Building your brand is all about knowing how to define yourself quickly. You have to make the most of what you have today. Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow. The same goes for your business. If you have been doing everything great before, here is a newsflash for you. That is not enough. There is more that you can do and much more to explore before the new year comes around. Here are three brand development strategies to take note of to move your business from where it is now to a higher level. 

Define yourself in 8 Seconds. 

Do you have 8 seconds to make a positive impression on anyone you connect with? Imagine someone you have always planned to meet. Now take a few seconds to think of how you plan to make a first impression. 8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1, Time’s up. 

Before you even utter a word, they would have scanned you from top to bottom to see if that 8 seconds is even worth their time. That means you must be prepared and ready for that 8 seconds of judgment. How can you make that 8 seconds work for you? The short answer – is the perfect pitch. But before that, you must ensure your brand’s ready to be pitched. 

Personal branding for beginners.

A personal brand is not about you or your business. Instead, it is the impression you and your business give people. Before leaving a good impression, you must clearly define yourself with your brand. You will confuse your customers if you and your business are not in sync. 

You also need to become intentional about your brand. Don’t leave it to chance! To learn more about personal branding and how you can lead your brand in the right direction, get the book: A Brand in Your Hand: A Simple Guide to Defining You or Your Business to the World by Glenn Rudin.

Tips for Your Elevator Pitch

No, you don’t have a minute or 90 seconds to pitch your brand. You only have 30 seconds, and that is only if you got the 8 seconds judgment time right. At this point, your goal is to get anyone listening to want to hear more. Let people see why you obsess about that subject. Therefore, don’t start with your name or where you live. Start with a question to grab the attention of those listening. 

These are the basics of defining yourself through your brand. But if you want to build your brand or learn more about these 3 tips, you can get the book, which is a big step to changing your 2023. 

What better time to build your brand than now? However, the work is not about building the brand, but about building it the right way. When you get the foundation right, it would be easier to build on it and set it up for success. Here are 10 tips to create a winning brand according to Glenn Rudin.

5 Steps to Create a Winning Brand

While it might sound obvious, many people don’t think it through. The problem with this step is not that it is neglected, but that it is underestimated. The name of your brand is its identity after all and if the identity of your brand does not match its services, there would be a problem. Ensure that the name is easy to remember and easy to spell. 

Expect Expansion

Many people don’t provide for expansion. Think like you already have the attention of your customers, what are the steps you would take? One, have a social media account. Then, create a medium by which people can interact with you. If you deal with products, there would be a need for delivery. 

Do your Research

There are many things to research about. You should do your findings about the market value, the market characteristics, the customers, current trends, and so much more. 

Set up a Website

Talking about expansion, you need a website. Though it might not be paid for (though Glenn suggests you get your domain). Nonetheless, have something on the ground. This website can be a .com, .net, .org, or .me. Make sure that whichever one you choose correlates with the niche of your brand. You can’t have a law firm and use .me or have a simple beauty blog and use .org.

Establish the Brand’s Vision and Mission

Another way to look at it is to ask yourself; what does this brand mean to me? Whatever it means to you is what the world will see. 

Key points on how to build your brand by defining yourself. 

Our life and business are like the middle of an hourglass with the sand passing through. While you can’t do anything about the sand below you, you can still shape how you would receive the sand from the top. Your elevator pitch is not about the people who are listening now but about people they know and can refer to. 

People can be shallow; they judge a book by its cover. Define yourself clearly through your brand to make the best impression possible. You have to look at the part before you begin to speak the part. Your 8 seconds to impress starts with your dressing – people check if you are worthy of their time. If you don’t appear to be ready to go, there is a chance their minds will close up before you start to talk. You need to get that 8 seconds right to get a chance.

Be intentional. It’s obvious if you leave things to chance or wing it. Take away guesswork so that you can deliver when you get the chance. Look the customer, client, or potential partner in the eye, so you feel positive about yourself and what you say when you speak. You can also convince whoever is listening that you are confident, trustworthy, and the right person for the task.