10 Ways to Build Your Reputation In a Relational Economy
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” (Warren Buffet)
Great quote from a very wise and successful man, who has seen this play out in many different ways over many years!
Be authentic
Create useful content
Be consistent
Engage in the conversation
Give more than you ask.
I’m still learning on the Social Media front and by no means have it all together, but here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.
1. Be Yourself
Be the same person online as you are in person. This is a personal hot button for me. It is so important to be authentic. The social media world is no long one dimensional. It’s no longer one person in front of a computer monitor. There are always two sides to every story and writing for Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites is very different than writing a “term paper.” Writing here requires a more personal approach. Experiment with you unique style in a way that fits who you are. I like to tell people to write how you would talk to someone. That’s what people want to here. I’m not interested in being “sold,” I’m interested in knowing a little more behind the scenes on what makes you unique. Show me who you are; rather than what you sell.
2. Build Trust
One of the very best ways to build trust is to be more interested in others than you are yourself. Let people know you care about them and their issues and challenges. On of the very best statements you can offer is “Tell me what’s going on with you.” “Tell me what your biggest challenge is right now.” Then offer “Here’s what I can do to help…” The biggest way you can build trust is by listening, sharing, giving useful information to help them solve problems.
3. Give Glimpses of Your Personal World
Getting to know each other on many levels is what builds the foundation for personal relationships. Letting people know what you do, what you stand for and believe in is certainly important. But those things aren’t really personal. However if yo added what foods you like, the favorite places you’ve traveled to and books you’ve read, some fun pictures about your family can really give people a well rounded glimpse of you and your world. I caution: be careful about what and how much you share. Share those things that add to a conversation rather than distract. Share those things that are safe and you’d be comfortable with your grandmother reading. Remember you can’t erase or delete what you share and word travels very fast in an online world.
4. Get To Know Your Followers
So what you have 4,000 “friends” on Facebook. Do you know anything about them? Take the time and space to know what they care about and begin to engage in their conversation. Social Media is a double lane road. There are people in the lane next to you that have a unique story that could be very interesting if you took the time to listen. Get to know them a little better by listening to their story and you might be surprised at what you’ll have in common.
5. Work Together
This is a great way to build trust. Work regularly at connecting people who have needs in common. Introduce people. Say things like “I know this person who might be able to help you with that. Here’s how to find them on Twitter.” That’s the great thing about social media. I can introduce someone to a friend in Alaska just as easily as I can introduce them to a friend down the block. Simply forward contact information, let them know what they have in common and let them do the rest.
6. Watch Your Off-Color Comments
Hey, I love a great joke and some edgy language, but I don’t need anything really off color or any profanity to get my attention. This is that “5 minutes to ruin it” part. Be careful and remember you can’t delete or erase. Again…think of comments that add to the quality of the conversation. One click and it’s on the web for what could be a very long time.
7. Be Consistent
Be the person who checks back in regularly. Add posts, engage in comments. I’m probably the worst person to attest to this value since I do have a tendency to do a great job for a while, then find myself a couple of weeks later having not checked in regularly or posted any new material. Reminds me of what parents tell their kids “Do as I say, not as I do.”
8. Give & Receive
There are probably a lot of us that are more comfortable giving that receiving. I’ve yet to figure out why it is more difficult for me to allow others to give me things? It’s a growth edge I’m working on. When people ask how they can help, and you know they are being genuine, I accept their invitation and allow them the pleasure of giving and me receiving. One of the hardest phrases to say is “Thank You.”
9. Provide Solutions, Options and Answers
The rule of thumb with social media that goes unspoken is 4 posts or tweets where you give and provide information that provides solutions to problems or challenges and one promoting yourself. When you sell, sell, sell that is the quickest way to get hidden, un-followed or un-friended.
10. Spread A Positive Message
Again…think of things that add to the conversation rather than take away. We all benefit from positive words, sharing their success stories, people who have influenced our lives. It takes very little effort to be negative. It seems those thoughts are a dime a dozen. However it takes a lot more fortitude to spread a positive message knowing we all share a set of challenges waiting at or doorstep.
What could you add to the list from what you’ve experienced on the social media front?
Why Branding is Important
One of the most common mistakes most small businesses make is undermining the importance of branding. Branding is a single force that has a tremendous capacity to the marketability of your product or service.
- Branding Means Getting “Your” Identity
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The act of associating a product or service with a brand has become an indispensable part of marketing efforts. The most successful products anywhere in the world have some kind of brand identity. Designer handbags, jewelry, cosmetics or even something as simple as table salt.You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company to create brand. Your own town has its very own local brands in just about everything so what are you waiting for? Get your own “identity” and begin to make a statement.
. - Branding is Applied Psychology
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All purchase decisions are the result of conscious/impulsive behavior. We all want to create a set of customers who think of us every time they buy. Brand loyalty is the result of repeated purchases by customers driven by continuous satisfaction.For marketing, this is the process of burning your company or web site name or slogan into the minds of potential customers. The question is, how can I begin to get people to remember my product or service over another competitor without thinking about it. How can I get them to easily remember my service as being the best… that’s applied psychology.For instance a local art company pairs beginner art lessons with a glass of wine with friends. Now wouldn’t that appeal to a group of women looking for a “different” Friday night destination. Yes…and I did enjoy it!
. - A Brand is an Experience
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Some marketers distinguish the psychological aspect of a brand from the experiential aspect. The experiential aspect consists of the sum of all points of contact with the brand and is known as “brand experience.” The psychological aspect, sometimes known as the “brand image,” is a symbolic construct created in the minds of people consisting of all the information and expectations that they associate with the product or service.For example…sipping on a cup of coffee at your favorite cafe is about… the coffee. The cup like no other cup of coffee could be the brand image. The ambiance, the friendly service, the decor, the aroma beans roasting, and simply enjoying it all… this is the brand experience. Makes me want a cup of coffee…and now isn’t that the point!
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- For a Small Business… The Owner is the Brand
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A brand may signify different things to different people. It may be a trademark, a slogan, a logo, a symbol, a packaging design, company staff demeanor and dress code or a feeling that can only be experienced by using a certain product or service. Alternatively a brand may signify any one or many of these things to an individual.Brand names are the first point of call between a company and its customers, and for this reason hold a remarkable amount of power. For example I have attended the Re:Create Seminar for “Creatives” for a few years now. It’s run by a guy who shows genuine concern, and unbridled passion for creative processes, and a genuine spirit to help others achieve their best. What keeps me coming back…the fact that when I see Randy on the street he always says “Hi” no matter how in a hurry he is, he always asks about our family, and you leave feeling better that when you came. Lesson learned? In most cases for a small business, the owner is the “brand.”
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- Marketing is a Jigsaw Puzzle
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It’s true… and the puzzle doesn’t quite fit without branding. Branding is all about distinguishing oneself from the competition. It is about creating tangible and intangible characteristics that make your offer unique. It is about developing a name and an image that can provide quality and satisfaction, while taking into account individual lifestyles and beliefs.Good business branding is about delivering what you promised (more but never less) when you promised. Come to think of it that is why most of us go to a certain store/service provider for years together because they are reliable, responsive and deliver quality… that is the essence of a brand. So a brand is doing what you say and standing for something.
How To Establish Your Personal Brand In 3 Quick Steps
People who have successfully branded themselves are known for something specific. We think of Microsoft for computers, McDonalds for hamburgers, Levi for jeans.
While it is true that consistency helps branding, the reality is that we are all more complicated than a single tag line or campaign.
All of us likely have multiple pursuits in life so we’ll have more than one personal brand. For me, I’m a Graphic Designer, a mom, a wife, and a exercise enthusiast. And depending on the day and which environment I find myself in, people will base their opinion of me on what they know about me in that area…that’s MY BRAND.
Even if I’m not deliberately thinking of myself as a brand…guaranteed that the parents of Liam’s Parent Teacher Association are thinking of me as the mom of a 2nd Grader. I’m branded. Now think of this scenario in several different environments…hence…we have multiple brands. How many times have we met someone in a business meeting only to discover that we also know them from our kid’s school or from an event we attended. It really is a small world.
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So how can we create that great personal brand that says the most about us no matter what environment we find ourselves in? Here are 3 quick steps to keep in mind:
- Focus on your strengths. Once I was volunteering at Liam’s school helping kids learn to read. Granted I do not have a teaching degree and had to take a lot of instruction from the teach who knew how to hone in on those problem areas. During one such conversation we began talking about what I did for a living and found that I was a “creative” and watched as other ways I could help her teach children emerged. As I still helped kids learn to read, however I became known for my role in the creative process.
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What I learned: Reposition yourself to lead with your strengths.
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- Focus on where you want to go, not what you’ve been doing. There have been multiple times in my professional career where I have been doing things that I really didn’t consider my profession. We all find ourselves in those places…and that’s ok for a time. But, and it’s a big but, don’t take your career down the wrong path just because it’s what you’ve always done. Instead focus on those things that you want to accomplish and point your career down that path. I read recently about what makes an “expert” in a field. Simply stated the response was “because you say you are.” I do a lot of consulting for churches and this point reminds me of that verse in Philippians 3 where it says to “Forget what is behind me and look to the future.” that’s Jody’s paraphrasing, but it’s still the point. Don’t worry about what you’ve always done…work toward what you want to do!
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What I learned: Invest the time to learn all you can to become an “expert” in your field and focus your career that new goal.
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- Expand your social network. Sometimes it’s the people that you’ve known the longest that have the hardest time seeing you in new ways. Now could be the time to step out of the comfort zone of the same old social circles and get around new people. I’m not talking about just any new people. Think strategically. If you’re thinking about rebranding yourself, get around people who are in the place that you want to be. Broaden your scope of influence and begin rubbing shoulders with people who don’t know the old you. Don’t ditch your old friends, just begin to think about what new environments could help you reach your goals. Then actively pursue those places.
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What I learned: It’s fun to begin to engage with a new group of friends that are passionate about the things that I’m passionate about.
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No longer do we live in the days where we have just one brand. As our brand evolves over time it’s important to think about what you want to do and how you want to be seen. Your personal brand is likely to change depending on your priorities. I’ve seen this many times in my own life. We live multidimensional lives and there’s no way around that fact. Use this to your advantage. Proactively choose what and how you brand and begin today.
Here Are 10 Steps To Get That Perfect Logo
Today we’re keeping it short and sweet. Often I’m asked to help develop a visual identity for a company. A good logo is they key to getting that instant visual recognition that is so critical in the branding process. So, today I’m giving you the basic rules I use when I’m designing a logo.
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10 Rules I use When Designing a Logo
- Three Colors Max
Any more than three colors becomes too cluttered. Make it easy on the eye. - Keep it Simple
The whole point of a logo is to have that instant identity. Your audience should be able to identify your logo in a fraction of a second. If it takes longer than that…consider simplifying. - Create an Unforgettable Shape
It’s a good idea to incorporate some type of shape in your identity so you have options. There are many cases where you don’t need to use a whole logo. If you have this shape built in, it opens up options. (Just think McDonalds and the Golden Arches…’nuff said!) - Be Timeless
Avoid trends and create a logo that stands the test of time. The last thing you want is to have a logo that looks like it came straight out of the 90′s. Don’t get me wrong, I did some of my best work in the 90′s, but you don’t want your company branded to a particular decade. However if you are Billy Bobb’s Hippy Bar-B-Que…then you’re allowed to use a combination of cowboy boots and bell bottom fonts. - Look Good in Black and White
Make sure your logo looks as good in black and white as it does in color. There are many times you’ll need to reproduce your logo without its color palette. Make sure the integrity of your logo can stand on its own without a bright red or a sea blue. - Avoid Special Effects
You don’t need to use special effects to be special. Avoid drop shadows and gradients in your logos. Why? Because they don’t print well in all environments (web, print, avatars, billboards, etc…). - A Photo Is Not a Logo
Do not use a photo as your logo. They are 2 very different animals. For that matter I wouldn’t even use a photo as an element in your logo. You want a logo that is re-sizable and photographs rarely are. And photographs generally break the 3 color rule. - Go Solid
The letters of your logo and the shape of your logo should be a solid color. Often people want to use an outline of a font or include a pattern in their font. Outline fonts lack impact and patterns create clutter. These should be avoided. - Be Intuitive
It should be easy to describe your logo. The whole point of a logo is to be the visual identity of your company. If you have to take too much time to describe what your logo is about, it’s not intuitive to your audience. - Don’t Include the Kitchen Sink
Avoid too many details. Keep it simple. A good logo creates interest. A good logo gives your audience just enough information to want to go one step further. Logos aren’t intended to deliver the final sale.
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