Tomorrow, I get the opportunity to” brand” myself. Doesn’t sound good, does it? I don’t mean ”brand” as in branding cattle; I mean become identified as a marketer to a group of people who could be potential customers . I’m speaking to a group of home stagers who are part of the Jacksonville, Florida Real Estate Staging Association. They will meet me; find out my company name; see my logo, colors and tagline; and experience what I’m like in person. Yes, I will be marketing my talents but I’ll also be “branding” myself.
The audience will learn something about the importance of branding before marketing. They’ll learn what it is and why it’s the core of their marketing plan. And they will see me in action and make judgments about whether they need my services or not. Hopefully, they’ll think I know my stuff, that I have a benefit to offer them, and that as a former stager I can relate to them better than another marketing consultant. Most importantly, six months down the road when they are frustrated being a small business owner, they will remember that former stager turned marketer with the crazy sense of humor who taught them about ”branding”. They’ll pick up the phone and ask for their first complimentary consultation – their B-12 shot to get them motivated again.
What is this “branding” that’s so important to establish before you start marketing yourself? According to the American Marketing Association, branding is “a “name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.” Your brand is the perception that your customers and prospects have of you based upon their experiences with your company. Every time they see your company name, colors, logo, or tagline on your promotional materials, they should remember you. Customers who have used your services should remember the value your services provided to them and how they were special or unique. Prospects that you are marketing to should remember that they need your services or product. It all goes back to the word “differentiate”. Branding differentiates you from your competition. Your branding shows the customer how your products and services are the best ones that provide the solution to their problem. Before you start marketing, get your company branded! After all, you want to be noticed in that herd of competition, don’t you?
Wish me well tomorrow!
If you have any questions about your brand, shoot me an email. I’d love to chat with you about it.
Mary
About maryhabres
I am a small business marketing consultant in Jacksonville, Florida. Having staged many homes locally, I soon learned I had a passion for staging businesses for success. Realizing that many first-time small business owners don’t know how to market themselves, I started Encore Perception Marketing. My specialty is creating effective individualized marketing, branding, and communications strategies for those in the real estate and interior design -related industries. I am dedicated to Making Your Business the Star!
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