This may seem like a silly question because if someone does not know how to do a job it should be easy to correct it my asking someone else for information. Shouldn't it? Perhaps. This is our 4th and final in the series to help Paula and she will have to confirm if this is what has been holding her back in launching her online business.
Does the idea seem far-fetched that a sharp, savvy and successful (offline) businesswoman would allow her lack of knowledge in a particular area to cause her to procrastinate? For someone who is successful in other areas the idea that they are not able to master everything perfectly could become a motivational block. Pride for one could prevent her from recognizing that she needs help, or even worse to admit to herself that she needs help. Subconsciously this results in avoidance or even developing an aversion for the task. (more…)
Today we continue to help Paula, a savvy, sharp businesswoman who has had a successful business offline for many years, determine why she has not completed a very important task necessary to launch her online business. We shared the points regarding fear of success, failure and completion with her and while she acknowledged she had some fears, she did not feel they were enough to paralyze her.
Could it be that even though Paula knows this activity needs to be done she has not wrapped her mind around that it needs to be given high priority? The fact that it is on her “Most Important Things to Do” list means that it is important and in talking with Paula she recognizes that someone has to do it. She also realizes that it is not something that should be assigned to someone else; it's something that she needs to do. But what has happened everyday so far? She has found something else to do in that time slot, which means that she has procrastinated each day and given something else priority. (more…)
Creating a presence online may take different forms as the internet provides a smorgasbord of options. You may be in Direct Sales and already have a static website provided by the company you represent, you may be a stay-at-home mom or dad who is looking for a way to reach out to others, whether for friendship, or to find money-making opportunities. You may be a self-employed professional or the owner of a brick and mortar store who wants to expand his/her reach, or you may be an employee looking to transition. Regardless of your background, there is one important point to keep in mind: Exercise care in what you say and enter on various websites because once they are there they are like marks made by a permanent marker or indelible ink that cannot be erased. They may be submerged, but can always be found with a little effort and can come back to haunt you later on.
We will discuss how to build your brand in another post, but today we are going to look at some reasons why it is important to build your brand. What is a brand? Wikipedia.org defines brand as a name, sign, symbol, slogan or anything that is used to identify and distinguish a specific product, service, or business. From the outset branding sets you apart and distinguishes you or your business from others who may be marketing the same product or offering a similar service.
If you are new to the internet you will become aware that you can start in various places; for example, many persons will encourage you to start by joining one of the social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. There is value in doing so because you can observe and eventually participate in interactions, become aware of groups that you can join, create networking opportunities and expand your reach. However, on each of these sites you will be asked to create a Profile. What will your Profile say about you? When people click on your profile what will they find? What do you want people to know about you and how much of yourself will you reveal? It is truly important to be authentic, but at the same time caution should be exercised that you do not reveal information that could make you become a victim of ID theft.
Building your brand is important because –
1) You need your brand to create an effective presence on the internet
2) Your brand builds credibility, which can only be achieved over a period of time.
3) What will be your USP – Your Unique Selling Proposition? It's important to identify this so you can express it clearly. The first person who asked me that got a ‘Huh?” answer as I had no idea what they were talking about. This is one thing that will set you apart from others and identify your brand.
4) Deciding on a niche may take time, but is a highly recommended step because you cannot be all things to everyone and it's important to determine what or where you will focus on. Your niche will be one of your branding tools.
5) One of the basic items you will need for your online business is a Domain Name. You can select a domain name with keywords that reflect the brand you will be building, or you can select your own name.com. You will also need to determine how you will brand your name. What do you want people to associate your name with?
From the foregoing, you can appreciate that to have an building your brand is important. Tomorrow we will discuss how to build your brand in order to have an effective presence on the internet.
