THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL BRANDING

Personal Branding. What's that all about, you ask?

First off, it has nothing to do with cattle.

Nor is it a reference to 'golden arches' or 'talking geckos' (though these are symbols that represent two pretty popular corporate branding success stories).

Personal branding defined can be summed up as a marketing strategy where you develop yourself as an individual sales entity, an expert personality and credible spokesperson who interest is solving your customer's problems and fulfilling their desires.

Personal branding of yourself is important because it allows YOU to become a commodity apart from any other product or service you decide to market or sell.

Personal branding places you in the ultimate position of sales power.

When you successfully brand yourself, you can sell ice cubes in Alaska in January and your customers would buy them by the truck load.

Okay...I admit I'm exagerating just a little with that one.

But the point is that online business branding of yourself will create a level of personal credibility far surpassing that of most online (and offline) salespeople, who are viewed as nothing more than slimy hustlers.

When you reap the benefits of branding, and achieve the rarified level of credibility within your market niche that personal branding will provide, you will experience a freedom in your business that salespeople and distributors never realize.

No longer will you be just another salesperson whose success hinges on customer acceptance of a single product.

Personal branding will allow you the ability to sell anything (within reason) because you won't be 'tied down' to a single company or product.

Personal branding will help you to build the relationship with your customers that's necessary in order to have them 'eating out of your hands' as they willingly buy whatever you sell because they already know and trust that when you say 'this is the product' they need to solve their problems, it really will be.

Have you ever noticed certain individuals on television endorsing their own products (anti-aging skin cream, for instance), or a book they've written (The Secrets of Good Health They Won't Tell You..., for example).

If you've ever watched one of these increasingly popular 'infomercials', the people talking come across as total experts on their particular subject matter.

They come across not as salespeople, but as a friend who simply wants to help you with your problem.

They sell themselves way before they attempt to sell (or even mention) their product. This is why sales are insanely high for whatever product, book, or information they're hawking.

Once I noticed something strange happen on television with this branding process, though.

I saw one guy suddenly come out with a new infomercial talking about a totally different (and unrelated product) than the one he originally became know for.

This guy (you can probably guess who it is) originally came to fame via the subject of Medical Cures (they don't want you to know about). He stayed on this subject and sales campaign for the longest time.

Imagine my surprise when I turned on the television one day to see him talking about his 'new revealing book' on personal credit repair and maintenance.

Wow! He was an expert on that subject, too.

I did a little investigating and found out that before the health and credit books, he'd also written a book on weight loss as well.

I remember thinking that I'd never seen one guy be an 'expert' on so many different topics. But that's not the point of this story.

The point is that this guy is a best-selling author, making millions of dollars in sales on every sales campaign he launches because of one thing and one thing only.

He is a Brand. People recognize him. He has 'Personal Branding' down to a science.

As with anyone in the public light, some people like him, and others hate him.

But he has gained the ear of enough people over the last few years to make a fortune... regardless of the product or service or subject he focuses on.

That's what the power of successful personal branding can do.

THAT WAS THEN...THIS IS NOW!

Branding used to be something that only major corporations could pull off because they had billions of dollars, and could spend the millions it took to ram commercials, billboards, and print ads down our throats.

In fact, once upon a time, corporate branding was the only game in town.

But not anymore.

The world wide web has leveled the branding playing field tremendously.

In fact, many people today are using the Internet to develop their brand.

Internet branding is one of the most important things you can ever do to ensure a six or seven figure income through your sales and marketing business.

Online branding is so cost effective and inexpensive, it'd almost be a crime to not incorporate it into your overall sales and marketing strategy.

WHY PEOPLE BUY

There's one thing about the art of selling that network marketing (and sales in general) just doesn't get, and that's that people buy out of response to a need or a problem.

You go the the grocery store because you're hungry (need) and there's no more food in the house (problem).

You buy a new car (need) because the current one's old and run down (problem).

People take vacations to visit new and exciting locations (need), and so that they can get away from their everyday, hum-drum lives (problem).

A man is getting married. He buys a beautiful, expensive engagement ring for his fiancee.

Now he'd just as soon buy the one that's half the size and price. But he knows if he wants to get the marriage off on the right foot, he'd better get the more expensive ring that his bride wants.

In essence, this groom has a 'need' for the bigger ring so that there won't be a 'problem' in his relationship.

Needs and problems....

No matter what it is, most of the time a purchase is made, it's going to be in response to a person addressing either their needs or their problems (or both).

Once you realize that, you can move on to the fun part of sales, which is determining those needs, then positioning yourself as the person (the brand) who can address the 'need' or solve the 'problem'.

This is where personal branding becomes so important for the small businessperson.

Personal branding will give the consumer an answer to their all-important'why' question...as in 'Why should I buy anything from you?"

ARE YOU AN EXPERT?

Back to the gentleman I mentioned a moment ago.

Remember I said every book he sells becomes a best seller? Do you know why that is?

I'll give you a hint: It's not because he's a great writer.

In fact, he's not a very good writer at all.

In all actuality, he probably doesn't even write his own books (now I'm guessing on this one; I don't know that for sure).

The reason why this guy is so successful in sales is because he doesn't try to sell books to people.

He sells them solutions to their problems.

He identifies the needs of a segment of the population, then gathers the information he knows they're looking for in order to solve their problems.

Before giving the customer the information, he spends a little time talking about himself, how he was in the exact same boat they were in (overweight, bad credit, poor health...whatever), and how he discovered the way to get out of it.

He gives the customer just enough infomation so that their interest is piqued, then he tells them they can find out everything...all 'The Secrets' they need to know to solve their problem...BUT only if they buy his book.

The key is he only mentions that they need to buy his book at the end of his pitch.

Personal branding dictates that the people get to know him first, before he ever makes a pitch for the sale of his product. He personally brands HIMSELF first, and only after he does that, does he talk about the product.

And that's the secret you can use to achieve success in your sales business, no matter what product you choose to sell.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MLM Success SECRETS THE NETWORK MARKETING AND SALES COMPANIES WILL NEVER TELL YOU.

They know the moment you learn the concept of personal branding, you cease to work for them and truly start working for yourself.

You simply won't need them as much anymore.

This is why most network marketing and sales companies strive to make sure everything looks exactly the same.

Websites (heck, most companies forbid them), business cards, and everything else.

They want it looking exactly the same because they're using their associates to promote their company. They don't want you to have your own individual identity because it would interfere with their corporate branding strategies.

They know that when you learn about personal branding, you cease to be just another pushy, faceless salesperson or network marketer pushing some marked up product or service.

You start to become an upstanding professional, a neutral consultant, and a trusted friend who has your customer's best interests at heart.

A professional who, because you are truly beginning to understand proper sales and marketing techniques, doesn't need them anymore.

Personal branding allows network marketing, or whatever type of sales you're involved in, to become a bit more of the fun-filled adventure you expected it to be because you're no longer forced to become an undesirable salesperson who appears out to make a quick buck by chasing and harassing uninterested prospects.

Personal branding allows you to create the proper environment where ready-to-buy customers will find you and purchase from you...because they like and identify with YOU.

WE LOVE TO BUY...BUT HATE TO BE SOLD

Charge It! That's what people want to do.

We as humans really love to buy things...but only when we're ready, not when some salesperson tells us we should.

This is why so many people have "No Soliciting" signs on the doors of their homes and businesses.

They don't what their personal space invaded by an uninvited salesperson out to make a quick buck at their expense.

And when we buy, we want to buy from someone we feel we have a relationship with.

Someone we can trust.

Someone who, through branding, has identified themselves as a professional who's qualified to meet our needs.

Large companies use corporate branding all the time because they know the importance of it.

And believe me, it's even more important that to you, the small (and mostly unknown) businessperson, learn the power of propery branding yourself.

Think about it for a moment.

Why do you go into some stores instead of others - even though both may have the exact same products?

Why do you prefer to visit certain shops when you know your favorite clerk is going to be there?

It's because, over time, you've developed a certain level of trust and confidence in the owner, or salesperson, or clerk at the store you favor. You're 'comfortable' with them.

It's the same reason why people consistently buy 'brand name' products like Green Giant or Del Monte or Folgers or Hormel over the store-name brands.

They're comfortable with them, even though they may cost more money.

Brand identification is a truly powerful thing. And it's not just for the conglomerates and mega-companies. It's also for you and me.

The fact is that personal branding is crucial to your long term business success.

You simply won't last long in the 21st Century marketplace if you are unable, or unwilling, to do what it takes to brand yourself.

You have to become recognizable. People have to know your name, or the name of your company.

And more importantly, you have to become synonomous with whatever problem your product or service solves for your consumer.

Whenever a customer thinks about a particular problem or desire, you want them to think of you. This is what personal branding is all about.

Travel agents. Auto mechanics. Dry cleaners. Whomever your favorite service people are, they became your favorite because they did something to personally brand themselves to you.

They literally left an imprint (brand) on your mind that you automatically assoicate with the problem you need solved.

And this is exactly what you must do. Personally Brand You!

NOT OVERNIGHT...BUT IT WILL WORK!

I'll admit that you will have to do some work.

Personal branding will require dedication and patience.

But I guarantee you, it's work well worth it because when it's done right, personal branding will be the key to the kingdom of financial bliss you're searching for.

Imagine...customers who know you, appreciate you, and spend money with you 24 hours a day because of who you are moreso than what you sell.

That's called loyalty.

That's what personal branding will do for you.

COMING SOON - DEREK'S NEW 'BRANDING YOU' INSTRUCTION E-BOOK

UNDERSTAND THIS

People have a need to spend money. We all know that. And we all spend money for a variety of reasons.

We spend money to celebrate when we're happy.

We spend money to pick ourselves up when we're sad.

We spend money to eat.

We spend money to travel.

We spend money to sleep.

We spend money on jewelry, clothes, furniture, and electronic gadgets.

We spend money on our children.

We spend money on our pets.

We spend money to look and feel better, younger, slimmer, and sexier.

Whatever the reason, WE WILL SPEND MONEY!

As a businessperson, the goal that should be paramount to you is:

LEARNING HOW TO GIVE PEOPLE THE REASON THEY NEED TO SPEND THEIR MONEY (MONEY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND ANYWAY) WITH YOU.

Network marketing and sales companies tell you that the only thing that should be on your mind is recruiting, recruiting, recruiting, and the selling, selling, selling of their product, service, or business opportunity.

They tell you this is the key to your getting rich. Just keep on trying to sell product. Just keep on showing the opportunity. Just keep on pestering people until they give in.

They say that if you do anything else, or listen to anyone else's point of view, you'll only doom yourself to sure failure.

HOGWASH!

MLM tells you that every single person you meet is a potential prospect or customer.

This is a totally false statement...

...unless you just so happen to be selling water or toilet paper.

After all, everybody does need these items, don't they?

The truth is that most of the sales 'techniques' the companies teach are responsible for 97% of people in the MLM sales industry failing to ever make a sale or get their business off the ground.

The truth is that everyone is NOT your customer or prospect!

How could they be?

Everyone DOES NOT need whatever it is you're selling.

And even if you know (or think) they do, what if someone simply doesn't want whatever it is your company sells?

What if they don't want to get rich running their own business in their 'spare' time?

What if they are truly satisfied on their job?

Believe it or not, there are people out there like this, even though you'd hardly believe it listening to the network marketing companies' spin on prospecting and customer identification.

Remember what we said earlier....

People love to buy, but they hate being sold.

In many instances, people don't really care 'who' they buy from, so long as they're able to fulfill their need or solve their problem.

But in many other instances, and especially when it's something they have to buy on a regular, recurring basis, they prefer to purchase their products and services from someone they know and trust.

People don't care anything about buying from you - at least not in the beginning. When someone first considers buying from you, there's no loyality involved. They can take you or leave you.

But when you learn how to properly brand youself, this statement will no longer be true. Personal branding will create the loyalty you need the retain repeat customers.

And personal branding is only one of the things you can learn in The MLM Network Marketing Success System. You can learn how to expertly provide the reliable, timely information that answers the 'How do I...' question that's attached to every problem or desire your customers will have.

'How do I do this?' 'How can I solve that?' 'How do I get rid of this?' 'How can I get more of the other?'

When you can answer these 'How To' questions for your customer or prospect FIRST, your chances of obtainng the sale or commission increases tremendously.

In order to grow your business to the level of success you desire, you simply must learn the concept of personal branding.

There's no getting around it. Without it, you'll never have repeat customers, which is vital to most business.

Watch out for my upcoming E-book, 'Branding You', will teach you everything you need to know to start branding you and your business for success today.

Learning how to brand yourself will allow you to take your focus off the sales companies and put it on yourself FIRST, which is the way it's supposed to be.

My Branding You E-book will unlock the infinite sales and marketing possibilities that are right there before you (even though you may not see them now).

After reading my Branding You E-book, you'll never look at yourself or your sales business the same way again.

COMING SOON - DEREK'S NEW 'BRANDING YOU' E-BOOK

Remember...your customers and prospects will buy from you...but only when you become a master at Personal Branding.

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