5 Traits Needed to Build a Personal Brand

Posted on: April 29th, 2017

Today I sat in the Sydney Gymnastics Centre and watched 60 young girls flip, cartwheel, summersault, glide, kip, balance and vault their way through the Border Challenge trials. The energy in the air was palpable as the chalk dust and the sound of the floor routine music filled the air. Only 6 of these girls would make it through to the Border Challenge competition to represent NSW against Queensland.

I marvel at these young girls on the verge of womanhood. I see the tenacity, dedication and handwork that they put into their sport and can’t help but notice the similarities in running a business – in particular, one where you are creating a personal brand.

What’s in a business name?

Posted on: March 21st, 2017

I grew up in apartheid South Africa. Mum, dad, myself and my two sisters and baby brother. We lived in a small bush town nestled on the border of the world famous Kruger National Park. (It’s where most of my family still live to this day).

The community is filled with people who know, love and support each other. Yes, it is a small town and everyone knows your business (which as a teenager made me want to escape), but everyone has your back – always.

This is why I named by business after my hometown, White River.Read more »

How to create a retail brand experience

Posted on: February 27th, 2017

The secret to branding success is to give consumers more than what they’d expect to receive when it comes to customer service, quality and brand experience.

Retail brands have an opportunity to build strong and lasting relationships with their customers by creating experiences that are relevant, intimate, and fun.

In the retail market the emphasis has shifted from the retailer having all of the control, setting the price and receiving payment for ‘stuff’ that people need. Gone are the days when consumers could only shop when the stores were open, buy what the retailer had on the shelves and pay the price that was stated.Read more »

Top tennis players personal brands

Posted on: January 31st, 2017

Off the back of an epic final between Federer and Nadal at the Australian Open, I couldn’t help notice that Nike had centre stage when it came to brand exposure. Emblazoned on both players head bands, Nike must have been celebrating that these two players had made what turned out to be one of the all time best finals we have witnessed.

Get your story into the newspaper for free

Posted on: November 30th, 2016

Publicity can get expensive, but if you have a great story to tell, there is a way to get your article into the newspaper, magazine or even radio for free. Remember that when it comes to print, editors have a certain amount of space that they need to fill, and if an advertiser drops out or another story falls flat, they will be grateful to get yours, but you’ll need to make their lives easier. This is where our 8 tips come in handy.

Branding versus Marketing

Posted on: November 15th, 2016

The 8 key differences between branding and marketing

We hear the terms marketing and branding being bantered around together too readily, which causes confusion as to what is what. Let’s make no mistake about this – branding and marketing are entirely different. It’s important to know where to place your focus and your hard earned dollars.

Apples don’t sell computers

Posted on: November 1st, 2016

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

Your logo is not your brand.

People don’t buy from you because of your logo. They buy from you because of your beliefs, your values – your ‘why’. They buy from you because of your brand.

Understanding who you are, what you stand for and why you do what you do, is critical to building a brand that emotionally attracts clients to your business.

The $15 branding blunder

Posted on: September 29th, 2016

It spread through social media faster than a bushfire on a windy day. One bad customer experience resulted in a social media onslaught that has literally seen the overnight tumbling of a hairdressing franchise.

Kerrie Davies, editor of the Nepean News, was furious after being treated like a criminal at a local salon where she went to get her hair blow dried. She took to social media to vent her frustrations, not realising that her post would go viral. In fact it was shared overRead more »

What does your dress code say about you and your brand?

Posted on: August 31st, 2016

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to say that your clothing or style of dressing can tell people a lot about not just who you are, but also what you do, what your ambitions are, your religion or even how you like to spend your spare time.

Own your space and become an industry leader

Posted on: July 20th, 2016

What brands come to mind if I say:

– fast food
– safe car
– soda drink
– search engine

If you had answered, McDonalds, Volvo, Coke and Google, then you’re not alone.

These brands completely own their space. However it has taken decades (in some cases over a century), millions of dollars and one almighty plan to get there!

Owning your space or becoming an industry leader may sound like a pretty scary thing, and to most of us it seems impossible – especially if you are planning to complete with the likes of CocaCola or Nike. The reality is that unless you have a completely unique product or service, a huge budget, a water tight strategy and an incredible following and a will of steel, you’re unlikely to build a brand as big as these giants. So why am I then bothering to write this blog? Because there is another way to ‘own your area’.