What Is A Brand, and How Do You Make One?

A brand is something that sets you apart from your competition. As you are walking down the aisle in the store, you will see many brands of shampoos, laundry detergents, cosmetics, and the list goes on. Each product has a particular function, laundry soap is for cleaning laundry, shampoo to wash hair, but what sets them apart? Why do you choose on brand over the other? You have somehow developed a connection to a certain brand, either by their promotional methods, referral by someone you trust, you may have tried it and liked the results, or just curiosity. This is where branding comes into play for you. You are going to create a brand that sets you apart from the rest, something that will connect to the public, to those who will benefit from your product.

You want to create an impression that will last “forever” in the minds of your prospects. Take a closer look as you watch ads on TV, or that you hear on the radio, what angles are they taking to get your attention? Let me give you a few tips on how to use the same angles that the pros use.

When someone contacts your business by phone, what response to they get? Are they greeted by a generic voicemail asking them to leave a message, or are they greeted by a real person with a friendly voice, ready to help the caller with their request?

Do you have a niche slogan, something memorable and appealing, gaining the trust of your potential customer? Let me give you some examples.

* Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.
* Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.
* Obey your thirst.
* It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
* So easy a Caveman can do it.
* Good to the last drop.

As you read these slogans, did the product immediately come to your mind? As you can see, the product is not listed in any of these slogans, but you automatically associate the brand with the slogan. You want to create a slogan that will invoke the same connection, something that will be simple, but unforgettable. You want to evoke a special expectation of your product, and make your motto your magnetic signature.

On your website, you have an About Me page, what you put here will create the impression you are striving for in the mind of your reader. What do you want your prospect to know about you?

Are you hardworking, expert in your niche, honest, trustworthy, dependable, creative, successful, etc…? You want to create your about me page to be something that will be engraved in your customers mind, and this can’t be done just by claiming to have these traits. You need to tell short stories, share experiences, that will evoke the feelings of loyalty and trust. You are creating a brand for yourself in the mind of your prospects.

Take these tips and put them to work in your viral marketing strategy, you will be on your way to creating your own brand that will be as memorable as the ones you hear and never forget.

‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe… it can achieve.’
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich

To your success,

Frank Bauer

Publisher of the More4you.ws Blogletter

Articles are a great way to get your name, your brand and your contact information out among Internet users.  If you have an article that is interesting, informative and is helpful about a service or product, then you will find your article spreading faster than the common cold. You are going to use the ever important resource box to include your contact information and website.  You can also allow others to use your article on their blogs, website, etc… as long as they keep your contact information in the resource box intact.

Now, let’s discuss how to make your article sell for you.  There is a very important part of article writing and that is the Resource Box, this is the “magic box” that will get your readers to your website.  This is where you will put a short bio and signature.  There are some key ingredients to your resource box and here they are:

• Name: Okay, you are thinking “duh, Frank… of course I know to put my name”.  Well, you would be astonished to know how may people do NOT include their name.  Your name and/or title is going to be the first thing you include in your resource box.
• Website Information: This needs to in a valid URL format for example:  http://viralurl.com/
• USP (Unique Selling Proposition): Here you will write a couple of sentences that will set your product or service apart from the others.  What makes you unique or special, why should they buy your product?
• Make the Sale: Now you have given them some great information, making them wanting a little more.  Now it is time to lead them to your website where you will then ASK for the Sale.

There are some other options that are great to include in your Resource Box, such as:

• Contact Information: This will be your business number or any other way that you can reached.  When you add this information, remember that your articles will be out there for a long time, you may not be able to change it so easily.
• Ezine Subscription: It is best to use a URL address rather than your email address for this.  You will be able to capture their email address and gain them as a reader, develop their trust in your service.
• Free Bonus: You can add a free report on your niche that will enhance your reputation as an expert on your topic.

While the things previously listed are great, you may want to avoid things such as including all your website listings.  You don’t want to have a bunch of websites that have no relevance to your article.  Keep the website that is related to your article only.  Also, avoid pitches for any products that have nothing to do with your product or service.

Also, your Resource Box should not be any larger than 20% of your entire article.  The article is the meat, and that is what your readers are looking for.  Your Resource Box is just the little extra for them to learn more about you and how to find more great information like they just read.Think of your article marketing strategy as “Give and Take”; You “Give” with your article and you “Take” with the Resource Box.

You are writing an article as your product advertising, a very inexpensive form of advertising I might add.  When you purchase advertising in any other form, you stop paying, the ad stops advertising.  Your article will be doing its job for years, selling your name, your product, all the while, creating more success for you.

It is vital that you know your product as well as your readers.  You have an audience and the more you know who they are, the more successful your articles will be.  Keywords are important to your article as well, know your keywords, include them 3 to 4 times throughout your article.

These are just a few things you need to know before you get started on your article marketing campaign.  If you know your subject, just write about it.  You don’t have to be a writer or a poet to do this.  Anyone can do it, you just need to begin.

‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe… it can achieve.’
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich

To your success,

Frank Bauer

Owner of More4you.ws