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

“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

Promotion & Business Branding:
Be very clear on your business brand.
If you don’t know your own business brand, you can’t “sell” or promote it effectively. The business brand also needs to be clear to the customer.
Franchises like McDonald’s have this nailed. Customers know what to expect.
I visit a hardware store that bills itself as a hardware store but sells everything from hardware to gifts to candy and newspapers. The business brand is confused. The fact that they change the mix of products regularly indicates that they haven’t settled on a clear direction. It’s no wonder customers think of them more …read more