Personal Branding is a Waste Without Influence
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Personal Branding is a Waste…
Without Influence
Online MLM marketing has been through an interesting ride the last few years. There were marketers obsessed with personal branding that became known but barely made any money and then there were the true marketers that made a ton of money but didn’t build relationships. This post will navigate you through and share what the future holds.
Personal Branding is Good but Influence is Better
Advertising companies love to talk about personal branding as it’s nebulous and can be a never-ending hole where you throw money just to “get your name out there”. This can be a problem unless you have the marketing budgets of Coca Cola or Geico.
What is more important than simple personal branding is having influence over your target market. The way you do that is to first, identify your target market (this highly popular blog post might help with that), solve the problems and desires of that target market, and then decide what you would like that target market to do. A business owner might identify that they want the desired action of their target market to purchase their services or products eventually but there are other ways of influence that will help you not only with your personal branding but also with your online marketing influence.
Where’s the Beef?
If you have been working at your personal branding and actually getting some traction but aren’t making much money…you’ve missed the boat somewhere.
I know people that get tons of shares, retweets, comments, are asked to speak at events but barely make ends meet. THAT is NOT the point of personal branding, you need to design a strategy that is going to have you raking in the money as well as getting your name out there.
Some would suggest to give some value away but save the good stuff for your products…I disagree with that. I put great value on my blog but in my products just dig a bit deeper. Those who resonate with the content, a lot of times, want to either hire me as a coach or dive into one of my products or join my team. Personal branding means getting YOU out there not just your MLM company name but also keep in mind that YOU are what people will be attracted to and who they will want to work with.
The Easiest Way to Have Influence IN your Personal Branding
This is going to sound funny but want you to put down your walls and embrace what I am about to say as it is so true. The best way for you to have influence AND get others to compensate you, is to invest in yourself. To constantly invest in ways to make YOU as a unit better. Here’s some of the reasons why:
1. When you invest in great products you can usually become an affiliate and easily recommend them.
2. When you invest in yourself, you gain knowledge that others lack but want, you can teach them (for free or for a price)
3. When you invest in yourself, you are able to easier get to know the creators of great products and get on their radar.
It’s hard to get people to buy products from you if you are not using them or have never bought. The cool thing is once you embrace this way of living, the game becomes how to continue investing in yourself so you can stay current and gain tactics to share with your target market.
Just remember this, personal branding without focusing on influence can be costly, time-wise and money-wise. Be smart with your time and money and always make yourself better but also identify with how you can share that knowledge with your target market where it is a win-win scenario. You give more of use value than you charge in dollars, THAT is the key to becoming a sought after influencer.
Free Video on Influence and Conversions
They just released video number 3 on Influence and Conversions on this page. There is nothing for sale on that page, just a great video talking about some of the things I talked about on this post. Create a discussion below in the comments on your favorite tip in the video on influence and to your increased influence!
If you enjoyed this post please comment and share
Ray Higdon
Skype: ray.higdon
Email: RayHigdon@RayHigdon.com
Work With Me – Numis Network
Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net
PS: If Your Upline Does Not Have a Step-By-Step Blueprint For Success, Check This Out (Unless You Already Have Too Many Leads) – Click Here For Instant Access
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The Future Is Now
Social media allows the “little guys” to compete with the “big guys” because it is affordable and allows one to brand him or herself and/or product and service. If done correctly personal branding can build influence, the issue is as you stated most people are not doing it the right way. You can have a video on Youtube that gets 500,000 views but without a call to action you really haven’t created influence or generated income.
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Well said Yaisa
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This is so true.
We are all individuals who brand ourselves by the way we dress, act and sometimes how we’re perceived.
That alone won’t make people care about you, to do this you need value otherwise your prospects will think you’re useless (even though you’re not)
Create influence today for yourself and your success.
Thanks and have a great weekend.
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:56 pm
You got it
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Once again Ray has hit the nail on the head. One point that didn’t get mentioned is that building influence takes time, You have to keep giving value as you build up trust.
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 22nd, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Amen Jeff
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Viola Tam Reply:
July 22nd, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Hi, Jeff,
Great insights! Influence does take time!
I’d like to add this thought: GOOD influence? BAD influence?
Thanks to the internet! Our name (and/or brand) can travel WAAAAAAY faster than we can imagine now! Do the right thing and give value as suggested by Ray, we have good influence. Pitching and annoying others (getting into others’ business people’s FOCUS)? A BAD influence, for sure!
Viola Tam
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Wonderful post, Ray. Influence is key to successfully marketing online. It is a way of getting people to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do on their own.
You tell the truth when you mentioned that it’s hard for people to buy things from you when you yourself don’t use those things. When you use the products that you market, you become a product of the product and this increases your belief level in what you’re selling. That way, you’re able to transfer your belief to your prospect.
Thanks for sharing!
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Keep rocking bro
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Once again Ray Higdon is giving us valuable knowledge like he does everyday! Happy to be on his team!
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Happy to have you!
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Thanks Ray
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Welcome my friend
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Hi Ray,
I love this topic! You are spot on about the need to design a strategy that makes money as well just the personal brand. Investing into excellent products and recommend them to get paid makes total sense. Others get the solution, we get paid. The experts (key influencers) gets even more influence over others. This is how we can unite to make GREAT things happen in the world
I am honoured to be connected with you, Ray.
Viola Tam – The Business Mum (my upcoming brand).
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Hi Ray,
Excellent insider’s view about branding, influence and making money!
I totally agree with you that a strategy is needed to build the brand as well as solving the cash flow issue that is facing many business owners.
There are a few other points that I could not agree more:
1. always invest in self. It is only when we BECOME more that we can give more
2. always give great value ….the right people will make the decision to invest. For example, I bought your Sponsoring Secrets because the ideas that you shared in your webinar impressed me.
3. target the right audience to give out the value – this is something I am working on.
I appreciate your insights, Ray. Keep up your service to others!
Viola Tam – The Business Mum (my upcoming brand)
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:57 pm
You got it Viola!
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I totally agree Ray. I first focused on creating a brand rather than making money (affiliate commissions for instance). Now Im changing the plan and since I can influence a big part of my audience the money making part is not hard. For almost a year I barely tried to recommend products, so now that I do people trust me.
Have a nice one
Alejandro
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Exactly, most wonder why their marketing is not working when its designed to just “get the word out”…
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Hey Ray,
Very interesting topic, as we were just having a conversation with a small business owner the other day about this. They were wanting to plaster their brand all over the internet, do Facebook PPC, Google PPC, Banner Ads, and a few other things. Our first question to them was:
1. Who are you targeting (you would have thought we were from Mars, the look we got). They really did not think about it, they never gave it much thought on “Why” they were in business and who were they focused on helping.
Our second question to them was:
2. What do you want people to think when they here “the company name here” (for obvious reasons we cannot share this). With the four people from their company at our meeting, they all had four different answers.
If you are a business, or a company and not everyone in the company is one the same page, on “Why” your company exists, who their target market is, and what they want to be known for, then going back to the drawing board is critical before going out and so called “branding” yourself.
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Well said bro, you know what you are talking about
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Hi Ray,
Building a personal brand is one thing and having influence on your target audience is another thing. If you are very active in social media, forums and groups people will know who you are and appreciate what you are sharing hence you could get a lot of exposure.
At the same time if you are not specific in one topic, for e.g.: Ray Higdon for Blogging, people could get confused & won’t be motivated to buy anything. The other thing is if you are not talking to the right audience they will be happy to share your posts but will not do anything beyond that.
With regard to getting the products, yea… that’s true when you experience the products you can get down to specific and tell people your experience.
Damayanthi
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:58 pm
There you go! Thanks
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Hi Ray,
Influence people and they will eat up anything you serve. Such is the power of building a stark raving network of friends/fans. So you can grow your brand with ease after gaining influence. Put the emphasis on honing your mental tools and physical skills. The outside world will be yours as you work on the inner world. Power tips here.
Branding is nice. Influencing people, improving their lives and making money is even better. One issue with personal branding is this: too much inward thinking. Me, me, me. How can I change myself, reinvent myself, etc. Well, your target market wants to know who you are going to do for them, and you never answer this question if you are worried primarily about yourself.
Think outward. Influence others.
Thanks Ray!
Ryan
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Influence is the key that a lot of people miss in this industry. I do believe that all the value you give for free will eventually come back two fold. thanks Ray!
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:59 pm
You got it Sherman
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I'm trying to be influenced by people like Ray so that I don't listen to the wrong crowd. It's hard when you have your surroundings and circumstances. But I keep journaling and making sure that I am on the right path. Thanks to all and to Ray,
Lori Favela
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Welcome Lori!
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This is the step I'm at right now, in my problogtour. The is up and running. There is videos content and net to capture…. Now I gotta put myself outthere and start to make some inflence and traffic. Right now I'm at the cool blog – no traffic state.
My eyes and ears are at the full attention. As far as now everything in the problogtour has been working. So i´ll bet this will rock to. Have a great weekend.
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Keep celebrating the successes Alan
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Totally agree. You can spend a fortune on branding and at the end of the day, no one but you cares about it but you. It goes back to the point about Content is king. Glad you’ve said this because I’ve thinking it for ages.
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:59 pm
You got it!
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Personal branding is wonderful…if your main goal is to satisfy your ego through recognition. It’s a stage all kids, all teenagers, all marketers go through (including myself).
A few get the consciousness and the skills to reach a level of influence that creates a great cash flow. Then you get to enjoy lifestyle and brand yourself from a place of authenticity.
Hey…don’t let Diane get too crazy in Orlando!
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Sorry Larry…she got crazy!
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Ray, Absolutely amazing advice. It is a really tough balancing act to provide value, brand and give your target audience a reason to listen you have to take on the attitude that giving most of my content away for free is just showing my worth to my customer.
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Give that value bro
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You make some very good points Ray,spending your money with some of the influential marketers out there is a great way to get on their radar,your ACTIONS are what people will notice not what you say your going to do.
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Ray Higdon Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Very true Tyronne
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Excellent info!
Thanks Ray!
Alex
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Good concept about investing in yourself.
another idea I've read and like is to become influential by making others influential – giving endorsements, and assisting others to become influential is a great way to build a network of influential people around yourself. This gives you real clout!
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