Branding is a hot topic around these parts (parts = my office chair). I’m obsessed with lots of things but brand strategies is in my top 3 along with close, authentic relationships and ‘Hot Now’ Krispy Kreme Donuts. The inventor of Spanx is a billionaire because donuts {and bacon} are delicious (honestly, I can’t take credit for that one because I saw it in a birthday card the other day).

This obsession has lead me to own up to the fact that while I love to work with clients on their whole business at heart I’m a brander because it is quintessential (that’s a big word for me at 7 in the morning) to every aspect of a business. It also fits nicely into my Operations Marketing philosophy. Score!

No Sh!t?! You can get your business model done in a week?!

I swear, I'm not lying to you! Cross my heart + all that other cliched stuff. It doesn’t have to be that hard. Everything can get set up in a week. I’ve found that one of the keys to running a successful business is to not keep re-inventing the wheel over + over again. That’s where the Operations Manual comes in. Documenting the tasks that you do in your business does a multitude of things, like, gives all your customers a consistent experience, let’s you easily delegate things out + keeps you from pulling your hair out trying to remember what you wrote or how you did it last time.

Recently, I was researching a business and came across its Facebook page. The cover image was great + conveyed a strong message with the logo prominently placed. I know exactly who they are. But the little square profile image that shows up in my newsfeed is different (I noticed because I do branding). You know what though? New potential customers like you + me who like that page will never notice that brand’s updates in our newsfeeds because it’s the wrong, outdated logo.

On social platforms all we see is that little square profile image and if you have a different image, icon or logo then how do people know it's you?

You like 'em in Facebook {and as of yesterday you have several emotions to pick from}. You double tap them on Instagram. You definitely retweet them on Twitter. What am I talking about you ask?

The inspirational quote.

You feel me. We love them! Like the junior high, first love kind of love. They suck us in every time.

How many times have you double tapped on that image with the pure white background + gold flake, scroll-y font that looks like someone {with better handwriting than you} just scribbled into perfection, ’good things come to those who hustle’? #raiseshand

We are diving into a hot topic today! You know me, I want to research everything so I find myself asking lots of questions of my entrepreneur friends + clients. I can almost guarantee that when I ask them, 'what's your biggest challenge?' Every one of them puts marketing as one of their top three answers.

It seems that everyone needs help with {and pretty much hates} marketing. They struggle with that fine line of getting their message and work out into the world + being the sleazy used car salesman that bombards you with 'BUY ME' emails 24/7. So, consequentially, we feel we have to do ALL the marketing things, which is daunting... and fucking stupid.

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Does this sound like your life? But is it really your friend? Or foe? I guess if you get used to all the chaos in your personal + professional life then it sure seems like a friend. But is it working for you?

your vibe attracts your tribe!

I don't know who said this, but it is brilliant. And I totally stole it. It’s so relate-able, isn’t it? Not just professionally but to our personal lives too.

Mastermind. Clique. Peeps. Tribe. They all mean the same.

Tribe - (n): like-minded individuals that congregate to from your closest inner circle that gives you support, good criticism to help you better yourself, are not out to bring you down, genuinely care about you and your business, etc.

Can you believe it? 2017 is approaching at lightning speed. I went to TJMaxx {yes, I’m a maxxinista} the other day + all the Christmas decorations are out already. You’ve got to be kidding me! We haven’t even had Halloween yet.

IS YOUR BUSINESS READY FOR 2017?

This year has had lots of ups + downs and twists + turns. But as we approach the holidays there is still time to hit this year’s goals. Well, unless your goal is to marry Bradley Cooper. There still might be time for that, but chances are slim. Even so, I found myself at a working lunch today planning for 2017. I was asked earlier this week to list my top 3 goals for next year. Are you fucking kidding me? We haven’t even made it through 2nd quarter yet! Oh, wait. Son of a bitch. I’m behind already.

I’ve done them all. You name it, I’ve put it on my credit card. I have spent thousands of dollars on every business program out there. I get sucked in because the copy writing is good + I just throw money at gurus. Only to be disappointed when I don’t get the practical solutions I crave. I know I need clarity. I know I need to have a plan. I know I need a content calendar. I know I need ALL the stuff. But how?

I JUST WANT PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR REAL BUSINESS

Your business plan should be your tool to make your business work for you, not against you. It should make all your decision making easier. Have an idea to add website design to your bookkeeping business? Um, first, those are two totally different things and just because you used a Wordpress template to make yourself an awesome website doesn't make you a web designer. And, second, does that align with your business plan. Probably not.