Brand Oppression…Are You Being Censored?

As an Internet business owner, I often get email from visitors that want to point out typos, question my use of slang and even suggest I do my hair and dress differently. The Internet can open you up to all sorts of commentary…some bad and some good.

The other day someone picked up my Special Report on branding and began a lengthy, bulleted list of heated criticism.

What I found interesting is they were so fixated on looking for flaws they didn’t get the point of the report, which is that the power of your brand and brand following is often found in the flaws.

This visitor missed that using ‘appropriate’ and ‘professional’ language is relative. To express your brand and then market your brand using your natural voice means leaving behind any preconceived notions about what is and isn’t appropriate for you.

What is most appropriate for you is to use what you’ve got and that includes your own unique way of expressing yourself. To do anything less is allowing yourself to be oppressed and censored.

This visitor missed that there is a distinct difference between connecting with an ideal and perfect market match for your brand and opportunistic marketing.

You see while you may identify a market that is untapped that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a market you’re suited to connect and converse with.

To view a market as merely a means to generate more income is marketing, and business building, with very little soul. How can you possibly affect a market and have them champion your cause when you view them as nothing more than walking dollar symbols?

On the Internet, opportunistic marketers are short-lived and short sighted. In order to create a brand that sticks and sticks for the long haul, the formula to follow is a simple one:

Create a genuine heart-felt connection: You can fool some people but I promise you, a phony is always sniffed out and the door to any long lasting relationship with your market will be slammed.

Add value-rich information your market cares about: Marketing your brand today means less shouting and more conversations. The tactics used to stand out and be heard have changed. This means, for some of you, giving your marketing a makeover so that your brand and business can compete.

Show them you care by being responsive: Your authentic brand and genuine understanding and caring for your audience is at a great advantage when you listen to your market and respond quickly. Your market and their needs are changing, which means you’ll need to remain flexible with your offer (no matter how much you love it) to address and satisfy their needs. The Internet allows you to do this easily, affordably and quickly.

If you find yourself critiquing the way others market themselves, or questioning why they aren’t marketing to a different audience ask yourself this…what do you know about their brand?

Until next time…

Love and thanks,

Liz

Tags: brand, brand marketing, conversational marketing, focus, internet marketing, liz pabon, liz pabone, market your brand, marketing to women, mavherick mind, mindset, personal brand, power of the mind, small business marketing, the branding maven