OK. What makes your brand tick? Want to join me to today at 2pm EST? Here’s quick access to the call-in info:
Dial-in Number: (218)339-4300
Access Code: 585753#
• Want to go snooping and probing around the inside of your brand so you can work out what’s working (and what’s not working?!)
• Want to look at the psychology of your brand, how to get to the point-of-pain in your biz brand and then fix those bits that aren’t working in your favor. Sounds easy, right?!
After all, if you can work out what your brand is communicating about who you and what you do and align it perfectly, you’ll have a very powerful and compelling brand on your hands.
Remember, your brand is the most basic building block of your business. So if your biz isn’t ticking like it should, the first place to go? Go snooping and probing around the inside of your brand.
Join me>
Dial-in Number: (218)339-4300
Access Code: 585753#
I’m hosting this free call before the end of the year, why? I want you feeling on top of the world before the New Year comes around. I want you to have some major AH HA moments plus some profound insights about the inner workings of your brand, what’s making it not working in your favor, and what to do about!
Imagine re-energizing your brand so it feels more alive than ever before. (What would that feel like?) Imagine getting your ‘brand pulse’ pumping so others can pick up that there is someone vital, engaged, energetic and hugely exhilarated (that’s you) at the helm of your business. WOW! (Ever put your finger on the pulse of your brand?)
OK. My role as Creative Brand Therapist is to prod you out of any complacent feelings you have about your brand. It’s my job, after all. It’s what I do. And I’m passionate about invigorating brands. So that’s why I’m inviting you to The NY Brand Lab which starts Monday, Jan 25, 2010.
You’ll find all the info you need here, so check it out quickly because I am only taking 10-12 people max. That’s how many whip-smart, ambitious entrepreneurial leaders are able to sit around my 10-ft trestle in my brand & design studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn, New York – and it’s where we are going to roll up our sleeves and get to work on revitalizing your brands, for once and for all.
http://www.zingyourbrand.com/nybrandlab
Be warned: I am going to prod you out of any complacent feelings you’ve ever had about your brand. So get ready for a powerful series of laser-focus ‘brand energizing’ sessions at The NY Brand Lab. It’s going to turn around your business. (In fact, growing your business just got easier.)
Why? The foundation of a successful business is a vibrant, authentic and exhilarating brand. It’s that simple. Remember. Your brand is like the engine to your car. If’ it’s not ticking over, your car is not going anywhere, right?
Check it out. You’ll get to understand what really makes your brand tick:
http://www.zingyourbrand.com/nybrandlab
Here’s something I want you to think about before the end of the year rolls around:
If you’re not the Vision Master in your business, or if you’re not building a Brand Unusual, then it’s time to reserve your seat at Marian Banker’s Brain Exchange Roundtable session coming up on Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010, 6 – 8pm.
My friend and colleague, Marian Banker, MBA, Business Leadership Coach, is Host and Moderator:
and I’m delighted to be sitting at her Roundtable as her guest expert where we’ll be exploring the topic, “Brand Unusual: Best Kept Strategies for Getting to the Front of the Pack.”
Seats are limited | For more information and to register, click here:
http://www.primestrategies.com/bxrt-1-26-10
We all know It’s no longer business as usual, right? We live in a global village so more than ever, it’s critical to tap into a different way of thinking about your brand and do whatever it takes to stake out your territory. By creating a Brand Unusual for your business, you demand attention in an unpredictable marketplace.
During the Roundtable, we’ll be looking at:
* How to take on the role of Brand Agent/Provocateur to make a major difference to your bottom line
* How to recognize who you are and what you do – so others can
* How to reignite your passion and what makes your brand zing
* The difference between showing up and being visible in your brand
* How to keep tabs on your brand’s behavior at all times
* The best-kept secrets to living out loud, being passionate and staking out your territory, once and for all.
Marian Banker’s Brain Exchange Roundtable is a highly interactive format designed as a forum for entrepreneurs and key decision-makers in small-midsize business. Everyone learns by being part of a dialogue between experts and peers. You’ll leave with new ideas, new resources and new connections.
Join us! Register here and remember, seats are limited. See you @ The Brain Exchange Roundtable!
http://www.primestrategies.com/bxrt-1-26-10
Jon Cook, Reuters’s online editor for Small Business, is a new media veteran who has worked online since 1996. Best known for his illuminating stories about startups, Jon has also produced video interviews and podcasts where he illustrates the intense challenges facing today’s creative entrepreneurs!
This is Jon’s story, “Is t-shirt advertising a sustainable business?” published online Dec 16, 2009 09:00 EST. He’d contacted me, looking for some commentary about Jason Sadler’s business model. Go check out Jason’s site: http:// www.iwearyourshirt.com.
Well, after loving what I was seeing on his site – big idea, transparency, authenticity, gusto, wit, smarts, refreshing energy, the lot – it was clear to me that Sadler’s brand is a Brand Unusual! Why? He’s come up with (a rather) unusual idea. He’s inventive, innovative and he’s embraced technology effortlessly, made it work in his favor. It’s win-win all the way, and what’s more, his whip-smart thinking (which kept him off the unemployment line) made him $84,000 this year. I say KUDOS! He’s only 27 (or 28?), and his biz model is very much a good example of the new brand landscape for the 21C. So go have a read – and here’s to following Jon Cook’s stories about fabulously creative entrepreneurs!
Is t-shirt advertising a sustainable business?
By Jon Cook, Reuters’ Online Editor | Small Business
Published online Dec 16, 2009 09:00 EST
Jason Sadler makes a surprisingly good living wearing other peoples’ t-shirts – $84,000 since launching his one-man ad service last January – but our experts are doubtful he can grow it into a larger, more sustainable model.
A year ago the 27-year-old Jacksonville, Florida entrepreneur launched a website – Iwearyourshirt.com – where he charged people to wear whatever shirt they sent him (read original story here). New Year’s Day was $1 and each successive day Sadler’s fee went up a buck, so this New Year’s Eve he will charge $365. Sadler made $66,795 for advertising on his back alone and another $18,000 in monthly sponsorships, where he charges $1,500 for an ad spot on his online monthly calendar.
“I’ve got companies that need more exposure than I can give in hours I can work in a day,” said Sadler, whose very first advertiser on January 1 was live video streaming website Ustream.tv, the same platform Sadler uses to broadcast his own live one-hour webcast to chat with viewers about the companies and the products displayed on his extra-large sized chest. So far his clients range from obscure bloggers and rock bands, to startups and established companies like Zappos, Prudential and Intuit. Comedian Bill Cosby even used him to try to get more people to sign up to his Facebook page.
“Every day I really try to give as much push and as much value without sales-pitching people,” said Sadler, who initially got the idea after seeing how many promotional t-shirts are discarded and thought he could offer the companies making them more value by actually wearing them around. “The value of doing all this content for $300, even if it only gets a couple hundred views on everything, is still pretty tremendous when you think about the grand scheme of things.”
For 2010, Sadler is doubling his daily prices – so it will cost advertisers $2 this January 1 and $730 on December 31. Monthly sponsorships will jump to $2,500. Sadler also hired a friend in Los Angeles to help tag-team on promotions, so now companies that buy spots will get two guys wearing their shirts and spreading the word virally online.
“If you were going to put an hourly rate on that from an ad agency you’d pay way more,” said Sadler, who will split the revenues 50-50 with his co-worker. In addition, Sadler said he will introduce “proud partnerships,” an initiative whereby he provides a special yearly promotion for a company. He said he has already inked a deal for an undisclosed amount with Tommy John apparel to exclusively wear their underwear throughout next year.
Sadler said the only downside is that he never gets a day off, which has interfered with his social life, in particular on the occasions where he has had to attend a wedding, or a funeral, or just wanted to take his girlfriend out to a nice meal. In order to free up his time, Sadler needs to spread the word on his unique business model and create more demand from advertisers for his shirt-wearing services. Then he could hire more people and maybe get a day off here and there.
“Everyone wants to get to their millions – I know I do,” said Sadler. “If I can do it through wearing shirts and other kinds of fun engagements, I’m extremely happy.”
TAKING IT TO THE EXPERTS
Mary van de Wiel
Mary van de Wiel, a branding expert and the founder and CEO of Zing Your Brand consultancy firm, was very impressed by Sadler’s entrepreneurial moxy and the simplicity of his service to advertisers.
“The whole online direct marketing business model is all about getting to know, like and trust people and just by looking at him with his big smile and goofy face you immediately feel you can trust him,” said van de Wiel, who called Sadler a “brand unusual,” referring to his ability to mold his business around his unique personality, but still offer value to clients.
“He’s actually doing something that’s win-win: he’s making a living and all the people who are getting their ads up there are getting a big benefit for a very reasonable amount, so he understands the power of leverage,” said Van de Wiel, who felt Sadler is on the cutting edge of a new kind of guerrilla marketing. “He’s like a pied piper leading the way in a different way of doing business. I get pretty excited about this, because I’m always challenging people to get out of their comfort zone, stake out their territory and live out loud.”
While she didn’t feel Sadler needed any help in getting publicity, van de Wiel suggested he expand his marketing push beyond t-shirts to include caps, pants and other apparel. “For the average Joe Blow they just buy a day on the calendar, but if you want to get huge exposure you pay more and he actually comes in and he wears your whole wardrobe.”
Josh Hallett
Josh Hallett, a social-media expert and New Media Strategist at Voce Communications, said Sadler had “a unique and compelling story,” but was less enthusiastic about Sadler’s long-term prospects and didn’t feel he offered enough to entice major brands to advertise with him.
“It’s a niche thing that’s interesting to play around with, but I don’t know how many large brand managers are going to say I’ve got to make something like this part of my campaign for 2010,” confessed Hallett, who said Sadler would likely get more traction with businesses whose “Twitter following, Facebook fans or blog stats are relatively low compared to his daily traffic.”
Hallett said Sadler should do more in terms of educating his clients about how they can “activate” their sponsorship and realize a greater audience with the campaign. “It’s sort of a double punch where he is marketing or promoting a brand and the brand itself is then promoting whatever he’s doing to get a little bit of a larger audience,” said Hallett.
Hallett was concerned that by expanding the business and hiring others to wear the t-shirts, Sadler would lose that specialness that comes from his own personality. “As you get more people doing these shirts in different regions it almost becomes like a billboard company,” said Hallett, adding: “Do you reach that saturation point where doing longer Web shows or doing more Web shows during the day, do you begin to lose your audience, or fragment your audience?”
Rob Gorrie
Advertising specialist Rob Gorrie, who runs his own digital ad agency Adcentricity, was also skeptical and referred to Sadler’s business as a “one-trick pony.”
“It could be seen as a little bit gimmicky and if it gets a little bit tired marketers may tire of the concept and move on in a couple of years,” said Gorrie, who compared Sadler’s efforts to those of a of a guy in the U.K. who embedded LCD screens in his jacket armpits.
Gorrie said that while these types of entrepreneurs can make a good living doing this, their businesses tend to evolve into more traditional, or run-of-the-mill type marketing companies, like the ones that employ street teams to run marketing blitzes.
Gorrie said it’s very difficult to maintain the interest of online viewers and that Sadler will have to keep innovating to make sure his business keeps its unique appeal.
“If you’re going to build a company around it, you definitely have to watch out for the risks that it will tire as a tactic,” said Gorrie, “and in that light you’re going to have to continue to innovate and come up with new concepts to be able to take to advertisers to keep their interest and to keep the consumer’s interest.”
Answer your ‘why,’ and point your business in the right direction.
Here’s my new article as published online yesterday at www.entrepreneur.com or go to http://tinyurl.com/ygaer4
Successful brand leaders live out loud. They follow their passions and they’re willing to take risks regardless of what others say. To live out loud means to do whatever it takes to see your dreams realized.
Richard Branson, best known for his Virgin brand of over 360 companies, is the quintessential example of a brand unusual due to the leaders’ willingness to live out loud. Just look at the twinkle in Branson’s eye: He is constantly forging new business pathways with a spirited and adventurous relentlessness.
Or take a look at the creators of Twitter: Biz Stone, Evan Williams and Jack Dorsey. People originally scoffed at the notion of 140 character “tweets” but their idea has produced a totally original communication platform that’s been embraced worldwide. And that originality is a corner-stone of the Twitter brand.
So what happens when a leader is living out loud? You get a brand unusual. When a company has a brand unusual the primary focus of the brand isn’t outward (outsmarting the competition); instead it’s internal. It’s about the brand doing the best it can and recognizing the value it brings to the table, all the while inspiring others along the way and making a difference.
Here are two ways you can start forging your brand unusual.
• Set a higher standard and then live by it.
What used to be an afterthought in business practice, operating within the parameters of social responsibility, is now coming of age. This is essential thinking for entrepreneurs and for future businesses leaders.
At last year’s Harvard Business School graduation, more than half of the students volunteered to take a new student-authored MBA Oath. The MBA Oath promises that Harvard MBA’s will act responsibly, ethically and refrain from advancing their “own narrow ambitions” at the expense of others.
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How amazing is that? The so-called elite saying greed is no good and demonstrating a passion for spreading their new message.
Since that time more than 200 business schools around the world have added the MBA Oath to their commencement.
One of the three creators of the Oath, Teal Carlock, said, “As a class, we have a real opportunity to come together and set a standard as business leaders.”
What you can do
* Challenge yourself and your team to set higher standards by using your brand to define how you want to operate in today’s socially conscious business world. It could mean re-evaluating your vision for the future or the way you want to serve your customers. You want to send a clear and powerful message about the positive impact your business brand is having and will continue to have in the future.
* What kind of stage have you created for your brand? Visionary leaders create a platform for themselves and their brand. Are your brand story and marketing messages in synch with and supportive of whatever your platform says?
•Ask and answer your ‘whys.’
Marketing expert Simon Sinek is challenging the status quo and inspiring others to make a difference in this world. Sinek’s recent book, Start With Why[http://startwithwhy.com/Why.aspx], studied those leaders who have had the greatest influence in the world. He discovered that they all think, act and communicate in very similar ways–the complete opposite of everyone else, that is. These leaders articulate and understand why their organization exists, and why it does the things it does. What’s more, these great leaders never try to manipulate or control. They strive to inspire.
“Start seeing things from this different perspective of asking why,” Sinek suggests. “Great companies with a strong sense of why are able to inspire their people. Great leaders give their people a purpose or challenge around which to develop ideas.”
What you can do
* Start by asking yourself the question, “Why?” Why does my organization exist, why does it behave a certain way? This is a transformative process of discovery. Try it, and then invite your team to do the same. Once you’ve tapped into the reasons, apply the discoveries to your brand. Does your brand reflect these motivations? If it doesn’t it’s time to align your brand with your ‘whys.’
In 1921, George Bernard Shaw wrote, “You see things, and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were, and I say; ‘Why not?’” I challenge all you maverick entrepreneurs to ask yourself two questions: “Why?” and “Why not?” It’s time to reignite your passion for your brand and be willing to take risks and stand by them–live by them–every day. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as seeing the demonstration of a brand living out loud. So go for it!
Are you an entrepreneur who is living out loud? E-mail us about it at van@zingyourbrand.com
Mary van de Wiel (Van) is founder, CEO and creative brand analyst of A New Brand Landscape & Co. and www.ZingYourBrand.com, a brand consultancy that specializes in helping entrepreneurs and startup CEOs leverage their irresistible Zing Factor, embed it in their brand and build their business around it. For information on speaking engagements, media appearances and consulting work, go towww.zingyourbrand.com. To see Van’s portfolio of global branding campaigns for Fortune 500 clients, go to www.maryvandewiel.com.
Follow Van on Twitter @maryvandewiel.com.
There’s always a better way to do things. That depends, of course, on one thing. You have to be curious, willing and have the desire to step up to the plate and find a new answer, so to speak!
If you’re looking to find a better way to create a stronger emotional connection with your clients, then it’s time to look at what you’re really doing with your business brand. (Emphasis on the word ‘brand.’) After all, your brand holds all the secrets to the success of your business so paying attention to your brand communication is going to be one of the most powerful ways to boost your bottom line in 2010. Who doesn’t want that, right?!
OK. WHERE DO YOU START? You sign up for The Master Brand Lab series of lunches I am hosting early next year. It’s a work-in-progress private environment where we’re going to get to the bottom of what’s not working with your business, where the point of pain is when it comes to your biz brand, and then work on creating a very big solution that reflects who you are and what you do. The benefits? Your visibility, credibility and brand positioning in your industry gets a big spike for 2010.
WHAT’S THE MASTER BRAND LAB? Just like a Master Class, The Master Brand Lab is a place where a group of forward-thinking entrepreneurs and CEOs, like you, are going to get individual instruction, insights and ideas when it comes to creating, developing, refining and revitalizing the ZING in your brand. It’s that simple. Instead of a classroom format, the Master Brand Lab is going to be FUN because creating a brand with ZING requires a big dose of FUN, without a doubt.
I’m excited! I’m hosting the Monday lunches in my New York design studio where – as many of us that can fit around a 10 ft long trestle, say 10-12 people – are going to put elbows on the table and get to work on revitalizing your brands. It’s going to be intensive, personal, upfront and results driven. Guaranteed.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND. For some of you who have never worked with me, I am a creative brand analyst and ‘interpreter of clues’ in business brands, and passionate about working with smart, ambitious and eclectic entrepreneurs and CEOs who know they’re not actually ‘showing up’ in their biz or standing out in today’s market. (Know the feeling?) I’m better known as the Brand Maverick, Brand Therapist, Creative Storyteller and/or Brand Agent/Provocatuer so this is not your run-of-the-mill Master Brand Lab! Think you get the idea, yes?
What’s more, most of my entrepreneur and corporate CEO clients are longing to bring a bigger, bolder and more provocative edge to their business brand so I help them create an idiosyncratic platform from which they truly ‘show up’ in their brands and their business thrives, in any economy. It’s important stuff.
WHY NOW? Right after October’s Brand Reinvention Summit (BlahtoZingSummit.com), I started an intensive Group Coaching Program for three weeks which just finished (amaZING experience) and I was hearing that many of you wanted to continue the Brand Dialog – but this time, up front and personal. That’s how the lunch idea came about.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS. For four Mondays, we get together over lunch (and then linger some more) and everybody gets the chance to talk about their brand’s particular point of pain.
• You get one-on-one feedback from me re how to tap right into that exquisite, irresistible ‘zing’ at your entrepreneurial core.
• You get insights about how to empower your brand, create the right impression right from the start.
• You get to revitalize your brand so it reflects YOU 100%.
• You get to feel more confident than ever before that your brand is doing what it’s meant to be doing. No more brands misbehaving or acting out.
BONUS. You get four 15-minute private consultations with me on the phone in that month (or, if you prefer, talk one-on-one with me on the phone for 60 minutes.) Plus, you get to meet other like-minded fabulous individuals and network like crazy.
WHERE DO WE MEET IN NEW YORK? This is the fun part. We meet on Mondays for four weeks from 12noon–3pm in Dumbo, Brooklyn, that’s right in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge near the BRKLYN waterfront. (Quick and easy access by subways, cabs, boats and water taxi!) It’s where I have my brand studio and it’s part a 15,000 sq. ft. 3D design and sculpture loft space that is run by two artists/partners. I’lll give you a quick tour of the working studio where you will see some amazing bronze figures and objects made for some of the most prominent museums and corporations in the world. It’s a remarkable (and eye- popping) place, for sure.
THERE’S ONLY ONE CATCH. I am going to hold you accountable. You bet. You are going to team up with another person at The Master Brand Lab table. And every day, the two of you will talk, even for a few minutes. That means you have to check in with each other, see where you are with moving forward and getting a little support along the way. Get the idea?
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE? The kind of brand insights, intelligence, intuitive feedback and input you’ll get is worth more than you can imagine. Why? You’re going to experience a brand transformation. (Many of you know the kind of fees I charge so you can work out what it’s really worth!.) For Jan/Feb’s 2010 Master Brand Lab, I’m charging only $497.
Sound good? The first Monday Master Brand Lab happens on January 25, 2010. Stay tuned for more details. I am putting up a page in the next few days where you can sign up. After the MBL Jan/Feb 10, you’ll never think Mondays are BLahDays again! Until later,
Van
Does Your Brand Tell a Powerful Story? by Mary van de Wiel
As seen in www.entrepreneur.com
Brilliant’s not enough in today’s economy–you need a compelling story so people will remember you.
One of the best ways for an entrepreneur to get a leg up in this competitive climate and distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack is to tell your brand story.
Story is how we connect with one another. Wonder why the emerging social networking sites are so popular? The answer is because people crave the emotional and powerful connection that comes through telling a story.
The best brand stories are irresistible, compelling and provocative in a way that your target audience is going to hear, seamlessly and effortlessly. Telling that kind of brand story will position you and your company as a leader in the marketplace.
The most memorable brand stories tell the unexpected, speak directly to the heart or dare you to live life to the fullest. Take Nike, for example. Its brand story challenges people to be empowered, to adopt a maverick spirit in life and “just do it.” That story inspires, continues to be popular and provocative, and consistently strikes an emotional chord with Nike’s fans and customers around the globe.
Why is storytelling so important to your business?
* An authentic brand story makes you memorable.
* It differentiates you as desirable.
* It brings your brand to life.
* It gives you a distinct competitive advantage.
* Your target market becomes hugely responsive.
* It positions you as a visionary in your field.
Take the role of brand guardian seriously. This role is critical. Like the captain of a ship, you’re steering your brand through stormy seas. Be mindful of your brand’s behavior, intention, tone and attitude. Right now, your brand story may be transmitting subliminal messages and telling a story all its own. As brand guardian of your business, pay attention to every kind of signal your brand is conveying to your target audience.
Taking the role of brand guardian seriously doesn’t mean you have to be stodgy. The great brand guardians also have a great sense of humor. If you’re not having enough fun with your brand, go back to the drawing board and tap into why you started your business in the first place.
Raise your brand energy levels. What comes to mind when you think about brands such as Apple, Target, Virgin or Nike? You probably sense big personality, boundless energy or major magnetic appeal. Now, imagine you can feel the “pulse” of any of these brands. You’d pick up that they were clearly alive, pumping and showing strong vital signs, right?
Your target audience has an uncanny ability to pick up on your brand “pulse” or brand energy. Start raising your brand energy levels, because a slow simmer won’t cut it here. Look at the language you use across your marketing communications. Is it bland or does it have a dynamic, knock-your-socks-off energy? After all, there’s something very attractive and contagious about brands that feel totally energized, passionate, idiosyncratic and that reflect your personality. It’s a clue that the entrepreneur, CEO or brand guardian is paying close attention to embedding his or her individualistic energy and passion into the business.
Make sure all aspects of your brand are in alignment. Just as a car runs best when the wheels are aligned, your brand communication needs to be aligned, too. I’m talking about consistency–across all the ways you get the word out to the market. For example, if the messages on your website are not reinforced by and aligned with your tweets or press releases, the way you answer the phone, the way your staff welcomes clients or the way you shake a client’s hand, then your brand is out of alignment.
Kaira Rouda, founder and president of Real Living and author of Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, talks about the power of story. “In today’s business world, relationships drive successful sales, and your network is your net worth. You must tell your story.” Rouda goes on to say, “For your business brand to resonate with customers, it must be based on something truly genuine: your reality, your passions.”
Be Clear
If you’re ready to start shaping your brand story, remember this tip: If you want others to recognize you, the best way to do it is to recognize yourself first. Before you tell your brand story, recognize the kind of message and meaning you want to embed in your story.
Your character is going to define exactly what happens in your story. Be as true to yourself, compelling and believable as possible. What makes you unique and different? What makes you stand out?
* Your personality shapes your brand story. I’m talking about your personal values, integrity, core beliefs and ethics. Think about what inspires and motivates you. Wrap this around your brand story; it will bring your brand to life.
* Define what your character stands for in your story. Why do you do what you do? What is your purpose? What’s most meaningful in your life and business?
* What actually happens in your story? What’s the compelling action (or series of actions) that makes other things happen? What’s driving your story forward?
* Think about how you want your audience to react to your story. What’s the outcome–the object lesson here? What kind of conclusion do you want them to reach? Think about the pulse of your brand. Are people going to pick up your brand’s vital signs in your story?
So, is your brand story doing justice to your business?
As branding expert and co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Branding Yourself, Sherry Beck Paprocki says, “If you don’t brand yourself, Google is going to do it for you!”
Mary van de Wiel (Van), founder, CEO and creative brand anlayst of A New Brand Landscape & Co. and ZingYourBrand.com, helps entrepreneurs and startup CEOs leverage their irresistible Zing Factor, embed it in their brand, and then build an entire business around it. In a former corporate life, as founder and CCO of an award-winning agency with offices in New York and Sydney, Australia, Van led national brand campaigns for Fortune 500 clients in four continents. Her ‘What’s your Zing?’ methodology helps clients ultimately impact the bottom line through her consulting work, brand audits and online brand marketing services.
A Note from Van
Hi there! And first of all, my thanks to those of you who have recently joined the ZING Community! I have to say this community is, without doubt, curious, willing and poised to do whatever it takes when it comes to showing up and standing out – particularly, staking out your brand territory – so it’s great to meet you, see your name pop up in my inbox (that’s how it works, you know!) so a big welcome and I look forward to getting to know more about you, your biz and staying connected, of course!
Right now, and most of this week, I am sitting at my computer in Washington DC and looking out at an amazing blast of color! I’m only three miles from the White House but the woods are right out the back, and I can’t tell you how glorious it is. Nothing quite like the intensity of color. Even though I happen to prefer wearing black but that’s neither here nor there. Hey, I can hear the VP’s helicopter right above me (exaclty the same chopper sound you get in the movies, seriously) and despite what you hear, there are all kinds of good things going on in this town.
Getting back to biz, I’m holding (for the first time) a contest called the IS YOUR BRAND MISBEHAVIN’ CONTEST where you get the chance to win a 60-minute Brand Consult with me! There’ll only be three winners (random draw) and all you have to do is send me an email telling me two things: 1) what are the worst challenges your brand is facing right now and, ,2) how badly your brand is behaving! Email me at van@zingyourbrand.com and in the subject line, write Brand Misbehavin’ Contest. OK? Will announce the winners on my site, blog, and will tweet away. etc.
Will be back in NYC next week so look forward to getting together with some of you. So here’s a bit of an update, a wrap, some news and more next time:)
Until soon,
Van
An Idea | If your ship hasn’t come in, swim out to it.
Those words come from philanthropist and developer Robert H. Smith who spoke earlier this year at a black-tie dinner at The Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. (I’m based in NY but am spending inordinate amounts of time in DC this year but that’s another story for another time). So when I listened to his story about swiming and ships, I was spellbound. (And that’s not just because I am sea captain’s daughter.) It’s because there is something about the willingness and determination to go after what you want and that means, well…everything. Especially when it comes to building your brand.
On the heels of my Brand Reinvention Summit 2009 (www.BlahToZingSummit.com), guess what was one of the biggest takeaways for many of you? You let me know it was about really knowing what you want, understanding who you are and then Going For It! It’s part of the secret that lies at the heart of this wonderful world of branding, after all. So I pose this question to you today. Ask yourself: Are you the captain of your ship, with a firm grip on the wheel, navigating these tough seas and making progress? Or are you the strong swimmer, taking in occasional gulps every now and then, but keeping your focus dead ahead – in the direction of that ship of yours?! Kudos to you if you are nodding. On the other hand, if you’re not, this is a good sign that you need to pay more attention to your brand. Why not go back and remember why you’re doing what you’re doing in the first place. Recognize your talent, gifts and passion. Remember, if you’re absolutely clear about what you really want to be doing, you’re going to make it a lot easier for others to ‘get’ who you are. (Go find a sea captain’s or a swimmer’s cap and strike a pose!)
A WRAP | AMAZING BRAND REINVENTION SUMMIT 2009!
My big thanks to all of you (again!) who took part in this Online Brand Reinvention Summit and thanks for your feedback, insights and raves! The Summit Interview Series kicked off October 1- 2 and then I kept it going for another 26 hours so I am very happy many of you got more time to listen to the Interviews at your leisure! For those of you newbies (you, being the ones who recently signed up!), here is the link to check out the Speakers at the Summit – http://www.BlahToZingSummit.com – and if you want to get your hands on the All-Digital Package of 10 hours of valuable info, go here and you can pick it up for only $47: http://www.blahtozingsummit.com/3options.
Besides picking up the Audio, you will also find information about how to sign up for my coaching program that started November 3rd, and also private coaching programs.
I am already planning the 2nd Brand Reinvention Summit 2010 and will be sending out a survey to get your input/insights re what you’d MOST like to hear about next! Watch this space.
The “What’s-Your-Zing?” Pilot Group Coaching Program – NOW FULL!
A few weeks ago, right after the Brand Reinvention Summit, I sent out an email inviting 10 of you to sign up for a new pilot group coaching program starting November 3rd! It’s called WHAT’S YOUR ZING? and the only thing was that you had to be willing, curious and poised to be part of this eclectic group! Great news, the program is full so if you missed out, no worries. There will be other opportunities sooner than later and if you’re craving some ZING in your biz right now, why don’t you sign up for a 60-minute Brand Audit? It’s FUN, intense and an illuminating 60-minutes where we spend time together, and as as your Brand Therapist/Analyst, I go in and diagnose your brand (probing your website) and spot the clues that are catapulting you forwards or hey, just holding you back. Then it’s a matter of interpreting the clues and translating them into a more powerful message. Sounds easy, right? It’s a 180º transformation process so not for the timid, by the way. Go to http://www.zingyourbrand.com and click on the BOOK A BRAND AUDIT link.
PS So to all of you curious, willing and poised business owners who signed up, I’m excited to be already talking to you, and hearing what’s really hurting in your biz. We’re going to take care of that, for once and for all. Guaranteed!
How do You Score as a Brand Storyteller? Go to www.entrepreneur.com and find out!
If you’re wondering how to tell your ‘brand story’ or whether or not your ‘brand pulse’ is pumping – and showing strong and vital signs, then go to http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/branding/article203748.html and look for my piece called “Does your Brand Tell a Powerful Story?” I’ve been a raving fan of Entrepreneur.com for a long time, and so I’m over the moon to have been invited to write for them. My big thanks to the fab editors there. They are a generous, insightful and brilliant team!
Here’s your chance to win an intense, illuminating and fun 60-minute BRAND CONSULT with me! I’m only giving away three (3) Consults in the next seven days (expires Nov 4) because I keep hearing about all the things bad brands are doing right now, and it’s driving me crazy. So I have decided enough is enough: It’s time to put a stop to Misbehaving Brands! I want to hear from you from you asap…
ANNOUNCING THE BRAND MISBEHAVIN’ CONTEST
• Three (3) Winners will be announced on November 3 on my blog/my tweets/facebook and linked in!
HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST
Just write two brief paragraphs addressing two things. (It’s easy, simple, fun.)
1) What are the biggest challenges your brand is facing right now
2) Tell me how your brand is misbehaving, and all the things you just can’t seem to control when it comes to your brand.
Email me – van@zingyourbrand.com – with the words BRAND MISBEHAVIN’ CONTEST in the subject line. There will be three winners (chosen at random) and I will announce the winners on my site, in my blog, tweet, the lot.
HERE’S WHAT YOU WIN
Only three (3) people will win a 60-minute intense and provocative Brand Consult with me where we’ll investigate what’s underlying your brand’s misbehavior. On the phone, and looking at your site together, I’ll tap into the hidden clues embedded in your brand that are holding you back, interpret them and then translate them into a more powerful and compelling message. By the end of the session, you’ll experience a 180º transformation so the timid need not apply. Seriously, I can be pretty blunt and outspoken when it comes to spotting ‘bad brand behavior’ (BBB) but the best thing? You will start having fun in your brand – and develop a healthier relationship with your brand! Guaranteed:)
PS You will get some hugely significant insights from me when it comes to articulating your brand voice, tone, attitude and behavior … and that really is the best part!
This is all about taking on the role of Brand Agent/Provocateur to turn your business around, and take off! Click here to see the extraordinary line up of business thought leaders and creative visionaries — all speakers at the Online Brand Reinvention Summit held Oct 1-2. 2009.
http://blahtozingsummit.com
Is your brand doing what you want (and need) it to do?
Let’s face it. Right now is the time to step into your brand, and it’s only going to get more important in the future. Every whip-smart Brand Agent/Provocateur out there is working right now on leveraging, reinforcing and amplifying their brands. What about you?
The good news? I gathered together an inspiring group of business leaders, creative storytellers, innovative strategists and trend spotters and invited each one to speak to this hot topic of ‘brand reinvention.’ They offered insights and insider strategies re how to:
• Tap into WHY you do what you do. It’s the first step to creating an authentic and charismatic brand
• Create a brand that’s going to do what you want it to do and give you the kind of visibility, credibility, clients and profits you deserve
• Tap into your creativity and irresistible energy, and embed it across all aspects of your business
• Create a personality and passion-driven brand that’s fun (online and offline) and that will set you & your business apart (big time)
Want that? Great! To get your hands on the Summit’s All-Digital Interview
Package as well as sign up for one of the new special coaching programs
launched on the heels of the Summit, click on the link below!
http://www.blahtozingsummit.com/3options
