Everyone is talking about “branding” these days. You must brand yourself or your company—create a brand. What is a brand? Some consider it an image. It’s what makes you or your company stand apart from your competitors. It’s your reputation. It’s how people measure you against others.
While we typically think of branding for companies—Ford, McDonalds, Purina, etc.—individuals can also brand themselves. Here are a few ways that authors and freelance writers can create their own brands—brand their own names.
• Write books under your name in the field in which you want to be recognized or associated.
• Submit articles/stories to a variety of appropriate publications on your topic/in your genre, in order to become more well-known.
• Get out and speak to your peers and others who are interested in your topic/genre.
• Create a website.
• Blog regularly at your own blog site and comment and be a guest blogger at other sites.
• Sign up for accounts at Facebook, Twitter and other appropriate social media sites and keep them active.
What? This is the same stuff I suggest that you do in order to promote your book, build your platform, gain credibility in your field or genre. That’s right. It’s a matter of putting yourself out there before your audience—becoming known and respected as an expert, as an author, as a freelance writer.
Is it starting to make sense? So what will you do today toward building your brand?