Developing Your Brand

What you write is not as significant as who you are as a writer. You are the brand for which your work is the product. Think about this: whether you order the tall, grande or venti latte, you went to the "brand". What are we doing as writers to build our brand? That's a target project for me so I welcome suggestions.

Here's one step I took in less than twenty minutes by creating products with my book image and promo line on Cafe Press. To my surprise it was a simple process, blessedly requiring no graphic arts or HTML skills.  Now it's up to me to include this link on all my sites and potential selling sources. I also plan to purchase the "official" Taylor Kendall Evil Inc Tote to bring with me for book signings and other author promotion events.

What makes these branded products enticing is the promo line. . . "Help us spread Evil". That makes you take a second look in the same way that my Health Coaching tee with my Before and After (70 lbs lost) photos are a walking billboard which often starts conversations that lead to new coaching relationships.

Keep in mind, it's all about the brand . . . how are you developing your brand as a writer?

What Madonna knows that you need to know

What does Madonna have to do with branding your blog or books? From virgin to bondage and from material girl to devoted mother, Madonna knows how to "go with the flow" in marketing herself as a brand. When your book or blog starts to sink, take a lesson from Madonna and reinvent yourself!

Check out the brand revival ideas from one of my favorite e-Newsletters, Psychotactics. The central point of these changes is to remain true to your central idea or theme while finding new ways to market your writing product. Beyond the artistic wonder, your blog needs followers and your book needs buyers.

Be open to change! If you aren't attracting an audience with what you think is attention-getting, you can stubbornly cling to your "look" or make revisions that appeal to your target market.

Marketing is a moving target with the flood of content and ideas daily online. Audiences are fickle and swayed toward the trend. You have to put the write twist on your marketing to develop the loyal audience who will follow you regardless of the next trend.