How Is Your Brand Doing?
In the beginning, you defined your brand strategy, but have you ever took time to reassess it? Today, how is your brand doing?
Until some years ago, whenever someone talked about a “brand”, the main thought that came to our minds were a product. Some brands are so strong that they become reference to they represent product themselves. However, more recently, Personal Branding has become more and more important in terms of professional career and in blogging. But what is Personal Branding? How does it affect you, your career and website?
[Tweet “How does Branding affect you, your career and website? #brandstrategy #smashingseries”]
As per definition, Personal Branding “is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands“.
Once I decided to start blogging more consistently, I realized that if I wanted to be successful with my website as well as in my day job, I had to start taking Personal Brand more seriously. There are a lot of great sites out there with tips and how-tos that can blow your mind. It is such a huge amount of information that can scare you off or cause more confusion than help.
To help you out, I am going to focus on 3 main tips that will give you the basics to get started (or develop further) with Your Brand.
[Tweet “3 tips to get your started or develop further your Brand. #branding #brandstrategy”]
1. Find Your Voice
Debbie in Shape is about “The Fitness Lifestyle of a Workaholic and Planning Geek“. This is who I am and what I like/want to write about. I have a full-time corporate job, I am mom only to a cat and whenever I get some extra bucks, I generally buy some new gadget instead of a new dress (with stress to “generally“). My physical transformation did not happen miraculously within a couple of months nor I feel comfortable to go into certain details about my health that would make people sympathize with me. How could I break through then?!? Finding my “voice” in the sea of bloggers was not easy in the beginning.
There was no magic potion. The more I researched, the more I realized that what one person recommends can be the major no-no for someone else. I had to take a step back and really follow my gut feeling about what I want my blog to be.
[Tweet “”Don’t be afraid to fight for your Dreams.” #quote #personaltrainer”]
Believe it or not, no matter how “different” your content might be, there are SURELY a lot of people out there who will identify themselves with you and your words. If you speak from your heart, people will feel it. Your readers will notice that you mean what you say and that will make them come back for more. You will be able to build a strong and trustful community because you are true to yourself and people will know that they can count on you to express their feelings and thoughts.
2. How Do You Want Others To Describe You?
When your article goes viral, you become the next big thing in one night. And let’s be sincere: that is every blogger’s dream… Therefore, before writing a posting or sharing an imagine, ask yourself first how you will be contributing to your audience’s life. Are you being try to yourself and to your Voice? Are you providing useful information? Are you being of service somehow to your readers? Are you contributing to make their life easier or assisting them with a possible struggle? If your answer is ‘no’ to all these questions, maybe you should reconsider before sharing it.
Note that I am not saying that you have to please everyone. It is impossible no matter how hard one tries. Still Social Media is not about ME. Expressing your thoughts might inspire someone or generate a fruitful discussion. But if you are just posting something for the sake of getting a post out, close your computer, do something interesting, and restart from scratch.
[Tweet “Make sure that your blog posts contribute to your Brand. #branding #brandstrategy”]
Secondly, ask yourself how the material you are posting will contribute to your Brand. Sexy pictures and cursing can grant immediate hits, but are they the ones you want to have on a long term? Do you want to be known for the daring shots you share or for the great physical progress you have booked? If your readers could describe you in two words, would you like it to be ‘dirty mouth’? It is not like you cannot do such things, but remember that once it goes online, you cannot remove it. If that is your cup of tea, not just a momentary rush, so be it!
Make sure that whatever you post is Your Brand. Not the virtual version, but the real one as well . Just do the test yourself. If your partner, children, parents, relatives, friends, co-workers(!!), customers; could see everything you share: would they be proud of you? If the answer is yes, you are on the right path.
3. Keep Things Fresh
Once you find your voice, successfully and positively build a community, you cannot allow yourself to park in the comfort zone. Social Media evolves incredibly fast. Do not be afraid to shake up your structure and meet the new when opportunity comes.
For example: have you already tried vlogging? It is not that there is something with your writing, but why not adding another element to your articles? Or the other way around. Maybe you love to be on camera, but your writing could improve. So pick a pen and some paper (or your computer) and write at least one paragraph a day.
[Tweet “Don’t wish for it. Work for it! #quote #personaltrainer”]
There are so many forms social media out there and we know that they are not done. Remember that if you want to reach more people, you will have to stretch your arms further. It is wise to focus on one, maximum 2 platforms to build a qualitative brand. However, it does not prevent you from spreading your wings. You can connect different ones so that your main posts are reposted automatically, for instance. It will cut the time spent online and make sure that your followers stop by your original home.
Do some research, check the newest tendencies, do some benchmarking. What are your favorite bloggers doing that you have not tried yet?
So, the 3 basic steps you should through when asking yourself ‘how is your brand doing?’ are:
- Find Your Voice
- How Do You Want Others To Describe You?
- Keep Things Fresh
Take on step at a time and do not be afraid of doing some rework. You and your brand will grow and it is only normal that things need to be freshened up.
And to help you with your brand, social media presence and blogging, I am launching a series of Google Hangouts called the Smashing Series. To kick off our meetings, we will be talking SEO on May 25. Come and join us! Bring your questions and insight. Within the next days I will be updating the event but make sure it is already in your calendar.
Debbie in Shape is also going through a lot of changes and I am sure you do not want to miss the news. Make sure you sign up for our newsletter today. No spam, no daily emails in your inbox, only exclusive information on how to develop yourself , live a fit lifestyle without added stress.
How is your brand doing? Have you been working on it or you just let it happen?
Keep up with the good work!
#DebbieinShape
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Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Debbieinshape/ (em português)
