So maybe this doesn't count for writers, but for anyone creating a website, or a blog or some sort of small company or business, you need to brand yourself properly. It's what's going to separate you from the businesses that fail, and the ones that eventually make it to Forbes magazine (hopefully).
That being said, here are:
That being said, here are:
1. Be Consistent
If you're trying to make any sort of image for yourself, you need to be consistent with who and what you are. You need to have a focus and you need to have a unique style that people can easily recognize as yours.
All of this ranges from the products that you sell, to the way you word things, and even down to the fonts and logos that you use.
In everything you do, you need to show what you and your company (or website and blog) represents. And, so that your customers or viewers won't get confused about who you are, everything you do needs to be consistent and clearly recognizable as yours.
All of this ranges from the products that you sell, to the way you word things, and even down to the fonts and logos that you use.
In everything you do, you need to show what you and your company (or website and blog) represents. And, so that your customers or viewers won't get confused about who you are, everything you do needs to be consistent and clearly recognizable as yours.
2. Stay True
Basically this means don't put your energy into something you aren't passionate about. Find your style. Find your voice. Find the right product or blog you are passionate about, and stick to it.
If you're a sports person, develop sports products. If you're a writer, write books and do writing blogs. If you're a cook, open a restaurant.
You should never get into a business or start a company that you don't full believe in, or fully LOVE. Just like you shouldn't be writing a book that you aren't completely in love with. It's just a waste of time and precious energy that you could be spending on the things that you are in love with.
Also, people have this instinct where they can recognize a phony. It's like this sort of radar. So if you aren't fully comfortable and CONFIDENT in what you are selling or writing about, people are going to feel it - and your blog or company is going to suffer from it.
Be true to you, and be true and honest in what you do. You should never pander to anyone else.
If you're a sports person, develop sports products. If you're a writer, write books and do writing blogs. If you're a cook, open a restaurant.
You should never get into a business or start a company that you don't full believe in, or fully LOVE. Just like you shouldn't be writing a book that you aren't completely in love with. It's just a waste of time and precious energy that you could be spending on the things that you are in love with.
Also, people have this instinct where they can recognize a phony. It's like this sort of radar. So if you aren't fully comfortable and CONFIDENT in what you are selling or writing about, people are going to feel it - and your blog or company is going to suffer from it.
Be true to you, and be true and honest in what you do. You should never pander to anyone else.
3. Do It Well
Just as you stay consistent, you need to be consistent with quality. And everything you do, whether it's writing or developing a product, it should be 100 percent, absolutely perfect.
I've said this before and I'll write it again - everything you make or do, is a direct representation of you. Quality always matters. Small, seemingly insignificant details matter. Never be cheap with what you do or cut corners because it's going to show and it's going to cause your followers or customers to lose respect for you.
Also, your product should sell itself. And only products of high quality are capable of selling themselves.
I've said this before and I'll write it again - everything you make or do, is a direct representation of you. Quality always matters. Small, seemingly insignificant details matter. Never be cheap with what you do or cut corners because it's going to show and it's going to cause your followers or customers to lose respect for you.
Also, your product should sell itself. And only products of high quality are capable of selling themselves.
4. Have A Goal
There is a great saying that goes, "You can't score without a goal." And just like you can't throw a football if you don't know where the goal posts are, you can't start a company if you don't have some general direction of where you want to take it.
This is where the mission statement comes in. Figure one out, and figure a good one out. Something that's true to you, is in line with your ideologies and something that might even make the world a better place in some small way.
The biggest and baddest companies are the ones that have one or two solid goals that every founder (and eventually employee) can look at and ask, "Am I getting closer to that goal?"
This is where the mission statement comes in. Figure one out, and figure a good one out. Something that's true to you, is in line with your ideologies and something that might even make the world a better place in some small way.
The biggest and baddest companies are the ones that have one or two solid goals that every founder (and eventually employee) can look at and ask, "Am I getting closer to that goal?"
5. Create The Perfect Experience
Steve Jobs was the master at this. Everything from the operating software in his computers down to the packaging of his products, he wanted every aspect of the user's experience to be 100 percent perfect. And that all started with the quality of the box that the iPods came in, to the employee and store that sold the iPods. (Which is why he originally refused to have his products sold in any other store, other than an official Apple store.)
So from beginning to end, you need to create the best experience for your customer that you can. If it's a book, that means not only is your writing perfect, but the book itself is of the highest quality. If you're selling products from a website, your website is the starting point for your customer's journey. It shouldn't start when they get the product in the mail, it should start as soon as they click on your link.
Basically, you need to find a way to control every aspect of your business. And you need to make sure all of those aspects are doing a great job of keeping your customer in the moment.
If you can do all that, chances are whatever you do, you're going to have a much higher chance of being successful.
So from beginning to end, you need to create the best experience for your customer that you can. If it's a book, that means not only is your writing perfect, but the book itself is of the highest quality. If you're selling products from a website, your website is the starting point for your customer's journey. It shouldn't start when they get the product in the mail, it should start as soon as they click on your link.
Basically, you need to find a way to control every aspect of your business. And you need to make sure all of those aspects are doing a great job of keeping your customer in the moment.
If you can do all that, chances are whatever you do, you're going to have a much higher chance of being successful.