Are a passionate entrepreneur with a vision for your work and making a difference? If you are like the women entrepreneurs who I know, you are determined, driven, enthusiastic and ready to show your brilliance to those people who you serve, but perhaps don’t know where to begin, what to say, or what next steps to take.
The fear of not making the right decisions, investing your time and money into the right training and resources can be overwhelming and cause feelings of frustration, fatigue, and even despair.
The good news is that the success that you desire is possible and attainable no matter where you are in your business–whether you are just starting out or you are a seasoned business owner. Let me share with you a very basic branding process that I go through with companies, large and small, as well as entrepreneurs in all stages of their business, so that you have a better understanding of how it may help you where you currently are in your business.
- Internal assessment: It is important to first explore what you are all about in your business. Because You are the key selling point of your business–you are the face of your business–you want to take an internal assessment and understand and be able to articulate what you are all about. Start with getting in touch with your vision and then the purpose for your work and who you want to reach out to and the difference that you want to make.
- External assessment: Although it is essential that you understand who you are and what you stand for, you also need to know how others view you. You may think that you are helpful when you give advice, but others may feel that you are too direct and cold.
Large companies often spend thousands of dollars on this type of assessment, which we both know that as an entrepreneur you simply can't do; the good news is that you don’t have to! One of the tools I use to get feedback when helping to develop personal brands for clients is the 360 Reach Personal Branding Assessment. Using this type of assessment allows you to see how others view you. It is an anonymous survey that invites participants to be candid about their perceptions of you and although this sounds very corporate and restrictive, it's actually really fun and insightful. It also plays a significant role in helping you market your business.
- Statement of influence: As a passionate and powerful leader of your business, you have a distinct statement of influence—even if you're not clear on what it is yet. A statement of influence is essentially how you describe and express yourself when networking and marketing. It concisely tells what you are all about in your business and how you are distinct from others in your market.
- Marketing and Communications Plan: Your plan includes how and what you communicate online and in print, as well as how often. I always like to help my clients create a clear plan of action for how they will market and communicate, so that they always have a guide for the next step to take to continually building their credibility, so they attract more potential clients and contacts on a continuous basis.
- Visual Expression: This includes your logo, color palette, typography, images and graphics that you carry throughout all of your communications. The graphic design elements of your brand have a significant impact on how your audience makes purchasing decisions. Upon looking at your logo, website, and other graphics, your audience makes assumptions about your professionalism, credibility, and more, so it is important that you either consult with a professional in graphic design or hire a graphic designer to work with you personally on designing the visual foundation of your brand.
Knowing where you are in your business is essential to getting the best results without feeling overwhelmed. The overwhelm comes when you find yourself working on an area that is three steps ahead of where you're actually currently at—you can't be successfully working on your marketing plan, when you don't yet have a crystal clear vision of yourself and your business. Start with getting in touch with your vision and purpose for your work and who you want to reach out to and make the difference that you want to make.
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Known for her creativity, gentle disposition, enthusiasm, and passion, Lisa Hromada is a Personal Branding Strategist and Money, Marketing, & Soul Coach who specializes in empowering women entrepreneurs to manage their time and find the clarity and focus they need to create a thriving business while still having the time and energy to enjoy their life. Find Lisa's FREE gifts and more at: http://www.lisahromada.com
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