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Build Your Online Brand in 7 Easy Steps

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Ignoring or not actively managing your brand online doesn’t mean you won’t have one. It’s worse – it means that your brand will be defined by others. You may not like the results!
Here are the steps to take to actively manage your brand online:

Google yourself.

Find out where you are online and assess what your brand looks like already. What do you like? What needs to be changed? Make an assessment of the current landscape so you can factor your research in as you move forward.

Define your goal.

What do you want to achieve? How do you want to be perceived? Take time to answer these questions before you proceed.

Flesh out your brand.

Write about who you are and what you do. Note what makes you different from others in the same field or industry. Define the things that people want to know about you.

Make your website a worthy home base.

Create a website or edit your current site to reflect your brand. Pay attention to words and images. Have others look at your website and tell you who you are and what differentiates you. If the responses match the brand you have defined, great! If not, work on your website some more.

Expand your brand.

Optimize your social media profiles and other profiles online so they are consistent with your brand and goals. Use consistent words and images. Make it easy for people to connect the dots from one online location to another. Your consistent brand across multiple locations strengthens your brand and your visibility online.

Connect with your target audience.

Once you have a solid foundation for your brand online, you are ready to start connecting with others. Create and post content. Invite people to follow you. Follow people who matter to you. Comment on posts from people and about subjects that are relevant to your goals and brand.

Tell your brand story.

You are never done telling your brand story. Tell it in posts, in images, in videos. Share your story many ways and on many platforms. Whether you have connected with someone long ago or just now, no one has your brand memorized. Make it easy for them to know you and what you do. Stay relevant.

This effort isn’t done when you get to step 7. Your brand needs constant tending. You are only relevant online if you keep everything fresh and current.

Pace yourself. Develop a plan of activities that you can live with for the long-term. Success is found over months and years of consistent presentation of your brand. You are worth the investment.

What Action Can You Expect from Online Engagement?

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Your company is likely on social media to connect with your audience and to get them to take beneficial action. But what is realistic to expect? Nielsen Norman Group has identified 6 types of interactions that users have with companies on social media.

They identified the following core interactions, illustrated in this image in order of frequency.

User interactions with businesses on social media

Make Your Social Content Meet These Needs

Discover: Can I find something interesting?

Brands that help people to connect with interesting information tap into the interest in discovery.

Research: What is this? How does it work for me? How could I use it?

People look for content that helps them understand the people, products and services they encounter. Information that goes beyond pitches and sales language to help with understanding is the most valued.

Engage: Am I interested in the content the company posts on social media?

When someone gets excited about a brand, they want a way to feel connected. Social content helps them to feel connected in an ongoing way. This content nurtures a sense of ongoing relationship and makes it easy to share with others.

Purchase: How can I buy it?

Every brand loves when people come to buy. Businesses benefit when they make the process clear and easy. This is probably the most desired action. Not that it is not the top motivation for users.

Support: Can you help me solve a problem?

Problems have a way of cropping up outside of business hours. Brands that have an effective online presence help users get answers 24/7. Online content should help solve common user problems.

Promote: How can I share my experience with others?

Sometimes users want to create their own content related to brands. An online presence on the platform they are using lets them connect with the brand more meaningfully than a text mention.

How to Know You’re Experiencing Burnout and Five Easy Ways to Prevent It

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Guest Post by By Denise Dorfman – Energy Codes Coach 

Burnout has been a buzzword for years. What exactly is burnout? Burnout occurs when many constant stressors over time, usually from overworking, leave an individual exhausted and no longer able to be at their personal best. The person lacks interest in doing anything.

Symptoms of burnout include constant fatigue, lack of enthusiasm, a negative attitude, loss of concentration, poor work performance, relationship issues, neglecting self-care, and a lack of satisfaction.  Chronic burnout can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, digestive problems and depression.

Here are five simple ways to avoid burnout so you can stay balanced and healthy:

1)      Make time for yourself on a daily basis.  Many successful people get up a bit early every morning just to have time for themselves.  Some people meditate, do yoga, journal or do some light reading.  Schedule an appointment in your calendar for time with yourself.

2)      Set boundaries.  You don’t have to be available for everyone all the time.  Also recognize that you’ll never be able to please everyone so don’t even go there.  If you are taking care of yourself, you have more energy to take care of others.

3)      Do something fun every day.  Yes, you read that correctly – every day!  It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money.  Even a ten-minute walk around the neighborhood or a few minutes sitting in a park can do wonders for your outlook.

4)      Take a nap if necessary.  Again, this doesn’t have to take a lot of time.  If you’re tired from working on a major project, take 10-20 minutes for a power nap.  Any more than 30 minutes could leave you groggy.

5)      Don’t do anything you don’t really want to do.  Learn to say no if you cannot commit to something.  Delegate if necessary.

M. Scott Peck was once quoted as saying “Self-discipline is self-caring.”  So be patient with yourself.  Self-care is the greatest investment you can make in your business and your health.  Make the time and effort – you are worth it!

About the Author

Denise DorfmanDenise Dorfman is an Energy Codes Coach and Author of Speak Your Truth: How You Can Recover from Lupus. Denise has over ten years experience in energy work and coaching, particularly in relationships. She has helped many people set healthy boundaries and make the right decisions so they live a more fulfilled life in a state of positivity. To learn more, and to schedule a free 30-minute Discovery session,  please visit www.denisedorfman.com.