Branding Yourself. Presenting Professionally.

Not only is it for "looking good" it is also for getting the word out. People remember "Cool Company Name" more than they remember Joe Smith. You eventually want word of mouth referrals. People are likely to refer a fellow business owner to a "trusted" brand vs a guy he met that does SEO.

If you are doing local SEO, try having your business card and letter heads done by a local company. Remember, all the other local businesses are also using them for their business cards and letterheads so there are some real connections if you get as much of your business needs done local, as well.

@Charles

Your hitting the nail on the head saying about remembering. This is the whole beauty of branding. May I ask how you brand yourself?

@Luis

That's a fantastic example. You really pointed out something saying about having a face to look at. It creates a relationship in your mind without even knowing it. If they see your name they instantly think of your face for probably most of their lives.

Branding has it's own science, it's own formulas that WORK.

Great idea with putting your face on your website too. Not only does this help you put a name to a face, it help's you build TRUST. You know by seeing an authentic photo of someone they are for real about what they do and take pride in showing people who is behind what the company stands for.

Logo's, what is a company without one? I'll tell you.. NOTHING. It may as well just be a made up name. The moment you put a logo on that name, it's an IMAGE. And images stick in peoples imagination.

It depends on your situation.

When I meet with clients I dress accordingly. Today it was dress paints and a dress shirt. I throw on a nice pair of shoes (even when wearing nice jeans) and I have a little bling on as well (a high end watch, wedding ring, etc).

Of course I shave and shower and my hair is well cut.

Hell I've even started tanning to help this super white skin improve (ok actually it's because I am going to Mexico on business next month and don't want to get sunburned).

You feel like you dress, you dress like you feel.

This also carries over to briefcase, laptop, car, etc.

Tim

Branding is critical. This defines how much you can charge a client. This also defines what market you're targeting.

For meeting clients, rule of thumb is you should always overdress.

If you plan on being in this business for the long haul I think building a brand should be one of your biggest priorities. Your brand should be represented in everything you do website, business cards, wardrobe, how you interact with customers etc.

Amir that is an awesome name for a marketing biz nice work!!

I could show you something right here on this thread about branding that would BLOW YOUR MIND! But Im afraid I'd hijack your thread!

Cant do it bro, it would blow my mystique ( I have that right... kinda bald dr spok lookin freak like mystique, no?). As much as I love sharing every good thing that comes my way, and helping others learn... certain secrets you dont tell publicly.... yaknowhutumsayin...?

Its right in front of your eyes though!

@Ewen, I've just made myself a coffee and read your lawnmower story. The quote, "First seek to understand" is VERY true in any business related scenario. Selling or not.

You really seem to know your industry. I'd love to learn more about your history?

Branding having BITE. I love that, there certainly is a difference between branding that looks good and branding that BITES.

You've made an excellent point Ewen and thanks for your post. I think it's really going to show people what it's more about.

Branding isn't anything without the willingness to use that branding to it's FULL POTENTIAL and PUSH PUSH PUSH IT.

One clue, its right in front of you.... but thats not the mind blowing part, if you figure the first part out... Maybe tomorrow... Sure I will share... if it will inspire someone.

The internet?

I'm clueless.

I'm subscribing to my OWN thread now lol..

As a designer, I get different jobs day in and out..

I've just had to design some more oyster wallets. I do tons of these.

If you don't know what they are, they are used for the London Underground to keep your Oyster Card in.

Just a thought for anyone living that way..

Hi Anti,

Branding one's company is the key to influencing a memorable response in the minds of your audience. It gives your clients a perceived value of your organization.

Here are just a few things you can do to help brand your business.

Develop a mission statement that shows your reason for being and the value you provide to your customers.

Develop a memorable tagline

Write and issue press releases to the media, to your website, and directly onto the internet

Get known for your niche expertise in forums, and teach, speak, and write for your specific industry

Those are just a few things you can do to get your business out there. See you on the inside Dana

Video marketing, people!

Any MAJOR player will tell you to brand... if you plan on being anything more than just one of the guys who picks up scraps under the radar.

Any discount store that hasnt worked on their branding, can still succeed, but they are only succeeding off of walmarts scraps.

Still.... the scrap market can be good. I mean sure PPCWARRIOR123 can get a ppc consulting client here or there... BUT the MAJOR FLOW OF THEM GOTO Perry Marshall!!!!!

Let me show you the day my sig started doubling sales.

I also want to show you how I "INTENTIONALLY" and "DELIBERATELY" set out to set myself up as the WF's Telemarketing expert...

Yes INTENTIONAL AND DELIBERATE, thats what WE ALL are capable of doing!

This will show you that you do have some CONTROL, and you CAN take it!

Look here, this was the day , and even the MOMENT it happened on live WF cam!!!!

The day I decided to let my 10 years of brick and morter call center experience serve me, and establish me as an authority!

No use bein one if nobody knows it right?

What is the point I am about to make.... You can DECIDE to stake your claim at the moment you DECIDE to. You see, I was always a telemarketing expert, but THIS IS THE VERY MOMENT, that I decided I was going to capitalize on it.... and the result of this very moment has been $50,000 in sales of telemarketing training reports...

Dont tell me I cant decide my own destiny. Right down to the FINITE nuances!

Right here baby! And this is what we teach at TMF, that resulted from this moment "Carpe Diem"!

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...file-name.html

There was the amazing secret.... that its Y-O-U who decides what and who you are and what you will be perceived as, and known for...and where you will set your boundries!

I got his revelation from being smart enough to listen to people like Paul Myers, instead of inventing my own classic wisdom, I went with the wisdom of the ancients which says "Brand".

No major thinking on my part, just mimicking success.

Power baby, control. I took it in this thread link above, as I have many other times in my life, and Im telling you that if YOU dont. Its your own fault.

So on Ewens point.

There are alot of people who sell reports on WF on telemarketing, but IM THE TELEMARKETING GUY!!!!

I disagree, that branding does have advantages over not branding, because whenever the subject of telemarketing comes up they send people to ME... so I get more business.

Elementary!

Warning: Yes brand yourself if you have value, and experience to offer, but if you dont,and it would be easy for a true pro to knock you off your horse, then DONT; hide under the radar. You are safer there.

Its not about hype. I really have the years of running the telemarketing rooms.... branding yourself if you cant back it up is sure disaster, but if you CAN then its the very best way to get your market share.

I share this knowledge with you, even though I know some will stop buying reports after they read it... the point of sharing it though is not cockiness... its to say that "While others hide how they got where they are... too keep you looking up to them... I would rather show you EVERYTHING, and bring you up with ME so we can look out over the land together....and help others get here too".

Ps. I have no idea why this subject is in offline section... it applies to the general discussion very well.

pps. Alot of people would try to hide things like I just shared with you, or BURY the thread which revealed the day they transformed from a peon to a brand...

But I didnt get here by hiding my secrets. I got here by SHARING THEM!!!!!!!

Okay, as a person that probably reads way to much, John, I have to ask have you read Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado? It talks about this very thing. But, alas, I have a good idea I "know" my spot, but getting paid for it I haven't figured out.

And, Anti, I get what both you and the other side are saying. In fact, Ewen, I once helped my husband in a lawn business and we impressed the heck out of people just by actually showing up when we said we would. But, we also had "company" shirts too :-) I'd say the biggest thing was just showing up on time and doing what we said we would AND appearing professional.

I dont think Branding is neccessary, but it can be very helpful. Also alot of responsibility because you have to live up to it.

Im just tryin to have some fun... its been a long serious day! Hopefully for those who ARE at the place of branding, some of these posts will help!

Actually though now that you mention it, a major telemarketing tactic is to say "Im with XYZ____ , you have probably heard of us..." and then move on, it plants subliminal seeds.

Its a textbook tactic to make the prospect assume they should know you, even if they dont. It works.

I can tell you this much, if you are gonna brand yourself you BETTER know your stuff... Alot of people can sell reports under the RADAR... really , and they do everyday.... But if you are gonna brand yourself and say "Im The Wordpress Guy. I am the word press Authority"... then haters are gonna come from everywhere and try to make you look like an idiot...

It happens to retail chains insurance companies...they all have to make a statement

WE are Allstate, and We are the best
We are Kmart and we are the best
We are Fender and we are the best
We are Chrysler and we are the best...

My first month of intentionally branding myself as the 'Telemarketing Guy' everysingle day another hater would come out to play, and I proved i was the Telemarketing Mike Tyson... lol Now nobody messes with me aproximately 100 newby success stories later. Its okay, I enjoy being underestimated. It was the best part of being a telemarketing champ.

I dont say that egotistically, in REALITY thats what you have to do... commercials slam other commercials... companies ad campaigns slam other companies... You can operate under the radar without proving your metal but if you want to brand you have to prove your authority in many debates.

But guess what, the little unbranded guys under the radar can write reports about 20 different subjects they they know nothing about... and get away with it, and the haters dont mess with them.

When you set out to BRAND, be ready to fight. Know your stuff. At least that was my experience.

Wow, this is the hardcore reality right here.

Lastly,

I dont take part in the slamming. People come out with telemarketing reports every 5 minutes now and I could care less... I dont slam, but I WILL fight.

Branding happens whether you do it on purpose or not.

If you do it on purpose, you leverage it to work in your advantage.

"perception" may be a good substitute word to illustrate what I mean by my first sentence.

In addition...I don't know that Charlie Munger is really a good example to defend non-branding. He owns shares in companies who exert great amounts of energy into branding themselves and their subsidiaries. Charlie Munger isn't selling Charlie Munger to the public.

In his own upper circles and associations however, he is regarded, or refered to in certain ways and for certain expertise. People do business with him for a reason.
In that circle of people...his "warrior forum"...he undoubtedly has gone through the same evolving process amongst his peers as John D has. It was branding.

I agree with Ewan that delivering can get you places...and good places...I think maybe it can only get you so far....like there is another level ready and waiting. Personally I am increasingly acutely aware that I don't brand well

DP

@ Anti

You touched on something important

BRANDING SHOWS THAT YOU ARE RELIABLE!!!

@ Ewen

I am not exactly sure what Charles Munger Does, however, you are correct that with some business branding isnt necessary... like for instance if you are a real estate investor, money talks, not branding. If you are a stock investor... you can quietly make millions and never meet a soul or have anyone know your name...

However if you are a stock brokerage then Yeah having a name means something. people invest millions with you.

Am I bragging in this thread saying "Look I made a name for myself"....?

Not so much... Im more HUMBLING myself to you, and taking you back with me to the humble, intimate moment of inspiration when something rose up and when I decided to do that, brand myself... to show you that you can do it just the same.

honestly, trust me it doesnt help my image to show you that right here in front of this audience, but I trust the natural laws, and all is appropriate. Why, if I am going to give you something, should it be anything other the BEST truth...pure and undilluted?

A better question: Why would OTHERS give you the tip of the ice berg but not the deep truth that makes them money?

Because they dont believe in the natural laws... and they have a scarcity mindset. They are afraid that if too many people know the truth of how to make money off your sig, then there will be lack... not true.

Not true at all.

The truth is, the more people advertise the more search engine traffic is drawn to WF and thats good for EVERYONE!!!!

Small minds... its a pity. Sharing success tips unabashedly is good for everyone period!

Dang Ewen. I want the words to that ad, and the message on the machine por favor!

I think some IM folks have their fingers in too many pots to properly brand themselves. You're not gonna see Starbucks selling shoes, radios, gym equipment all at the same time.

Wal-mart is a brand that sells a bit of everything, but the key to branding is consistency. Consistency across product lines, consistency in message, consistency in appearance. Wal-mart is cheap. They're never gonna sell high end sportscars.

Presenting a good image has little do to with *branding*.

LOL - you KNOW I had to go back and fix that glaring typo just because you said that. Not going to fix the rest because now I don't feel like reading what I wrote again....

But - had I known that, I would have fully edited it and sent it to you with the bill. Next time I write a long post, I'll send it to you with a bid before I post it in the forum.

You like "organic branding"? PM me and find out how to get me to give it to you. LOL. I might as well pretend to be a marketer for a few minutes.

Indeed, this is the magic of the warrior forum.... Hmmm... JD work with with HeySal?

Wow. How appropriate is that. Something primal is a brewin....

I was actually reading a book this morning on this topic.

What a coincidence?

Having your own personal website showing your expertise
certainly doesn't hurt. Soon people will be finding you and
trying to hire you, buy a service, etc.

I also have heard Linkedin profiles help a lot with the rep
part. Having a picture of yourself at the beach or sunbathing
simply isn't professional enough for having it as a linkedin profile.
The book said to wear professional clothes when taking a picture
for your linkedin profile.

I just read it this morning and closed it quickly because it was
mostly commonsense.

Wow guys.. just WOW.

That's all I can say about the response I have had to this thread.

So many new ideas have come into my head just from the reply's here and I'm sure the same goes for anyone who has come to this thread, even if they just read it and left.

Organic Branding, I LOVE THAT. What an amazing way to completely rethink the way you brand.

Thank you Sal.

@ John

Don't worry about the Hijacking lol I wanted this thread to help people. It's certainly doing it's job!

I love what you said about the big dogs.. Unless you can deliver just as much and if not MORE, then your marketing doesn't matter, it's like you said.. you will lose customers just as quick as you gain them.

Taking the KimW project as an example again, it's brand is within the name. You just KNOW your going to get SO MUCH out of it because of the NAMES. Because all that ORGANIC branding has already evolved and will guarantee the quality.

I'm lost for words on what to add. So many nails have been hit on the head.

Thank you all.

Dialogue "Evolving"... is what makes all this discussion worthwhile. A thought given enough energy thrown at it, becomes dense to the point where it cannot help but manifest into something tangible...

BIG TIME LESSON THERE.

Ewen, apparently you're missing the point that providing good service or a good product like you did in your story. You built your brand. Not by overtly branding yourself, doing it through results.

Branding comes in many different shapes. Halbert did his own branding by having results, once people heard about the results, his results became associated with the brand of Halbert.

If you're just starting out as a company, you wouldn't put your name all over your ads. That is just idiotic. You would offer your service, do better than everyone else, focus on the pain points, and do it ALL while saying you're from XYZ company/media/Inc. or whatever your name is.

Overtly branding yourself, or covertly branding yourself. You are branding yourself (or your company).

Branding is important. It always has been and always will be. Because once you are known for something, people are going to start coming to you for that one thing. In your case study, it was being able to alleviate all the pain points, which gave you a brand within a community of people who needed your services.

John is right. He played his strengths+results and became known as being associated with those strengths+results.

You played your strengths+results and became known for those.

People came to both of you in different niches, because of your brand, which as the association attached to it of your results.

Sorry Ewen, you lost me on the no branding, because all you did was demonstrated how to build a proper brand and how not to build a brand in this thread through various examples.

Branding is essential. For my Local SEO business, everything is full-fledged. You need to make sure the customer will remember your company and at the same time you need to look professional. Also, I always make it seem like we are a big organization, even though it only consists of me and 5-6 assistants. Depending the who/what you are targeting, they are willing to spend big money as long as they know it is going to put to good use.

Sent you a PM Ewen.

Let me know.

Every so often I come across a thread that just blows me away. This thread is one of them!

More can be learned from this thread about 'branding' than what is taught over an entire semester in college.

Thank you John, Ewan, Kay and everyone else for so openly sharing your knowledge and expertise!!!

If I learnt anyone from this thread it's this..

Be ahead of your game. Never stray off track. ALWAYS provide the best, no matter what.
Never get caught off-guard. Be the one out of the rest of the pack that really deliver.

I guess I've learnt that while an amazing website.. an amazing logo.. ALL HELP. And are worth getting in my opinion.. They aren't a necessity.

The main thing I will take away from this is to concentrate on just being the best. If something isn't working, try another tactic. Not another web design.

Thanks for everybody's input. If there is any leftovers that are yet to be eaten, I'm sure our minds can fit a bit more in..

This is a interesting topic. Seeing that I'm involved in a number of different industries, my branding in each is also different. For instance, in security research I did absolutely no branding. I got my clients through some publicity and word of mouth.

Now not all business models will work like that, but it is something to think about and maybe could be applied to your field of interest. There are many ways to brand, it's all about how the word gets out.

There's that old say, "Even bad publicity is still publicity" so word is still spreading and putting your name in front of people. As for the bad publicity, that would depend on how you handle it. If you handle it in a good, or creative way, that could work out great for you.

Branding is a must in business. In my case, I try hard to Brand my name.

Bernard St-Pierre

If I remember correctly, this is the thread where someone bashed branding because of their professionalism.

I was thinking to myself...

When I owned a Window Cleaning Company that focused on high end residential....

I was actually combining both without even knowing it.... I just know I needed to do the best possible marketing if I was going to build a solid business. Taking the cue of a local furniture store that has grown from a small $30,000 per month outfit that grew into the 250,000,000 per month outfit it is today... I spent 20% of all gross income on marketing.

This included...yes.. that's right... Branding.

My picture, name, and Logo was on EVERYTHING. Even my vehicles.

But... I think what may have helped alot... professionalism.

Everyone was required to where a polo style high end logo embroidered uniform shirt and kakhi pants or cargo shorts that were the same style and color.

Uniformity speaks to your brand. If there are uniforms, it says that I am clean in thought and organized, giving the impression of "taking care of business".

When giving an estimate it always had a cover letter explaining exactly what we were going to do, and how we are going to do it. And because there was a system in place. It always went that way. That in itself was impressive and garnered a LOT of referrers.

The next page of the letter was a testimonials page from past clients with phone numbers.

The final page was photo shop Estimate that had a picture of their home, a picture of me and my logo, three features and benefits, a solid risk free guarantee, a price option, a testimonial, a thank you for consideration, a reason to act within 30 days, and reasons to hire our company over the rest - plus their contact info and mine with a call to action.

Pretty much everything one could fit on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper to put their mind at ease and get them to pick up the phone and make set the time.

Everytime the phone was answered it was scripted.

"Thank you for calling White Glove Window Cleaning, How may I be of service?"

The same way... everytime. It was part of my brand. Just like having the same Ford Ranger trucks with the same ladder racks... and the same style of ladders and uniformed clean cut employees.

When we left the premises, we always left it clean, no evidence that we were even there except sparkling clean windows.

Then... The invoice had pretty much the same information as the estimate. The invoice was a marketing piece to offer the "route" service discount. As well as ask for referrals.

So I was able to gain repeat appointments from most of the clients booked and their friends and family would call shortly thereafter.

After the invoice and collecting a check or credit card we would get in the truck and write out a thank you card. Making sure to mention something that was personal and talked about during the work. So it was made extra personal. Inside the "thank you card" it was required to place two business cards. (viral marketing principal pre-internet) At the end of the day, there was always a trip to the post office. ensuring fast delivery and further proof that we were "on top of" our business.

I guess what I am getting at...

EVERYTHING we do... is Branding. Everything We Do... is MARKETING.

As a direct result of the extra steps to ensure customer satisfaction, uniformity, branding, and marketing - when the economy went bad.... I only lost 5% of my customer base, and I raised my prices annually.

I was the newest, and most expensive window cleaning company in the area.

But also one of the most successful.

Why?

Branding. Every step of the sales and service process was BRANDING my name, my service, and my company.

There is SOOOOO much more to branding than a logo.

Well ..

I Own a company named EPROBE .

its Really Cool .. But when i think of Branding is kinda hard to think of it ..

Well The Most imp think is the Company Logo ..

its the thing that makes this site unique then others.

No .. I mean not just a logo for a branding ..

Its like .... Just a nut in a bowl ..

there are a lot of other aspects i have tried for it.

two words here people.

TONY ROBBINS.

that guy and his name has been branded, and even when he dies, people will still know tony robbins.

I think that only 0.1% of the population can do this, but if you can do this, the money will roll in very fast just off your name.

Good point Celente...

Him and Bill Gates...

But Bill didn't try and brand himself. He just did by default when he made history and changed the world.

Enjoyed the discussion on branding. Have to say I'm with Doran and others.

If you take Wikipedia as a source, "A brand is the identity of a specific product, service, or business". Branding is the process of developing that identity and protecting it through trademarking and copyright.


"Identity" is nothing more than unique or recognizable characteristics by which you become known.

We each create our own identity in every interaction. Whether we're a rough-looking lawnmower man who turns up for the job and focusses on providing solutions to pain points or we're an expert in a specific field and we suit up and declare ourselves to be 'the man' or we write cheap and basic ads that get results through compelling offers. Each is creating a 'brand' in terms of the perception he/she creates in the minds of others. Whether that's polished or not is simply a matter of how you want to be perceived based on what works best for you and what you feel comfortable with.

So, to argue "i don't have a brand' is in reality defunct. It's like saying 'I have no reputation or image at all' in which case you would be invisible.

Just my 2 cents after a sleepless night!

Well all I can say is..

When I have raised enough cash to buy my first printer I'm opening a print shop up in town and I will certainly be taking this entire thread to bed with me every night when I start up.

Don't forget though guys, the same goes to any online business, service or even an ebay shop.