How long have you been doing what you do and how did you get to be the small business branding expert?
My career has two distinct advantages. My career has taken a very unusual path. I started my career as a model (fashion) at the same time I started a career in graphics (financial). Because of the lucrative potential of both of these careers I was able to write my own ticket and set my own hours. What I didn't know was that they would work so closely together in the future. As a model I was able to stand out from the crowd because I designed and marketed my comp cards in a way that others could not do. This was due to my technical skills. As a graphic designer I was able to know advertising trends in advance of them coming to market due to my work and connections in the modeling industry. The two married together nicely, and is all tied in by branding. Branding is more than just a logo and the choice to use a certain font. It becomes every image that you present in the world.
Who are your clients?
I work with driven people who have been committed to their current business or developing a business model with laser focus and gusto. Usually they have gone as far as they can go with their own resources or lack the support system to continue propelling forward. They are mostly females, aged between 35 and 55, high achievers, self-employed or in management positions, driven and confident. Their biggest challenge is that they know their craft so well (they are the best) that they've fallen behind with the other touchpoints in business success.
How are you different from graphic designers or marketing consultants?
What process do you use to market the brand?Well, for starters, I've had a unique privilege of being on the team that handles marketing and brand implementation for some of the most successful top 100 firms in the country. The advantage to that is that I have been able to see and participate in the brand development phase from the time it was being built to the time it was executed. It's like being a fly on the wall of the most prominent business meetings. I have had their brand guidelines in my hands, from the fonts and colors to how billboards and magazines are allowed to be displayed for the company. Even management-level employees don't get to see these documents as only the graphics departments and project managers (of which I've been both) are privy to this information.
In addition to that, I've helped entrepreneurs build their brands from the ground up and also helped successful entrepreneurs get to the next level. To get to that next level they know they needed a "next level" visibility and they also knew with the right team and some hard work they could get there (yes, it requires work!)
Great Question! Before we begin creating your brand we figure out how we're going to grow it. For this, I've developed a seven step process that uses the very tools large corporations have levereraged over the years. For Brand Development the steps are:
- Examine everything from A to Z.
- Exclude anything generic
- Express your message authentically
- Experiment by testing, tracking and transforming
- Execute with speed and integrity
- Exceed their expectations
- Expand by leveraging technology
Then, once the brand is built, we put in place some great continuity marketing strategies to keep things moving and growing. This is where the client moves into our monthly service packages which allow them to focus on operating the business while we concentrate on building the visibliity and opportunities. For this we use the most effective tools for your business including social media, online ads, electronic newsletters and client relationship management. Each company has different needs so we tailor our strategy to suit each business. Each day of the week we focus on reaching your ideal customers through engagement touch points that appeal to them most. We handle the content, the management and the reporting so that you have a robust and unique experience that genuinely represents your tone of voice, brand character and expertise.
Do you have any formal education or has this all been learn-as-you-go?
Well, I like to think it's learn as you grow but yes, I have formal education as well.
I have a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois. I studied Urban Planning and Architecture, which is where my strong design training was developed. In addition to their curriculum in art in design there was a heavy emphasis on computer science and analytics, which has served me well, in particular, in the online environmentIn addition, I also have a Professional Certificate in Journalism from New York University (NYU). This training allows me to help my clients communicate in a way that stands out and reduces the implementation cycle for the process.
What type of clients have you worked with?
I work with service based entrepreneurs and other independent professionals who are really good at what they do and typically don't have businesses that involve them sitting in front of a computer. That said, the professions I’ve worked with most frequently include the following:
Acupuncturists Interior Decorators Attorneys Life Coaches Business Coaches Nutritionists Career Counselors/Coaches Photographers Caterers Real Estate Brokers Consultants Educators Copywriters Models Estheticians Dancers Event Planners Actresses Djs/Musicians Singers Personal Trainers Fashion Designers Churches Artists Cleaning Companies Poets Non-Profit Institutions Book Publishers Day Care Centers Wedding Planners Makeup Artists Writers Business Associations Restaurants
What results can I typically expect?
My clients can expect a 30% increase in visits to their website, and a significant increase in the number of inquiries and responses to their offers from prospects immediately. For clients that subscribe to our brand support services they can expect constant growth and increased business profits.
What is expected of me as a client?
Being a driven, make-it-happen now type of person, I'm known to attract and work best with other uncompromising go-getters who are gung-ho to get going and just want to know exactly what steps to take to make the changes stick.
As partners in this mission you'll be honest in where your business is and where you want it to go, timely in getting me the information I need help you build your brand and willing to take feedback when something's not working. You will also be expected to take serious and consistent action.
What type of person will NOT be a good fit for you?
Please note that I am very selective in who I work with and I hand pick my clients. With wisdom and gentleness I turn away people that I feel are not a mutual match and won’t get the long-term goals for which they would sign up for (as a service to them, particularly). Anyone not seeking long-term benefits would not do well with my services, such as someone looking to launch something quick and cheap or someone who is still apprehensive or unsure about their business and it's future.
Beatrice, based on everything I've read and heard about you, I know you're the one I want to work with. What are my options for getting started?
Congratulations on making a decision for success! I'm happy to speak with you further to determine if we'd be a good match for your goals.
To start let's speak on the phone and get acquainted. You can contact me directly at 1-888-YOU-BRAND or via email using the contact page
If I'm not sure I'm ready to get started yet, how can I sample your expertise at low cost to see if it's the right solution for me?
One simple way to sample my services and knowledge is by subscribing to my ezine or participating in the monthly teleclasses that I conduct. The ezine provides you with simple, guided instruction and tips that will help you to set the foundation for your brand. They're each a great way to get to know me and how I deliver information (and even by implementing my tools and tips you'll start to see results).
OK, I'm ready to move forward, but I have a few concerns I'd like to discuss first. When do I call?
Want to see the services that we offer?You can contact me by phone during business hours at 1-888-YOU-BRAND. Office hours are generally 10am-6pm EST Mon–Fri or you can send an email requesting that I call you. We'll have about 20 minutes to "get acquainted" where I'll walk you through my process and services to see how I can help. I can't wait to partner with you for your success and am honored to be the one to help you!
