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8 Crucial Steps to Promoting your Brand Identity (For A Client)

Hello EVERYONE!!! I was re-reading one of the blogs I recently wrote fro a client of mine DesignLingo and thought why not share this knowledge with the Grass Root Marketing following. 

Enjoy EVERYONE!!!

1. Unify your Brand

The establishment of a cohesive brand is a key factor in any business's promotional activities. Create a Consistent theme for your company, and incorporate it into all your stationary, documents and website design. These techniques echo professionalism and class. If done well, a consistent brand can help you to build brand loyalty in your business.

Think of all marketing collateral as brand establishment.

• Business cards
• Brochures
• Flyer's
• Website
• Packaging
• Promotional Items, etc.

Brands are: Trusted, given repeated business, given a streamline of referrals, maintain customer loyalty, and most importantly, authorize a name for themselves. 

2. Fresh Content is King

Having  compiling content is key to effectively market your business. Your message should be clear and effectively tell your prospects why they should do business with you and only you. So make a compelling call to action about your business, product or service, and back it up!! Define your strengths and use them as leverage. Over-all keep it fresh!!!

• Tell a story...
• Be experimental...
• Constantly update...
• Track conversion...
• STAND OUT!...
• Stay simplistic...
• Leave no question unanswered...
• Have a strong Call To Action!...
• Lead the way...
• Build relationships FIRST before ANYTHING...

3. Start a Online Outrage

Start an online community surrounding your business. Social Media Networking platforms such as facebook, twitter,youtube, digg and an endless assortment of blogs are key areas to promote your business. Social Networking makes it easy for your customers to converse and comment about your business.

Always, Always, Always understand: People by from People. We are most likely to buy from a person we trust then a complete stranger, although at times we can find ourselves doing the complete opposite, it is only then after in which we figure out there was a tactical phycological strategy he/she used to influence us instantly.

This is why the social network has turned into the mecca for new age customer interaction and lead generation innovation. It allows you as a business, artist and or organizational supporter to get closer then ever before to your prospects, existing customers and or fans.

 

4. Culture and Personality

 

The culture of your company should be reflected in every part of your business. It should resonate in your print and website presence. Roar with a unique personality both offline in your PR efforts and online in your social media communities.

Welcome everyone into your company like grandma welcomes everyone into her house. We're all one big happy family and if you treat every customer, client, prospect and or fan that way, Your companies success will be with a "BIG happy family."

5. Become a Giver 

Give away your services (promotion) and your Knowledge. Know and understand the power of FREE! You must give to get. FREE is the most powerful word in marketing. We as humans magnetize ourselves to the word FREE.

If you strategize correctly FREE will instantly establish a great name for your brand as committed, loyal, trusting and caring.

As cheesy as it might sound think of it as this:

Giving is caring,

caring is loving,

loving is trusting,

trusting is Giving.

As long as you give, (by the law of reciprocity) eventually sooner then later one will give back to you. It's how this universe works and a business is no different.

6. Start a Tribe.

Make it easy for others to give you a shoot out.Lets go back to the law of reciprocity, as one performs an act of positive action, in return one will receive an act of positive intention.

Isn't that what a referral is? What about a discount or coupon? We can't forget the infamous word FREE.

Kill them ALL with kindness and give nothing but love as your main focal point of a service oriented business.

You're kindness will yield positivity in return. Be respectful, kind, caring, trusting, enthusiastic, energetic, genuine and courteous and watch them flood through the "doors".

7. Have a Loud Voice

Be seen. EVERYWHERE! And Yes I do mean literally EVERYWHERE!

Know where the eyeballs are and tactically position yourself in front of them. This means you better have placement on every single major search engine out there, expertise in the social media field, an Internet marketing budget, familiarity with web 2.0 and the power of video marketing, a crafty graphic designer and web developer in hand and a strategic marketing plan to execute the proper procedure.

8. Build A Team

A team is the foundation of your success. Unification, communication, trust and leverage creates a sturdy base. 

Start with baby steps but also take into consideration having the help of a team along the way won't hurt. 

Leverage the power of multiple brains and delegate task to those who are more suited for the task in hand. 

Communicate all success, uncertainty and or any other updates.

Trust in each other and build a strong bond, maintaining consistency of communication at all times.

Brand development and establishment is one of the main keys to positioning your company as the go to company when it comes to your product or service. Expectations are high in today's world and a unique experience will definitely separate YOU from the rest.

Stay consistent, fresh, relevant, and compelling. Provide an experience worth investing time into. 

Your BRAND is YOU! It is your Image. It is who your Represent.Without it you are NOTHING!

strategize a tactical plan for your brand, below is a diagram which will help you to strategize a plan for your brand.

Hope all this information was helpful and until the next blog ……

For more information contact us at  http://designlingo.com/

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FB Fan Pages: What Are They? How Do They Work?...And How Do You Make Money On It?

Social Media this, Social Media that. XYZ Company just tripled their numbers with one single Tweet. Tim's Gizmo's & Gadgets now makes most of their sales through a little thing called a Facebook fan page.

So if they're doing it pretty well and it seems to be working for them, you might ask yourself, "Why haven't I jumped on board, and how exactly does it all work?"

Common questions of uncertainty may fall under the subject of:

• Time Commitment
• Benefits
• Simplicity
• Tools
• Tracking Results

Let's face the facts here people. Facebook has over 500 million active users and growing, with newly untapped markets rising within its internal network every day. The sky really is the limit if you just apply a few simple procedures for a few hours each day.

Fan Page

Step 1: 

Type in www.Facebook.com onto your url.

Step 2: 

Go to the bottom of the page and click on the “Create a Page” link at the bottom of the Facebook homepage .

 Step 3: 

Choose the type of page and give it a title (Your page name can be changed only once after you reached a minimum of 25 friends.)

With the creation of applications, Facebook has made it extremely easy to function and maintain your fan page.

To view some of the apps. Facebook has to offer go to: http://www.Facebook.com/apps/directory.php

I've always found that the “Involver” is quite a handy application tool: http://www.involver.com/applications/free/

Now that you're a little familiar with applications, let's get going to the rest. By the way, before I almost forget, once the app is installed, depending on the application process, all you have to do to edit is go on your main default fan page and under the image of the fan page you will see a link that is called EDIT PAGE.

Here you can edit the entire back end of the page and manage the page as well.

You can add images if you want but I must let you know, for higher converting fan pages and to attract a larger following, make the fan pages as personal as possible.

If you look like a corporate page, automatically most assumptions will be made that you will try to sell.  Quite frankly, people just don't want to be sold on Facebook.

Landing Pages

The LANDING Page is where all your prospects land when visiting the fan page. This being said, you want this page to be eye catching and interesting. Give people a reason to join. Use your imagination and think of a strong call to action. Let people ENGAGE!

If you want to take your Facebook fan page to the next level, below are a few links to template builders. If you are not familiar with HTML coding or Facebook's version called FBML, then I would highly suggest you hire a professional web developer or graphic designer.

You can visit DesignLingo's website for more details & a FREE quote at http://designlingo.com/
 
Fan Page Generator: http://www.fanpagegenerator.com/
 
Facebook Tab Site: http://www.facebooktabsite.com/
 
Fan Page Engine: http://fanpageengine.com/

Content is King

Content by far is the number one driving source behind a fan page. Relevant copy will convert to more followers. More followers will lead to a larger pipeline of prospects. A sturdy and steady pipeline of prospects will lead to greater sales and a residual back end return.

• Content should be interesting and conversational
• Get your followers to interact
• Provide FREE information in the form of a video or text.
• Become the authority figure.
• Build relationships and trust.
• Get a better understanding of your target audience.
• Communicate with your customers, clients and fans.
• Let them into your life.

When it comes to all these profile pages, submitting information, and time consuming actions, one might have an endless amount of questions with a need for answers. 

Fan Page Tip #1

*** Suggest All Friends To "Your Fan Page" At Once, Not Individually! ***

1.) Become a fan

2.) Select "Suggest To Friends Under Picture"

3.) Copy This Code and Paste onto URL browser: (***the web browser, where you would type in a new website***)

Make sure to delete the current url address, clear then paste the code below.

Click Enter.

javascript:elms=document.getElementById('friends').getElementsByTagName('li');for(var fid in elms){if(typeof elms[fid] === 'object'){fs.click(elms[fid]);}}

Be patient and allow for the code to highlight all of your friends, may take a few minutes.

(The mouse will most likely freeze for a few minutes but once done you it should highlight all your friends in blue)

Saves you a chunk of minutes when done correctly.

Hope all this information was helpful and until the next blog ……

Brands That Have Made a Name For Themselves.

"Pop soda anyone?"

"What do you think of when you think of an MP3 Player?"

"Can I Have a Kleenex? But its called tissue paper.

"You can Google me."

"The most happiest place on earth."

"Do you have a facebook?"

"Follow me @"

Persuasion: Once You Have Them By The Hook They're Yours

Ever been handed a FREE sample to later find yourself at the checkout with that item in your shopping cart?

Have you ever been so convince in fast food as dinner that when you end up paying you end up buying items in the menu you later find out were up sales by the cashier?

Been on Yelp.com recently to check a review and go to that place of interest later that night solely because of the review?

And the infamous "LIKE" button. The king of facebook. If so many other people "LIKE" it then I must "LIKE" it too.

What does this all mean you may ask?

"These are the simplistic acts of psychological persuasion at its finest.

We act, they follow.
We see, they observe.
We move, they mirror our image.
We speak, they listen.
We object, they rebuttal.

The great ones will persuade you to buy anything, anywhere at anytime.

Picture the plaques on the wall at the car dealership. Wonder why it's the same picture, of the same guy 2 years in a row. And now that you think about it, that's the same guy that sold you your car.

The following are the basic Weapons of Influence as explained by Robert Cialdini in his book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.

• Reciprocity - People tend to return a favor. 

         Example: The example I used up top: samples at the grocery store.

• Commitment and Consistency - Once people commit to what they think is right, orally or in writing, they are more likely to honor that commitment, even if the original incentive or motivation is subsequently removed. 

          Example: Up sold at the fast food drive thru.

• Social Proof - People will do things that they see other people are doing. 

          Example: The facebook "LIKE" button

• Authority - People will tend to obey authority figures, even if they are asked to perform objectionable acts. 

          Example: Adolf Hitler conditioning the minds of the German people into the Nazis
          regime.

• Liking - People are easily persuaded by other people whom they like.

          Example: Look at what the world of the social network has done to influence of
          belief with viral marketing, the more times people like or comment a feed,
          the higher placement that feedreceives, the actions of other will program your belief
          system to at time take action as well making your perception of what is being liked
          to be true or of common interest.

• Scarcity - Perceived scarcity will generate demand. 

          Example: ACT NOW. Limited Time Offer. Sale will only last this weekend! Hurry
          before it's to late!

These are just some of the common laws of persuasion used on a day to day basis my your common marketer.

Just remember that the quicker you persuade the influence of the prospect or customer, gain there trust, build value and instant credibility, the quicker they will end up buying your product or service.

Thanks for stretching the rots. Until next time...

Chris Lara
Grass Root Marketing

Twitter: @GrassRootMrktg
 Facebook: GrassRootMarketing
 YouTube: GrassRootMarketing

"TRUST" - The Core Root Of All Success

"Trust" defined as reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

• If we trust normally we can establish solid relationships. 
• If we trust, most likely we will buy.
• If we trust, repeat business is sure to come lingering back with referrals as the add on to the existing pipeline.

Rapport builds TRUST, Trust builds VALUE, Value initiates instant Credibility and Authority.
 
But how exactly is TRUST established? And how can it be maintained? 

"Integrity": adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

 "Saying you are going to do what you promised you will do." It is the core influence of customer service. With it referrals and both existing and past clients will come flocking like seagulls.



The core values of Trust are as follows:

1. Credibility: Be the go to person for your industries product or service. Position yourself as unique and different from the rest. Answer all questions with confidence and authority and be the one people go to when subject of your companies service or product comes to mind.
   
2. Reliability: This normally falls on your actions. If you told your customer you will have the package out by tomorrow morning before 10 AM then you better make sure you have the package out before 10 AM the next day. It is saying you will do things when you say you are going to do them.
   
3. Intimacy: Security. Security. Security. We all have this fear of loss embedded in our souls. We all want to make sure we don't get robbed, scammed, mistreated or mislead. Don't give your customers FALSE information or an understanding which may lead to miscommunication. Under promise and Over deliver!
   
4. Self-Orientation: The morals and values you portray will be based on the way you present yourself. If you lost trust in the past, it won't be impossible to regain but it will take some work to gain it back. Be good hearted and come from a point of service. Always, Always, Always ask:
   "What Can I Do For You?" And always remember, the customer is always RIGHT!

Think of your customers or potential customers as a family member or close friend. These are the people in your life most would say you have a strong bond with and whom you can TRUST.

Typically when we trust someone we seem to feel a bit more comfortable with them, are personality shines and we seem to be relaxed in our comfort zone.


Now I want you interpret the same way you feel with family and friends into your next networking event or prospect meeting. Trust is built with LOVE, care, nurture and over all a great personality. 

The Trust Creation Process is as follows:

1. Engage the client in an open discussion about issues that are key to the client.
2. Listen to what is important and real to the client; earn the right to offer solutions.
3. Frame the true root issue, without the language of blame, problem statements and hypotheses; take personal risks to explore sensitive issues—articulate a point of view; create by giving away.
4. Envision an alternate reality, including win-win specific descriptions of outcomes and results, including emotional and political states; clarify benefits—make clear what’s at stake; be tangible about future states;
5. Commit to actionable next steps that imply significant commitment and movement on the part of each party.
   

ACTIONS are driven by our beliefs, our perception of THOUGHT. If we believe we TRUST someone then we are most likely to buy, refer and be a long term customer.


FOCUS on all THERE needs and wants 1st and you are sure to gain there TRUST. 

Chris Lara
Grass Root Marketing

Twitter: @GrassRootMrktg
 Facebook: GrassRootMarketing
 YouTube: GrassRootMarketing

Grass Root Marketing Is It Really Grass Root Anymore?

  It use to be perhaps door to door knocking that would raise the awareness of the community to your message. Public speaking would definitely build some momentum within the local community.Passion is escalated through the roof when a cause like cancer research or homeless relief is brought to attention.

Grass Root, the core of the influence. 

It stirs and boils emotional anticipation and increases morale. It cements itself into your heart as it is were most of us call home. We established rapport here, we raised our families here, we tell ourselves this is were our ROOTS come from.

We call it home and it sure feels, smells, taste, sounds and looks like home. It is were we feel most at peace with ourselves and were we can just lay back, grab a beer and enjoy the game.

It use to be the furthest they would penetrate into our home life would be by satellite through a little thing we call T.V. Then emerged the existence of the internet

and a couple of years later that one thing we spend close to an average of 55 hours a week on called the social space, where things such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and  Myspace run the universe.

It didn't take long for most of us to figure out that with so many people spending so much time in social cyber space there had to be a way to tap into the emotional hot buttons that were was easy to obtain through bulk email, banner ads and and lousy horribly scripted infomercials.

Then it was soon discover that by simply asking a few questions and making the profile pages more detailed then ever before, we are now able to discover the exact age, martial status, sex, relationship status, common interest and so much more which then enables us to target the exact audience our product or service is intended for.

So you tell me would you rather exhaust yourself going door to door trying to get a petition signed or use common sense and just click away from the comfort of your own home.

Chris Lara
Grass Root Marketing

 Twitter: @GrassRootMrktg
 Facebook: GrassRootMarketing
 YouTube: GrassRootMarketing