Brand You Personal Branding

Is inconsistent marketing getting in the way of better clients & more money? You had the best intentions, but you never got serious about marketing in 2015. Your workload is a roller coaster and your marketing gets back-burnered when you get client work. You're running a business (and a life) so you just don't have blocks of time for marketing. You need more (and better) clients but you get paralyzed because you're not sure which marketing efforts will work. You need a simple plan that will take your business up a notch. Today's guest, Ilise Benun from Marketing-Mentor.com is here to help. I've been following Ilise for quite awhile and have to say -- her content in top-notch. She's a brilliant marketing mind, and this interview is full of great perspectives on types of content marketing, ways to connect with people at live events, and much more. I'm going to personally follow this guideline for the first quarter of 2016 and see what it does for me. Tune into this episode and join me on the journey. Find O

A few weeks ago Dr. Ann Vertel, an accomplished business coach, speaker, and avid listener of the podcast, asked about how to market "soft" skills. In today's episode I share a simple approach to marketing based on your potential client's level of awareness. In short, the more aware a client is of his or her need for your service, the more direct you can be with your marketing. The more unaware they are, the more "indirect" you need to be in your marketing -- preferably with an emphasis on story-telling. Mentioned in Today's Episode: Dr. Ann Vertel How To Market Yourself Like No One Else Can

A few weeks ago Rick Marion, a listener of the podcast, asked about affiliate marketing: "I notice you offer a number of affiliate products. Do you have any tips, other than standing behind the affiliate obviously, on how to select affiliates? How to approach affiliates? And would you recommend purchasing a product that you know your audience would use, so that you can in turn offer it as an affiliate to your audience?" In today's episode I share my income figures from affiliate marketing in 2015, and 4 of the criteria I use to decide on who to partner with. Mentioned in Today's Episode: Ray Edwards Kary Oberbrunner Mario Jannatpour's Real Estate Mastery Summit Kevin Monroe (you should download his 5 questions guide!) Kingsley Grant Matt McWilliams (affiliate manager extraordinaire) A Few Tools I've Become Affiliates For: Bluehost (web hosting) LeadPages ConvertKit

One of the most common issues professional service providers struggle with is setting fees. In this episode, Kirk Bowman from the Art of Value podcast unpacks practical advice on pricing. In my opinion, this is one of the best episodes (ever) of this podcast! There were several instances during our conversation where I had to pause just because Kirk blew my mind with what he was sharing. This is a must listen. Register for Kirk's Pricing Master Class, Free. Join Kirk on Thursday January 7, 2016 at 7:00PM for a free online master class on pricing. I've already registered and plan to attend. Register for Kirk's webinar here »

If you plan to make guest blogging and podcast interviews a part of your overall brand strategy, don't overlook this small but vital part of the process: your bio! Guest need to be both punchy and persuasive so that you maximize your exposure on these other platforms. Your goal: to get visitors who enjoy your content over to YOUR platform and hopefully onto your email list. In this episode, we take a quick look at several guest bios I've written that you can adapt to your own use. Get My ‘Guest Bio Copywriting Swipe File’ Free

Looking to make a change to your business logo? Make sure you consider these 3 crucial things when having it designed. In today's episode, we take a slightly deeper dive into establishing a strong visual identity. If you're looking for custom designs, I recommend my designer Jason Clement or employing the folks over at 99 Designs. 1. Make sure it looks good small. Most people will see your logo on a very (very!) small screen: their phone. Your logo needs to be identifiable, even on a very small piece of digital real estate. 2. Make sure it looks good in black and white. This is all about creating good contrast in your logo. Putting it in black & white is a great litmus test on whether you have enough contrast in your design. Secondly, having a good contrast in black and white allows you to "flip" the scheme so you can use your logo on top of darker backgrounds.  3. Decide on whether you want an icon-based logo, typography-based logo, or combination of both. Icon-based logos include Nike (the famous 'swoos

If you've ever struggled on getting clarity regarding your brand's identity, it may have something to do with the fact that you really have three identities. That's right, three! In today's episode we talk about these 3 identities: the visual, the verbal, and the value. Each works in tandem with the other two, and together they form a (hopefully) cohesive picture of your brand that is clear and convincing. Mentioned in Today's Episode: On December 8th at 7:00PM I'll be hosting a free webinar on how to design 3D book covers. Want to join? Register here.

Ever feel like you don't have enough time, money, know-how, connections, clients, etc.? I do, and in today's episode we cover 3 simple exercises that can help you rediscover what you have and put you in the right frame of mind to shape a successful future. The clarity that came as a result of engaging in these 3 exercises was unbelievable, and it allowed me to have my best year yet. I have a lot to be thankful for -- including your choice to allow me a small role in your own growth and development. I think you'll find these exercises helpful, so tune in today. Mentioned in Today's Episode: On December 8th at 7:00PM I'll be hosting a free webinar on how to design 3D book covers. Want to join? Register here.

Gaining clarity can be one of the most frustrating parts of building a personal brand. We're constantly peppered with information that tells us we should know our ideal client, our unique selling proposition, and so forth. In today's episode, I share 3 things that helped me gain more clarity when launching my brand -- they might help you, too. Mentioned in Today's Episode: How To Use Facebook To Build Your Personal Brand The Power of Positive Peer Pressure by Ray Edwards Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!

One of the greatest weapons in our creative and business arsenals is one of the least heralded: rest. Today I share my takeaway from (of all places) the spy novels featuring Jason Bourne, made even more famous by the action flicks starring Matt Damon. I also share the 3 biggest challenges I've faced since "going solo" in my own business, and how being self-aware of our own tendencies can keep us coping habits that can adversely affect our business.

Live events are important both for our personal and professional development. But attending any kind of event requires both a large investment of time and money, and as such it should be treated like an investment. This episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the steps I use to prepare for attending a live event and ensuring I know my "why" ... my purpose for attending. When I'm clear on this, nearly every event I attend becomes a success. What is my purpose for attending this event? What are the "success criteria" necessary for me to accomplish my purpose? Why is accomplishing this purpose important? What would be the ideal outcome of attending this event? Mentioned in Today's Episode: 5 Killer Kary Oberbrunner Quotes from Igniting Souls Conference Podcast Movement Social Media Marketing World  

Some might consider this a "good" problem: having multiple, viable brands. But how do you deal with juggling more than one brand, especially if they're not closely related? This episode looks at some real-life examples of people managing multiple brands, and a few criteria you might be able to use in deciding whether you should narrow your focus or not. Mentioned in this episode: Jody Maberry Park Leaders Show Creating Disney Magic with Lee Cockerell Porn Free Radio Matt Dobschuetz Text 'BRANDYOU54' to 33444 to get a walkthrough that might help you decide what to do with managing multiple brands.

If you join me inside Ray Edwards' Copywriting Academy course, I'm prepared to offer these 3 exclusive bonuses: 1. 1-on-1 Copy Consultation - I'll look over your promotion to advise you with tips and tweaks. Retail value: $1000 2. Access to all my copywriting resources - Writing a Winning Support Letter, Essential Business Forms, Click-To-Client Email Templates. Retail value: $200 3. Access to my vault of all my copywriting promotions, including client projects. Take and tweak to your specific needs. Retail value: $5000 To qualify, join the Copywriting Academy using this exclusive link: http://affiliates.rayedwards.com/salespage/a151

When clients don't pay you feel frustrated, out of sync, conflicted, and it's a difficult situation. Using the right words in these situations can smoothly prod clients into taking the action you want...paying you! Today I'll share some sample scripts I use, tips to avoid working with clients that don't pay, and how to respond when clients feel like they haven't received the value for the money they've paid. To get today's scripts, text PAYMENOW to 33444. 

If you know anything about well, anything — it’s likely you’ve had someone ask to “pick your brain.” So, should you? Especially if this person is asking you for advice or information that you’re normally paid for? Today’s episode notes 3 reasons why you shouldn’t. Would you mind leaving an honest review for the Brand […]

Ah, time management … it’s one of those phrases I hate to love, and love to hate. But we all know that time management is more than a buzzword — it’s integral to our success in life. If time is our most precious commodity, why do we treat it as if it isn’t? Human beings […]

Ever experience “mission drift” when it comes to your personal brand? Well, so do I. That’s why I started using this simple one-page productivity plan. This can take as little as ten minutes to complete, but it’s effect is undeniable. I have this plan laminated and displayed throughout my workspaces — even the shower! This […]

You’ve heard it one too many times: picking a niche is the key to success. But how do you actually do it, without feeling like you’re intentionally tying one hand behind your back? The key isn’t found in picking a niche, it’s in focus. That might sound cliche, but tune in and you’ll see why. […]

You’ve bought the online courses. You’ve attended conferences. You’ve read the right books, tuned into the top podcasts, and even modeled your blog after your favorite online expert. But no matter how religiously you follow the “right” advice, you just can’t seem to get more traction. What gives? Chances are, you’re missing what I consider […]

Can a subtle shift in focus really make that big of a difference in your business and in your income? Our guest says, “Absolutely, yes!” Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences. He regularly addresses audiences ranging in size from 50 to 16,000. He has shared the platform with notables […]