Building Your Brand 101: Ten Simple Ways to Brand Yourself

Over this week, we’ve touched on a few ways to build your brand.  We’ll finish the course with the Top 10 ways you can brand yourself:

1. Get published in magazines – One simple way of branding yourself as an expert is to have an article published in an online magazine that your target market enjoys reading.  Are you a mommy blogger?  Then seek out magazines that cater to moms.  Many publications have submission guidelines posted on their website.  So take your best content and start submitting.
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2. Guest post on notable blogs – Seek out the top blogs in your industry or even less notable ones that attract your target.  Review their site to get a feel for the types of topics they feature and then contact the owner to pitch your topic.
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3. Submit articles to article submission sites – Take a few of your best posts and submit them to article submission sites.  Be sure to add your compelling message in your byline as well as your website.   Here are some submission sites to get your started:  200 article submission sites
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4. Get social – online & off – By now, you have established yourself on one or two social networking sites.  Now it’s time to get consistent in posting and interacting with your community.  But don’t stop there, scout out networking groups online (like voiceBoks, the parent community which sponsored these posts) and in your local community.  This will give you great opportunities to showcase your knowledge and attract new customers.
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5. Business cards that attract and sell – As you network locally, you need a calling card that not only tells who you are, but attracts customers to you.  Check out this post on creating business cards that help you attract: Create a Business Card That Sells.
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6. Volunteer – Seek out the sites where your target hangs out and look for opportunities to get in front of them.  This may mean offering articles for free that get posted on their site’s blog.  Or it may involve volunteering for staff position for an online business that caters to your niche.   It may require a little time on your part, but it can get your face and bio in front of your target.
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7. Share what you know – Create your signature talk – that topic that showcases you as a person who knows what they’re talking about and can help solve your target’s problem.  Offer this talk to potential customers via teleclass, webinar or in your local community.  It’s a great way to interact and build your know-like-trust factor with them.
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8. Do more than is expected – Give added value when least expected and stand out from your competition.  Be known as someone who genuinely cares for their community and gives freely and often.
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9. Get personal – Reach out to your best supporters with personal thank-you notes or glowing comments on their sites.  Let them know you appreciate their support.
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10. Be what you teach – We all need to walk our talk.  Create an image that oozes value and then deliver on it.  In all you do, be your brand.  Showcase those unique strengths and abilities that only you possess and attract those who most need what you have to offer.