www.narvinta.com

I know it’s asking a lot but you need to set aside a minimum of
15 minutes a day to build your brand. You can do many things in
15 minutes a day that will help build visibility credibility and
a strong personal portfolio.

Here’s a short list to get you thinking about your “packaging”
your brand.

Refine your “elevator” pitch.
The best ones simply don’t happen overnight. They come from
refining and condensing the message down to its core elements.
Spend time every week tweaking yours. If you want, send it to me
and I’ll give you my impression. (Serious branders only,
please.)

Update your resume.

This can be done in increments. List your best, most recent
accomplishments and put them into sound bytes that can be
inserted into any resume or personal self-promotion. Remember to
use real benefits here, not dry language about where you went to
school or what happened ten years ago. Tell me what you have
accomplished lately.

Call a couple of magazines and introduce yourself to the
editor.
Spend just a few minutes on the phone and follow up via email
with your expertise and credentials and a suggested idea for an
article.

Do some vanity searches.
Type in your name in various search engines. Remember to use the
quotes around your name so you won’t get a lot of unrelated
queries. Not showing up? It’s time to get busy building that
brand.

Start a personal blog.
You have to be serious about keeping it updated. Most people
start one only to become pressed for time and quit.
NOTE: It takes about six months to get results.

Write a personal press release template.
Once you do, you will always have it on hand when you get that
important call.
NOTE: In the “Packaging Yourself Workbook,” we have done all the
work for you so all you have to do is fill in the blanks.

Research the industry trade shows schedule for 06.

Find out which shoes or conferences you should attend where you
can learn something new, or more importantly ones where you can
be a speaker.

Start working on your own personal website.
This will requite a lot of time and effort to do it right so
spend a few minutes every day. You can generate lots of personal
press around this too.

Set up your competitive news alerts. You know the people you
admire or aspire to emulate. You need to know what they are
doing.

Last but not least renew your professional memberships even if youhave to pay for them yourself. Its one of the least expensive self-promotiontools available

Give six months dedication to building your brand. That’s the
soonest you are likely to see results. In any case keep meposted
about what you are doing and above all tell about your
successes.

These tips and more come from the extensive library of personal
branding tools developed by JoAnn Hines the Chief People Packager
available in the “Packaging Yourself Workbook.”

If you have a question or issue that needs an answer please let me know email packagingcoach@aol.com.

How to create an elevator speech; How to make most of those first 30 seconds or less; How to use networking to build your business; How to speak your way to fame and fortune; are all included in the Packaging Yourself Workbook Order now @ http://www.packaginguniversity.com/pkgustorefront.htm

To subscribe to the personal branding e-zine “Packaging Yourself” email me @ pkgcoach@aol.com

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Your marketing and advertising won’t be effective if your potential customers don’t believe the claims you make. So how can you prove your that you can do what you say you can?

Tone it down. Even if it is possible, your claim that dieters can lose 50 pounds in a month probably won’t be believed. Make it more realistic and representative of typical results.

Get customer testimonials. Let them see that others have had great results. Testimonials should be specific and include the customer’s real name for the most credibility.

Get endorsements from experts. Respected authorities who say that your product or service is good make you look good.

Positive media coverage will make you a star. Media coverage provides an implied endorsement from a respected source.

Show a track record. Have you been in business for 20 years? Customers are more comfortable doing business with someone they believe will be around if there is a problem after the sale.

Make yourself accessible. Give a phone number or e-mail address where customers can contact you (or support staff) directly with questions. Phone numbers are especially valuable in creating the awareness that you are approachable by clients. Add live chat at your web site to resolve support issues.

Cite statistics from a reputable source to back up your claims. There is a joke that 67.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot. When you use statistics, tell where they came from.

And, never make claims that aren’t true. If you are caught in a lie, it can be difficult or impossible to reclaim the trust of your customers.

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the Idea Lady, Cathy Stucker can help you attract customers and make yourself famous with creative strategies that help your business excel. Get free marketing tips and discover what she can do for you at http://www.IdeaLady.com/.

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