Tip # 1 – If you want to create a powerful brand, you need to hold your audience’s needs at the forefront. Become your client, reader, audience. Look for the value in what you are saying or selling. 

Tip # 2 – Branding can be a lonely journey. When starting my recent self-branding project, I surrounded myself with others (i.e., smart friends, good people) who could critique gently but were honest enough to tell me what they thought of my text, my approach, etc.

Below see my Branding Board that was the driving force of this website defining my new colours and look.

Tip#3 – Find an experienced and trustworthy guide with whom you feel at ease. Pay them for their expertise so that they can sift through the words and call you on what they see (sometimes friends are too nice or simply don’t understand marketing).

Tip # 4 – Allow time for this project. Deep reflection is part of this journey. Work with your guide to make the trip easy and fulfilling.

Tip #5 – A photograph is worth a 1000 words. Your website (or whatever you are creating) should overflow with great images. And don’t forget to work with a professional photographer for your portrait. Well done, it becomes your best selling tool. Poorly done, not good. (Learn the secrets behind an authentic portrait vs. a superficial one – see link below). 

Tip #6 – Write short – Use only concise, clear messaging that relates to your reader’s needs in your real voice. Hire an editor/guide if necessary.

My expertise is two-fold: 

#1 Visual. After all these years creating portraits, I read photographs like a language. I also have good visual sense. What looks good and what doesn’t, e.g., colours, style and the look and feel of your product.

#2 Messaging. But what I am especially good at are the words: connecting your authentic values and voice with effective messaging.

I work behind the scenes with you. Once the vision is clear and we have a tight script, I connect you with good web/logo people to translate it into their media of expertise.

Know that even through this phase, I walk hand-in-hand with you.

The charge is $100/hr. for a branding session.

I happily give you our first exploratory session free. It comes wth a “no obligation” commitment up front on both sides.

There must be a strong connection to proceed.

Often my branding sessions follow coaching/mentoring when a client is ready to take their work and voice out to the world.

(View more about my Creativity Mentoring – see link below.) 

Again, this is very privileged and important work as branding makes your dreams a visual reality to the outside world.