Build Everything with Your Brand in Mind

23 Feb 2009

Build Everything with Your Brand in Mind

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I’d like to share some insight with you about building your brand from the ground up. You see, a lot of people start their business without a brand in mind, hoping to create that down the road. I think this is a mistake.

As your business improves and gains traction, you are bound to become better known to the general audience, particularly in this day of Twitter, Social Networking, and Social media…where word travels fast and often.

I’m not even going to assume that you’ll make bad decisions along the way – I’m more interested in shielding the parts of your business that people will find out about otherwise.

Take for instance people like me, who make a living (or part of one) selling products online. Although my business is made up of several different websites and products, I only publicly advertise those that are beneficial to my brand. Let’s say, for example, that I have a dating site (which I don’t). Obviously, a dating site would do nothing for my Webrepreneur Brand and so it makes sense to use a pen name rather than my own.

I don’t want you to get the idea that I’m recommending that you hide your business from scrutiny, that isn’t the case at all. Every business that you create should be founded on ethical principles. Still, some parts of your business just might not fit in with the rest, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Spend a lot of time developing your brand during the process of business development. This includes everything from website design, logos, phrases, keywords, and social media and networking messaging. Everything that you do to promote your business must be under the unifying umbrella that is your brand.

If any of your businesses fall outside of your umbrella, then you need to find a way to make them fit, or exclude them all together.

Craft every word of every post or advertisement with the foundation of your brand in mind. While it is OK to stray every now and then, make sure you stick to the plan so that your customers know what to expect from you. Make every message that comes from your blog or website one that either promotes your brand, enhances it, or builds upon it.

Building a brand is an art form that takes a lot of time and effort, but I firmly believe that as we move into the latter portion of this decade, personal brands and well-crafted business brands will move ahead of the corporate brand. You would do well to position yourself for this upcoming movement by creating a brand that your customers trust and that your competitors admire.

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http://www.barbaraling.com Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach

I respectfully disagree. Your point “Obviously, a dating site would do nothing for my Webrepreneur Brand and so it makes sense to use a pen name rather than my own.” could also be addressed like so:

You’re a webpreneur, so you walk the walk you talk and put into practice your ideas for the dating niche.

I’ve found it’s much easier for long-term maintenance (for me, that is) to use my name and let my overall reputation convey the sense of authority….this has been my personal experience for the past decade or so. But of course, everyone’s MMV.

Data points, Barbara
http://NathanHangen.com nathan

Well, you make a valid point and although I don’t necessarily agree, I think that it can work in that case. However, if you make it a habit to do business in several different niches, then I think it is easier to shelter your brand from business that don’t fit. Hell, you could use two brands.
http://www.blueunplugged.com/p.aspx?p=118700 brooks

This is an excellent written article on building a strong brand as such. Yes, as your business grows; so does your brand.
http://metalique.com Eddie Gear

Hi Nathan,

Nice article. Branding is becoming a great part of every blogger today. Companies use branding to set an image for themselves among their customers and so are bloggers now. I’ve been doing some extensive research on branding and brand image creation. I just might have a post published on this.

Cheers,
Eddie Gear
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http://www.sixsingles.com/ dating sites

I only publicly advertise those that are beneficial to my brand.
http://www.sixsingles.com/ dating sites

I only publicly advertise those that are beneficial to my brand.
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