Are You READY for Success? By Dr. Shante Bishop, CEO, Design Her Label
2014 will be the year of the
Entrepreneur. As people emerge from the recession, and the economy bounces
back, more and more of us are pursuing the path of Entrepreneurship. It’s an exciting
time as we imagine the possibilities, the potential, and the paycheck. From
non-profits to clothing lines, we are moving steadily towards making our dreams
a reality.
But I want you to stop, and consider this question; “Are You READY for Success?”
In other words, are you ready for
your dream to be truly realized? Most of us would say a resounding, “YES!” But
more and more I find that with many of the clients I serve, they THOUGHT they
were ready, but after months or years of disappointing results, they began to
re-evaluate their choices. Too often, entrepreneurs jump out of the gate
thinking that because they have a product, ready to sell, that they’re ready
for Success. This turns out to be their downfall. Having a PRODUCT is not the
same as having a BRAND. Likewise, just because someone has something to SELL,
doesn’t mean they have something to OFFER.
Branding is not about the product; it’s
about who you are to your audience/customer and the value you give to them. Branding
is about how you position yourself amongst others who are doing similar work.
It’s about whether or not you are the influencer or the influenced. It’s also
about creating a client experience that makes them know, like, and trust you.
o A Bio – A Bio is not about where you went
to school or how many awards you’ve garnered. Its about who you ARE, why you
are doing what you’re doing, who you’re serving, and how they can TAKE ACTION
with you.
o A Headshot – I am always struck by the number
of social media profiles I see with camera phone “selfies” as the avatar for their
profile. Seriously? This is a NO-NO. If you want to be seen as a premium brand;
if you are touting quality and excellence, this has to be carried through in
your digital real estate. A professional headshot can be done inexpensively at
a mall or with a high-resolution digital camera.
o Film/Video – I work with lots of clients who
are coaches, teachers, or speakers, yet have no evidence of their work, or any footage
that will SHOW rather than TELL people what they do. Today, many conferences
request links to your speaking footage as part of the evaluation process for
speaking at their event.
o Press Kit – A press kit makes it easy for
media and others to understand the process for getting in contact with you, who
you serve, what you offer, and the value that you can bring to their radio or
television broadcast.
o Domain Email – If you are trying to
elevate your level of professionalism, and present yourself as an established
brand, an email address with yourname@yourdomain.com is a must.
Yahoo! Gmail, etc. are great, free options, but it sends the message that the
brand is still under development.
Being ready for Entrepreneurial Success is about so
much more than products and services. It’s about elevating your platform to a
level of visibility and distinction that is undeniable and unmistakable. It
requires consistently giving value to your audience and earning their
investment. Are you ready?
Dr. Shanté Bishop helps diverse women
entrepreneurs find the courage, clarity, confidence and conviction to pursue
their passion, build multiple revenues, and increase their visibility by
launching a successful brand. Get access
to Shanté's FREE Video Training Tutorial at https://designherlabel.leadpages.net/blockbusterbrand/ and visit
her website http://designherlabel.com
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