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Using A Blog To Build Your Brand – 5 Tips For Blogging Success

January 6, 2013 by 1 Comment
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Using A Blog To Build Your Brand – 5 Tips For Blogging Success

by Frederika Angus

Blog for profit Blog with social media tips for beginners

Blogging these days is about as popular as smartphones; nearly everyone has one. And if you aren’t currently writing a blog, it’s likely that you’ve started one and quit writing in the past, you read someone else’s blog regularly, or you have an idea to start one.

Using a blog is one of the most effective ways to share your creativity, inspiration, and message quickly with those it will resonate with. It is also a great tool to use to brand yourself, share your expertise and build a business around. If you’re just staring out with blogging or looking for help to blog successfully, here are a few tips that will help.

1- Be You!

Authenticity is a critical point to branding, building a business and life in general. The popular phrase “Fake it til you make it” does not work well in the blogging world. People are naturally more suspicious of things that sound to good to be be true. No wants you to be perfect. Being perfect is a myth. Being the real, genuine, best you on your blog will results in building a brand that doesn’t feel like a production. Your blog will become the natural extension of who you are.

2- Be Positive!

When building a brand, save the drama. People may enjoy and laugh and agree with you for a while, but do you want your internet lasting legacy to be one of negativity? Think about the books, tv shows, and friends you enjoy and like to regularly read, watch and be around. If you’re like me, it’s very likely that negativity is draining and you much prefer the positive inspiration to constant negative news. Create that same culture for your brand through your blog.

3- Be Consistent!

Show up and write regularly. Attention spans tend to be short so if you don’t show up, you will quickly be forgotten. Bring your brand to the top of mind for your followers consistently. Once you determine your routine, this will be easy!

4- Be Focused!

Before you start, decide what exactly you will be blogging about. Try not to shift and jump around. For instance, if I talking about branding then jump into discussing makeup and fashion, that will create a disconnect between the topics and with my followers. Decide your focus and the topics you will discuss on your blog. When people arrive at your blog it should be clear what you are about and the type of information they will receive.

5- Be Diverse!

Everyone doesn’t like to read blogs in the same fashion. Some may like to go directly to your website, while others prefer to read them directly from their email. Other’s may happen upon your blog from the many social media outlets you post on. Be sure to provide your blog content in diverse ways. Being able to stay connected with your followers in the method they prefer most, will be beneficial in growing your following and spreading your message through blogging!

I hope you enjoy these tips!

Post below if you have any questions or to just let me know how these tips help you out!

Talk to you soon!

Frederika Angus

 

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What is Pinterest and Why Businesses Should Be Paying Attention

February 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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What is Pinterest and Why Businesses Should Be Paying Attention

by Frederika Angus

 pinterest

Pinterest. It’s social media’s newest fastest growing platform. It’s been around for almost 2 years and this past Tuesday reached 11.7 million monthly active users. If you have a business that requires you market to consumers, pay attention to what’s going with Pinterest.

The best part about Pinterest is that unlike using SEO techniques to rank highly in google search, this platform allows users to discover and experience your brand visually. And unlike Facebook and Twitter where the content visibility is limited to the time you post it, pinning content goes on and on as more people collaborate and share within the same interest.

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Get up to speed quickly on why your brand should care about this social media platform and how to get started right away.

Great article on the basics on Pinterest from Mashable
http://mashable.com/2011/12/26/pinterest-beginners-guide/

Tips on how to read your ideal customer’s mind using Pinterest
http://www.arealchange.com/blog/read-mind-pinterest

Very specific ways for your brand can leverage Pinterest
http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/12/five-ways-brands-can-leverage-pinterest/

Using Pinterest for Marketing
http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/31434/6-Compelling-Reasons-You-Should-Use-Pinterest-for-Marketing.aspx

9 Ways to capture the attention of ideal customers
http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/9-tips-boost-your-business-pinterest.html

Let me know what questions you have below.

Find me on Pinterest here and connect with me.

And if you’re convinced that Pinterest is the right platform to expand your brand and ready to get started but need an invite, go to my contact page here http://nextlevelvision.com/contact/. I’ll make sure you get an invite sent to you with 24-48 hours.

Talk to you soon!

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Understanding Push and Pull Marketing Online for Brand Profitability

February 16, 2012 by 2 Comments
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Understanding Push and Pull Marketing Online for Brand Profitability

by Frederika Angus

push-pull-marketing

Imagine your business as an open house. Your visual branding will cause your ideal customers to look and perhaps even stop out front. While branding causes people to look, the biggest question for business profitability is how do you get people in the door?

When it comes to marketing, in particular, digital marketing, two forms exist. Pull and push. Understanding the concept of push and pull marketing will help as you develop strategies to expand your brand’s products and services online.

Push Marketing

Push marketing is where the company is pushing messaging to create excitement or interest. The customer hasn’t asked about or for your services and products. In traditional advertising this is done in the form of commercials, and magazines or radio ads. Online, methods such as banner advertising, Pay-Per-Click ads and email marketing are used. This method allows your target market to know you exist and provide a solution they might need.

Pull marketing

Pull creates awareness and when done well, a demand. Pull marketing is about positioning your brand so that as your prospective customers are seeking information, you are who they find. Its intent is to attract ideal customers and is usually done more organically. Customers who are gathering information in your area of expertise are less likely to have their guard up as they would in an unsolicited sales pitch. Websites with blogs along with SEO (search engine optimization) and even your social media presence, allows customers to find you, develop relationship that can grow into profits for your business.

Both push and pull marketing help expand and elevate your brand and business online. The two types are not mutually exclusive, meaning; it’s not a decision to select either push or pull. Both push and pull marketing strategies should work together. Often times without the promotion of push, websites and blogs would never get off the ground.

Push and pull marketing works best in tandem to grow profits for your brand. It is important to find the balance of pushing on certain avenues such as email marketing and using social media. Especially because both are great ways to develop relationships that will result in long-term brand loyalty. Know where your prospective customers are looking for your products and services and position yourself to be the one they find.

Talk to you soon!

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The Power of Belief For Your Brand Growth and Profitable Business Success

February 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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The Power of Belief For Your Brand Growth and Profitable Business Success

by Frederika Angus

What do you believe?

“If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won’t, you most assuredly won’t. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad.” Denis Waitley

Businesses are built and grow based on your belief. Oftentimes people tell me that they would love to be a business owner. Being able to do work that you love and have a passion for, determining your schedule for greater freedom and flexibility, and having the ability to create a legacy and wealth for your future is appealing. Unfortunately, the next thing they say starts with a big BUT.

“But I just don’t think I am cut out to be an entrepreneur.” “But I don’t have the time.” “But I don’t think that this idea will work.”

Today I want to encourage you to Change Your BUT! I am not just talking about reciting some affirmations over and over again. I am talking about changing your mindset about what you believe is possible for you and your business.

Credible personal and expert branding is supported with your belief. If you know that you are an expert in your industry as a fashion stylist, chef, makeup artist, software developer, business strategist, whatever you have skill in, you will be treated and compensated as such.

As William James said “Belief creates the actual fact.” What facts are you creating in the marketplace for your brand based on your belief?

You see branding is more than design element or a necessary part of your overall marketing strategy. The power of branding lies in the mind. It is rooted in the perception that people have about you and your business. As the face of your company, you have the opportunity to shape that belief for your clients and customers by what it is you believe for yourself and the value your business has.

Start this process by asking and answering these 3 questions.

    1. What does your ideal client currently believe about you and your business? All brand strategies should begin with a clear idea of how you are being seen in the marketplace. Your client’s perception of you produces their reality and it is important in the development of a brand message.
    2. What do you believe about you/your business? If what you believe and what your customers believe to be true about you are not in agreement, your branding efforts have a huge disconnect. This is usually the point a brand strategy experts should be brought in to create or transform the brand message.
    3. What do you want people to believe about you and your company? Brainstorm the ideas that you want to leave people with. Every word that people read about you, every visual element they see, the voice and tone of every message, should reflect who you are and what you stand for.

How you and your clients perceive your business will make an impact in the expansion, growth and overall success of your branding efforts. “Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy.” Tony Robbins. Be mindful of your thoughts and the power they have on your brand.

Talk to you soon!

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Building Your Small Business, Networking and Having Enough Time to Spend With Your Family. Is It Possible?

January 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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Building Your Small Business, Networking and Having Enough Time to Spend With Your Family. Is It Possible?

by Frederika Angus

When you decided to go into business, your goal was probably to generate an income, a substantial income. Now it wasn’t all about the money, but the lifestyle that the additional money could provide for you. This business was supposed to be a bridge between the life you currently have and the one you dream about. You know, the life where you live comfortably without the stress of bills, are free to dictate how you spend your time instead of being told, and enjoy doing fulfilling work and serving your clients.

I wholeheartedly believe that entrepreneurship is a great vehicle to make all of those things happen. As an entrepreneur, I can also tell you that all of those things don’t happen if you don’t make enough money in your business to eliminate the need for a full or part-time job. One of the best ways to put money in the bank is to have a large enough funnel of prospective ideal clients.

Networking to expand your brand and reach of influence is a very smart way to to gain new customers. Unfortunately, the way networking is typically done does not produce a very good ROI, or return on your (time) investment.

I received a great question from a client requesting tips on how to add networking to an already full plate. What is a busy entrepreneur that loves time with their family, has an additional job and is even going to school to better their skills for their clients to do?

Really there are only two options (since we know not networking means no new work coming in). Either you decide to network live or online. Let me explain.

If you decide you will do in-person networking events, be selective. I value spending time with my family and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Every event that presents itself for networking is not necessarily the event for me. Select events where you know that the people in attendance are of high quality. These are the people that are not at events because they want to be seen or they have nothing else to do. Be mindful to associate and network with people who may know your ideal client or even potentially be your ideal client.

Also understand that at networking events you are the representative for the brand. Yes, especially at live networking events, you are branding via your business cards and your overall appearance and attitude. Because of the corporate clients that I attract, I understood the importance of being memorable in a very cookie cutter industry. My cards are intentionally not like most. It has a flair and quality that reflects me and allows me to standout days and even weeks after meeting someone. Just this past week I happened to run into a person from a past business function and he identified me first by my business card which reminded him I was unique in the marketplace and that we should talk further.

Learn how to network online from your couch and even while you sleep!  You have enough going on in your life that you don’t need “one more thing to do.” Networking usually takes time away from the things or the people that you would prefer to spend your time with. If you are not already making good use of the technology that is available, start today. Connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to help expand your online network. Developing relationships on these platforms is a good way to also expand your brand where your ideal clients hang out without being intrusive.

If your networking purpose is to generate new leads and prospective customers, there are strategic methods, systems and tools that you can use that will work for you even while you aren’t working your business. Weigh your return on investment. Would you rather spend 2 hours talking to a person in hopes that you will be able to schedule a meeting that might one day lead to a customer? Or would your 2 hours be better spent with friends, family, or even doing what you love and taking care of yourself while your lead generation is handled for you?

Over the next few weeks, we will further discuss how to build your brand online in such a strategic way that you are actively adding new prospects to your network because they are already looking for you. I’m looking forward to sharing these innovative strategies and techniques that will take your business to the next level.

In the meantime, be sure to post any comments or questions you have below.

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Branding, Entrepreneurship, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Tebowing Your Brand – What Your Small Business Can Learn About Branding From Tim Tebow

January 9, 2012 by 2 Comments
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Tebowing Your Brand – What Your Small Business Can Learn About Branding From Tim Tebow

by Frederika Angus

Hate him or love him, Tim Tebow, NFL quarterback for the Denver Broncos, has become the sports media’s favorite topic. The more I observe his style of play and how he handles himself on and off the field, there are a few lessons for entrepreneurs that will help you with your own small business branding.

Faith in the face of adversity. Being a business owner can be tough. While I believe that anyone can be an entrepreneur, it takes a very dedicated, strong person that is willing to face challenges head on to actually be and entrepreneur. There will always be naysayers, competitors and obstacles to overcome.

Because Tebow hasn’t played like most quarterbacks in the league, he has been discounted by the analysts, football fans, and even the management of his team. Nevertheless, Tebow has stood steadfast in his belief in himself. He is unwavering in his stance that he has the skills and ability to be a quarterback, not a running back or tight end, in the NFL.

In order for your business and brand to last, you must have faith that you are not only designed to be a business owner, but also that your skills and abilities are ready for the challenges. As I expressed in Start Your Small Business Brand Strategy By Bringing You to the Table, you have to be the brand as an entrepreneur. Your business success in branding will go as far as your faith will allow you to believe.

Clear conviction of who you are and what you are here to do. One quality that sets entrepreneurs apart from the rest, is their ability to get clear and obtain laser like focus and run with their business vision. In the beginning stages of business planning and mapping out products and services you can offer, the clarity you have in knowing exactly what your value and uniqueness is in the marketplace is critical. Your brand has to stand out from the crowd. Clearly communicating those factors that are different, valuable and relevant to your customers with consistency is important to branding.

Tim Tebow is a good example of knowing who he is purposed to be and what he must do. He very clearly and consistently communicates who he is in every interview so that there is no mistake about his value and why he does what he does. He stands out so strongly that those who wouldn’t normally follow sports have heard of him.

Be consistent on and off the field. Your clients as well as your competition are always watching you. This is especially true if you are on social media. Do not project yourself to be one way in front of your clients and then present yourself differently on Twitter or Facebook. Doing so is a sure fire way to ruin your brand credibility.

Tebow is known for consistently expressing his faith whether he is on the field after making a game winning play or at a hospital visiting with children.

The Tim Tebow brand is one of the most talked about in all of sports. Even those who don’t like his style of play can’t help but to continue to talk about him. This is a powerful place to be as a brand. Utilize these tips and build a brand for your business that is the topic of discussion of your customers.

Talk to you soon!

 

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Choosing a Domain Name For Your Website

October 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Choosing a Domain Name For Your Website

by Frederika Angus

I have been on the internet for the past 16 years. My parents were forward thinking enough to send me to computer camps at College campuses since I was 14 years old. They allowed me to grow and discover the most cutting edge technologies at their expense throughout high school. Their support led me into obtaining a degree in Computer Science in college.

Once there, I had opportunities to create and design school organization websites and eventually company sites as a Freshman in college. The internet has truly changed since then. Do you rememeber when the web search engine of choice was Yahoo!? Now we don’t even tell each other to look on a search engine for information. It is more common to say “Go google it.”

The constant, however, is the importance of your website domain name or URL. Just like the mail carrier needs a house number and street name to bring you the mail intended for you, your ideal customers need the address to find your place online. Your online branding begins with your web address.

This is one of the more common questions that come up with my clients that are just getting started. Especially those that are bringing an offline business online.

I recommend you KISS.

No. I am not being fresh! It is important that you Keep It SHORT and SIMPLE.

Easy to say. Easy to type. Easy to spell.

If the person looking for you can’t spell your URL, they may try a couple variations and then give up. I’ve done that more times than I can count! While you know what you have to offer is valuable, your ideal client has found someone else.

Sometimes your web address will be different from your company name. When it came time to fill in the name on my incorporation paper for this company, it took me weeks to land on something I liked. Since I don’t have a brick and mortar setup, not using Angus Choice Corporation as a primary URL wasn’t a huge deal for me. My company name means a great deal to myself and my family. It’s appropriate for our offline divisions. I realize that anyone else hearing Angus Choice will probably think I coach on strategies for beef processing and cattle herding. I named this site with the goal I have for each of my clients. I desire that every entrepreneur would not just dream but move to the next level in the big vision that they have.

Do not get stuck on a name before you search to see if it is available! Go to a domain registrar like a GoDaddy or Domain.com and search for your intended domain name. Often times if your exact name is taken they will offer you alternatives. Use the suggestions to keep your creativity flowing until you find the right one for you.

Be cautious of words that are commonly misspelled. Or words that sound the same but have a few different spellings. For instance, rain and reign. Intentionally misspelling words or making up words *could* work and pay off big (think flickr vs flicker), or it could backfire.

Be brief. Domain names can be as long as 67 characters. Don’t make it a personal challenge to have to be thatguy with a URL that looks like some hashtags on Twitter. Using www.thiswasagoodideabeforeirealizeditwontfitonabusinesscard.com will just leave more room for spelling errors.

Speaking of .com, it is the standard and is a best practice. Having a .net isn’t bad nor is using a suffix specific to your country. If you have a non-profit organization, having a .org site is appropriate. Otherwise, I’d encourage you to leave the other options for someone else regardless of the rock bottom price of $1.99/ year.

This should get those juices flowing to finding the perfect domain name!

Share a comment below with your thoughts. If you are looking for more support in building the business of your dreams and living the life you envisioned, be sure to join me on Facebook now and follow me on Twitter.

Talk to you soon!

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