Create Effective Content to Market You

May 30, 2013 by 4 Comments
content creation

As a solopreneur or small business owner, you may think that content marketing is a huge undertaking and that there are better things you can do with your time. You should realize, however, that putting out great content is an excellent marketing tool for building your brand and establishing customer loyalty. In recent years, there has been a shift in marketing campaigns. Advertisements have lost their power over customers. Nowadays, people buy from brands they like and trust. But where does this trust come from? Through engaging and building relationships with your consumers using effective content. This is essentially known as content marketing. You want people to subscribe to your blog updates, follow you on Twitter, opt-in to your email campaign, and subscribe to your page in Facebook. Through the repeated exposure of your content to an audience, you effectively build a relationship with them, giving you opportunities to get them to convert. The tricky part though, is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Personal Branding Trends, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Individuals are Using Pinterest to Showcase their Personal Brands

May 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Pinterest

A lot of small business owners use Pinterest mainly as a tool to socialize while getting creative, not realizing that the social media site also offers a lot in terms of positive business exposure that can help them expose their creative talents to the world. Much has been said about the commercial potential of Pinterest for the small business owner. In most cases, business owners use the site as a virtual gallery for products and services. However, Pinterest can also be used on a more personal level, as a way for you to expose your brand to potential customers. It is easy for small business owners to showcase their personal sides through their talents. While these talents may be unrelated to the business, they can reveal a brand’s deeper side that may be attractive to potential customers and even investors. Pinterest serves as a great platform for artwork, crafts, and other interests that reveal to customers another side of your creativity. Marketing in the internet always … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

The F-Bomb Loses More than it Gains

May 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
How profanity affects your personal brand

Have you ever been tempted to use the “f” word in the office, a meeting, or in a presentation? Even if a select few think you're cool or entertaining because you dropped the f-bomb, it’s guaranteed that the majority of onlookers will judge you harshly. Here are just four reasons why you should never use the f-bomb in a business environment. You come across as inarticulate A good number people use profane words when they can't think of a suitable word or sentence to express their point. When you drop the f-bomb, people may assume that you cussed because you have a limited vocabulary. If your colleagues or boss label you as inarticulate, they'll be unlikely to trust higher level work to you or let you give important presentations. People label you as immature If you think dropping the f-bomb is cool, people will think that you have an immature sense of humor and don't take your career seriously. Remember, you're not a teenager anymore and swearing in a business … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Expressing Your Brand, Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Personal Branding Quick Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Keeping Yourself Top of Mind

April 18, 2013 by 2 Comments
no1

One of the greatest challenges faced is constantly being able to keep yourself top of mind to those you would like to connect with, work with or do business with. Due to the vastness of the online world, keeping your personal brand on the minds of your audience takes great skill and employing the right techniques. Get under the spotlight First of all, you need to know where the limelight is at the moment, because that’s where you want to be. The ideal method is to utilize keyword searches to uncover new trends, primarily through social sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google+. These sites constantly update the latest information and the hottest topics being discussed. You’ll have to do a round-up of the news from around the web. After that, consider what topics the industry leaders are covering at the moment and how you fit into those emerging trends. Consider what unique experiences you have that would blend with such trends. Can you apply your brand to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Personal Branding Trends, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Spring Clean Your Personal Brand

March 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Spring clean your social networks for personal branding

With spring here, many of us are going to be doing some cleaning around the office. Perhaps we’re focused on getting rid of a little clutter or even searching for some of those important tax-receipts and documents. But, there’s another area of your business that should be focused on as well. In truth, the online world has a great deal of clutter associated with it. With all the social networks, widgets, apps, and other online tools available, it can be easy to incorporate them into your brand, and then forget about a few on occasion. And, not all of them are forgotten, since some can become obsolete or even inactive. But, the online world remembers everything, and there are undoubtedly a few things that need to be cleaned up this spring. Online devices and services One of the focus points of your cleanup process should be the tools you don’t use anymore. Your brand is still associated with them, and they could even be costing you financially as well. Check out what … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Social Media, Web/Tech Tagged With: , , ,

Efficient with Things, Effective with People

March 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
time management

Businesses are constantly on the search for more ways to increase their efficiency. Can they network with more people in less time? Can they consolidate resources? Can they eliminate unnecessary costs, both financially and with time? Being efficient doesn’t mean that you can’t still invest in your audience. In fact, it actually offers you more time to invest with customers, clients, and advocates for your brand. Time is a resource that few can afford to waste, especially when working towards your goals. But, time isn’t always wasted. Sometimes, it just happens to be misplaced. Luckily, there are certain practices that can help you become more time-efficient. Understand your market One of the most effective ways you can save yourself an abundance of time and effort is by starting off in the right direction. Before jumping right into managing your personal brand, you need to have an understanding which direction to go in. There are certain topics one should consider … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Personal Branding Quick Tips Tagged With: , , , ,

Your Vision, Values, and Visibility

February 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Business meeting

When we define our brand, there are a few simple components that declare who we are and what we strive to accomplish. In any industry, there are two very powerful statements that carry a powerful message of value for its brand. These statements have a powerful impact on how your audience views your brand. Do they see what you see? Do they want what you want? This later question is perhaps the most essential ingredient when expressing your own desires as they must always coincide with the wants and desires of your audience. Statements that define value As an initial declaration, the mission statement is up at the forefront, establishing what your brand’s primary objective is. What do you want to achieve with your day? What is the goal you wish to achieve? While it might seem perfectly professional to focus on the details of your exact purpose, it can put limits where they don’t belong, often inhibiting the true mission of your brand. Your mission statement, and all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Expressing Your Brand, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs Tagged With: , ,

Focus on Your Connection and Conversation

February 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
business talk

The number one networking strategy I recommend?  It’s the conversation.  After all, most of the influence you will have on your connections is not just what you say it is how you say it and how well you listen. Be prepared If you’re going to have something good to talk about, you’re going to need to be prepared for the event. Questions and answers aren’t simply going to fall into your lap, so arrive with them beforehand. What are you going to talk about? What do you want to talk about? How will you encourage others to speak? What will others talk about? I recommend that you have a set of questions you feel comfortable asking new contacts in a way that’s conversational (not at all like an interrogation).  I also recommend that you have some “set” answers or responses on your own.  Answers to questions like, “what do you do” or “what’s new” or “what’s been happening in your life lately”?  I encourage you to have those answers prepared,  not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Personal Branding Quick Tips Tagged With: , , ,

What is Your Personal Brand Feeling or Experience?

January 31, 2013 by 2 Comments
feel

One of the primary characteristics that define a brand is the uniqueness that your experience provides it. While we might attend the same seminars, classes, and even read the same books, the knowledge we gather from them will always be different. The same goes for the experiences that we encounter in our everyday activities within our brand. The clients we encounter, the audiences we engage, and even the techniques we try and test, all influence how we feel about our brand. All of these encounters help a brand generate its own unique image. The question is: Do you allow that to exemplify your brand by sharing it with the audience? The feeling How do you feel when you successfully engage an audience? Is it good? Are you excited? Is it a new opportunity for your brand? These feelings are natural for any individual working towards personal branding, and can help humanize your brand and generate a relatable image for your audience to see. How do you extend it through your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Expressing Your Brand, Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Strong Personal Brands Tagged With: , , ,

Your Personal Brand Loses When You Box Your Connections

January 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
gift box

What do you think of when you think of your customers?  Perhaps, you’re thinking that they rely on you to provide them with a service. You maybe are hoping that they appreciate what your brand has to offer.  Now, consider those that you are a customer of – specifically your social outsourcing groups and other providers. They have something which they offer you, and you believe is valuable. Do you think of a customer as just being your customer? Or, are they much more than that? In truth, everyone you do business with and provide business for is your connection. These connections can prove valuable resources for your personal brand but are often overlooked. The main reason for this is because many check the box next to your name as either “vendor” or “client.” From then on, they put you in a category that limits the opportunity made available to you. Rather than considering the fact that a customer could provide you with a service of their own, it is far more likely … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Exuding Your Brand, Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs Tagged With: , , , ,
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