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Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Take Your brand and Network It

by Richard Gill

A brand is not a logo, but it shows the way.

Is not a product, but it addresses a customer need.

Is not an identity, but it contributes credibility and a sense of quality.

OK, What is a brand? It's the way it makes the customer feel. It's the gut feeling, the emotion created, the buzz you have when you own the feeling, all created by the product, service or organization.

Consider in your own life what gives you this feeling and can you create a way to have others feel the same way. When you achieve this people say you have a personal presence and charisma.

So in your business and business life what will allow you to develop a presence and charisma, can you create an emotion that people feel when they do business with you. When you achieve this you have a brand or you are the brand.

We have understood this from the beginning and has joined a multitude of networking organisations and attended other like-events to create The Banner Lady brand. We recommend the following Organisations where you can learn and practice the skills of creating and developing a brand.

Business Network International (BNI)
FBI Institute
Networx
Network Central
Wealthnet Entrepreneurs Program
Business Mums
Nationwide Networking
Australian Business Women's Network
Club 3004
International Women's Federation of Commence and Industry
Speed Networking
Paragon Club
n-Liven
Family Business Australia
BarterCard
Westend Business Association

You can use these types of events to drive the brand in the direction which is most beneficial to the business, taking your brand to a new level of awareness and using your brand to its advantage. The brand is not what you say it is, but what the customer says it is!

More Reading: The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier is an exceptional book on branding.

Over to You. What do You Think? Post Your Comments Below.

Richard Gill is the director of The Banner Lady.

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