Get Better Results by Starting from Where You Are

Do you want...more?
The women who come to me are at a place in their life and business where they want more. They want more time with their family; they want more time for themselves (imagine that!); they want their business to bring in more income; they want to feel more fulfilled doing what they love, helping to transform the lives of their clients and make the difference they are meant to make.

They have tried marketing their business; they've tried going out and meeting people; they've tried social media; they've created a website and now want people to actually visit it and contact them... sound familiar?

It's overwhelming to think about all those things that you need to do in your business to get it to...well... FLOW.

So, where do you start?

The simplest answer is to... start where you are.

If you're like my clients...

• You've been in business for a number of years and you're exceptional at what you do, but no one knows it (meaning, an inconsistent flow of clients)
• You like doing things your way and on your own, but you're not getting the results you know are possible
• You want to increase your income and you know it's possible, but you're already working as hard as you possibly can and you're not willing to giving up the other things that you enjoy

So then, how do you close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be? 


Here is 1 essential tip as well as some key action steps to help you get better results by 'starting where you are'...

ESSENTIAL TIP: Know where you are! Yes, this sounds like a no-brainer, however, I know from my own experiences and from my highly creative coaches and colleagues that our natural tendency is to want to be three steps ahead.

Even for my clients who have been in business for 20+ years, they need to re-evaluate where their business is at. Knowing where you are has nothing to do with how much you know or how many years you've been in business; it has to do with what stage your business is at.

Even for women who have been in business for a number of years, they need to review what they are a stand for in their business, who their clients are, and what uniquely sets them apart, which are all parts of the core phase of branding their business, so they can get better results, faster from their marketing.

'Take Action Today' Step: Write a short list of the primary challenges you're currently having in your business. Be completely honest as you write this list. This is going to help you know where you are right now and help you with the next action step, which is determining what you need, to overcome these challenges and take your business to where you want it to be.

For example, if you write, “my primary challenge is telling potential clients clearly what I do and how I help them,” then your next step is to write down what resources you'll need, what steps you'll need to take, and/or who you'll need to contact to help you learn how to clearly express what you do, so you can start getting more clients and making the difference you're meant to make.

Bonus tip: Be specific. Don't write “my primary challenge is money;” Almost everyone I talk to has a challenge with money in one form or another; whether it relates to how to charge and price their services; whether they're currently making money or not; whether they fear investing in their business because of the 'what if' beliefs that surface... “what if I fail?” “what if I don't get clients?”...

Bonus, bonus tip: Once you have your list of your primary challenges and the resources or people you'll need to move you and your business forward, take action... research those resources and contact those people... explore what's possible for you, so you can take your business to where you want it to be.

When you know where you are and what steps and actions you need to take (and of course take those steps), you'll find you'll quickly get better results.

A big part of what I do is I empower entrepreneurs to unearth their excellence as the leader of their business and take courageous action toward their goals. Because when you know deep within yourself that there's more you're meant to do and more you're meant to help your clients to achieve, you know the only option is to take action.

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

If you would like to use this article on your blog or website, feel free as long as you include the following author information:

Known for her creativity, gentle disposition, enthusiasm, and passion, Lisa Hromada is a Personal Branding Strategist and 'Authentic Marketing' 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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Three Personal Branding Lessons From Princess Diana

In unearthing your authentic personal brand, one of the steps is to explore your own purpose and mission. By viewing your career on a larger scale in this way, you gain a new perspective that gives you the guidance needed to be more authentic from the inside-out. That, in turn, ensures that you will be more personally fulfilled by your day-to-day work. For that reason, many careerists and entrepreneurs really think deeply about their mission in life.

Of course we all tend to think in that way when some big crisis happens or when we lose our jobs and are forced to reevaluate our goals. But I don't believe for a minute that the majority of professionals ponder this important component during the important process of defining their images and creating their personal brands.

But unless and until you delve into your own personal goals in life and understand what your mission is for the world, it is difficult to generate a truly authentic brand image that really resonates with who you are. While this kind of exercise can require a little bit of soul-searching - and is a challenge for some of my clients - it is one of the most valuable processes for mapping your career based on the bigger picture. Those who successfully engage in this kind of process of self-discovery and professional branding reap the benefits far into the future, and they are usually the people we remember for what they did for others and gave to the world.

I recently attended the Atlanta exhibition "Princess Diana: A Celebration," and while there it became very clear to me that Princess Di knew exactly what her mission in life was. She intentionally and authentically leveraged her power and celebrity status to influence others in a positive way and really help the causes that were meaningful to her. Despite the fact that many people with fame and fortune squander the opportunity because they lack direction or purpose, Diana was passionate about her mission and as a result she left behind a remarkable legacy.

I was especially moved by photos of her holding the hands of people living with diseases like leprosy and AIDS - at a time when those patients were shunned by others. When those photos were first published it shocked the international media. There she was, for all the world to see, a princess who knew the power of touch and used it to convey to the world that those diseases were not contagious.

At the same time she set an example that demonstrated that human compassion and empathy could be contagious -in a positive and healing way. Visiting the sick was one of her humanitarian duties. Her personal missions to help others were often difficult and unfashionable, but she was nonetheless passionate about them. Despite being a highly visible member of the royal family, she still understood how to give and care on an international platform - and she used her time, her wealth, and her other resources to further her mission.

Here are three personal branding concepts we can all learn from Diana:

Know Thy Purpose
To start discovering your personal brand, first take a look at the bigger vision of your life. Why are you here, and what would you like to see possible for the world? How can you leverage the "power of one" to influence a philanthropic cause? Both careerists and entrepreneurs can be involved in something they feel passionate about. If you are a professional and you want to feed the hungry around the world, then getting behind a world hunger project would be great.

If you work in a corporate setting, you could volunteer to organize the quarterly food drive and make a donation on an even larger platform by involving your colleagues. An entrepreneur could donate a percent of product revenues, book sales, or event bookings to the world hunger mission and let people know they support that cause. Leverage your sales while letting people know that you have a heart and want to be a part of something special and charitable. This gives people a glimpse of your philanthropic side. We all like to know that people are giving back to their communities, especially in this difficult time when our fellow man may be worst off than we are. Diana truly knew her purpose and took risks that could damage her reputation among the royal family - but it was her authentic calling.

Understand Your Cause to Chart Your Path
When you have a difficult decision to make or suffer a career setback, having a bigger picture view helps. If you lose your job, for example, but are mindful of what you would like to see happen in the world, then you are more likely to seek out and find another type of work that really fulfills you to help you realize this larger dream. You may decide to go into non-profit work or to work for an organization that values philanthropic involvement. When I worked at Macy's, for example, we could volunteer through the "Partners in Time" events to work on a Habitat for Humanity house or make valentine cards for the elderly in nursing homes.

While we all live such busy lives we also know that once we help our fellow man we better appreciate all that we have. We know that just one single person does have the power to change the life of another. Diana leveraged her celebrity platform to achieve her goals of raising money and awareness for philanthropic causes and being a supportive voice for people in need.

Keep Your Vision Alive
Yes, we are all so very busy today and sometimes finding that balance of work and pleasure or career and personal life can be difficult. But it's important to keep your vision for the world alive. You don't have to donate millions of dollars to an organization to feel that your purpose is evolving - you just need to do a little here and there. We will leave the enormous gifts to well-known and well-heeled philanthropists like Oprah or Bill Gates - those with the really deep pockets. That's part of their personal brand and mission. They are taking a stand to back causes that they are passionate about and to market those efforts every chance they get. If you can think of ways to involve others in giving of their time through a project at church, donating an hour a month on a charitable board, or finding a way to give through your business - you will feel more authentic in your brand messaging.

Tell people why these causes are important to you. Ask them what causes they love and want to support. This allows you to respect and contribute to their personal mission while you give back in an authentic way that says volumes about your image. If you have a great client and know their larger vision for this world, then that is a great opportunity to make a contribution to their cause - versus sending them a holiday gift or a referral fee. It conveys to them that you think beyond the office walls and support their mission and purpose in a personal way.

Diana's brother Spencer is keeping her memory alive by supporting this current exhibition, so that we don't forget that while Diana was the Princess of Wales - she was most of all a passionate humanitarian with a generous heart.

I hope that all of you will think of your larger purpose in life. That's why we are all here. None of us wants to look back over our life or career and realize that we never really discovered our personal brand mission. Seek and discover yours and leverage it for your career or business in an authentic way that conveys an image that you give back to a larger community - beyond your professional and personal life.

Sarah Hathorn is a professional image consultant, certified personal brand strategist, speaker, and author.
Her company, Illustra Image Consulting, works with high-achieving future leaders and large businesses by enhancing their corporate and personal brand image to take their businesses and careers to the next level.
Blog, Ezine & Website: http://www.illustraimageconsulting.com
Phone: 678-528-1239 Email: sarah@illustraimageconsulting.com
Copyright 2009, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS

The Personal Brand, Corporate Brand, and Successful Network Marketing Leader

“Although it sounds counterintuitive, the best way to build your corporate brand is to help your employees build their personal brands.” 

~ William Arruda, Personal Branding Guru and Founder of Reach Personal Branding 

This point also holds true for network marketing leaders, their teams, and the organizations that they represent. The best way to build the corporate brand as a network marketing leader is to help your team build their personal brands.

Many of the network marketing professionals whom I meet desire more success and fulfillment as representatives of products and services that they are passionate about. The forward-thinking network marketing leaders are those who understand that building a strong personal brand and the personal brands of each member of their team is essential to standing out from competitors and peers as well as understanding the role that they play as representatives for the corporate brand.

Why is it important for network marketing leaders to understand personal branding?

Key benefits include: 

• You make memorable connections that inspire desired action. When you can unearth what makes you exceptional and use it each day in every communication that you have with others, both personal and professional, you are building the corporate brand in ways that are authentic to you, while making personal and emotional connections with potential clients in ways that inspire them to purchase your products or join your team.

• You are able to be the leader that you desire to be. For networking marketing leaders with teams, when you know your personal brand and encourage each member of your team to unearth their unique promise of value (their personal brand), you inspire them to move forward with confidence and understand how to use their strengths and unique characteristics in innovative ways to achieve greater profits for themselves as well as the team and organization.

• You discover how to leverage what makes your team distinct. When you know the personal brands of those on your team, you know who best to direct potential clients to when they desire specific information or customer service to meet their needs. Not only are you building the confidence of your team, but also the earning potential, which ultimately makes you more profitable and successful as the network marketing leader for your organization.

All of these key benefits contribute to building the corporate brand, and as I often see, when the corporate brand does better, you have more opportunities to leverage their success through your personal brand.

Providing excellent examples of innovation himself through Reach Personal Branding, William Arruda emphasizes the importance of being innovative in business and how each member plays a part in contributing to innovation. “Today, to be successful, companies need to innovate. If you’re not innovating, you’re a commodity and commodities compete on price.” To hear more about leadership, authenticity and the personal brand, I invite you to listen to this video featuring Willam Arruda.

For more information on personal branding for network marketing leaders and teams, visit lisahromada.com.


Lisa Hromada is a leading Personal Branding Strategist and Graphic Designer for women leaders and teams of professionals. To begin building your personal brand, team brand, graphic design expression, or your online ID, visit http://www.lisahromada.com

Goals - Essential Part of the Branding Process

Both in my corporate and entrepreneurial brand development and graphic design work, goals are a significant part of any business and thought-leadership development process. Without goals, you don't have focus and it is impossible to measure desired results. You have to know where you want to be, where you currently are, and how you plan to get to where you desire in order to develop a strong presence and recognizable brand. Often in brand development, we work on SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Timeframe-specific.

1. You want your goals to be specific (For example, I want to write 3 white papers on nutrition and well-being)
2. You want to determine how you will measure your success. There can be multiple ways to measure your success. Find the best ways for you and write them down.
3. List the actions that you will take to achieve each step in the process. Will you need others to help you? Do you need to conduct research?
4. Make sure that your goals are realistic. Have you given yourself enough time to accomplish your goals? Have enough knowledge on the subject? Is it within your thought-leadership?
5. Set the timeframe that you want to accomplish your goals. For example, I want to write these 3 white papers in the next 90-days.

Here is a short clip of Personal Brand Guru and Reach Personal Branding Founder, William Arruda, talking about the importance of goal-setting and other ways to set goals.

Personal Branding - Know Your Goals from William Arruda on Vimeo.

One Concept That Will Change Your Life

Why is it that we rarely give ourselves an opportunity to succeed? Think about it for a moment...if you would get out of your own way, what could you accomplish? If you eliminated the word "cannot" from your vocabulary, what COULD you do? If you never uttered another "but" from your lips, where would you be?

There are two questions most people never get around to asking themselves that can change their lives. The first is...What is it that I really want to do? The second...Why am I not doing it?

The first question addresses true passion. Ask yourself this...if money was not an issue...if time was not an issue...if demands on you from others were not an issue...what would you be doing right now? Take yourself through a day in that life. Oddly enough, most people I ask this question of respond with, "I'm not sure. I've never thought about it." Take a minute and think about it! If you truly allow yourself to figure out what is really important to you, it will create a motivation within yourself that no outsider could match!

The second question has to do with getting out of your own way. We are our own worst enemies. When I was younger, I worked with some improv theater and comedy groups. The very nature of improv is that there are really no rules...you go where it takes you. However, to make it work, there is one non-negotiable of improv. You must "yes...and." What that means is if someone on stage with you says, "there's an elephant coming down the hall," you cannot look down the hallway and say, "no there isn't!" Why? Because the scene stops immediately (unless, of course, you are doing a take-off on the wonderful Monty Python "argument clinic" skits!). As a good improver, your job is to say, "that is an elephant...AND he is smoking a tiparillo!" (or perhaps something much more witty that that).

The point is, we do not go through our lives with a "yes...and" attitude. We actually tend to go through life with a "yes...BUT" attitude. The difference? With the first, you are giving yourself permission to move forward. With the latter, you have a great idea and then you immediately jump up and tell yourself why it will never work. You get in your own way. It really is a fascinating exercise to consciously count how many times a day you do this to yourself. If a friend asks you to a party after work, you might say something like, "I'd love to...BUT, I have so much to do at home." Your child might ask you to read a book and you might say,"I will, honey...BUT, first I need to throw some laundry in and load the dishwasher." You might want to join a group of co-workers who walk at lunchtime everyday...BUT, you should eat at your desk and try to get some more work done. Get out of your own way! NO ONE is creating these barriers except yourself.

The moral of the story is this...if you are ever looking for answers outside of yourself, you are not going to find many answers. Start "yes...and"-ing your life. You will never look back!

Professionally, Robin Sacks is an award-winning journalist, award-winning playwright, motivational trainer, speaker, and coach. Personally, Robin is a mom, wife, and friend. You can contact Robin through her website,http://www.waycoaching.com. Favorite quote from this?: "We actually tend to go through life with a "yes...BUT" attitude. The difference? With the first, you are giving yourself permission to move forward." Learn your passions and leverage the gifts that you have. What is Your personal brand?

Personal Branding - 7 Easy Ways to Turbo-Charge Your Online Popularity (Starting Today)

With the explosion of Social Media and 'Attraction Marketing Wannabie's'... Branding Yourself seems to be more difficult to grasp today than ever before. Many Struggling New Network Marketers seem to be falling through the cracks. But don't sulk just yet. You don't have to pour molten lava on your face to be recognized online. (OUCH!) In fact, online branding is simply making a name for yourself. It's easier than you might think to get started.

Here are 7 easy steps to jumpstart your popularity:

1. Choose a Slant. Would you like to be regarded as an old, wise sage who seems to have answers to all those pesky marketing problems? What about a stay-at-home Mom who runs her business effectively, keeps a clean house and STILL manages to take care of 4 kids, 2 dogs and a parrot named 'Pookie'? Could you be a Dad that threw in the corporate towel and now cashes in from home by delivering value to others in a down-to-earth language?...How might 'that' person act? What words would 'they' use on their website and their videos? Once you pick an angle for yourself, keep it in the back of your mind as you build your uniqueness online.
2. Tattoo your name on their brain. Do you have a name others will remember? For instance, when I say brands like "Kleenex" "Band-Aid" or "Vaseline", their products immediately pop in your mind, don't they? Actually, these companies have done such a good job branding their products, their names are more popular than the product itself! (Hint: Have you ever sneezed and asked for a 'facial tissue'? Does your child bloody his knee and request an 'adhesive bandage'? and What the heck is 'petroleum jelly' anyway??)
3. Pick a slogan and live up to it! Actually, a tag-line isn't mandatory...but if you decide to call yourself the 'World's Best Mentor'-you better make sure you inspire your teammates and return those phone calls, eh? Otherwise, your efforts could turn sour and backfire. (Double-OUCH!) I'd suggest you don't toil over it for months. If you want a slogan, just pick a few words that best describe you/your mission/what you represent. No fancy ad agency necessary. Remember-your actions will speak louder than your words anyway...
4. Put your best foot forward. I've never asked my plumber how to get to Heaven, and I won't be hiring my preacher to fix a leaky toilet. Here's the point. Pick your niche (hopefully something you have a knack for) and ACT on it. Even Wal-mart can't be all-things to all-people. You have plenty of strengths that will carry you wherever you want to go. As Mark Victor Hansen says, "Get Rich in Your Niche".
5. Give your best stuff away...for free. When I heard Eben Pagan say this on one of his Mastermind Videos. I thought he was nuts! Let's just say he IS a crazy marketer that over-delivers on value and generates an 8-figure annual income. (Do you think he's on to something?) By default, when you give someone value they can use to improve their lives, AND don't charge upfront-it does a couple things. First, it allows people to trust you. Trust is crucial in building a good relationship...and even though we all use websites and voicemail...it's still very much a relationship business. Second, it VASTLY increases your exposure! Hey, if I show you how to build a website in less than 45 minutes and I don't ask for any money...meanwhile Bozo-the-Clown wants you to pay $47 to download his enormous e-book that essentially says the same thing...who you gonna go with? (I'll let you think about that. Meanwhile...on to step #6);)
6. Feedback and Follow up. Once you have established yourself as you see fit, follow up with some folks and see how your advice (or product or service) worked for them. This will deepen the relationship with your prospect and if you were successful in helping someone...don't be shy to ask for a testimonial. Testimonials will catapult your success.
7. Wash, Rinse, Repeat. Go through the steps again and strive for constant and never-ending improvement during the process. Companies like Coca.Cola have been building their brand for over 100 years, just so you'll crave that 'soft drink in the red cup' when you go to a baseball game.

Remember... the better you are, the more value you bring, the more you can assist others, the more you live up to the name you made for yourself... the better your Brand will be.

Michael Crosby has a Life Passion for getting Like-Minded Entrepreneurs into Profit-Mode Fast. He has dedicated several years learning what works and what doesn't. Before you spend another dime chasing success, Grab his No-Holds-Barred Report Now..."The 13 Little-Known Secrets the Ultra Achievers Aren't Telling You" athttp://www.GlobalResultsNetwork.com

Personal Branding - Do You Know How to Be Successful At Network Marketing?

Do you use a particular brand? Of course you do! An example may be if you order a soda at a restaurant, if they don't have a fer, particular brand you prefer, you may say no thank you, I'll have a water!. You are probably wearing a brand as clothing or driving a brand as a car.. I know plenty of people who will only buy Fords!

We live in a world of brands.. And guess what? You two are brand. It's called "Brand you".. Your brand is what you are personally.. what people say about you when you're not around -negative or positive. You create your brand every day through your actions. You're the head of your own company, CEO, of your very own personal brand, that is completely separate from the company you work for the organization you represent! Your brand is not your company or your product!

A customer, may buy from you because of your company's brands, but they will continue to come back to you because they are loyal to the brand you project. So with all the brands out there and all the competition how do you differentiate your brand? How can you define yourself and be number one in your prospects eyes so they see you as number one? How can you get the brand loyalty of Coke, Pepsi, Microsoft?

Define brand you! What do you want your brand to be? What are your core values and beliefs? What do you stand for? If you can't others- will find it for you! Think about you. If you don't understand you're a brand you will never be able to position yourself for your company as a leader and create your own brand.

So, I want you to forget about where you work, your title or position. What is it about you that makes you unique? Not better than other people, just unique- as you. What do you want to be remembered by? Is there a gap between what you want your brand to be and where it is right now?

Next, create the brand you statement. This acts as a promise to yourself and to your customers. Write a sentence about you that summarizes your core values and beliefs that make you stand out from the competition. Example: I create my own success by learning what I need to learn, then paracticing it until I become prficient at it, then give it back to others! My worth is not defined by the money I make, my joy comes from growing myself and giving to others so they in turn can grow. Your statement has to be authentic and true to you and who you are so you will be able to live it and have others believe it.

-Your statement may clued words like- giving - focused- strong-willed, it doesn't matter what you write as long as you're honest with yourself. Your brand will evolve over time as it takes root and matures. Make it simple, easy to remember and for others to communicate well. Make it relevant and believable to what you do. Your credibility depends on it. Your brand is going to make you different.

Lastly, Build Brand You! How do you build your brand? It starts with your repetition. Do you know what your reputation is, or do you think you know? Does it reflect your personal brand statement? What are people saying about you? You build your repetition by becoming known in your world. This is in addition to your work. Do you interact with people on a daily basis that know your brand? People are always watching. It is our nature to observe others. While we observe others we decide if we like them and if we want to get to know them better based on our perception of their brand.

When you're aware of your brand, you can take action and get yourself noticed. Work different hours to meet different people. Write an Internet blog in your field. Build your network of friends and people who believe in you. People that like you. Find people you like to be around, and when you create this network of supporters they will tell others about you. Word of mouth advertising is powerful!

Pay special attention to people of credibility that could help spread your brand. If you position yourself with credible people you will find your brand growing beyond your reach. You are always brand you. Anything and everything you do associated with brand you is relevant- how you respond to an e-mail, how you treat a server at a restaurant,all this will impact your reputation and your brand.

Everything you choose to do or choose not to do well impact your brand. Stay true to your personal brand based on who you want to be. Not on how much financial gain or power you think will make you happy. Now it is time to start creating the brand-new brand you!

To Our Success,
Julianna Brower

You have read in this article that a marketing system is vital for your success in profitable business. Click on the link now http://www.themlmmarketingmastermind.com to get some insider information people are using to explode their businesses and receive marketing training for free.

Personal Branding Predictions: Top Ten for 2010 | Search Journal

Personal Branding Predictions: Top Ten for 2010 | Search Journal

Every year since William Arruda founded his company, Reach, in 2001, he has made predictions about how the world of personal branding will evolve in the coming year. Here are his top 10 for 2010! (just click on the link above to be connected to the article at SYS-CON Media)

Enjoy Building Your Personal Brand - Branding You

Branding yourself is the same as creating a "business image" and it is the most powerful way to gain advantage over your competitors. Having the advantage can only be done if you have the best, most unique and strongest image that shouts confidence and is wrapped around your personality. Who are you? Do you want to stand out in the crowd? What do you want to be? Get noticed? If you have not considered these thoughts, perhaps, it's time you began to seriously image and focus on developing yourself as a "brand".

Personal branding is about understanding your uniqueness in combination with your rational and emotional attributes - your strengths, skills, values and passions and knowing how to use them to differentiate yourself and guide your career decisions.

With that being said, here are some basic tips to get you on your way:

1. your personality and style; you can brand yourself in just about anything just remember to include your personality and style. Example: a female boutique owner looks and acts like a female boutique owner, right?

2. be original; go the extra mile to be different. People notice originality. It may make the difference in getting more customers than your competitor.

3. be outstanding in a way that makes you stand out; do your best to be the best at something;

4. be subtle and not someone who is looked at as someone who is craving attention;

5. be confident and assertive but not arrogant. Be humble, even if you excel at just about everything this
behavior can be perceived as a jerk.

6. be outstanding in something you really like to do;

Branding is no longer exclusive to companies and products.In a world where everything is branded, you need to think about yourself in the same way. Your branding mission is to "bring out the artist" in you..that which is unique, strong, valuable and marketable.

Are you considering an Internet marketing business or are already doing affiliate marketing and want to collaborate with a special team of remarkable mentors? Please visit the following link to learn more http://networkmarketingstorm.com _________________ Prepare to effectively brand your business in 2010. The Brand Unearthing Phase for Networkers, Coaches, Trainers, Solopreneurs, Consultants, Representatives, and other entrepreneurs and small business owners is available beginning in January 2010 through the Unearth Your Brand Excellence Workbook & E-Course Program. Unearth Your Brand Excellence is a powerful preparatory course to building a brand foundation for your business to set yourself apart from other businesses who seemingly offer the same products and services. In addition, the program is specifically designed to give you the tools to effectively communicate your unique brand promise. Are you ready for brand excellence? More information and updated website coming soon at www.lisahromada.com/

Online Personal Branding - Three Key Ways to Promote Your Expertise Online

Your brand, whether it be your personal brand, or your business brand is a key piece of your business model that is needed to successfully market your business. Once you've created the right brand, promotion is the next step to using your brand to gain the attention you need for your business.

The top three ways to promote your brand are blogging, blogging and blogging. Seriously, blogging is truly important to your business. The top way to make your mark is to name your blog well and then start posting two to three times per week in your area of expertise. A well-branded blog will get you found more easily on the web when potential clients search for information and solutions to their problems that you provide.

Establishing yourself as an expert through your content also extends your brand. This helps to create perceived value, and you will be seen as a leader and expert in your field. You can do this by blogging, writing white papers and using personalization in everything you do. The most important part of this is being consistent and continuing to do this over and over. Blogging is the perfect platform to show and tell your expertise on a regular basis.

White papers, or special reports, are another way to promote your business. You can repurpose blog posts to create your white papers, or use the content from your white paper on your blog. You do not have to reinvent the wheel.

The third area of promotion is through personalization. Be as personal as you can in your business. Create videos talking about your business, providing tips and be as transparent and authentic as possible. Post your videos on your YouTube Channel for wider distribution. Of course, you also want to post your videos on your blog!

Doing these things will help you and your business get noticed. Staying consistent and keeping your blog content fresh is one of the most important aspects of using a blog to promote your business. This helps the search engines to find you and keeps your potential clients and customers up to date and in the know as well as keeping them interested in what you have to offer.

Those who follow your blog will see you as an expert in your area of expertise and will come to you for the information that they need on that particular topic.

You have to remember that blogging is marketing your business so you must make it a priority in your business. Be committed, stick to it, and watch the results that it can deliver for you.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your free instant access to my report on Better Business Blogging so you can learn more valuable tips for extending your brand online with a blog. Visit http://www.betterbizblogging.com

From Denise Wakeman, Founder of The Blog Squad and Online Marketing Advisor.

What Makes Up YOUR Brand?

Your Two-Minute Brand Tip:
What Makes Up YOUR Brand?

Building a strong brand takes time. Even the most successful brands take years to develop…then refine…develop some more…and refine. So, what makes up a brand?

Here is your two-minute tip to building your brand.

• Explore and determine your core values and mission. What do you stand for in your business? Successful brands take a stand.
• Have a compelling story to tell. Why did you start your business? Some people start their business because they were seeking a better quality of life and health, so they found a business where they can enjoy optimum health and quality of life. Sharing your story helps make a connection with your ideal audience.
• Logo mark or word-mark. A logo is a graphic representation or symbol for a company name or product, often uniquely designed for immediate recognition. A word-mark is a logo created from type, such as FEDEX and Oprah.
• Clear, compelling tagline. Does every brand need a tagline? A tagline is useful to conveying what your brand is all about in a few words. The intention is to immediately connect and attract your ideal audience. A tagline is highly recommended, even if you are just personal branding yourself to apply to jobs.
• Build credibility and trust through consistent use of your visual and verbal brand messaging. This includes your colors, typography, images, logo, tagline, etc. Keeping these elements consistent through all of your brand communications is what helps build credibility, recognition, and makes your brand memorable.
• Communication style and reputation with your internal and external clients and vendors. Every interaction that you have online and offline contribute to your brand development. When building your brand, you always want to ensure that you are communicating in the way that you want your brand to be known.
• Build your professional biography and resume. An updated biography and resume is not just used for landing a job, it’s also utilized to attract clients and quality partners.

How does your brand compare?

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Article featured in the Hromada Brand Newsletter. Subscribe with Lisa Hromada at www.lisahromada.com and get a free e-book gift*

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Is your brand not up to par? We are about the change all that!
Rev-up for brand distinction beginning in 2010!

The Unearth Your Brand Excellence program is expected to arrive by the New Year. The Unearth Your Brand Excellence is a powerful preparatory course to building a brand foundation for your business to set you apart from competitors who seemingly offer the same products and services. In addition, the program is specifically designed to give you the tools to effectively communicate your unique brand promise. Are you ready for brand excellence?

Check out www.lisahromada.com for details coming soon

Where to Begin Discovering Your Personal Brand

The unique way in which you make a contribution to the world relates to your overall ‘personal brand.’ Your 'personal brand' relates to what you do both personally and professionally. It's about bringing your natural character and talents into your business to make it more profitable and compelling. A positive personal brand is partly about doing what you enjoy and the value that you provide to others through your work. I meet many people who desire to make a difference and provide a better life for themselves and their family.

They usually feel that they have to do something ‘big’ in order to make a difference, whether it be making a difference in another individual or making a difference in the prosperity of their business, but in fact, many of the smallest actions in life and in your business for the benefit of others is what contributes to making the biggest differences. If it weren’t for all of the ‘little’ things that people do each day through their business, there would be no ‘big’ discoveries or advancements. I enjoy the aspects of personal branding and what it brings to others who are in the process of discovering and growing their personal brand excellence. It is an empowering feeling to do your life’s work in the excellence of who you are and not who you think that others want you to be. This brings me to what is personal branding.

One can begin to discover their personal brand by identifying what are their unique gifts, strengths, characteristics, and the passions they have in your professional and personal life. By going through the process of identifying these characteristics and defining your personal brand, you can create a compelling identifiable personality for your business, package your services and products more effectively and attract more of your ideal clients. Doesn't everyone want to stand out from others who offer the same types of products and services? Of course! Personal branding can help you stand out from others as well as give your business immediate and positive recognition in the eyes of your ideal clients.

Take the first step.

Figure out precisely what you want, how you are going to accomplish what you want, what steps that you need to take, and who was going to help you when you need help (don’t do it all yourself; you may burnout). To help organize your thoughts, write each one of these categories on a piece of paper and explore the answers.

What do I want for my business? What do I currently offer and what additional things do I want to offer in the future?

What steps do I need to take in order to accomplish what I want?

Who can help me with the specific things that I want to accomplish if I need help?

Also, open yourself up to seeing opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Once you know what you want and ways that you can accomplish what you want, you may find it easier to see opportunities that may be beneficial to you when they arise. Examples of opportunities may include opportunities of marketing your services better or opportunities for attracting more of your ideal clients. Taking the first steps to identifying your personal brand may take much inner exploration, but it can be well worth the time that you spend. I know you can make some great discoveries once you get started toward defining your personal brand for your business! Once you are able to identify the unique characteristics of your personal brand, you can utilize these characteristics in the marketing of your brand so that you are better able to attract more of your ideal clients and stand out from others who offer similar products and services.



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

Why Have a Personal Brand

"A strategically designed brand builds credibility in the eyes of your audience and the public at large."

A personal brand helps you to stand out from others and attract more of your ideal clients. Personal branding is about finding and leveraging your unique characteristics and talents in your business. There may be many people who offer the same types of services as you, but it is the unique flavor that you bring to your business that makes your clients and the public want to do business with you. The visual and verbal elements of your brand will create a substantial impression in the mind of your clients and the public at large. The wonderful thing about design, and what you will find as we work together, is that certain colors, shapes, images, and typography can be a determining factor for whether a person is going to buy or do business with you. Your clients want to feel something when they see and interact with your brand. Colors, graphics, photography, and typography have a lot to do with that.

My focus is on helping entrepreneurs and small business professionals build on their natural strengths, develop a strong brand and market their business most efficiently, by providing the tools that I have found most effective in the marketing of products and services, both online and offline. With a little inspiration and creativity, you can take control of your business success and reclaim what belongs to you - your freedom.

Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

The Journey of Self Discovery and Self Development

Taking personal responsibility for the direction of our lives is what self development is about. To be able to do a self assessment of our lives and the reasons why we are not happy takes honesty and lots of soul searching. Depending on where you are in your life, and what you are looking to achieve, (happiness, inner peace, success or better relationships), the process can take five minutes or five hours or maybe somewhere in between.

Self development is about taking the necessary action to create the life you want. It is not something that can be achieved without practice, persistence and lots of work. Life is about developing and changing to meet the different circumstances that are presented on a daily basis. Learning from the lessons that have created pain and then being able to recognise when the same situation or circumstance arises again is valuable to our own development of becoming and a better person.

Often when there are things that have happened in our lives that have created memories that keep flashing back, it is easy to forget the reasons why we have embarked on a journey of self discovery. Those memories can trigger unpleasant thoughts that make it difficult to put a plan into place to change and develop our lives the way we want them to be.

It may appear as being hard work having to develop a new way of thinking and being. The rewards of having the persistence to keep persevering at the challenge of creating a new life is well worth the effort. The process involves a number of elements. Planning, developing and then creating are just three. The commitment for the rest of our lives to always be ready to embrace change is a major focus of self development.

The benefits appear in all aspects of our lives. Our relationships with other people improve. The environment that we work can become a better place to be because of the shift in our own attitudes. Perhaps the most important and significant improvement will be how we feel about ourselves. The progress in the level of our self esteem and self confidence will shine through when we don't allow other people to put us down or treat us badly.

This is all part of the journey of self discovery when we embark on self development - start thinking about where you are at in your life and you have started on the journey!

The Challenge of Happiness guides through a step by step process towards living a balanced and happy life. Tracey Mulry will be your life success coach and help you boost your self esteem, become a positive person, maintain healthy relationships, overcome stress, learn to relax and remove negative emotions from your life. Take the online course today and live a happy life! Tracey Mulry is an extraordinary individual who is now a success and happiness strategiest, author, inspirational Australian, motivational speaker. Tracey guides you towards finding your true happiness through her life skills and wealth of experience. From the lowest of the low now soaring to new heights of self esteem, Tracey and her program can help you achieve your goals. http://www.challengeofhappiness.com Read My Blog: http://www.thechallengeofhappiness.com.au/_blog/Traceys_Blog

What is Personal Branding and Do I Really Need It?

Everywhere I turn lately, the term Personal Branding is being hailed as THE way for small businesses to gain the upper hand from their competitors, and from ungainly corporations. It certainly seems to be the latest 'buzz' term being used to spruce up some of yesterday's marketing ideas.

I'll admit that the two words roll off the tongue rather nicely. Personal Branding sounds both intimate and corporate at the same time. But what is it and do you need to know about it?

Personal Branding is important
You may believe that you don't need to worry about personal branding. I disagree. Whether you are a sole trader or you have staff, the vision and the values behind the business are yours. And yours is the face that people see and associate with your business.

Remember that people don't buy from company logos, brochures or websites; they buy from people whom they've got to know, like and trust. In other words, they buy from YOU.

Web 2.0 is full of opportunity
Just a few short years ago it was very expensive to have a website built. Now, every small business can have a presence on the internet at no financial outlay at all! They used to be very technical and full of geeky mystique, that's no longer the case either. The internet isn't going away, it's evolving at a rapid pace.

The online social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Forums, etc.) are full of business owners who are building visibility and establishing themselves online. They're building their personal brands. I've been on Twitter since April 2008 and have seen for myself the number of UK small businesses joining literally exploding since the beginning of 2009! They've realised that they need to take part.

It's just another way of marketing
If you go to networking meetings, (and I hope you do because it's a very important marketing activity!) you'll probably see some of the same people over a period of time. And I expect you've noticed that certain people seem to be everywhere! Based on what happens each time you see them, you'll gradually form an opinion about the type of person they are and what their business is about. As they will about you! That's personal branding. What networking online does is to put that process on steroids!

In this economy you can't afford to be invisible
If you need more clients (or more business from your current clients) then you already know you need to be actively marketing and getting your name and message out there often. That's personal branding. Your clients are very selective in what they spend their money on, especially now, so you need to use every weapon in your marketing armoury to make sure they spend it with you. And they won't do that if they don't hear from you. They'll spend their money on someone who is more visible and who makes the most noise (ie. Who is building their brand). That could be your competitor.

Are you really going to stand by and let that happen? I didn't think so!

Build your Personal Brand and get more business

• Make sure your message is consistent - on all your marketing materials AND on the internet.
• Plan a campaign to *pull* people in to become your clients
• Be seen often, in many places and by lots of potential clients
• Build your credibility as a specialist in what you do

Take action now!

© Louise Barnes-Johnston, 2009

Louise Barnes-Johnston is a Business Accelerator, popular speaker, trainer and qualified Coach with over 10 years experience in small business marketing offline and online. She shows entrepreneurs, sole-traders and owners of established businesses exactly how to move up to the next level and achieve what really matters to them. If you liked this article, you'll love the free e-book "10 Ways to Boost Your Business: How to get the stuff that really matters to you!" You can download it now from http://www.frontline-results.com and get access to practical advice and marketing ideas to move your business forward.

Thought Leaders - Using Article Marketing To Entrench Yourself and Your Personal Brand

A "Thought Leader" is someone recognized as an authority in their field of expertise...also known as a visionary. Few people set out to become a "thought leader" or "guru," but there is good reason to not only establish yourself as an expert, but as a higher-level expert or "thought leader" for your market.

How can you become a "thought leader" for your niche or industry?

Besides risk-taking, leading a company that leads an industry, being vocal in your own blog and posting comments on other blogs & top industry forums within your niche... the easy answer to saturate the market is via the use of syndicated articles!

Here's a mini-course on how to get started to build your own "thought leadership" following via submissions of EzineArticles:

QUANTITY: You'll need more than 100 articles to really do this right, and as you approach the 500-1,000 article level, you'll be closer to reaching a saturation point that builds a buzz around your name, your ideas, your articles and your expert opinions.

Could you influence a market with 1 or 2 articles? Nope. Can you do it with 10-50 articles? Perhaps 10 years ago you could. Today's market is very competitive and as such, you need to do more than 'what everyone else does' if you want to stand out and get to the top, especially if you're in a niche that is very popular already.

QUALITY: You want to use your articles to communicate your single-minded focus as the expert of your niche. This means quality articles, very little babble, and 1 or 2 links in the resource box that must reinforce your expertise and personal brand. This is not the time to be an affiliate marketer.

Example: If you want people to take your Digital Photography business seriously, you can't post a Geocities, Tripod, etc. junk URL in your article resource box...but rather, you must post a domain name that you own that further solidifies the unity of your message. Also, leave out domains that you own that have nothing to do with the purpose of the article you're writing.

Note: Quality does not mean high word-count quantity. Best if you keep your word-count in the 250-500 words per article so that you can achieve a high article count. A 500-word article performs the same as a 5,000-word article, so why give the marketplace more than they can absorb in an easy reading? Today's reader "scans" rather than deliberately reading every word of your articles.

CONTROVERSY: Unlike other article writing reasons, when you write to achieve market "thought leadership" status, you must stir up the market by taking some gray issues and make them black and white. This is a good opportunity to take current events and provide your expert analysis and support reasons why certain issues are good or bad for the market, economy, world, etc.

CONSISTENCY: Using article marketing or putting your hundreds of articles into distribution is not a one-shot Charlie routine, but rather it's a drum you begin beating and every week for a few years you pound your article submission drums louder and louder.

It pays to create a burst of submissions (50-250) when you initially start, and then taper off to 10-100 new submissions per month until you reach a market saturation point that you feel puts your voice, your brand, your articles at the front of the pack.

PROMOTION: Once you put your articles into distribution via the various article directories, ezine publishers, and specialty web directories of your niche - the next step is to promote them further by using them to establish credibility as you participate in forums, blog comments, your own blog/online journal, and your email newsletter.

"Thought Leadership" via Syndicated Articles Conclusion:

It is possible to take the net by storm to position yourself as a 'thought leader' via putting hundreds and thousands of your articles into distribution. Within 6-18 months, you can become known as a "thought leader" in your niche if you'll do what no one else is doing and in a volume/quality that no one else had done to date for your niche. There is time and you can do it. Go for it! :-)

About The Author: Christopher M. Knight invites you to submit your best quality original articles for massive exposure to the high-traffichttp://EzineArticles.com/ expert author community. When you submit your articles to EzineArticles.com, your articles will be picked up by ezine publishers who will reprint your articles with your content and links intact giving you traffic surges to help you increase your sales. To submit your article, setup a membership account today:http://EzineArticles.com/submit/ (c) Copyright - Christopher M. Knight. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Online Personal Branding - Three Key Ways to Promote Your Expertise Online

Your brand, whether it be your personal brand, or your business brand is a key piece of your business model that is needed to successfully market your business. Once you've created the right brand, promotion is the next step to using your brand to gain the attention you need for your business.

The top three ways to promote your brand are blogging, blogging and blogging. Seriously, blogging is truly important to your business. The top way to make your mark is to name your blog well and then start posting two to three times per week in your area of expertise. A well-branded blog will get you found more easily on the web when potential clients search for information and solutions to their problems that you provide.

Establishing yourself as an expert through your content also extends your brand. This helps to create perceived value, and you will be seen as a leader and expert in your field. You can do this by blogging, writing white papers and using personalization in everything you do. The most important part of this is being consistent and continuing to do this over and over. Blogging is the perfect platform to show and tell your expertise on a regular basis.

White papers, or special reports, are another way to promote your business. You can repurpose blog posts to create your white papers, or use the content from your white paper on your blog. You do not have to reinvent the wheel.

The third area of promotion is through personalization. Be as personal as you can in your business. Create videos talking about your business, providing tips and be as transparent and authentic as possible. Post your videos on your YouTube Channel for wider distribution. Of course, you also want to post your videos on your blog!

Doing these things will help you and your business get noticed. Staying consistent and keeping your blog content fresh is one of the most important aspects of using a blog to promote your business. This helps the search engines to find you and keeps your potential clients and customers up to date and in the know as well as keeping them interested in what you have to offer.

Those who follow your blog will see you as an expert in your area of expertise and will come to you for the information that they need on that particular topic.

You have to remember that blogging is marketing your business so you must make it a priority in your business. Be committed, stick to it, and watch the results that it can deliver for you.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your free instant access to my report on Better Business Blogging so you can learn more valuable tips for extending your brand online with a blog. Visit http://www.betterbizblogging.com From Denise Wakeman, Founder of The Blog Squad and Online Marketing Advisor.