Podcasts Enhance Word of Mouth Marketing for Small and Personal Brands

June 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Podcasts improve business and personal brand word of mouth

With the surge in smart phone use, most online activity can be done handily and on the go. Apart from the usual phone calls and text messages, there are a lot of things that you can do like taking notes, capturing photos, playing games, listening to your favorite podcasts or recording your own, among others. The modern customer is on their mobile device more than ever. As a result, a shift is being experienced in how consumers buy certain products or services. This is why entrepreneurs and small business owners have tapped several avenues to take advantage of the mobile internet platform. As it has always been, people like to engage on a personal level with regard to products that interest them in order to ensure it meets their active lifestyle. They want to know information at the most convenient time for them. People continue to multitask. They want to know more about brands even while they're on the treadmill, on the road, or while at work.  Podcasts provide a way for people to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Expressing Your Brand, 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: , , ,

People Do Business with People – Still

April 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
IMG_3591

With all the technological advances the modern world has to offer (mobile Internet, social networking, and even the classic email list), brands often find themselves focused on a power screen, working to improve their online statistic numbers- rather than the people and individuals that make up those statistics. What businesses should realize though, is that each one of those individuals in the online world is a person, and it is with people that you do business with, regardless of the medium chosen to deliver the message to them. Connecting with business relationships First of all, it’s essential that any brand focus its efforts on making connections with the right networks. With social and other online networking tools, it’s easy to get caught up talking with just about everyone. However, most of those conversations don’t offer the valuable connections your brand needs to succeed. Focusing your efforts on specific groups and individuals will allow you to develop … [Read more...]

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

Look Up and Face Word of Mouth

April 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
businessman on smartphone

Smartphones have become a great asset to every individual. Whether they’re building a small business or shopping on their favorite site, these devices allow people to stay connected in the most opportune ways. The smartphone relationship Unfortunately, this has resulted in a side effect that isn’t so greatly appreciated. For many, the smartphone has become the only gateway for communication. Calls? Texts? Emails? Social network updates? All these things become a priority, even when in the company of others. And the trouble here is that most users aren’t able to say “no” to interruptions like these. Rather than focusing their present audience, they indulge in a social comment or watch the latest trending video –   alone and outside of the conversation. When the only conversation partner you seem to have is your phone, you quickly find that those in the world around you aren’t paying attention to you either. For those who are developing their network or contacts, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Exuding Your Brand, Personal Branding Quick Tips, Personal Branding Trends Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Who You Like – Built by Association

March 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Facebook Like

While many brands are concerned with the number of “likes” that their own personal brand social sites gain, there is another type of “like” that is affecting you as well. Have you ever considered what topics, pages, and brands you “like” on social sites like Facebook? Those likes may be affecting your brand’s image more than you might consider. With the variety of subject material on social sites, it’s easy to get caught up liking new pages and brands without first investigating them. Even if they turn out to be un-relatable to your personal brand, we may like them at the moment, or something on them, or even simply because a friend recommended we liked them. This is one of the many reasons why it’s so important to regularly clean up your social sites. What apps are obsolete? Which pages fail to represent your brand’s values or interests effectively? Basically, your “likes” are building a profile with your social account that is ancillary to your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Expressing Your Brand, Exuding Your Brand, Social Media 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: , ,

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: , , , ,

Will Lance’s Personal Brand Continue to Live Strong?

August 26, 2012 by 2 Comments
Lance Armstrong

Athlete......Survivor.....Philanthropist......Cheat? Sadly, unless there is a definitive answer, that final attribute will now always be associated with Lance Armstrong's personal brand. But always with a question. We all know him through those first three attributes, the question is can we ever not think of him without the last one? Both sides were always too far apart for this to be concluded with anything other than the wrong result. Witnesses and experts on both sides claiming to be right. Strong personalities involved. A lot at stake. Now the truth may never be known. Part of the confusion for many of us might be the fact that what might be a lifetime ban for some sports (e.g. cycling), can be a couple of years in athletics or results in a 50 game ban or less in baseball. Even some multiple offenders come back to play in their sport again. For the USADA this has been a 10+ year endeavour. The rumour and insinuation has hung over Armstrong really ever since his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sports, Strong Brands Attract and Repel, Strong Personal Brands Tagged With: , , , ,

Is your career facing a Kodak moment?

January 20, 2012 by 1 Comment
kodakvintagead

No doubt the business school case studies in years to come about the sad demise of Kodak and it's brand will raise many questions about the effectiveness of it's leaders. The filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy by Kodak this week has many lessons for all businesses, but what can you learn from this and be sure that you are not facing the same in your career? 1. Don't underestimate the impact your ideas have. It was the mid-70's when Kodak actually developed for the first digital camera. Can you imagine how far ahead they may have been in the market place and for how long had they moved on this revolutionary idea. Personal Brand Lesson - just because your industry or vocation has done it the same way for a long time and everyone is comfortable with that way does not mean an idea out of left field is not a better one. Be willing to challenge the status quo. 2. Don't be complacent or greedy. Kodak leaders decided to shelve the digital camera because they felt it was going to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Current Affairs, Everything is a Brand, Personal Branding for Careers, Personal Branding Quick Tips, Recession-Proof Your Career Tagged With: , , , ,
«Older Posts