How to form your brand and gain exposure

December 1st, 2010     Guest Blogs

Excerpts from Simon Jordan’s Book – How to Sky Rocket your Business in any climate

First impressions count

If like me you are the face of the business then make sure your business has a good face. That sounds like an egotistical comment doesn’t it but, what I really mean by that is, decide how you want to be seen by your prospective clients and customers.

If for example you want to be seen as professional and smart then wearing a suit would be the obvious way to go. Or if your business were selling surfboards then perhaps the more relaxed look would work better. How you dress will reflect on your business.

It’s not just about how you dress yourself for business but also how your marketing looks. Clean lines, nicely crafted fonts and strong solid colours can give the feeling of strength and trust as appose to messy graphics, thick heavy fonts and colours such as bright pink which will give a completely different look and feel for the business.

Remember that your marketing will be seen without you there to back it up so make sure all your marketing collateral such as leaflets, business cards and even your website gives the right impression to your prospective clients and customers.

You never get a second chance at a first impression.

Be different – stand out

I started my business and marketing consultancy some 4 years ago now having spent the previous 19 years working with some of the world’s biggest brands. There were lots of marketing consultants out there and still are so I wanted to create a recognisable brand and be known as someone who knows his craft.

So I decided to wear some black edged glasses, pin stripe suit, white shirt and white handkerchief in the top pocket. This has helped me form my own brand. You’ll see my image across all of my marketing. From my business card to my website and my online TV channel. So when I now go to conferences and networking meetings people recognise me instantly, which helps me expose my business even further.

And in order to help me be seen as someone who knows his craft I decided earlier this year to create SimonJordan.tv which is an online TV channel where I have a marketing hints and tips video going out every other week to an ever increasing audience. On pretty much every video I’m wearing my trademark suit, glasses and handkerchief in the top pocket. It’s little things like that that help get you noticed and keep the brand consistant.

My aim has always been to help as many small business owners as possible and if it means I always have to wear my suit and trademark glasses to increase the business exposer then that’s what I’ll keep doing.

From tiny East Sussex village to global recognition in just 7 months

Using video is the new next best thing in my book. We live in a world where people are always busy and don’t have the time to read long emails or plough their way through a lengthy leaflet. If you want to connect with your audience and engage with them then grab a video recorder and start practising. Video is the medium that can really help you get your message across to a wider audience, and again if you want to create a strong brand then make sure you look the part when in front of the lens.

YouTube is the king when it comes to online video and it’s very simple to set up your own YouTube channel, plus it’s totally free.

With video people can see who you are, they can see your energy and hear your enthusiasm and passion for the business far more than they would on a standard website or other marketing item.

So if I can take my business from a small country village in East Sussex to now working with clients and being asked to speak at events across the globe all in just 7 months you can too.

In short…

think how you want to be seen.

Think how you want to stand out.

Look at how you can engage with your target audience and finally the most important part, you have to take action.

If you read this and do nothing about it then in 3 years time you’re sitting there in the same place thinking the same things you’ll know why. Knowledge is nothing without action.

So go forth, develop your brand, engage with your audience and be seen the best way you can and most of all enjoy.

For more marketing advice please visit simonjordan.tv

Or contact me about my Marketing Mentoring for Success Package

At info@simonjordanmarketing.com

To your onward success

Simon Jordan

Marketing Consultant and Public speaker

SimonJordan.TV

Challenging Stereotypes by Lianne Dupre

November 9th, 2010     Guest Blogs

Having worked in a corporate environment for most of my career, I was very used to ‘towing the line’ and fitting in with the corporate setting. Whilst I regularly got infuriated with having to conform, there appeared to be little alternative if you wanted to progress within the HR and Finance industry.

Having become self employed, setting up my own accountancy firm, I decided to attend a 4 Networking event in order to promote my business. As soon as I walked in to the event, I took a huge sigh of relief, there were very few ‘suits’ and the women were proud to be women and were not trying to compete against the men. I knew 4N wasn’t like other networking groups, but having been a corporate robot in a highly stressful position, it really was a huge relief to be amongst people that didn’t talk about ‘firing from the hip’ or ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’.

From that very first meeting, I realised I could completely be myself and that was acceptable – no, actually more than that – uniqueness and personality were encouraged! I know I don’t fit the stereotypical accountancy image, but I realised this was actually a REALLY good thing, in fact it was my USP.

Since that day I have thrived on the fact that I can be myself completely within my own business and in doing so, I have attracted and retained a brilliant client base. Furthermore, I have become an Area Leader for 4N launching 3 brand new groups in South Wales, this has allowed me to demonstrate capability whilst also maintaining personality.

I have learned that successful people do not have to conform, that success is all about finding something which allows you to completely be yourself and therefore makes you happy.

Lianne Dupre

D2 Accounting & Area Leader for 4Networking

www.d2-accounting.co.uk

@LianneD2