When you think about companies or organizations that have succeeded in branding themselves well - with a logo or a symbol or maybe even a commercial that sticks in your head, what comes to mind? I'm sure we are familiar with the swoosh from Nike, the Apple logo, the Golden Arches for McDonald's. But recently, another public eye giant has stepped onto the courts…

LeBron James. And yes, the last sentence was full of puns.

LeBron “The One” James. The 24 year old basketball wunderkind who has made leaps and bounds from a young age at doing things well. We know he dominates on the basketball court as part of the Cavaliers but did you know that he has been a force to be reckoned with in the personal branding world? LeBron has taken full control of how his image

is seen by people around the world. He understands that he has alot of influence through corporate endorsements and decided to create his own path to secure his dream of becoming the first billion dollar sports brand.

Yes, billion dollar.

Check out this video interview from 60 Minutes which gives us some insight into the thinking of the branding smart guy.

One fine day, you woke up and decided to have a logo designed for your newly started business. You went out of your bed, searched for logo design companies online and extracted some top ranking links from Google’s search engine. You called them up one by one and finalized one logo design company for your logo and felt relaxed. Your job is not done here!

Hiring a logo design company is not enough. You need to do your homework before asking your logo designer to design a logo for you otherwise all your money and your designer’s time and efforts would go wasted in the end.

Logo creation is a delicate process; therefore, you need to make it easier for your logo designer by clarifying few facets before asking him to start your project.

Write down a detailed Creative Brief:

You as a business owner, must know what exactly you require in your logo because your logo designer is only the creator of the image, you should be the one to guide him what your logo should look like. Prepare a creative brief and clarify the following points to your logo designer to avoid disagreement in the end.

more

So I came across this page featured on the West Virginia Surf Report via Twitter and couldn’t help but to laugh. As I took I quick skim over the site, it became pretty obvious what the images represented. The photos are basically fast food concoctions that many of us are familiar with - e.g. Wendy’s Chicken Club, Arby’s Beef ‘n Cheddar sandwich, etc. The ones on the left side represent what we see when the commercials or the billboards try to lure us into the restaurant to quench our stomach churning hunger (induced by the said advertisements, of course). The photos right next to those represent…what we actually get when we open up the wrappers. Now, depending on how much you like any of these foods will determine how much you shake your head in disgust or sigh at the glaring difference in what you actually pay for. The bottomline here is that there is a big difference between what you’re shown/told you are going to get and from what you actually wind up with.

In life, there are plenty of opportunities for us to be duped into believing that everything we see on television or on the Web will be exactly what is shown. It’s tough sometimes but after awhile, you learn from your mistakes. On the flip side, there are even more opportunities for us to tell someone we are going to do something, add on some verbal fluff about what it will be and how much it will help them do something and then it turn out to be a soggy, 2.5 star version of what it should have been.

Whether you are applying this to business (working with clients), social life (helping a friend move) or in relationships (picking her/him up on time) - it is always important to follow through on what you advertise to someone. You’ve pegged yourself as someone who wants to make a difference, who wants to put their energy into making something great and moving forward. How are you going to do that when people expect greatness from you but get mediocre results at best? Each time that happens, you undermine people’s ability to trust that they will get what you tell them and eventually they will look to another establishment/individual for their needs (or hunger!).

You’re better than that. Give your best and you won’t ever have to worry about websites popping up making a mockery of you or your product.

By now, I’m assuming most of you have gone through and added all of these amazing entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. Hopefully, some of them have added you back. Now, your mission is to make sure the people following you on Twitter keep following you. You don’t want to be the victim of someone’s spring cleaning of their following list.

How can you improve your follower retention on Twitter? Start by following these 10 tips.

1. Remember Why People Follow You- This is the first thing you have to figure out. Unless they’re just desperate for more friends, people usually have a specific reason for following you. If your Twitter account is for professional networking, they most likely want to hear your thoughts on relevant industry topics. In other words, they don’t want to read about you clipping your toenails or getting in a fight with your significant other.

2. Determine Why People Quit You- It’s a sad fact of Twitter life, but people will unfollow you at some point. You need to figure out why they’re doing it. One handy tool for doing this is Qwitter. This will send you an alert letting you know the exact moment someone stops following you. It will show your most recent Tweet with the hopes that will shed some light on the situation. If that doesn’t help, ask yourself if you’re living up to your expectations from tip #1.

3. Interact with Your Followers- Twitter is a social tool. So, you need to be social. Don’t just send one-way Tweets. Interact with the people you’re following. Someone is much less likely to drop you if you engage with them on a regular basis. Remember, social networking is about building connections. The only to build strong connections is to chat it up.

4. Don’t Over Tweet- Maybe I’m being anal, but one of the things that leads me to unfollow someone is when they drop 50 Tweets in the span of a few short minutes. It’s like the guy at the conference who tries to take over the show by asking 10,000 questions. Let everyone share the floor. Tweet your heart out, but just be careful not to overdo it.

5. Don’t Under Tweet Either- If you don’t give your Twitter account any attention, you’re begging to be wiped away when someone starts trimming their following list. It goes back to tip#3—if people don’t know you, they’ll have little problem dropping you like a bad habit. Keep your visibility up by making at least a few quality posts each day.

more

Are you still waiting to see if social media marketing is worth your time? It’s understandable to be hesitant of this new style of marketing, but entrepreneurs in particular have a lot to gain from getting involved with social media. It’s a free way to get in touch with your target audience and other leading figures in your industry. Even if your contacts don’t go on to become paying customers, you still get direct insight into your target audience’s mindset.

Still not convinced? Here are 7 companies making big strides through social media marketing.

Note: Thousands of companies use social media. Don’t think of this as a “Top 7” list, but rather as a sampling of companies from all industries and of all sizes making social media work for their unique needs.

1. Whiteflash- Whiteflash.com is an online diamond jewelry retailer. The owners of this company believe that buying a diamond is an interactive experience. That’s why they focused on social marketing techniques to engage potential customers. With live chatting on their website and numerous relationships with top bloggers, the company has increased their revenue by 15 percent, and most recently, they were featured in Entrepreneur magazine for their social marketing success.

2. Eastern Isles- Eastern Isles Teas and Tonics is a company headed up by two twenty-something young adults with a strong sense of Internet marketing. A key part of their marketing strategy is social media marketing. Through sites like Facebook and MySpace, the company generates about 30,000 unique visitors to their site each month.

3. Dell- Long gone are the days of the stoner gracing our television screens with “Dude, you’re getting a Dell.” Today, Dell is taking full advantage of social media marketing. In addition to over 20 Twitter accounts, they also have several company blogs that attract millions of visitors each month. However, most impressive to me is their Ideastorm website. This interactive community allows users to submit and vote on ideas. Well over 10,000 ideas have been created here. A truly great idea in and of itself.

4. Doritos- Dell isn’t the only company getting its users involved in the process. Remember the Super Bowl promotion that Doritos ran earlier this year (and last year, too)? Fans were allowed to create and vote on ads to appear during the Super Bowl. Thousands of submissions and millions of video views were generated by this overwhelmingly successful promotion.

5. Zappos- This online shoe retailer is always one of the first companies mentioned when it comes to social media. While they have a host of blogs and video blogs, what has really captured consumer interest is their Twitter presence. 198 Zappos employees maintain active Twitter profiles, and a page on their website is devoted just to this. By enticing the public to “See what Zappos employees are doing right now” the company generates tons of interest in their Twitter campaign.

6. Crafty Chica- “Crafty” is the perfect word to describe site owner Kathy Cano-Murillo’s marketing strategy. When her book Art de la Soul was coming out, she used MySpace to connect directly with her target audience. By staying committed and being social, she was able to get nearly 2 million visitors to her website each month.

7. MTV- Hate them all you want for not showing music videos anymore (it’s not like the ones they played were good anyway), but you have to give MTV credit for knowing its target demographic. In addition to their widgets and blogs, MTV also promotes The Hills (gag) in Second Life. Furthermore, you can connect with their “reality” stars through the MTV website. 14 year old girls throughout the world are rejoicing!

Like I said, there are far more than 7 companies doing a great job of taking advantage of social media. I just don’t have room in this blog to cover every single one. Hopefully, this gives some of you who are still skeptical about the validity of social media some useful information.

Which companies would you add to this list?

“An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.”
—Niels Bohr

When you make the decision to leave the comfortable corporate life to be an entrepreneur, you’re bound to make some mistakes. Ask any successful business person how they got to where they are today, and they’ll probably tell you it was by learning from their costly mistakes. While many people few mistakes as huge blows to their business, I believe it’s better to cherish these mistakes and to learn from them so that you’ll be a smarter, more effective entrepreneur.

So, by now you’re wondering what the biggest mistake I’ve ever made is. Let me start by giving a little background- I’m a freelance copywriter. As a freelancer, there is no set salary, and sometimes you don’t know where your next paycheck is coming from. This is something all entrepreneurs can identify with.

The mistake I made was I got comfortable. Things were going surprisingly well at an early stage of my business. I had more than enough work on my plate, and all of my clients were happy with the copy I was providing them with. Things couldn’t have been better.

Then, it all came to a crashing halt. Projects were done; contracts were completed; and suddenly, I had no work. Just as quickly as I had built a successful business, it was all gone. I had committed the cardinal sin: I stopped marketing myself because I was too busy working for my clients.

more

So, you have your Twitter account all setup and ready to go. One problem—you need people to follow. Here are 30 entrepreneurs to help you get started.

1. Rand Fishkin – CEO of SEOmoz, a Seattle based Internet marketing and search engine optimization firm. At 29 years old, Rand is a great example to young entrepreneurs.

2. Petri Darby- The “Chief Darn Officer” at Darby Darnit, a Houston PR firm.

3. Young Go Getter- The masterminds behind this amazing site you’re reading right now!

4. Dave Snyder- A leading expert in search and social media marketing. He is a Co-Founder of Search and Social.

5. Guy Kawasaki- A top entrepreneur, blogger, and venture capitalist. Has authored numerous books, and he contributes a
monthly column to Entrepreneur Magazine.

6. Jay Neely- Boston-based entrepreneur working on a news-related startup.

7. Sean Lindsay- Technologist, Entrepreneur, Builder, Creator, Connector.

8. 12seconds- A few nerds (their words, not mine) running a site that allows you to share 12 second video status updates with friends and family. A brilliant idea.

9. Marcelo Calbucci- Founder and CTO of Sampa. Moved to the US in 1998, and now runs his own business.

10. Beverly Davis- Runs a cosmetic company with uplifting, motivating, and inspiring products.

11. Eric Pennington-Eric Pennington is the Founder and Chief Idea Spreader for Epic Living, LLC. He is a passionate thought leader who writes and speaks about leadership training and other topics.

12. Chris Pund- A young entrepreneur running 2 web-based companies. Also, manages a blog for young entrepreneurs.

13. Jeremy Schooley- Internet marketer and young entrepreneur. COO at Digital Labz.

14. Thomson Chemmanoor- A social media marketing expert from Houston,TX. Founder of Digital Labz.

15. Drew M Griffin- Multi-preneur, Vlogger, and Blogger from PA.

16. Maiken Jepsen- Designer, work-at-home-mom, and owner of custom boutique clothing shop.

17. Stacy Stehle- Internet marketer and an independent associate with USANA health sciences.

18. Blaine Moore- Operates a coaching and publishing business in the running and fitness niche.

19. Shafiu- Co-founder and CEO of molv.com, a company that lets you stream live video from your phone to people throughout the world.

20. Daniel McClintock- Graphic designer, entrepreneur, internet marketer, and business owner.

21. Wes Wilson- Founder of IncSpring, a social marketplace for designers and entrepreneurs.

22. Rajesh Pancholi- Owner and operator of R27 Creativelab—a creative UK studio.

23. Jeff Heuer- NYC based web entrepreneur.

24. Tom Markiewicz- Entrepreneur and rock climber from Boulder, CO.

25. Sumaya Kazi- Founding and Executive Director of The Cultural Connect. Recognized by Business Week as one of the top young entrepreneurs.

26. Joann Sondy- Entrepreneur since 2000. Owner of Creative Aces, a design and digital imaging studio.

27. Richard McKay- Owner of startup zungalow.com.

28. Daniel Kehoe- Consultant for entrepreneurs that need a temporary/freelance CTO and blog.

29. Rick Myers- Founder/CEO of Talent Zoo, an online database where marketing and communications firms connect with talent.

30. JeanAnnVK- Entrepreneur, blogger, author, and social media consultant, among other things. The “Edgy Entrepreneur.”

Bonus: You can also follow me, Eric Brantner. I’m a freelance copywriter from Houston,TX.

Note: If you aren’t on the list, please add your Twitter info in the replies. I’d love to follow you!

Whether you’re already out their working on your own or you’re thinking about leaving the corporate world soon to build your own business, these tips will help you be a better (and hopefully wealthier) entrepreneur.

1. Establish a Strong Web Presence- As a small business owner, you don’t have the resources of your larger competitors. That’s why online marketing is so important. It’s the most affordable and effective way to get your name out there, to generate leads, and to build your brand. Read this earlier post on 5 free ways to promote your business online.

2. Connect with the Right People- We’ve all heard the saying “It’s not what you know, but who you know that’s important.” Well, it’s true. Knowing the right people can come in handy for a couple of reasons. First, being in contact with the right people can get you referrals, improving your bottom line. More importantly, connecting with the right people can improve your entrepreneurial education. Get in touch with fellow entrepreneurs through social networks or local meetups in your town. You’ll learn some valuable lessons that will help you be a better small business owner.

3. Don’t Settle- When you don’t have the safety net of a consistent salary, it can be easy to fall into the temptation of accepting low paying jobs. While this might be necessary occasionally for making ends meet, it’s a difficult hole to pull yourself out of. Once you begin settling for low paying jobs, you diminish the value of your work. One low paying job leads to another—it’s a vicious cycle.

more

If you are an entrepreneur looking to get your start, chances are you will need a little help getting things going when it comes to finances. It is not always easy to get all of the money to start your first (or even second) business together, so you may need to seek investors to help your ideas come to fruition.

Investors are looking for ways to help grow their financial resources—it’s what they do. So how do you get someone to believe in you and ultimately help fund your business? Here is a short list of qualities that investors are looking for when they are deciding who to invest in.

Innovative

Whether you are attempting to use a fresh perspective regarding an outdated business model, or are trying something completely new, realize that investors are more likely to invest in something that helps bring a freshness to the market. Standing out and bringing something new to the table can help you get a leg up on your potential competition. Try and find something unique about your proposal and make that your emphasis.

Proactive

You want to be able to show that you have thoroughly thought everything out before bringing your ideas to a prospective investor. This can make all the difference in the world; anticipating problems and their solutions will give investors the peace of mind they are looking for when it comes to giving to money to get started. Show that you have planned and forecasted effectively and you will be sure to win them over.

more

A common mistake many small businesses make is to bite off more than they can chew with their online marketing campaign. Sure, the internet does level the playing field so that small businesses can compete with their larger competitors, but even online marketing has its limits. You have to be smart about your online marketing strategy to give yourself the best chance of remaining competitive.

If you run a traditional bricks-and-mortar local small business, there are several things you can do to promote yourself online. One of the most effective ways to get targeted traffic to your site is by optimizing your site for local keywords. Rather than going after broad keywords that everyone is targeting, you can rank better by using location specific keywords.

For instance, let’s say you own a bicycle shop in Houston. While your first instinct might be to target keywords like “Trek mountain bikes” or “specialized racing bikes” you have to realize you’d be competing with cycling companies throughout the country for those keywords. Instead, start out by targeting local keywords like “specialized racing bikes in Houston.” By adding the geographic location of your business, you will rank better in the search engines for the keyword and you’ll receive highly targeted traffic to your website.

more