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My Story Marketing, Self Branding?

by sdentrepreneur
12 replies
How do you feel about branding yourself instead of your product? Many courses teach this method to establish yourself as a leader in your industry. What I have seen is that most people want to make money online and be successful but aren't quite ready for the spotlight.

What is your opinion on using this method to be successful online?
#branding #marketing #story
  • Profile picture of the author sainteve21
    I believe that the larger percentage of successful people have (eventually) presented themself as a 'brand' whether by their own self-promotion or a PR machine (thinking outside IM - eg Richard Branson, Donald Trump etc etc) and that for a lot of people trying to become successful this can be an uncomfortable position to be in

    I certainly have no problems promoting myself and my ethics
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohammad Afaq
    All the successful marketers brand themselves and not their products (mainly).

    I didn't by List Control because it was an awesome $1997 product. I bought it because it's by Frank Kern. I also didn't buy Butterfly Marketing because it was an amazing product, I bought it because Mike Filsaime was the seller.

    And the list goes on and on and I know that many people in here are just like me.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    James, in my opinion you are better off to brand your product and attach your name to that product. You can always change products but you can not always change your name.

    Maybe sometime down the road you want to sell off your product... Kind of hard to do when you brand yourself and you have James Hickey's XX Product. But if you brand the product itself then no big deal as your name is only attached to it but not branded with it.

    You can always create new products... Just something to think about.

    James
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    • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
      Awesome points James, I am close to doing that. I give away much of my knowledge with free training. Time to start packaging?
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    • Profile picture of the author jennypitts
      Originally Posted by TheRichJerksNet View Post

      James, in my opinion you are better off to brand your product and attach your name to that product. You can always change products but you can not always change your name.

      Maybe sometime down the road you want to sell off your product... Kind of hard to do when you brand yourself and you have James Hickey's XX Product. But if you brand the product itself then no big deal as your name is only attached to it but not branded with it.

      You can always create new products... Just something to think about.

      James
      James I must say I have to agree with you. I also think you need to brand your product and attach your name to it. When Microsoft became successful it was THE product that succeeded NOT Bill Gates. Otherwise we would be logging into Gates instead of Microsoft.
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      • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
        Originally Posted by jennypitts View Post

        James I must say I have to agree with you. I also think you need to brand your product and attach your name to it. When Microsoft became successful it was THE product that succeeded NOT Bill Gates. Otherwise we would be logging into Gates instead of Microsoft.
        LOL ... Very true .....

        James
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      • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
        Good point Jenny but if you are developing different products, then that would confuse things if you keep tying your brand name to different products.




        Originally Posted by jennypitts View Post

        James I must say I have to agree with you. I also think you need to brand your product and attach your name to it. When Microsoft became successful it was THE product that succeeded NOT Bill Gates. Otherwise we would be logging into Gates instead of Microsoft.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    I'm with James on this - Although I take my business personally - I have no interest in trying to make me my brand.

    Yes, it's great to be perceived as an expert in the industry - but that's not the same as making yourself your brand.

    Ultimately we're all doing this because we love to make money while helping people, but at some point you probably want to not have your business need you - that's my definition of a successful business. If you want to sell it - yes, attach your name to it, but don't make it rely on you.

    Andy
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  • Profile picture of the author SeanyG
    Originally Posted by sdentrepreneur View Post

    How do you feel about branding yourself instead of your product? Many courses teach this method to establish yourself as a leader in your industry. What I have seen is that most people want to make money online and be successful but aren't quite ready for the spotlight.

    What is your opinion on using this method to be successful online?
    One downside to personal branding is that it can be hard to sell the business in the future. If some company is looking to buy out a smaller company, "Joe's internet marketing service" may not work within their brand whereas "internet marketing centre" will.

    I personally do brand myself as the guru but consider your exit strategy before making a decision.

    Hope this helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author DogScout
    Personally I prefer to stay in the background as much as possible.
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