BRANDING

I had a client come to me one day who asked, "Shari, I'm not sure how to brand myself. Can you help me with that?" Dictionary.com says, "branding is displaying a kind, a trademark, to have ownership of, to be distinctive, and to promote as a brand name..." For me the most important thing I've learned in marketing or branding my business as an entrepreneur is to market myself. Who exactly is Shari? With that I end up explaining my services, expressing how my services reveal who I am. Most entrepreneurs, when beginning to let others know about their business, focus on the services or products they have to offer. They try to sell everything they can do and have. I know. I started out that way, "I am a virtual assistant. I help the small business owner with administrative tasks so they can concentrate on the growth of their business. This includes..." One year later I had about a dozen clients that I had worked with on a project basis only and I saw that the income or future of any growth in my business was beginning to dwindle. As soon as I refocused on my strengths as an entrepreneur and as an individual, I was able to brand myself is such a way that I was liberated from the fear of not reaching my target market, or gaining the business that I needed to succeed. I don't have to "sell" a thing. When people ask me what I do, I respond with a simple question and statement: "Do you have enough to do with your events that you are overwhelmed with the possibility of getting everything done? I alleviate the stress associated with planning so you can enjoy your day!" What I do comes naturally because it's all a part of me, and people like me for me. (sigh) How many times have my parents taught me to be myself?