You need to build a brand for your business or dream because it’s the connective tissue between you and the people you want to serve.
Today is all about creating a life around doing and monetizing things significant to you.
If you’re actively building a brand, business, or dream project, likely you already know this.
But, making a career or extra income from things that drive and interest you, your story, experiences, talent, and passions is becoming a way of the world.
That makes it such the perfect storm to put your heart and soul into your dream projects and allowing your brand to bring it to life.
In today’s robust digital age, because of social media and online marketing, dream catching is becoming the norm and not the exception.
When you build a brand, you create a pathway to connect with people on a real and personal level genuinely.
By building a personal brand, you invite people into crazy, spunky, weird, lavish, brilliant, fun, or exciting your world.
You allow them to get to know you, the mission behind what drives you, and the kind impact you want to make.
They’re able to feel your energy and bond with you at a human level.
It’s in our human nature to identify with things, people, and experiences that resonate with us.
Consequently, by sharing those experiences, and branding yourself, you invite people to go on life’s journey with you.
The Magic That Happens When You Build A Brand
People you want to do business with will begin to like, trust, and know you exist.
Imagine that, not having to chase people to buy your valuable products and services.
Instead, you’ll find your people, build rapport with them, and make buying from you feel like the next logical thing to do.
YES!
Branding is just that powerful and juicy.
When your audience and dream customers relate to you on a personal level, they begin to care about you.
I mean, care about you beyond the products and services you offer.
Sounds promising, right?
As you allow your peeps into your world, they’re permitted to know you on a deeper level.
A simple caption under your Instagram post can take your followers on a journey.
When it aligns with their values, problems, and experiences in a few seconds, you can inspire them to feel joy, sadness, hope, empathy, or inspiration.
Think about the power that holds and the connection it forges.
Similarly, when you build a brand, your messages can go far and wide.
Also, once someone identifies with or feels inspired by you, they’ll rally behind you and join the causes important to them.
Because once people know your values, experiences, or dreams align with theirs, they rock you with you.
The Obvious Business Truth
A business at its core is simply an institution or organization that systematically sells a product or service.
A business doesn’t have a heart or soul.
Similarly, it can’t inspire or share stories or evoke emotions.
Consequently, the Internet has commoditized just about everything.
You can Google everything and find a cheaper, newer, more innovative business ideas and pricing models.
Similarly, the old way of competing against cost, luxury, credentials, or innovation isn’t prevalent.
That is the very reason why you should build a brand and not just your business.
People will remain relatively human until the end of our lifetime. : )
With all the latest technology, no promises on what is possible later down the road.
So here’s the most important takeaway, people buy based on emotions.
Emotions on a promise that a product or service will deliver on their very personal problem need desire or aspiration.
A business can’t speak to those wants.
To be competitive today, the leaders or executives of every company have to make their brands visible.
Or, the business has to message a robust branding campaign consistently.
And for larger corporations, they do both.
Either way, it’s the brand that always drives the business’s success.
Because without a brand, the business is just a product or service that’s commoditized.
People Do Business With People
You get it.
You’ll intentionally build a brand because you’re a smart cookie.
And not just any brand, a unique and real personal brand will take you far.
Wait, let me guess what you’re thinking.
Listen, you can do this.
If you feel like a blubbering mess trying to communicate who you are and what you do without feeling ‘salesy’ so does most people.
Especially at first, but your personal brand love story exists.
However, you have to choose the parts of your brand that most embody you and the impact you want to have.
Ask yourself the critical questions.
How do I want to be known?
What kind of impact does do I want to have?
What drives me to do the work I do?
How do I want my audience to feel when they’ve finished interacting with me?
Of all of my experiences, and lessons what are the top three most valuable things I want to share to impact or inspire others?
How can you connect your essential experiences to answer the question of WHY you do what you do (and why should others care)?
Want even better news?
You build a brand because your brand can outlive your business.
Your brand is about your wholeness.
You may not want to be doing what you do today three, five, or ten years from now.
When you have a personal brand that people connect to, it gives you the grace to pivot.
You may be a multi-passionate or serial entrepreneur, great!
However, guess what buttercup?
There’s the only one you.
No matter what you do, no one will be able to do it quite like you.
Your Swag Is Exclusively Yours.
Your magic was given to you and you alone.
No one else shares your exact DNA, and NO ONE else name is on your blessings.
BELIEVE THAT.
And move like you know that.
Don’ let imposter syndrome or the fear of what 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑳𝑫 happens to block your blessings.
If you need some brand-building foundation love, I’ve got you. Grab a free copy of The Brand & Business Building Plan here.
Every day choose to write the chapters of your book intentionally.
Nothing makes a book better than a great cliffhanger now and again.
Build your brand and give yourself space for cliffhangers as you choose to pivot.
Get out your way, and drop kick the BS.
Your beliefs,
The environment,
Excuses,
Your past,
Life’s distractions,
Your idea of how things are ‘suppose to be,’
The stories you tell yourself,
Let it go, and authentically be you.
Share your messages and let people into your world.
You’ll amaze yourself about how powerful your story and all the craziness of your life can impact someone else writing a chapter from your past.
That’s it; do it!
Build a brand.
Consequently, you’ll grow your influence, make a more significant impact, and be able to monetize your message if you choose.
Ayeeeee!
Drop me note below and let me know what’s holding you back or where you might feel stuck.
The world needs to hear from you. Let’s talk about it.
P.S. Have you checked out the latest fashion fits over at the ShopTheBGuide, if not check it out here!
Imagine life 365 days from now once you took action on just one of the brilliant online business ideas you have.
Have you been dreaming of, planning and praying your online empire for some time now?
The passive income, the 5-hour workweeks, and living in the ‘Netflix’ and chill mode.’
YES!!! I too dream of that.
But here’s the thing.
I could give a pretty convincing argument that the phrase ‘passive income’ should be banned as it relates to business period, exclamation point.
Yeah about that, that’s a post for another time.
But taking a viable online business idea and turning it into a six or seven-figure business is becoming less a dream and more a reality for lots of passionate entrepreneurs.
Consequently, learning how to build a captivating brand and systematically attracting people online begins with a real talent. I know that doesn’t scare you. We all have talents and skills we’ve honed and teaching, coaching and sharing your expertise at scale can be very rewarding and profitable.
Here’s the thing, once you know exactly what you want to share, make a commitment to start working on a plan and putting a system in place to make it happen.
Your dream can happen but it takes a strong vision, a plan and real work.
No secret, taking a book, blog, merchandise or business from an idea to profitability requires focus and next-level hustle, but are you afraid of that?
Exactly, I didn’t think so.
Furthermore, if you’re ready to narrow down your business idea and figure out what online business model would work best for you let’s chat.
Enough Chit-Chat
If only the well-meaning discussions with your BFF about your game-changing biz could make it pop, you’d be rich!
I can relate, I procrastinated for years before taking my idea and talents online.
If your online business idea has been a staple in your head year after year, it’s time to move forward.
By now you’re tired of dreaming how your life could play out if you could pursue what you love full-time.
Consequently, you likely know you’d make more money and impact online doing something you love doing.
In moments of real clarity, It’s evident to you.
That the sooner you can escape the constraints of the 9-5 employee or 8-8 entrepreneur grind, you can build something amazing.
And the thought of you being able to own your time ultimately gives you goosebumps.
I think you know, but if there is any question in your mind here’s the nasty truth.
Our comfort zone is where we’re most comfortable and LAZY.
The Ugly Truth About Comfort Zones
There are undeniably valid reasons for you to cling to your ideals of stability.
It’s normal to feel stressed when you don’t know what’s going to happen next.
For many ‘would be’ successful online entrepreneurs and personal brands, the stress of leaving your fate to your job, boss and the economy is more doable than taking the big leap.
This study is just another among a long line of studies that show, we learn the most when there is uncertainty.
The study concludes, and I concur, not being in learning mode 24/7 is a good thing, because who wants to learn all the time?
Not I!
But, as an advocate for people with a dream and the soft skills, experiences, and talent to make that dream a business reality, I believe wholeheartedly in temporary discomfort.
Furthermore, science continues to prove that when you’re chilling in your comfort zone, you’re NOT learning.
How To Streamline Your Business Ideas
You’re in the great company of human nature to overvalue the perceived security of having a traditional job.
And it’s the path of least resistance to allow your steady income and convenience to rock you to sleep in your comfort zone.
But what now?
First, decide if you’re willing to trade in the benefits of being an employee for the uncertainty of becoming a business owner.
And, don’t take the pros and cons likely.
It isn’t easy to pursue your business dream and start an online business, and it’s NOT for everyone!
It takes persistent effort, a plan, and some hustle juice to build out your online business idea.
Your Belief Will Sustain Your New Venture
Above all else, if you don’t believe in your products or services, no one else will.
Success-driven entrepreneurs carry an unwavering commitment to using what they know and can do to empower themselves and others.
In their minds, there is no doubt that their gifts, skills, and talents are best leveraged working for themselves.
If you’re not afraid of exploring your fullest potential, and you’re committed to doing the work, fabulous!
An online business could transform your life.
Likely, you’ve convinced yourself you’re too busy, and you don’t have the time.
I hear you, but what’s more important than fulfilling your purpose, doing work you care deeply about and serving those you want to help?
You Can Own Your Economy
I didn’t take the online business leap until it became shamefully obvious I hadn’t scaled my traditional marketing business.
Face to face with a huge missed opportunity; I realized it was my time to pivot and refresh.
The most valued lesson learned is that procrastination and fear are the biggest dream snatchers in these virtual streets.
I knew I could efficiently run an online business that would become more intentional, purpose-driven, and successful than the old model.
There was NO doubt in my mind, I could free up more time and serve more of the people I have always wanted to help.
But here’s the thing, I made the same ‘BS’ excuses so many ‘would be’ profitable entrepreneurs often make.
Once I stepped out of my comfort zone and packaged my services into digital ones, something magical happened.
I discovered how seamless it is to offer my services online and actually service more people without doing more work.
Well, isn’t that something?
Daily, I see first hand how eCommerce and online businesses have become the fastest growing industries worldwide.
From where I sit, it’s jaw-dropping apparent how online sales worldwide reached $2.304 trillion.
How a 24.8% increase in year over year has happened in the online space, yet double-digit growth over the next few years is expected, according to eMarketer.
3 Profitable Online Business Ideas In 2019 & Beyond
Start A Blog To Monetize It
We’re in the heart of an era where millions of people are online looking for how-to’s on everything from gardening to marketing.
If you have an area of expertise where you can teach or inspire people around a subject, blogging is a viable online business option.
As a blogger, once you decide the main topic or idea you want to cover and blog about, find a niche that suits you.
In your role as a blogger, to stand out and make traction fast, you need to create engaging content for your target audience.
I’m talking about consistently creating blog posts that educate, inform, inspire, or entertains your potential dream customers.
Once you establish your brand and build a following, package your knowledge into info-based digital products around your blog’s topic to sell from your blog.
As a blogger, You’re A Content Creator
I started my first personal branding blog in 2014 and have started two more since.
The impact that you can have when you share what seems so natural to you may surprise you.
I used my first blog as a way to build an email list, I later monetized.
For you, the goal is to sell something valuable your audience will want, and you have lots of options.
If I were you, I’d opt for things like ebooks, digital products, sponsored posts, coaching services around your blog topic, and your own branded merchandise.
Ready to put in the work and create content around something you already know about?
Great, cause blogging can be extremely profitable, no secret, some bloggers are out here making over 100k per month.
Self Publish A Book Or Amazon
I would argue that most professionals and creatives have a solid book idea in them.
If you have unique experiences and understand how to do something well, package it as a book or ebook, and sell it.
Write your ebook or hard copy book from your viewpoint: that’s your unique vantage point and have it self-published.
Similar to a blog, create an online platform in the form of a website for your book. Create content for it around the topic of your book.
If you’ve been thinking about publishing an ebook or book, do it.
Do Your Book Publishing Homework On The Front End
Start building a brand and connecting online with the ideal people you’d want to buy your book.
Begin using your social media posts to create micro-blogs about the topics you’re thinking of covering in your book.
Pay attention to what content gets the most engagement and spark the most conversations.
Then set aside at least an hour each week to start writing your book.
Open a new Google docs file and get to writing.
Start with the end goal of what you want people to know when they’re done reading the book and how you want them to feel.
Use your answers as a guide for the book’s outline, the chapters, the stories to share, and the tone of voice you’ll use in your writing.
For some helpful tips to get you started the right way, visit Amazon’s standards.
Create A Digital Product
As it’s worth repeating, I’m a big fan of knowledge-based products.
Do you have a clear area of expertise in which you want to use the knowledge you already have to serve people?
If so, creating a digital product can change your life.
Exactly what I mean by a digital product?
Digital products are anything you can create and sell entirely online from your laptop.
To name a few, you can package your knowledge, expertise, passion, or craft in several ways.
There are online courses, ebooks, coaching, online memberships, digital magazines, photography, packaged services, download templated, workbooks, guides, meal plans, workout regimes, hair care guides, make-up application cheatsheets, and the list goes on.
Imagine as an online coach hopping on the Web to provide your expertise to coaching clients via Skype or Google Hangout.
You can set up weekly, monthly, or, even daily schedules depending on the client and projects you have.
Or, you could have an online course to teach the experiences, craft, skills, or talent you’ve been using your entire professional career.
What about your passion or personal interests?
You’ve got options to choose from when deciding what products or services to create and monetize in your online business.
Where To Go From Here
We live in the heart of a time where you can create, launch, and grow the entirety of your business from your laptop.
Once you kick the idea of remaining comfortable to the curb what’s not to be little-girl giggly about?
To grow your online community, you must have a consistent online marketing strategy and plan to get your brand visible to more people.
You’re a smart cookie.
You know that as a new online entrepreneur, there is an untapped opportunity to get what you do in front of just the right people at the right time.
Regardless of your niche, specific online marketing strategies will help you attract more people into your online community
Play To Win
You have exceptional talent and things your brand and business provide.
On the conservative side, there are hundreds, thousands, and in some instances, millions of people who want that specific expertise you offer.
Or that specific product and service you provide.
Your audience wants to know what you know and is inspired to achieve or experience something you’ve already done for themselves.
To be a real player in this online game don’t be shy and open your virtual mouth often.
You know what you do, who you do it for, and why you do it.
Shout it to the heavens through your blog, articles you write, and the social posts you share.
Take your brand message and the value you bring to the marketplace online steroid style.
Brand Messaging Matters
As a new blogger, solopreneur, or new entrepreneur, the first part of your online marketing strategy to attract your online community should be getting clear.
Get crystal clear about who you’re talking and why.
Then craft a brand message that takes who you are and what you do and makes it exciting and relatable to the people you want to serve.
You do what you do because you have that beautiful talent, craft, and experiences you’ve been able to package to help other people.
But, before you can serve them that have to know you exist and you’ve got to build the like, understand, and trust factor with them.
It sounds like a lot, but it’s not.
“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
-Michele Ruiz, President and CEO of Ruiz Strategies
Be Snobby
You are not marketing your personal brand, products, or service to everyone.
So the brand messages that you use to attract your online audience shouldn’t be vague and for everyone.
You have a niche to target, the ideal customer you want to buy your products and services.
So be snobbish with your social media strategy, your email marketing plan, and your content marketing strategy.
Only create and share content that you know resonates with them and help you to become the go-to girl for your thing.
What does that mean for you?
It means that once you identify the demographics and psychographics of your ideal audience, you should curate content that you know will attract those folks.
Your niche, the dream customers that you created your new online business to serve, are the people who will appreciate your thought-leadership, influence, or impact the most.
Your tribe wants to know a lot about you, and you have to be a bit vulnerable at times and share your authentic story.
The more you share your journey, ideas, insight, and behind-the-scenes of your life with them, the more relatable you’ll be to them.
Your online community and audience are online seeking solutions to problems they have.
They’re looking for new insight and information.
They are seeking different ways and knowledge to help them live their best lives!
Similar to real-life relationships with your girls, you should aim to attract Internet friends that value you.
An online community of people that appreciate your distinct style, voice, value, and expertise will become your tribe.
And remember, your goal is to attract and online community that is very niche but also diverse.
That’s important, hear me here. There will be some people who will join your tribe, consume your content, and you’ll be able to convert those online friends into customers.
Others will become personal brand supporters, brand ambassadors, and collaborators: All like-minded. So you need both, the audience that will buy your stuff and those that will support and share your stuff.
And yes, some will be both, and those are my faves!
Get In Formation
Cause who needs Internet friends that aren’t information?!
No one!
Exactly.
You’re the leader of the tribe and though-leader of your community.
It’s your job to invite, entertain, and host the people who show up at your Internet party.
Make them feel warm inside about showing up for you, and get them excited to support and hear from you.
They won’t see the world exactly like you, but they should undoubtedly have similar values, goals, and aspirations.
And like real friendships take work, so do online ones.
I know, I too struggle to see my friends in real life, but I make it happen.
No getting around it, building a community of anything is about the relationship.
A healthy, balanced, respectable give and take exchange.
Real relationships are NOT created with aggressive online selling.
Relationships are formed and strengthened by genuine listening and authentic two-way communication,
Great content reinforces your credibility in your specialty and will get people excited to buy into your concepts, methodologies, and unique way of doing things.
Relevant content validates to your tribe that you’re products and services were built, sourced, or created by someone who knows what they’re doing.
It’ll solidify what you know and do.
And, boss up your content marketing strategy.
As you consistently follow your plan, you’ll build momentum that’ll reinforce your authority.
That credibility will position you to establish the like, know, and trust factor with your online community.
Resonate With Your Ideal Customers
The more relevant content you create and share on your social media channels, in your email marketing, and on your blog; the more connected they’ll become.
Your consistency will pull your tribe in as you show them, that you understand their lives and aspirations and can help them.
By sharing content online that informs, educates, or aspires your online community, you’ll stay top of mind with them.
Remind your audience you’ve been where they now stand.
Show your audience how you’ve created a viable solution to move your followers towards there goals.
You are the most significant variable that helps people in your market decide if they want to do business with you or your competition. Galvanize your tribe with lots of delicious content candy.
It connects your audience with the real and authentic person behind the keyboard.
When you share content, your ideal audiences find interesting it reiterates to them that you’re a genuine person who understands them as a real person.
Targeted content that is very relevant gives people a valid reason to believe in you and your business and connects them to your mission.
Again use your content to reinforce with your audience why they should like and trust you.
Because that is the only way to open the doors for them to eventually do business with you, recommend you to their friends, or introduce you to their community.
That’s an all-around win!
Call In Your Online Tribe
In The Ultimate Brand & Business Building Plan, there’s an entire section in the eight steps to more impact and income.
It’s in part under Growing Your Tribe, and it covers list building, social media plus a sales & marketing strategy. Grab it right below now.
Make sure your content is worth sharing and targetted to attract the online tribe you want.
Create targetted content you know your audience will appreciate and get on a schedule to consistently share it from your website, blog, and social channels that:
Are based around content themes and topics of the products or services you’re selling.
Have your spin, methodologies, or approaches. Stamp it with your magic.
o It was created specifically for your ideal customer and their needs, desires, or aspirations (it’s not for you).
Shows your personal brand will be approachable, engaging, and efficient and a pleasure to experience.
Is worth sharing, referencing and coming back to as a valuable resource
Share the social causes, values, movements that you care about
Ok, that my friend is the foundation needed to attract your online community.
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