Friendship and Your Brand

Most of us in the U.S. spent the weekend surrounded by friends and family for the 4th of July holiday – and likely, most of us didn’t give a thought about mentioning our professional brands.? A missed opportunity? Perhaps, and let me explain why.

Friendship is one of the most powerful assets you can leverage when building and growing your brand. Not only do friends offer support and encouragement, but given they know you best, they can provide insights that propel your brand forward. Here’s how you can effectively use your network of friends to help your brand grow.

Share Your Vision and Goals

Start by sharing your brand vision and goals. When they understand what you’re trying to achieve, they’re more likely to offer support and feedback that align with your mission. Organize a casual meetup or phone call where you outline your brand’s objectives, making sure to highlight why it matters to you and what you hope to accomplish. And while you’re asking for feedback, also ask for their help. Whether it’s graphic design, marketing, writing, or tech support, don’t hesitate to utilize their skills and expertise. ?

Engage on Social Media

Encourage your friends to follow and engage with your brand on social media. This increases your brand’s visibility and helps foster a community around your brand. ?Got a big announcement coming? Set up a group text and when you post, let them know so they can engage with the content and work those social media algorithms to get your posts out to potential new customers. *This just happened as I was writing this week's The Brand Builder - a friend sent a group text letting us know she had announced the launch of her consulting firm and would we go on to LinkedIn and engage with the post. Happy to support her, we all did, and she had double digit cheers and congrats within minutes of posting.

Host Focus Groups

Arrange informal focus groups with your friends to gather honest and constructive feedback. Use these sessions to present new ideas, products, or services and observe their reactions. Got a training workbook in development? Take them through it and make sure to ask open-ended questions to gain deeper insights. The feedback you receive can guide important decisions and improvements.

Create a Brand Ambassador Program

Transform your most supportive friends into brand ambassadors. Provide them with exclusive content, early access to products, and tools to promote your brand. Ask them to host events online or in-person to share your business. These gatherings can range from product launches to informational webinars. Looking to grow your professional brand network? Events also serve as a platform for friends to invite others, broadening your audience.

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Want to start using your network to propel your brand? Let's connect! I can help design a network mapping strategy: https://calendly.com/jackiegulley/brand-consultation