What’s Your Brand?—Perception is Everything!
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Creative Business Brand
What's Your Brand?
This episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series focuses on how to develop your brand. We discuss the importance of having a brand to making your customer perceive you as: 1) trustworthy; 2) worth more money; and 3) special.
What is your customer's perception of you and your company? Your brand allows you to live in the hearts and minds of your customers. A brand builds up customer loyalty. Listen as we explain why branding is important. We also explain how you can brand yourself and your business.
What is Branding?
In Branding Small Businesses for Dummies, branding has been called the science and art of making something unique in the eye of the customer. Branding makes you different from everyone else. A brand stands for something! A great brand is easy to remember. It is usually represented by a symbol. Perhaps you are familiar with the Nike “swoosh” symbol. Is your business represented by a symbol? Do you have a logo? We are also familiar with the “red” can and the distinctive font on the front of a can of Coca Cola. All of this is branding. Branding is all about the promises that you make and the promises that you keep. You tell your customer all about you and your business with everything you do. Your brand becomes your identity!
Why is Branding Important?
Branding is important because it allows you to stand out in a crowd. It differentiates you from potential competitors. Even if your product is the same as someone else's, branding makes your product special. Remember that is your customer's perception that is the key. How does your customer perceive you, your product or service? That perception becomes your brand. Are you always late in delivering a service? Then your brand is “being late.”
What if You Developed a Brand?
Just think what would happen if you had a powerful brand? You would become memorable! Your past customers would be your greatest sales people. They will absolutely insist on you and only you and your product and services. Your customers will have loyalty to you.
Conclusion
Branding is an important part of your business strategy. It allows you to stand out in a crowd and develops loyalty from your customers. Your branding gives you an identity in the hearts and minds of your customers.
We will continue this discussion on our podcast series and on this blog.
Let us hear from you about how you have branded yourself and your company.
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Building a Great Business Team
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A Great Business Team!
Building a Great Business Team
In this episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series we discuss the importance of building a team to support your success. Experience and history tells us that you cannot build anything of significance without a team. In today's episode we discuss the lessons of team building from examples such as Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Abraham Lincoln. You are also building a business of significance.
You will not be the success that you want to be or deserve to be without a business team. A business team will support you. A team will help make your dreams a reality. In today's episode we also discuss (1) what is a team; and (2) why a team is so important. We also share the one easy step that you must take if you want to build a great business team.
Do What You Do Best!
Learning to delegate can be a challenge for a new entrepreneur. But you must quickly learn that you can not do everything in your business. For one thing, you would exhaust yourself. I remember when I was a new manager and tried to keep too much control over the written documents that we were responsible for producing each month. I quickly realized that I could not by myself possibly generate the volume of work required. I needed to rely on my team to produce the first drafts. I would then edit and polish the work. Do you find yourself facing a similar dilemma? Yes, I probably could have written a better first draft than any of the team members. But I came to realize that their first draft was good enough.
What are you doing in your business that someone less talented could do? What are you doing that is not the best use of your time and talents? What are you doing that someone with a completely different skillset is more qualified than you to do?
As you think about your business, ponder on the types of people that you will need on your team to help you achieve your long term business goals? In our online business we quickly realized that we needed (1) a tech person to build and support the website; (2) a coach/mentor to show us the way; (3) a graphic designer to help with the design of the website and marketing materials. As the business continues to grow, we will continue to add more people to provide specialized support.
Remember: “Do What You do Best! Let Your Team Do the Rest.”
We can show you how to create a business that meets your dreams and goals. When you are ready your business growth, contact us about “The Strategic Pathway to Success Program™”
We would love to hear from you about a situation when you tried to everything yourself. What happened? What lessons did you learn? Leave us a comment.
3 Tips on Becoming a Leader and Increasing Your Authority Status Podcast Episode 9:2
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Become a Leader
3 Tips on Becoming a Leader and Increasing Your Authority Status
If you want authority status in your specialty, then you must become a leader. You can longer afford to be a follower, if you want authority status. You must believe that you have valuable experience, knowledge, and insights to share with your potential clients. You must step out of your comfort zone and take a few risks. If you don't believe in yourself, how can you expect others to see you as the expert. Here are three tips to help you become a leader and grow your authority status. Listen to the podcast for even more information about the importance of becoming a leader.
1. Focus on Learning
As an entrepreneur, you must position yourself so that you are always learning and staying on top of your field. Your area of expertise is not stagnant. There are always new developments. You must stay abreast of any changes. As you learn new things you will gain more confidence in your ability to positively impact your clients' lives. Your new knowledge and confidence help position you as a recognized expert.
2. Focus on Networking
Remember to reach out and make connections with other people. Your contacts can offer you valuable insights as you listen and learn. It is so important that you ask questions and listen to the answers. As you take risks with expanding the scope of your network, your leadership skills will grow. You will also uncover new opportunities to help others. As your network expands, the opportunities for you to demonstrate your skills as a leader will also grow.
3. Focus on Teaching Others
Speaking engagements, publishing books, and presenting webinars and teleseminars all position you as a leader. You could also teach others on your own podcast series. As you share more of what you know, you will receive positive feedback. There is nothing that speaks louder about your authority status and expertise than teaching other people. Over the years we have given thousands of presentations and watched as our authority status soared. You can do the same.
You must continue to take risks and push past your comfort zone. You may be surprised at how much you know. Remember you have to believe that you are an authority before anyone else will. So step up and lead. Taking on the role of leader will help you tremendously in building your brand and positioning you as an authority in your specialty.
Try our Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook to show you step-by-step how you can increase your visibility, increase your authority status, and get more clients and customers.
Let us know what you are doing to become a leader? We would love to hear from you.
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How to Network Like a Pro!
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Network Like a Pro!
Network Like a Pro!
To network like a professional often requires you to change your mindset. In this interview with business consultant, Leslie Cardinal, you will learn all about the proper networking mindset and attitude. Leslie also shares advice on (1) why we should network; (2) some common mistakes in networking; and (3) helpful tips to relieve your jitters when you network. If you want to become a savvy networker, listen to this interview on My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series to learn how to network like a pro!
Network Where Your “Tribe” Hangs Out
You need to network where your “tribe” hangs out. Where does your “target market” or “tribe” hang out? Are they on-line? If so, where? You need to go where they go. If they are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest then make sure that you are posting relevant information. If they are in your local area, then go out to meet them. Engage with your potential clients by asking questions and getting to know them. Learn from them. They have a lot to teach you. To network like a pro, you should commit to reaching out on a consistent basis to establish relationships. It is the relationships that you establish that will help build your authority.
Become a Problem Solver
To network like a pro you need to do more than post articles and put links to your website. You need to make a habit of commenting, connecting, and offering solutions to issues. Every solution that you offer does not have to relate to something that you are selling. You will build your credibility if you show genuine interest in solving problems.
Become a Connector
To network like a pro you should aim to connect people who can help each other. For example, if you meet someone who is looking for a graphic designer, you can connect them with the person who designed your logo. We often find ourselves recommending products and services of the people who have helped us build our business. When you help your “target market” and connect them with useful information, it positions you as an authority.
Click here to read more about networking- Networking Tips for Entrepreneurs: You Can Be a Star!
Conclusion
As you learn to network like a pro by (1) networking where your “tribe” hangs out; (2) becoming a problem solver; and (3) becoming a connector, you will reap many benefits. For example, as you build connections with them, you are building your authority. You are also creating a tremendous boost for your business.
Another great way to connect and engage with your audience is through creating your own podcast series. To find out how to produce an impactful podcast series grab a copy of our: Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook. We will show you step-by-step how to become a great podcast host.
At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Strategic Pathway to Success Program™. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, providing results-oriented strategies that help you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
Pamela Montgomery
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Create Content to Increase Your Authority Status Podcast Episode 8:3
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Create Content to Increase Your Authority Status
Create Content to Increase Your Authority Status
One of the best ways to build your authority status is to consistently create content that your audience finds valuable. In this episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series, we discuss several ways to create content that will boost your authority status. Listen in as we share our ideas to help you build credibility, visibility, and authority.
Tip 1: Create a Blog
Owning your on space on the internet is the ideal way to show case your expertise. If you create content that is informative and full of value, then your audience and potential list of clients will grow. You should strive to consistently provide solutions to your audience's problems and also to share industry news. Remember to leave comments on the blog posts of leaders in your industry. These comments help position you in a positive light.
Tip 2: Create a Podcast
You can create content that is not in writing. Other types of content can also be persuasive. You can try infographics, videos, or audio podcasts. We enjoy producing a weekly podcast that includes guest interviews and training sessions for entrepreneurs. You can find out how you can produce your own impactful podcast series in our Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook. Exploring other ways to create content opens up doors to a wider audience.
Tip 3: Create an Information Product
One great way to connect with your audience is to create content that allows them to learn more in-depth information from you. For example, you could create home study courses. These courses could be delivered via an email or a membership site. You may want to include a video or audio component to your information product. You could also teach part of the course live.
There are so many options for you to exercise your creativity to create content that is informative, compelling, and valuable to your audience and clients.
Be sure to subscribe to our podcast series: My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series share powerful strategies to help you build a business of significance and achieve uncommon results!
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Podcast: Be Authentic to Increase Your Authority Status Episode 8:2
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Be Authentic: Don't Be A Fake
Be Authentic: Increase Your Authority Status
The word “authentic” is defined in the dictionary as meaning,” worthy of trust, reliance, or belief.” As an entrepreneur you want be seen as worthy of trust, reliance, or belief. Otherwise, potential clients, customers, or partners will likely not want to work with you. You want to be real. You want to be humble. In this podcast we explain why it is so important to be authentic as you build your authority status. We also give you several tips on how to be authentic and transparent.
Different Types of Authority Figures
There are generally two types of authority figures. The first type may hit it big for a while. They tend to being shooting stars. They have 15 minutes of fame and then it is all over. You never hear from them again.
Then there are other type of authority figures who build their authority status over time. They retain that status over the long term. This type of authority figure is well-respected within their industry. As you build your business you want to be the second type of authority figure. You want longevity. One of the key ways to build longevity, is to be authentic. That means being 100% yourself. You present a consistent face the world.
Be Authentic and Transparent with Potential Clients and Partners
Being authentic means that you connect with your potential clients and partners in a way that is truthful and honest. When you are pretending or being fake, other people can pick up on your awkwardness and discomfort. It is often difficult to maintain a fake persona for too long. Then when people find out how you really are, you quickly lose credibility. All of the goodwill and authority that you have built is gone.
Being transparent means that you are honest about who you are and what you know. If you do not know the answer to a question, then admit it. Don't pretend to have knowledge that you don't. My experience after giving hundreds of speeches, presentations, and court room arguments, is that is best to admit it when you don't know the answer. You have more credibility with the audience. Let them know that you will find the answer for them. Then follow-up.
By being authentic and transparent, you are able to brand your personality. You can embrace what is truly unique about yourself. You can offer your client what no one else can. Don't be a clone or an imitator of what everyone else is doing. There are more benefits and opportunities when you share your real self with your potential clients.
As you present your authentic self to the world, you build your credibility and authority. You increase your status as a recognized expert.
Let us know about your experiences when you have not been truly authentic. What were the consequences?
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Be Professional: Make a Good First Impression
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Being Professional Matters!
Be Professional: Make a Good First Impression
In today's episode of My Biz Dream Team: Episode Wednesday Training Series we discuss how you should present yourself in a professional manner. We discuss specific steps that you should take to be sure that you will be seen in the best possible light. What kind of an impression are you making? As an entrepreneur you want to be seen as the expert in your market. People are drawn to those in authority. Your professionalism will help you attract new clients and grow your business. You may want to read our recent blog post How to be a Recognized Expert to get more information on the topic.
What Does it Mean to Present Yourself in a Professional Manner?
It means that you set high standards for your business. What standards have you set for your business? If you set low standards, you will not be in business long. You don't need to be perfect. No one is perfect. But people want to do business with people who know what they are doing. It means that you have to look and sound like an expert. You can do this in a number of ways.
(1) Your social media posts should be professional and business related. There is a real danger of over-sharing. The danger is that your potential clients may get an unfavorable impression of you. So be careful of what you post on social media. Your photos and images should portray you in the best possible light. This is the case even on personal sites. Nothing is private on the internet.
(2) Your written and spoken language should be consistent with the image that you want to portray in your business. It is better not to use slang, tech talk, or jargon. Make sure that you are clearly understood by potential clients. You may want to hire an editor to help you with writing books or marketing materials.
(3) You want to seen as someone who is a problem solver. Be friendly and approachable. You will attract more clients by putting yourself in situations where you can continue to grow and learn. Become known as someone who helps others.
You are probably already doing many of the things we suggest. But you can always use reminders.
Leave a comment to let us know how you are using social media and marketing to make a good first impression on your potential clients.
Podcasting Can Increase Your Visibility Episode 7:4
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Podcasting Power
Podcasting Can Increase Your Visibility
Listen to the latest episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday as we continue the discussion of podcasting. Taking action to get expert guests is one of the important steps when it comes to podcasting. In this episode we present several additional podcasting strategies to help you to grow your business and increase your visibility.
Summary of Episode
These podcasting strategies help you make the most of your expert guests. They also help you impress your expert guest and your audience with your professional, easy-flowing podcast interview.
We begin with an update of the podcasting strategies presented in previous episodes.
- You need to do your homework to find experts guests who add value to your audience. The homework continues even after the guest expert agrees to the interview. Preparation is the key for a great podcast.
- You need to conduct a podcast that respects and honors your guests time. Don't let your disorganization cause the interview to run overtime.
- You need to send your expert guest a preliminary list of questions in advance of the interview. One key podcasting strategy is the thoroughness of your familiarity with your expert guest and her product or services.
- You should practice active listening during the interview. Relax and make the interview fun and informative.
In this week's episode, we discuss the following podcasting strategies:
- Your connection with your expert guest does not end with the interview, but should continue. Sending a gracious thank-you note or gift will help you build on the relationship.
- You should ask your expert guests for referrals to other potential guests for your podcast.
- You should prepare a simple form to gather this follow-up information.
All of these podcasting strategies will help you create a dynamic, fun-filled podcast series that grows your business and increases your visibility. Grab your copy of the Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook that accompanies this series.
My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday
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Podcasting Strategies: Tips on Making a Positive Impression
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Podcasting Strategies
Podcasting Strategies
On the most recent episode of “My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday” we discussed several key strategies for producing a successful podcast series. We also emphasized the importance of producing a podcast to increase your visibility as an entrepreneur, author, speaker, or small business owner. Having a podcast series increases your authority also. This post will briefly summarize the podcasting strategies discussed during the most recent episodes.
Summary of Podcasting Strategies
Have you ever considered producing a podcast series?
On this episode we discussed several podcasting strategies such as:
1) Make your podcast using expert guests at least 20-30 minutes long. Consider that your guest is committing not only to the podcast, but the preparation time as well. The podcast should be sufficiently long to make it worth her time and attention.
2) Prepare a fabulous introduction of your guest. You want to make your guest feel confident, complimented, and appreciated. Make sure that your podcast is fun and informative. Your guest and your audience should know that you are glad that they are participating.
3) Practice active listening during the interview. Be sure to let your guest get her thoughts out. Take time to listen. You may want to ask a few clarifying questions from time to time.
Think about each of these points and leave us a comment below. Also share with us a link to your web site.
On the previous episode of “My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday” we discussed the importance of preparation in producing a highly successful podcast series. You can listen to last week’s episode here.
Listen to both episodes and let us know if you are interested in producing your own podcast series. We would love to hear from you. Also leave us a review about the podcasts.
Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook
We have prepared a Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook” to accompany this podcast series. You can buy it at podcastingpowerplaybook.com for the special introductory price of $24.99. As a bonus, we are offering a complimentary 30- minute consultation for the first 20 who buy “Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook.”
I hope that you are already a part of our list community and receiving our email updates and training notices. If not, please leave us your first name and primary email address in the form. We will also send you a free report “Building Your Business Dream Team.”
If you are brand new to our podcasts, you will be interested to know that this specific training call, as well as all of the calls in our podcast series is intended to teach you strategies and techniques to help you achieve extraordinary results in your business and your life. We started this podcast series with this purpose in mind. You will see that each podcast session is first recorded live as a teleseminar training program, and then repurposed into a podcast.
Join our live teleseminars training series, “My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday” every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
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Podcasting Strategies 101 Episode 7:2
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Podcasting Strategies
Podcasting Strategies 101
Hello! This is Pamela Montgomery, Attorney, Author, and Entrepreneur. I am the co-owner of My Biz Dream Team. Welcome! I am so glad that you joined me today for this episode of “My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday.”
This program is dedicated to helping to helping entrepreneurs achieve uncommon results! Our mission is to educate, empower, and inspire you to achieve extraordinary results in your business and your life.
You can find us online at My Biz Dream Team sharing powerful strategies about achieving uncommon results.
Our theme this month: “Increasing Your Visibility”
How are you attracting, engaging, and converting your audience? Do they know that you exist? That’s our challenge this month. To increase your visibility. So this month we will be discussing topics that provide you a framework for success and visibility.
One of the best ways to increase your visibility is to produce a podcast. Producing a podcast helps you in several ways. First, producing a podcast is an essential component of your marketing. Second, producing a podcast clearly separates you from all the others who won’t take the time and effort to produce a podcast. Third, producing a podcast puts you on the map by providing you another marketing outlet.
Special Report and Training Guide: Podcasting Power
We have prepared a Special Report and Training Guide to accompany this series. You can buy it at “Podcasting Power.”
We show you step by step how to leverage the power of the internet how to make yourself more accessible to your ideal client!
Today we will discuss: (1) how to get great guests for your podcast; (2) doing your homework once the guest expert agrees to be interviewed on your program; and (3) the importance of preparing a preliminary list of questions in advance.
First what is a podcast? It is a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player. Typically, a podcast is available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically. A podcast is also defined as making a the digital product. Today's episode will address both aspects of the word.
The Special Report and Training Guide: “The Podcasting Power Playbook” is available for a limited time for only $24.99. Buy it today!
Join us every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern) for My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday
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To Achieving Uncommon Results!
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