Tag: successful branding

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

Believing in YOU—Essential to Your Branding Success

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What makes or breaks your success? What one false belief could derail your future? What mindset could kill your dreams?

A lack of self confidence. A lack of believing what you have to offer has value. Not believing in YOU!

Not long ago, I sat down with a potential client in a strategy session. I could tell that lack of self confidence was causing her business to stifle. I told her this message, and it came from my heart, because it’s an issue I also struggle with:

“God does not make junk. You are a treasure.”

It took me years to come to that conclusion about myself. I’ve always thought there was something “different” about me, that people didn’t like me, that I was not valued and that I didn’t matter or that I didn’t count.

These attitudes stalled my business endeavors. These attitudes almost ruined my marriage. These attitudes threatened to keep me from reaching my dearly held dreams.

At some point through all my searching for answers, I realized this: God made me. He gave me the talents and gifts and dreams I have. If I believe that what He gave me is garbage, than I am dishonoring God.

No, I realized. God does not make junk. I am His treasure.

And so are you. He gifts each and every person with a unique calling in this world. You have an important job to do because people need your gift. But the question remains, do you believe in YOU?

Without this belief in yourself, why would potential customers believe in you? Why would they trust you if you don’t even trust yourself? Why would they value what you offer if you don’t value what you have to offer?

How can people tell? It might be in your speech, the way you put yourself down, it could be in your appearance, that you don’t take enough care to look professional, it may be in your branding, that your logo image is amateur looking.

Whatever the case, your first step is to identify the fact that you lack self confidence, and then start identifying why. Take these blocks away and start building confidence. I like to think of it in even stronger terms: Develop GOD confidence!

Then correct those avenues where you are communicating a lack of self confidence, whether it’s in your speech, your appearance, or brand!

Do that and you will have a brand that sizzles and future that dazzles!

Want to learn more about mindset issues and how you can overcome them, resulting in a more profitable business? Listen to my FREE podcast by clicking here now.

Treasure In Hand © Jyothi | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Don’t Kill Success with Perfectionism

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Perfectionism. It’s what stops aspiring entrepreneurs in their tracks. It’s sad. I see it time and time again where a great idea is born, but the bearer of that idea won’t put it forth because it has to be “perfect.”

Your brand is like a game. If you want to win, you have to get in there and play! You can’t play if you won’t get in the field because you are afraid of failing. Because you don’t want to play unless you’re perfect.

A few years ago, I once was hired by a chiropractor who wanted me to help him with a presentation of a new service. He never completed his contract because before I could barely begin work, he decided he needed to re-brand everything. He never, to my knowledge, moved forward because he was so focused on perfection.

This false belief that your work has to be perfect before you put yourself out there is a roadblock that will kill your success.

What should you aim for? Of course, excellence. But realize there will always be something you want to change about your branding, marketing materials, and products. There’s always room for improvement!

But if no one sees your brand, you will not have visibility. And that will lead to less clients that you are attracting which will lead to less sales!

I like how many Internet marketing gurus put it: “progress, not perfection.” Take baby steps.

When I became a homeschooling teacher to my son, which is a huge responsibility, my wise sister-in-law told me this:

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

Those words apply to business owners. If you want to have success, then let go of perfection. The success of your business depends on the speed that you get your brand and products to the marketplace. Far less “perfect” brands and products that are seen by the public will do better than a superior brand or product that has not been unveiled because it’s not “perfect.”

Lay aside perfectionism. Play the game. Who knows. You might fail. But you will have already succeeded because you have become part of the action.

Let your brand be part of the action and you will sizzle! And your future will dazzle!

Want step by step help in getting your brand ready for its big unveiling? Take my systemized, proven course that will empower you to create a solid brand that results in more leads, sales, and profits.

Elephant © Odm | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Building a Strong Brand–What to Include in Your Brand to Make It Sizzle!

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calloutquote1Something all business owners need to know is what to include in their branding images. A strategic approach to this will result in more effective ones. And that will lead to more profits!

So what is an effective brand? How do you build a strong brand?

An effective brand reflects accurately who you are and what you do. It includes a well-constructed logo. This logo includes components that enhance the overall message you are trying to communicate with your brand. An effective logo is designed professionally with balance, composition, and most of all, appeal to the audience it attends to reach.

Can I show you an example of some of the components to include in your brand?

Here are some ideas to include in your branding:

  • Your identity (Business) name
  • Image/symbol
  • Slogan or tag line
  • Your personal photo
  • Your name (if you use a descriptive name for your company)

Now you might be surprised that included a photo of yourself and your name. Why do I suggest that?

Because including a photograph of yourself and your name is extremely important in this Internet age. Marketing these days is all about building relationships. Actually, marketing has ALWAYS been about building relationships. It’s even more important today!

Your prospects want to know that you are a real person. As the famous movie Wizard of Oz illustrates, you need to come out from behind the curtain and show that you are real!

How can you get started with building this strong brand?

The first thing you need to do is list each component you want in your brand in order of importance. Always think about what it is you want to communicate. What message are you trying to get across?

And then you need to be consistent across all mediums. Of course you can alter your brand in certain situations by leaving off your slogan, personal photo, and name as long as you maintain the integrity of your brand.

When you strategically decide what to include in your brand, you will be building a strong one. And that is going to make your brand sizzle and your future dazzle!

Want to learn more about branding and how to make your revenues skyrocket? Listen to my free audio! Sign up by clicking here!

“Selling Stuff”–What to Do When You Aren’t a Sales Person

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KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERAToday I saw a post that made me think of this issue. An excuse I often see that prevents people from becoming entrepreneurs:

“I am not good at selling stuff!”

Want to know a secret? Neither am I!

Sure, I know branding, graphic design, publishing, and marketing techniques, but I am not a natural salesperson.

And I’m glad.

Why?

Because the world is full of slick sales people! The world is full of advertisements and hokey messages and unpleasant, high pressure telemarketing phone calls.

Doesn’t that just make you go, “ick?”

Think about that last sales call you got that drove you crazy. I can definitely remember a few times professional sales people tried to cram their product or service down my throat. It was not pleasant. I did not buy from them. I ran from them.

But when you offer a product or service based on your passion in life, your calling, your unique skill set, and you make yourself available to serve a target market that has a desperate need for what you have, you don’t have to sell!

Yes, I know that sounds impossible. How could that be true?

It’s all about your mindset. It’s about deciding to show up to serve, to help fulfill a need. After all, isn’t that what free market economies is all about? You find a void, create or offer a product or service that fulfills that need. It’s called supply and demand.

So how can you change your thinking? Look at your sales as conversations. You’re just trying to find a fit for you and your potential customer. If it isn’t a fit, that’s great. If it is fit, that’s wonderful! It’s about dialoguing, and it’s about listening more than anything. And the more nos you get, the better! You are just making room for more yesses!

Be there for those who are experiencing pain. Offer them a solution. It’s that simple. Then ask boldly. “Is this something you might want to hear more about?” “If I could help you with that (problem), would you like to hear more?” “Is this something you would like to get started with?”

Let me give you a real life example. My husband. He is not a sales person. Far from it! He is an architect. And furthermore, he is an engineer. He doesn’t like sales. He even thought of getting a job at one point because the idea of doing sales was overwhelming to him.

Then I mentioned that if he was to get a job, he has to market himself. He has to perform in a sales meeting. That’s called an interview. He has to negotiate for his salary. And if he gets the job, he still has to do sales and marketing. He has to continually convince his employer to keep him as an employee!

He saw my point, and now he’s actively engaged in sales and marketing (okay, with my help, but you get the picture). Last night, he came back from a networking meeting excited. He had connected with the speaker. He resonated. That’s the thing. When you resonate with others, it isn’t about selling. It’s about offering a valuable product or service that people need, want, and desire.

This is the dirty little secret: we ALL have to learn how to do sales and marketing! Whether you are looking for a job or become an entrepreneur.

But when you build a brand, you attract customers to you rather than trying to force a prospect to buy from you.

Doesn’t that sound promising? If you’d like to know more timeless principles of business, take my free mini course, 5 Secrets to a Wildly Successful Home Business! Click here now! The sooner you get started on this valuable knowledge, the sooner you will get that successful business you’ve been dreaming of!

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Business Success–5 Essentials You Need to Succeed!

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IMG_0069Last Saturday, I had the honor of being a guest on a local radio show. The topic was how to make a business wildly successful. Here are some ideas to help you succeed beyond your wild imaginings!

1) Integrity.

This is the number one factor of success in business. Truly. Don’t take shortcuts. Strive to have integrity in your business, in your client relationships, with your vendors.

When you take shortcuts, you will be hurting yourself in the long run. And it will come back to haunt you sooner or later. If you do not walk in integrity, your reputation will suffer and this will damage your brand.

2) Come through with your promises.

This kind of goes along with integrity, but this is so important. Increasingly, it seems like the work ethic is lost to business owners. The path of least resistance seems to be the modus operandi. This can encompass not returning phone calls promptly, missing deadlines, and performing shoddy work. You do not want your customer to be dissatisfied, you want your customer to be dazzled, so they’ll come to you over and over again. Because the best customer is a repeat customer.

Under promise and over deliver. That is the sure way to dazzle your customer. And your brand will sizzle as a result!

3) Support from your family.

I would say this is one of those nice things, that would be icing on the cake, but sometimes not always realistic. It is great to be on the same page with your family members, especially your spouse. If you are not, then I would devote some serious prayer to the matter and explain to your spouse or loved one your vision and ask lovingly for concrete ways they can support you.

God has worked amazing circumstances in our lives because my husband and I have the same vision. He thoroughly supports my business and I support his. The result is incredible. And most importantly, it has brought us closer together as a couple. I have never been so in love with my husband. And he knows I have full respect for his talents and a desire to see him succeed. This has helped him in the process of launching out on his own. And conversely, his belief in me has given me courage to stretch myself in new ways.

4) Take care of yourself.

Now, full disclosure. I don’t do so well with this. I am trying to change that one little goal at a time. But adequate sleep, nutrition, exercise, fun, relaxation, and quiet time for yourself is so important. If you are not taking care of yourself, there is no way you can take care of your family and your business.

It’s like what the flight attendants tell you before takeoff: if there is an emergency, first YOU breathe into the oxygen mask BEFORE you give it to your child!

5) Don’t let relationships suffer.

It’s easy, as an entrepreneur, to work all the time. And when you work at home, it’s even easier. There’s no barriers, no fences to say this is the time to work and this is the time to be with my family or to spend time with your husband or to spend time with friends. You have to set those boundaries yourself, boundaries that will work for you and your family.

My husband and I struggled with this early on in our relationship. He would wait to spend time with me until after whatever project he was working on was done. I would get resentful. This became a vicious cycle. Finally, we learned to spend a few moments together before he spent time on his project so I was able to let him go for his “cave” time–his projects. Then he had more energy later to be with me later.

And now, a weekly date night is a MUST on our calendar. We almost paid a very steep price for neglecting us and letting busyness get away. Make regular date nights with your spouse a priority, even if all you do is go out for coffee.

May these ideas help you have a sizzling brand and a dazzling future!

Want more ideas on how to have a wildly successful business? Take my free mini-course, 5 Steps to a Wildly Successful Home Business at http://www.WildlySuccessfulHomeBusiness.com

Photograph by Sam Beasley.

Successful Branding–The Importance of Brand Strategy

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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.

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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.

What is a Brand?

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What is a Brand?

In order to kickstart this blog, which I have sorely neglected, I am going to reach back into my archives and share one of the first instructional videos I ever made. This is basic and will serve as a foundation for everything you do in business. Enjoy! There will be more to come and some new ones soon!

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Would you like to find out more about creating an effective brand? Sign up for my free video course at http://www.MakeYourBrandSizzle.com!

 

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

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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.

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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!

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