As I consider how to create my business, with the tentative name of MEA’s Memory Potpourri, incorporating my various family history and memorabilia interests under one brand (as suggested by a branding expert), I’ve written about these possibilities on various blogs.  Some can be undertaken as a single home business.  Others might be incorporated  under a single brand or umbrella.
These appear at my Small Business Boomers blog:
Develop a Business of Remembering Those Who Will Be Forgotten
Christmas Cookie Journal – A Business Idea?
Preserving Family Memories as a Business

For some time, I’ve considered developing my quilting heritage surrounding the Trails End Quilters, into a series of books, patterns and recipes. 
 I’ve even started a blog to this effect, Tales of the Trails End Quilters and work at it off and on as I research more information. 
Here is the description of my blog as it relates to my quilting heritage.
My quilting heritage began at Trails End Farm in Milan, New York. There I often sat beside my grandmother cutting squares and sewing them by hand. Eventually I realized that my mother and her sister, their grandmother, and others made quilts here, …read more

After reading Susan Gunelius’s book on branding one’s business the Playboy Way, I’ve been contemplating on how to combine my various interests under one brand that will be logical, promotable and profitable.  Then I also need to come up with a catchy name for my business.
These interests include:

Researching & writing about family heritage
Teaching others to do this through workshops
Teaching through online classes
Writing books based on my various ancestors
Compiling family heritge recipes for family and others
Creating memory books for others
Teaching others to create memory books
Developing scrapbooking kits and classes for assisted living and nursing homes
Compiling a blog and book about my …read more

Susan Gunelius, a specialist on branding your business…the necessity of branding and how you can develop a brand…has written a very informative book on this topic.  Building Brand Value the Playboy Way, offers excellent information on building a brand by using the Playboy brand as an example.
 No, Susan’s book isn’t a book about sex.  It shows how the Playboy brand has become very effective in name recognition.  Some of it happened accidentally due to Hugh Hefner’s business instincts.  Some was deliberately developed.  As Susan says, “Love him or hate him, Hugh Hefner provides the ultimate example of successful branding.”
I find this a very …read more

With all the talk about branding and creating an image for yourself and your business, consider how you’re representing yourself on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.  This also applies to a blog you establish, either a personal one available to the public, or a business blog.
 When I see all the personal information people write there on social media and photos they post, I wonder if they realize how they appear to others.  Perhaps they don’t care.  But those words and photos could follow them for years.
Do your words and photos portray you as want the public to view you as a …read more

Previously I discussed incorporating pets into your promotional projects and/or product designs.  The pet may even become part of your brand.  Even if your business doesn’t involve pet products or items with pet designs, you may include a pet reference for interest in some way.
Children’s author/illustrator Jan Brett has written about and drawn her hedgehog, Hedgie.  However, Hedgie has somewhat become her trademark or brand. 
The e-mail newsletters I receive from Jan essentially come from Hedgie.  When I receive postcards or book signing announcements, they include Hedgie’s pictures.  Hedgie makes his way into Jan’s web site and blog. 
Perhaps you have a …read more

Generally we think of developing a product or service and then using our blog or web site to announce it and promote it.  We even may sell from the web site.  However, one of my readers mentioned that some web sites/blogs gain such a good following that they then can develop a related logo, picture, saying that brands them and sell it on various items.
A business like Cafe Press will print your art on the items they sell, such as cups, caps, t-shirts, sweat shirts, notebooks, postcards, notepaper, tote bags, etc. This is done at no cost to you since the items are printed …read more

“Dress the “brand” for your home business.”  I heard this phrase from a speaker recently when she was describing appropriate dress to promote yourself.  Are you wearing apparel that promotes products and services other than your own?  Or are you wearing something that calls attention to your business?
 You might not be aware when you’re advertising a competitor’s business.  However, when you wear apparel (hat, t-shirt, tie, sweats, shoes) that is inscribed with someone else’s name or logo, you’re actually promoting their brand. 
 So…why not wear something that promotes your brand?
 The speaker was promoting vitamins and nutrition.  To teach her workshop, she …read more

One of the ways you can help your small home business look bigger than life is through branding, as I mentioned in my blog of a few days ago.  Here are a couple of specific things you can do to get your brand into high gear:
1.  Get a business logo. I’m talking about a really cool logo that will make everyone who sees it know you are a professional and that you are serious about your success.  I am excited about a site I found called 99designs.  This is a contest site; that is, you tell a bunch of designers …read more

HomeBizNotes.com
While we’re on the topic of Harry Potter (see the post about Susan Gunelius and her book on the Harry Potter global phenomenon), why not take a look at a related book by J.R. Rowling?  This is just another example of the expert marketing and branding that Susan mentions. Harry Potter fans are intrigued by any reference to a new book.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.R. Rowling, is a book of fairy tales written to supplement the Harry Potter series.  It will be published in two new editions, the Standard and Collector’s, on December 4, 2008.   (However, it’s available for pre-order now at …read more