Branding yourself is one of the most important things you can do for your business. You can easily do this with your website if you have the know how and take the extra time to do it. By branding yourself or your business you will stand out from your peers, control first impressions, and be found when searched for using search engines.
The first step to take in branding yourself or your business online is to showcase your voice. There are many ways to achieve this. You can either use your blog if you have one, your website, an ezine, or one of the many forums available online. You will want to utilize some online space where you can convey the message you want to get out to your target audience. If you have your own website or a website for your business wonderful, if not, then you will either need to build one, have it built for you, or start a blog.
After you have decided whether or not you are going to use a blog or a website, your next step is to fill it with your content. If you are your brand, then you will need to decide exactly what your brand is. What brand image are you putting out there? What message do you want to convey? If you are branding your business what do you want your target audience to know about your product, service, or company? You may have to sit down and really think about this if it does not come to you right away. Once your message is put out there for the world to see you can not take it back, so you want to get it right the first time. Anything you write or put on your website will be on the internet forever.
The third and final step is to be responsive to your peers and target audience. Visit forums and networking sites like MySpace and follow-up when you make a post or comment. Do not do drive by posts or commenting. This does not show that you really care about what you've said. After you've posted or commented, go back in a few days to a week and reply to any comments you've received. When you are presenting your brand to the world, you will want to be seen as someone who cares and appreciates feedback. People will see through anyone who is only trying to advertise their business or themselves and not participate in the discussion going on. Your ultimate goal is to get sales and to build your brand. People will go above and beyond to find you if you consistently treat them with respect. You also want to be consistent about greeting them with your brand.
All of the above applies even if someone phones up your business. You will want to make sure you have excellent customer service skills. Make sure you follow-up on any emails you receive. If you neglect your customers and / or potential customers you will ruin your brand.
As you can see branding yourself or your business is extremely important. You will always want to stand behind your brand and the message you are putting out there and be consistent in it. Your success depends on it.
