice! And it may look, in fact, amateurish.

When your brand does not come across as professional, it shows to your prospects that you do not treat your business seriously. And if you do not treat your business seriously, then what does that mean about your product or service and the customer service that comes with that product or service?

A cheap brand comes across as just that–cheap. And cheap brands are indistinguishable from the competition, which means your brand gets left in the dust.

Don’t let that happen to you. If you want to design your logo yourself or buy a stock logo, at least do research on what makes an effective image and what makes a cheap image. Do your homework and your brand will soar above the competition!

 

Step 4) Make sure you include a photograph of yourself in your branding to convey trust.

Today’s marketing is relational. The Internet is vastly anonymous and your prospects are scared of scams. Your prospects may also be tired of corporations “running the show” and prefer to work with someone real, down to earth.

Including a photograph of yourself with your brand will help build trust with your prospects.

But make sure it is a good photograph! It may be worth the investment to hire a professional photographer. If you decide not to hire a photographer, at least make sure you find a person you trust to take your photograph.

Like a logo, a cheap photograph translates to a worthless product or service. Your customers will not be drawn to your page and you will be again left in the dust behind your competition.

 

Step 5) Make sure you apply your brand consistently across all mediums.

Applying your brand consistently or the same to your business cards to your website to your email marketing to your social marketing will increase your brand awareness and name recognition.

You want your prospect, when they click on a banner to your website, to instantly be able to recognize your page as the same entity.

Or when a prospect clicks on your landing page for your ezine offer, you want that ezine to have consistent branding with that web page. Otherwise, your new subscriber will unsubscribe you because they don’t remember you!

Remember, it takes at least seven exposures of a product or service to make a sale. So building a consistent brand across all mediums is building a brand awareness that will result in more leads and more sales. It is also building trust. It shows your prospect that you are serious about your business and they can depend on your product or service to solve their particular problem. And when your prospect feels like you can solve their problems, your profits will soar and your competition be left in the dust!

Practice these steps above and you will find that your prospects aren’t snoozing anymore at your images, but instead, your brand sizzles, soaring above your competition and resulting in a better bottom line!

Do you want to know more ways you can make a brand sizzle? Click here now to take my free 10 day video course!

Photo by Sam Beasley

Branding Yourself–7 Tips to Help You Stand Out Above the Crowd

2 comments

In this Internet age, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. How can you stand out with your prospects?

Here’s some ideas to help you!

 

  1. Send your customers branded birthday cards, promotional products, and thank you gifts. This will keep you top of mind and show that you care!
  2. Set up a domain for your business as well as your name. Use keywords as part of your domain.
  3. Use domain email: your name@yourbusiness.com. Yahoo, gmail, and other free services are unprofessional and will decrease your credibility.
  4. Send your own branded thank you cards as a follow-up to customers.
  5. Create your own company logo wear and advertise your business when you are going around town!
  6. Compose an elevator pitch to tell people what you do and how you can help them. Practice it until you have it memorized!
  7. Without vision people perish! Spend some time thinking through your life and business vision, mission, and values! Then translate it into business plans, marketing plans, and most importantly, your calendar!

Would you like more ideas on how to brand yourself? Take my free video course and also get a free report! Just click here to get started right away!

Is Your Commitment to Success Bigger than Your Circumstances?

Leave a comment
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!

Brand Positioning Strategy–3 Lessons from the Great Depression

9 comments

Brand Positioning Strategy–what would it be like to survive and THRIVE in any economy?

That’s exactly what this famous brand did during the Great Depression! Watch the video below to learn 3 great lessons that will help your business grow in this down economy.

[stream provider=youtube flv=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DwIbosRXDL_s img=x:/img.youtube.com/vi/wIbosRXDL_s/0.jpg embed=false share=true width=400 height=280 dock=true controlbar=over bandwidth=high autostart=false /]

Want to learn more about how to make your brand sizzle? Take my FREE 10 day mini-video course and read my free report!

Need to get started right away on how to make a custom brand that will thrive in any economy? Take my online tutorial course! You can get started immediately even if it’s 2 am on a Sunday!

1 2