Guest Post~ Embody Your Brand

This guest post comes from one of the attendees of WAGC Bootcamp. I love her energy, motivation and focus on what she wants after she graduates college. I couldn’t have written a better post on how to embody your brand. You have to read this.

I’ve just celebrated my one year anniversary for my blog, My Pretty Pink Life. In these past 12 months, I’ve encountered so many articles, panels and speakers on the topic of Branding. These articles generally guide you in creating your brand and your brand strategy, but what about after? Your business cards are printed, your site is up and functioning, your business cards are printed your logo and tagline are trademarked. What happens next? Often times, individuals think that branding is a logo and a website…it’s so much more. It’s how you represent your brand. You are your brand! 

Have you ever to a person’s blog or company website and fallen in love with their personality and service only to meet them in person and be completely shocked? Here are some tips to ensure that you are embodying your brand.

Make sure your website and printed collateral match your content and services offered.  If you are an accounting and tax company your website should not have floral background—neither should your business cards. Your branding materials send out your message to potential customers. Having flowers on your collateral sends a mixed signal to you customers and can confuse people as to what you do. Keep everything cohesive, simple, and most of all relevant to your business.

Do as you say. If your business’ slogan is “speedy results”, “attention to detail”, or anything that makes subtle promises to your clients, you better make sure that you keep them. People remember what others say they are going to do even if they don’t remember anything else. As a business owner, you don’t want an upset client telling everyone how long it took for you to contact them back with their product—especially after you promised a 48 hour turnaround. Be careful what you say and when you say something, you’d better work as hard as humanly possible to get it done.

Look the part. Have you ever met an image consultant in sweats? Or had a business coach with a wrinkled suit and a ketchup stain on his shirt? I have. And you know what? I would never give them my business. Now, I’m not saying that everyone is a fashionista, but everyone is capable of looking neat and professional. People are judgmental creatures, and you wouldn’t want anyone to judge the caliber of your business, just because you didn’t feel like getting dressed today. Especially, for important meetings and first time encounters put on your best. I’m a firm believer in power dressing—dressing to look competent and authoritative, even if you don’t feel that way.

Have personality. It doesn’t matter what people say, clients buy from people not companies. As a business owner, you should want to make personal connections to your clients, so that they feel attached to you as a person and not just your company. Making friends with your clients can create loyalty, which can go with you on future business endeavors.

Continue to learn. You never want to be the company that doesn’t evolve. You don’t want to be the company that is using new technology and resources. You never want to be the company that is getting left behind. Incorporate into your brand messaging, how you are constantly evolving and finding new and effective ways to be the best at what you do, while also using their customer dollars wisely.

Taylor Brione is currently in her third year at the University of Houston, where she is studying Event Management and minoring in Non-Profit Management. Even though, she is still in college that has not stopped her from pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams. She is the owner of Taylor Made Events, an event planning company and Freelance Writer and Blogger for Pretty Pink Living (www.taylorbrione.com). She enjoys encouraging young women to be confident and believe in themselves and to pursue whatever dreams they aspire to accomplish. Taylor is an avid Barbie Collector, a lover of the color pink, and a self-proclaimed Reality TV Expert.

How do you embody your brand?