Is Your Brand Experience Memorable?
Ok, so Seth Godin defines a brand this way:
A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another. If the consumer (whether it’s a business, a buyer, a voter or a donor) doesn’t pay a premium, make a selection or spread the word, then no brand value exists for that consumer.
So I used to think brands were created by hiring some fancy schmancy consultant to come in, retool the message, and redesign the letterhead.
No.
In fact, what I’ve learned is that YOU have all the power you need to create this brand experience that Godin talks about. So, in this final post for 2009, I wanted to share some simple, actionable ideas that ANONE can do to rock your brand – and begin to build up this brand value that Seth Godin talks about above.
So here are some ideas. Good luck, and let’s kick some butt in 2010!
1. Publish an eBook/book – Yeah, sure. Everyone is publishing books these days. Well. Not really. But it is easier than ever to publish a book. And it really does help you stand out in the crowd. And modern marketing tools make it easy to build a community around the book’s concepts – and build interest in both you and your book!
2. Host a radio show/publish a podcast – These days, it is so easy to produce a podcast or host a radio show. Having a content engine that excites and educates your community is where marketing is going.
3. Commit to blogging at least twice a week – To rock your brand, you must blog on a regular basis. It not only serves your audience, but it does amazing things for your search engine results. Can you get away with blogging less? Sure. But I have evidence to show that blogging several times a week does wonders for your online presence. If you have something valuable to say, say it. Get your thought leadership out there.
4. Engage in conversation – You simply have got to have DISCIPLINE yourself to engage in real, honest-to-goodness conversation with people. Every day. I had a simple conversation on Twitter over the last week that may prove to not only be a fun project to be associated with – but potentially a lucrative one as well. How did it happen? Two dudes said hello on Twitter…
5. Do something to connect like-minded people. This is something I learned, in a big way, in 2009. Connecting people is a way cool way to build your personal brand. I had a ball hosting multiple TweetUps and events over the past year. The most amazing thing about it? Observing people connecting and making cool stuff happen – right in front of your eyes – is a most amazing experience.
6. Take a hobby – and build community around it. People love knowing what you do to pass the time. This notion that we really don’t care what you had for breakfast, is a bunch of hooey. We do. We love knowing what people we care about are up to. We just might not admit it. So, embrace that. Tell the story of how you are writing a book. Learning how to play the piano. Or training for a half-marathon… People want to know, and it makes your personal story and brand that much stronger…
7. Shift your thinking to mixing personal and work. Ok, this notion of keeping Facebook for friends, LinkedIn for business, and Twitter for someone else is total bunk. Your life is you. Don’t tell me you don’t talk about your kids or your hobbies at the office. We are ALL connected now. Life is an open book. Embrace it!
8. Be yourself. Not someone else. These days, you need to be you. Not some fake person that doesn’t really exist. You have to be you. There is nobody else like you. Take advantage of that, and let the world know you are there. And what you stand for!
9. Update all your social network profiles. I was looking at my LinkedIn profile the other day. It needs to be updated. I will tackle that task soon. You should review all your social network profiles, and be sure they are all current and up-to-speed. The world is moving fast. You need to keep up and keep your story current!
These are just a few ideas. Have any others?
Have a happy and prosperous New Year!!
[photo credit: Anita363]
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