Build A Strong Brand While You're Young by Matt Polsky

Hey Everyone, 

I found this article on http://www.youngentrepreneur.com and had to share it with you guys. In today's social media driven world it is important to know how to make it work for you and how to handle the situation when it turns against you. It is so easy to gain press, both negative and positive. One thing you must remember when building your brand and indulging in social media is that you are always being watched! So remember to always protect your brand and maintain high PR alerts at all times. Read below for some great tips.

Build A Strong Brand While You're Young

Brand management is more important than ever in a society that has currently grown accustom to the internet being readily available through smartphones and tablets. Managing your brand goes beyond the usual keyword searches and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tactics, and moves heavily into social media. Socialmedia platforms are breeding grounds for both positive and negative word of mouth and if utilized properly, they can be a large part of your marketing plan.

It is important to remember SEO is still important to achieve and maintain online visibility, but the rapidly growing popularity of social media sites has forced companies to consider how they will manage that visibility once they obtain it. Online brand management is highly important for any company wishing to grow and the most effective way to promote a positive brand image consistently across the internet.

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn are just a few of the popular platforms companies can now use to increase their visibility. Socialnetworking sites are not only great to push products or services, but can be used to build communities of brand advocates. Through contests, coupons, promotions, and events, a company can keep their customers interacting and loyal to the company.

While social media sites can be a great way to reach a completely new client base, they can also quickly become a company’s worst nightmare. Social media sites – including forums and discussion boards such as Angie’s List – can become flooded with undesirable comments regarding your business and destroy a brand through negative word of mouth. It is important to comment or respond to all negative press to show the customer you are trying to rectify the situation.

In today’s socially connected world, consumers want to be an integral part of the businesses they support. Social networking sites allow you to immediately apologize and state the solutions being sought before brand loyalists begin revolting. Not only do these updates tend to calm the storm, but also can increase brand loyalty as customers like know they are being listened to and the company really cares. Remember, not only negative comments need a response. A company can build brand advocates through thanking customers who give company reviews.

To avoid ruining a brand with social media sites, companies must remain consistent in the image they convey across these platforms, and must manage them daily. Posting to Facebook once a month won’t cut it. Facebook users want solid content every day if possible, but if the content is dry and not interesting skip it and go every other day. Posting too much on Facebook can lead to your connections un-liking you. Twitter has a completely different user base. Twitter followers expect to see three to five posts per day.

To get the highest return on brand management, SEO techniques should be synergized with social media to convey a positive brand image across all platforms.

Matt Polsky is the Senior Content and Reputation manager for VA Mortgage Center, providing insights learned from the nation’s leading provider of VA home loans.

Article taken from: http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/build-a-strong-brand-while-you’re-young/. 

News! I'm the new Director of Operations!

In case you didn't know, I am now the Director of Operations for the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce. I'm excited to be a part of the team and I am looking forward to this new opportunity. 


With that said, I am always looking for Businesses to feature in our monthly newsletters. Email me for an appointment. I would love to come to your venue, office, or location to do a review with my photographer. Let's support each other and grow small businesses! 


"Find what you love and sacrifice for it."-Delesa J


Thanking God for all my blessings <3,


~Delesa J 

Look at me Now!

Hello all! A lot has been going on recently and I feel so blessed and favored. I recently became a writer for Feva La Bella Magazine and one of my articles was recently published in the June edition of FEVA!!

According to Fevalabella.com: 

The mission of “FEVA” LA BELLA MAGAZINE IS TO GIVE HOPE TO THE LEAST, THE LOST, AND THE LEFT OUT!

“FEVA” LA BELLA MAGAZINE seeks to provide insight into issues that affect and impact women of color, to inspire women to achieve, to educate women in both practical and intellectual subjects, and to create a supportive and nurturing community.

I am so excited to begin this new relationship and to write articles that will inspire and motivate other women and women of color. Everyone knows, I'm a feminist at heart ;). So once again I am blessed to be combining my passion of helping others with my passion for writing. Who could ask for a better job? 

So cheers to my new journey! I look forward to continuing my work with FEVA as well as building new relationships with other magazines and newspapers. So let the writing begin!

Note: In order to view my article (page 56) (and other upcoming articles) you must purchase the magazine, either in print or digital. Here's a link if you are interested in purchasing: @FEVALABELLA officially welcomes @delesaj in June with “Recession with a Lemon Twist” http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/200221 “FEVA”!!

Thank you all for your continued support. 

"So remember when life gives you lemons, do not just make lemonade, plant your own grove of lemon trees."-Delesa J (quote from my June FEVA article)

~Delesa J 

Check out Delesa J's feature in the For Colored Gurl's May Newsletter!

The May edition of @forcoloredgurls' newsletter was sent today, and @delesaj is featured! Check it out http://conta.cc/kZB3tu! Thank you FCG, we look forward to doing work with you.

"Find what you love and sacrifice for it."-Delesa J

~Delesa J

Take Your Business To The Next Level by ANN BROWN

Take Your Business To The Next Level

Just Let Your Keyboard Do The Talking

By: ANN BROWN

Don´t have cash to boost business? Well, according to business and social media coach Pam Perry, you can power your business on a shoestring‏.

"Business is about relationships," she says. "People do business with people they know, like and trust."

She says digital is one way that is cost effective and can lead to business opportunities. "Email marketing allows you to get to know your customer and your customer get to know you over time. By having constant contact with your customer, you won’t be out of site or off their mind," she notes. 

And, says Perry, social media is an easy task to perform and something not to be ignored. "Social media has changed the way the world communicates," she says. "Smart marketers are taking advantage of this because they can promote their message faster and further than any time in history. Use of Facebook, blogs and online video is a way to communicate to your potential customers/clients your VALUE and what you offer."

She also points out that you can reinvent the wheel--in a way. "It’s not about it being new; it’s about being consistent," she points out. "You can’t decide to blog this week and in 90 days abandon the blog because you feel it’s not working. Patience is the key and sticking with your social media marketing plan for at least nine months will make the difference. If doing an email newsletter is taxing for you and you find it hard to be consistent – don’t do it. Do something else. Do a podcast instead or do a contest on Twitter or Facebook. But whatever you do, build brand equity by being consistent."

According to Perry, those businesses that ignore socal media will most likely lose in the long run. "We are in the world of “search” for information via the search engines. If you are not online, you will get left behind," she comments. "And not only must you be online, but you must be active and optimized so that your core customer/client can find you. Email will just put you in front of them more – and they will remember you when they are ready to buy! KaChing!"

see http://pamperry.posterous.com too 

*This article is courtesy of http://www.socialmediapr.blogspot.com/ (@pamperry).

7 Keys to Power Networking by Melinda Emerson (@SmallBizLady)

7 Keys to Power Networking

Mon, May 16, 2011

Become Your Own Boss Tips, Branding & Marketing, Grow Your Business, How to Start, My Recommendations, SmallBizChat, Uncategorized, Your Small Business

7 Keys to Power Networking

Power Networking at Business Event

May 16^th kicks off National Small Business Week and for the next seven to 14 days there are tons of events and awards ceremonies for small business owners which is a fantastic opportunity to meet and greet potential contacts.  I keynote and speak at many conferences and small business events, and often I see small business owners doing their businesses a disservice by how they show up and network at events.  With tons of networking opportunities taking place from now until Memorial Day, I wanted to provide a guide on how to prepare for a networking event. I call them my 7 Keys to Power Networking.

Here are 7 things to consider when networking:

1. 1. Set a Goal. Don’t go to any event without a goal in mind. You should always know why you are attending the event. You should not go to any event where your best target customers are not the majority of the attendees. When I attend events, I try to secure 5 quality contacts and that’s it. Why? Because there’s only so much time to follow-up with people.  The fortune is in the follow-up, I’ll talk about that in next week’s blog post.

1. 2. Research Attendees. Try to find out who is attending the event. Look at who’s on the board of the event sponsor. Check out the names of the honorary committee hosting the invitation. Make a call to the organizers to try to get as much information as a possible.  (If they utilized an online invitation, you can see who else was invited. Use Google and LinkedIn to research as many attendees as possible. This makes having conversations much more interesting and you’ll show your prospect you’ve got legitimate interest in them. You want to learn any information that will help you make a personal connection as quickly as possible.

1. 3. Bring You’re A Game. You can’t bring your A game in your B suit. Make sure you look great head to toes.  Men shoes are important. Ladies make sure the makeup and neckline are appropriate.  Everything should fit well, and it will really boost your confidence. You don’t get a second chance make a first impression!  Dress how you want others to perceive you and your business.

1. 4. The Reception IS The Event. Game time is the reception. DO NOT BE LATE! The reception is your best chance to track down your targets. You must be on time and armed with your business cards at the reception. Why? Once you take your seat you can only network with the other 9 people at your table. If you are going to attend an event with a friend– divide and conquer the event.

1. 5. Go For The Relationship– Not The Chicken. Do not head immediately to the food table. Work The Room! Be fearless and ready to introduce yourself to anyone. Once you make a contact maintain eye contact. Don’t look over their shoulder at your key target who just entered the room. Be present where you are. Anyone could potentially be a great contact.

1. 6. Moving On From A Contact. Moving on can be tricky. It’s important not to be rude. But most likely the person you are talking to has an agenda too, so do not hesitate to shut down the conversation and move on.  Here’s three great lines you can use to make a graceful exit.  Use one of these lines as appropriate; “It was so nice to meet you, I’m going to head over to get a drink.”  or  “It was so nice meeting you and I’m going to give you a call.”  “I do not want to monopolize you at this event, I am sure there are more people in here you want to meet. Let keep in touch and see how we can help each other.”  With any of these lines you can smoothly move on to your next potential prospect.

1. 7. Take Notes. You’ll want to remember the details of your conversations, write down a few notes on the back of the contact’s business card to help your memory later.  If you meet a lot of people each week sometimes it’s hard to keep people straight relying on your memory. Your notes will help making follow-up much more personal.

What other networking tips do you have? I love to learn about other good ideas.

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is one of America’s leading small business experts. She is an author, speaker and small business coach whose areas of expertise include small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to End Small Business Failure.  She publishes a resource blog, www.succeedasyourownboss.com and hosts a weekly talk show on Twitter called #Smallbizchat for emerging entrepreneurs.  Forbes Magazine named Melinda Emerson one of the Top 20 Women for Entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. Melinda has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fortune and Black Enterprise. She’s the author of the bestselling book “Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.”

Raffle Winner!

Thank you to all the participants of the 50/50 Raffle Drawing. We appreciate your continuous support.
The winning number is 554600!!! They will take home the $53 prize.

Remember to subscribe and check Delesaj.blogspot.com daily for next month's raffle drawing, tips on business, resumes, writing, and more!

Love you all!

"Find what you love and sacrifice for it."-DJ

~Delesa J

How to Defeat Your Fear of Public Speaking

Most of us secretly (and publicly) have a fear of public speaking. Rest assured you are not alone, according to various research studies and surveys, public speaking is the number one fear or phobia. 

So how do you defeat your fear (false evidence appearing real) of public speaking? I asked this question to my followers and friends on Twitter and Facebook. 

So here is the Social Media edition of answers by people who use to have the same fear and how they overcame it. Enjoy!

Facebook: 

Danielle F. - Sadly you never really do...u just have to speak publically more often.

Brandy F. - You just have to find a focus point in the audience and just do it....

Twitter: 

@CallmeKellsz_b - you speak....publicly and take a class. Also, if u have a speech to give, have someone record you rehearsing it, and then watch it and see what you're doing wrong. By the time ur ready to give ur speech, it'll flow, and ull be comfortable.

@DCreightonII - Start public speaking.

@eye_understand - #Toastmasters

@HairbyNedjetti - I took an acting class in '98 which gave me the confidence to overcome my shyness...it truly worked & highly recommended #shy

So my advice to you all (and my self) is like Nike's motto: Just Do It!

"Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you've got to say, and say it hot."
--D. H. Lawrence

~Delesa J 

How to Narrow Your Target Market by Tim Donnelly (Inc.)

How to Narrow Your Target Market

When you're starting out, trying to be all things to all people is a sure way to fail. Here's how to stay focused.

By Tim Donnelly |  @timdonnelly   

Huge, profitable companies like Walmart and Amazon didn't start as the all-encompassing retailers we know today. Each debuted with a very specific focus that helped them find and nurture a strong customer base. Walmart originally catered to shoppers in rural areas where there was a dearth of options for low-cost goods; Amazon famously limited itself to just books for years before expanding into selling everything from DVDs to motorcycle gear.

The process of finding a target market and narrowing your company's focus to appeal to it directly often trips up new businesses, who find it difficult to turn down business opportunities when they arise. But trying to be all things to all people is a sure way to fail in the marketplace. Business experts offer up these tips to narrowing your target market:

How to Narrow Your Target Market: The Dangers of Being Unfocused

Whatever market you're in, you've likely got a lot of competition and static standing between you and the consumer. Narrowing your focus to one specific demographic or slice of the marketplace gives potential customers a reason to notice you in the rest of the fray.

"If you're not differentiating yourself in the marketplace, what happens is the consumer looks at price as being the motivator," says Susan Friedmann, author of the books Riches in Niches and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Target Marketing. "And they look at the cheapest."

If you don't know specifically which customers you are speaking to, you are actually speaking to no one, says Tammy Lenski, a business mediation expert who has advised clients about successful business through target marketing.

"The big danger is that without a target market, it's like standing in a park shouting in the wind," she says. "When you have a target market, its like standing in a park and talking to a specific group of people."

That means you can't be afraid to exclude certain types of consumer from your marketing or to target your advertising at small groups. Some customers will feel left out, but those are the sacrifices necessary for a successful business, says Greg Head, founder and CEO of New Avenue, a strategic marketing firm.

"Focus requires exclusion," he says. "If you're selling everything, you actually mean nothing in the marketplace. Exclusion is fundamental to target markets."'

How to Narrow Your Target Market: Become an Expert in one Area

One way to hone in on a specific sector is to become an established resource in one area. Starbucks, for example, is able to charge premium prices for its coffee even though it also sells pastries, tea, and accessories, because it has positioned the company as an authority on good coffee.

"If you're an expert in your field, people will pay the price tag on whatever product and service you offer," Friedmann says.

You can build up credibility by offering information for free through your company's website or blog: things like tips, industry information, or niche data that will help consumers think of you as a reliable expert in that area, she says.

"Your credibility comes with giving away information," she says. "If this is the value I'm getting for free, what will I get if I pay for it?"

Entrepreneurs who do this successfully often start by following their passion, Friedmann says. She recalled a massage therapist who loved cycling and found a successful practice traveling with bike tours.

"If you can marry your passion with your profession, that's a really strong niche market," she says.

How to Narrow Your Target Market: Do the Market Research

Experts give several methods for whittling down the vast expanse of the market to find your ideal target.

John Jantsch, creator of the Duct Tape Marketing System and Duct Tape Marketing Consulting Network, which trains and licenses small business marketing consultants, recommends a simple formula to identify who makes an ideal client: he ranks customers by profitability.

"In that step alone, they start identifying work they have taken or would take that they shouldn't be taking," Jantsch says.

Then he looks for clients that are already referring more business your way.

"They're referring business to you because they're having a great experience," he says. "They're happy, they're beyond satisfied and that's why they're referring business."

Friedmann says recommends looking for growth markets to identify burgeoning new areas that may not be claimed by existing businesses.

Lenski says some clients find their niche first by focusing on the areas in which they already have a strong interest, or by looking at markets that already know about you and your services. Then, look for areas of the marketplace where a gaping need exists that you can fill with your company's services.

How to Narrow Your Target Market:  Tweak your Marketing

As simple as it sounds, the name of your company is crucial when narrowing your market.

"I believe your name should say what you do," Friedmann says. "Using your own personal name, unless you're like Madonna, isn't going to cut it. It doesn't mean anything to anybody."

Words such as "branding coach" or "entertainment law" in your official business title help consumers quickly understand what you're all about.

Friedmann even created a new word to describe her focus: "nichepreneur."

You may have to change your branding strategy or marketing efforts to clarify your mission. Once you find your target, you'll definitely want to alter your advertising efforts to go after the places and media you use to generate new business.

"It's not just an advertisement that you do. It actually has to become part of everything you do," Head says.

Your marketing needs to highlight the specialization, which improves credibility, Head says.

"You've got to be perceived as the best at something," he says.

Then, once you've identified that base, use it to improve the business through things like social media and interactive marketing to find out more about what the customers are looking for, Lenski says.

"You've got to essentially engage that market. It's a two-way conversation," she says. "That's really where having a target market pays off."

--End--

No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others.. or failing therein, it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist. – Calvin Coolidge

~Delesa J