By definition, it is an identity that stimulates a meaningfulful emotional response in your target audience about the qualities and values for which you stand.
We live in a time when we are a bombarded with informational and emotional garbage all day, everyday. So how do you stay front in your customer's minds?
Personal branding.
Your goal, of course, is for people to want to do business with you and only you. But, how do you promote them to dial your number, communicate by email or visit your website? How do you communicate to customers and prospects that you are their only solution? How do you take your skills and knowledge and turn them into value?
Answer: Personal branding.
It does not matter if you're in the hottest new MLM, a car salesman, or an internet marketer. Branding is vital for you to make an impact on the lives of others.
Successful people understand that you will be remembered by the size of the problems you solve. Branding turns hamburgers into McDonald's. Branding turns coffee into Starbucks. Branding turns i ce cream into Dairy Queen. Branding can turn you from mediocre into successful. What's your brand going to be?
You have to create value in yourself. You must deliver as you promise and set yourself above the rest. Using the Starbucks analogy, if you say you have the best tasting coffee, you better deliver. If your brand is best quality for the most economical price, you better deliver. If you are an internet marketer, you have to know where you fit in the marketplace. Here are some questions to ask yourself. What is your product or service? How does it fit into the marketplace? What are your competitors doing in the way of marketing, advertising, or branding?
It's important to look at those who have failed as well as those who have been successful. You want to mimic what works, but tweak it a bit to personalize it. Do not limit yourself to products or services that are similar to yours. Make yourself a student of businesses, you never know what will serve as inspiration.
You have to find your niche. Something that sets you apart from the competition, and then build on that.
Next time we'll talk about finding your niche.