Lessons Learned From the Building Your Brand Workshop hosted by Rachele Wilson

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 What follows is an uncut, unfettered, non grammatical, politically correct splicing of my thoughts immediately following the Building Your Brand - Grow From Ideation to Launching Your Business workshop with Rachele Wilson, digital marketing trainer and strategist, and CEO of Wright Outcomes. 

A couple of quick takeaways from last Tuesdays event.  

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE TOOLS  

Just like a hammer. However, if you don’t swing it at something, or know how to use it, you’re not going to get much work done. And just like anything else, there will be a learning curve. In other words you may suck for a period of time, and that is part of the process. The most important thing you can do is get started.  

Facebook - Engage Them 

Instagram - Get To Know Them 

LinkedIn - Educate Them 

Pinterest - Share With Them 

YouTube - Show Them 

You can't get dirty and look good at the same time. Just do the dirt. 

IDENTIFYING WHO YOU SERVE 

You’ve launched your labor of love. You’re passionate about what you do. You’re confident that everyone who learns about what you do, will be just as enthralled as you. Nope. Or you have a product or service that you believe a particular demographic will find attractive, and instead you find yourself servicing a different client base then you expected. It happens. Or, you find out, you’re really not sure what your selling. It happens more frequently than you think.  

Whati s the difference between a $700 grandfather clock and a $5,000 grandfather clock? What is the difference between a 2 cent paperclip and a $1,000 + paperclip? Lol? The materials and time spent to craft such things? Perhaps. The end user’s perspective regarding the value of the service or product? That would be a yes. Your willingness to lean in, and unabashedly ask for, and root out what the market believes your wares are worth, and get out of your own head? Bingo.  

https://www.tiffany.com/accessories/desk/everyday-objects-18k-gold-paper-clip-bookmark-35917179/

Understanding who your idea customer really is, or what many refer to as your buyer persona is critical. It doesn’t mean you dismiss potential clients, but know who is already seeking or pre-disposed to patronize you, don’t need much in the way of education regarding your value proposition, and can easily afford your services. Your branding, marketing and prospecting techniques, and how you execute your client services should all be geared to attract and retain your idea client. 

Besides, not being willing to do the work. This unarguably kills a small business faster than anything else.   

FACTS TELL & STORIES SELL: THE SUCCESS STORY 

Here is a great format to follow.  

• What does your idea client look like? What is their challenge before they met you? 
• How did/does your service or product save the day? 
• What does your idea client look like, sound like, how has their lives been changed as a result of knowing you or what you do? 

 By the way, if you’re concerned about what to post, and do you have time? It’s because you’re thinking too hard about it.  

 Share the success stories. Share the process of creating - the product, prepping to deliver the services, the sweat equity put into delivering - the deliverables. Share the excitement, exhaustion, elation, epic failures, and the end result of the happy client. If you’re doing the work, you’ll never run out of stuff to post.  

PEEL BACK THE ONION – TELL YOUR STORY 

In a world of curated lives. The constant stream of steak and egg, trips to little known vacation destinations, grape juice, celebration of our best lives pics. People want to know if you’re real. Do you really have the academic chops or are you studied? Are you really passionate about what you do, or is this just here to part me with my money? Do you have the experience, or access to the experience. What inspires you, because I’m also looking for inspiration.  

 Are you creating emotional attachment? 

This is a Budweiser commercial, curated by VeynarMedia. But is it?

People don’t buy the chocolate chip cookies because they’re cookies. They buy the cookies because of the love that is cooked inside. Until your wares are branded, you’re the brand. If you’re being your authentic self, and you’re not an offensive SSOB, you’ll be ok.  

 And remember, TONE, is important too. That was one of the biggest gems for me personally.  

CHOOSE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY? ON SOCIAL MEDIA? 

Don’t get it twisted. In order to stay relevant, you must be present. The more regularly people are exposed to you, it’s like priming the pump, baking the popcorn, bringing that prospect one step closer to FEELING more familiar with you, and being willing to do business with you.  

However, identify 3-5 topics that capture who you are, what you do, and why you’re doing it. And consistently drive messaging about these 3-5 topics across all the social media platforms you’re employing. In the beginning, concentrate on the platform that gives you the most traction, and then spread out to the other platforms.  

Don’t be all over the place. Keep your messaging as consistent as possible.  

“SOCIAL MEDIA IS INTENDED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS.” - Rachele Wilson 

 Nothing else needs be said.  

WHAT ARE THE BEST TOOLS & TACTICS THAT ARE WORKING PRESENTLY? CAN I GET THE WORKBOOK, AFTER THE FACT? 

 You should have come. Be checking for the next one. We’re evolving. Changing. And only going to get better. So keep your eyes peeled for the next, NEXT Opportunity Social in your neighborhood. By the way, Rachele is the real deal, Evander Holyfield. Down to earth. Truthful. Gritty, with a nice splash of lemon juice and honey. 

THE BEST COMPLIMENT WE COULD EVER RECEIVE. 

 One of the attendees uttered the following words.... I may have gotten the sequence wrong.  

 “This was really good. I can tell you are really doing it. Experienced at this.”  

 When I heard those words repeatedly shared from attendees, all the other stuff didn’t matter anymore. Our goal is to put our clients (those in the audience) in front of people who have done something other than read a book, watched a YouTube video, received a bunch of recognition from well-connected friends. We are about actionable content. Introducing people who are about the entrepreneurial life and are living it: learners, doers, evaluators, sharers, elevators.

It’s about informative, actionable content. YOU, the most important thing, about what we do. Leaving more informed, but also ready, willing, and in a comfortable place to execute.   

We believe entrepreneurship is empowerment, and while everyone isn’t ready. We don’t need everyone to be an entrepreneur, although we can benefit from a more entrepreneurial mindset. We simply need more entrepreneurs making a living and making a difference.  

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JuJuan Buford is a Detroit native, entrepreneur, business development professional, and writer dedicated to helping families, entrepreneurs, and business owners establish thriving enterprises, achieve financial independence, and build lives of satisfaction. 

Follow him online here:

LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/jujuan-buford-25997a2a

Follow JuJuan Buford on Twitter: @JSBUFORD 

Learn, Ask Questions, Review Actionable Content at: https://www.catchjsbuford.com/