Top African American Brands
In the United States the month of February is recognized as African American History month (or Black History month, depending on how old-school you are). In honor of that I'd like to do a series of blogs highlighting the achievements of African Americans in entrepreneurship and business. Right away, as soon as I thought of this idea I thought of some really admirable and heavy-hitting business owners that I'd like to profile... and then I thought "I should try to interview them!" Read the full article...
Get to know me a little deeper – 5 fun facts
Life is a moving train – so I wanted to tell you 5 things about me:
1) How many people live in your household: Just 2 – Myself and my Hubby, but we sometimes consider our doggy Samantha as our daughter, so that could be three living beings 2) Favorite Dish to make – we make most of our own food because my husband is vegetarian and I'm vegan, and we're both sugar-free: I really love Indian cuisine, and I think Darren would choose popcorn (if it were a cuisine)! 3) Favorite past-time TV Show... Read the full article...
Free Audio Download: 7 Steps To Brand Visibility
One my the most pressing issues for new businesses is how to get visible so that you generate revenue right away. Especially in the beginning of the year the focus is to start strong and keep the momentum going throughout the rest of the year. If you have plans to to focus your efforts on marketing and visibility I invite you to listen to a class I gave about how to maximize your opportunities for exposure. Read the full article...
Brand Q & A: WordPress Website or Traditional Website?
Have you ever wondered what the difference between a wordpress website and a traditional website are? In spell out some of the main differences in this post to help you make that decision for your business at the onset of your launch Read the full article...
Are you in the wrong zone? The comfort zone?
Innovation and growth are key signals that your brand will never reach a plateau. If your business goal is to multiply your success this year (financially, or otherwise) one of the most reasonable ways to that is to innovate in your industry and to do that you need to break out of your comfort zone. Read the full article...
How to chase a potential client without losing your breath
Ultimately, having multiple ways to contact your community helps you to convert your ideal person into a client. I like to say it gives me the ability to chase a potential client without losing my breath. I hope to give you a little snapshot of how the process works holistically, and you can tweak and tailor it for your own use. Read the full article...
Ideas for event swag bag giveaways
When it comes to event gifts the rule of thumb is generally the more useful, the more effective. Below are a couple of suggestions of gift items that don't immediately get thrown in the trash. Some of these you can make on your own, and some will have to be ordered by one of the vendors I list at the bottom of this email. Read the full article...
[Video] Start with what you know in business growth
One of my clients called me, really feeling low and disappointed about where she is in her business. She was ready to do something DRASTIC that I believe would have just sunk her deeper. Hear what happened and how, by the time I told her what to focus on, she was happy and feeling confident in her business once again (and it didn't cost her a dime!) Read the full article...
The New Marketplace Trend – Challenges and Competition
Lately I've been a little frustrated with the way I see some entrepreneurs marketing their business. In particular, I see a growing trend by both service and product based businesses where they use the spirit of "competition" to develop group programs and events. Now, let me start here by saying I do think that a healthy challenge can be a good thing... when Read the full article...
3 Tips For A Strong Brand [Video]
Whether you're just starting out in business or have been established for several years there are three essentials every brand must have to make their mark. Learn them in this video and please give your feedback and input in the comments below.
Read the full article...
Delivering Happiness Takes High Touch, Not High Tech
Happiness is more than just a state of mind and Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, is on a mission to prove it. I had the privilege of seeing Tony speak for The American Marketing Association and after two pages of notes I examined his philosophy and realized why the businesses he's managed have been so abundantly successful. Read the full article...
Today is Brand Excitement’s Anniversary!
Three years ago today I launched Brand Excitement here in Hudson County, New Jersey. At the time I was till working a full-time job, had just graduated from Rising Tide Capital's Community Business Academy (one day before) and felt empowered, for the first time, to make a real go at being a business owner. Read the full article...
Branding a live presentation
When speaking or giving a live presentation you have an opportunity to brand yourself to an entire audience. I see many lost opportunities when it comes to branding in person so I want to offer you three ways you may not have considered before. Read the full article...
Which telephone setup is right for you at startup?
Nothing makes a start up or small business look like an amateur more than having phone availability and systems that are out of whack. I have met countless business owners who start their business by using their cell phone number. This is a total no-no, and the effects of it are very hard to reverse. Once your number is out there in the public domain it's very hard to pull it out of the stratosphere. Read the full article...
2012’s Favorite Moments
Well, the year is done. As I look back on 2012 I look back to a year filled with fun, growth, opportunity and connection. I think I've traveled more this year than I have since the years when I used to model. The year found me on a plane practically every month, beginning with my trip to Chicago in January for my mother's 80th Birthday. After that I went through a series of fun and not-so-fun moments, such as when I missed my *next* flight to Chicago that following week for Fabienne Fredrickson's tour stop. Read the full article...
4 Starter Tools that Boost Your Brand
When you think of brands like L.o.u.i.s. V.u.i.t.t.o.n., Coach or Tori Burch, what comes to mind? Does a certain experience put you in their store or on their website? Likewise it's necessary to set up your brand identity accordingly. Right out the gate here are 4 things to do online: Read the full article...
Align your values with your brand
Your brand values are an indicator the public that you stand for something. It lets them know right away if you may be the perfect partner or provider for them. We outline ours here, and explain why they matter. Read the full article...
The Biggest Pro and Con of Publishing a Newsletter
There are several advantages publishing your own newsletter can offer to you. Many pros and cons that I can list here but for starters I'd like to tell you the biggest pro and con that I've found in my business and that of my clients. Read the full article...
The 3-2-1 Brand Growth Formula
Each month I focus on a core set of objectives. This 3-2-1 formula has helped me triple my income. I bet if you implement it for just a couple of months you'll start to see similar results too. Read the full article...
JJ Ramberg knows MY business
A review of JJ Ramberg's book "It's Your Business: 183 Essential Tips that Will Transform Your Small Business" In short, It is amazing! My favorite part of the concept is that JJ actually provides scripts given by some of the best experts on her show, covering everything from How to charge someone when they want you to do something at no cost, to negotiating when someone really needs a lower price. SCRIPTS!!! Read this, say that, make the sale, collect your cash. Read the full article...
