Live, Learn, Teach: Solidifying Your Brand

Here's a brief quiz.  Can you name the product associated with these brands?

"Just do it"

"They're grrrreeat!"

"Don't leave home without it."

How did you do?  Chances are you were successful.  Why?  Because these products have portrayed a consistent brand over the life of their product.  What makes authors any different? We have a product.  We ARE our product.  We need a brand.

Creating a brand is a difficult but worthwhile undertaking.  It involves a genuine, catchy slogan and actions in integrity with that slogan.  

For example, my personal brand is "Live, Learn, Teach."  My belief is that I must live a variety of experiences, learning all I can from each one.  My responsibility beyond that is to teach the knowledge I've acquired to all ages.  With that in mind, characters in my books take on a life-appreciating and teacher-oriented style. The resources I offer in conjunction with my books are meant to inspire and teach.

Once the brand is developed, my job is to put it in front of as many audiences as possible.  I sign my e mails, finish my blogs (and HUBS), and decorate my business materials with the slogan.  I want my audiences to associate me with "Live, Learn, Teach."

The big question remains.  How do you develop your own brand?  Here are a few brief exercises to get you started.  It is not a 5 minute process.  My brand took years to refine and develop.  Many thanks go out to my friend and colleague, Mo Bunnell of the Bunnell Idea Group, LLC (www.bunnellideagroup.com), for his guidance in the process. I know it seems like only three words, but it needed to fit just right for me.  Try these exercises to get you started.

Open your writer's notebook.

Passion:

Quickly write about your passion.  Don't worry about format--just write.  Focus on the "causes" (like helping animals) and "activities" (like writing, a specific sport, or talking with people)

Values:

List your core values and make them concise.  Make these statements positive and action-oriented.  Examples are:  1) I have tremendous desire to achieve my goals  2) I grow and improve every day  3) I am amazingly healthy--mentally and physically 4) I connect people and ideas.

Mantra and Personal Brand:

Write your one-sentence mantra.  Take your time and get this very concise.  Example:  I help friends create their future.

For additional guidance on developing a personal brand, mantra, and corresponding goals, check out Inspire: What Great Leaders Do  by Lance Secretan.

Good luck!

~Scott Heydt

"Live, Learn, Teach"

www.scotthbooks.com

http://scotthbooks.blogspot.com