Here’s a question about branding that I got from one of my readers. I’m posting it (with her permission, of course) because it’s relvant to you, too, if you are thinking of going to the next level in your business by focusing on your branding. Here’s what she says:

Dear Angela,
I enjoy your newsletters very much and would be grateful if you would kindly let me have your opinon. I have a part-time hypnotherapy and EFT practice here in Ireland and obtain quite a few clients through HypnoTherapyIreland.net.

I’m interested in creating content in the personal development field using hypnosis and EFT, perhaps ebooks ecourses etc, which could be sold through the website and am presently mulling over many ideas.

I came across your testimonial for Samantha Hartley’s brand roadmap and am considering purchasing it. It seems as though there are many hypnotherapists, coaches etc who are promoting products online and I’m wondering whether there is room for any more! Having a clear brand identity strikes me as a good marketing strategy to differentiate my offerings
from other people’s.

My question is whether you feel you have benefitted from the quite substantial investment in the brand roadmap and if you have seen increase in your business from applying the processes?

Many thanks in advance for taking the time to let me have your opinon.

Best wishes from Ireland,
Helen Ryle
HypnoTherapyIreland.net

Here’s what I replied:
First off, remember that there is no such thing as competition. There are enough people in the world who ned help that, even if the number of practitioners and hypnotists quadrupled, we’d still have way more work than we could handle.

The point is to make yourself heard within the din and chaos of the marketplace – whether you’re in the bazaar downtown, in an office or back room at your house or online. That’s where Samantha’s course comes in – she helps you get clear on who you are, what you provide and how to market that from an authentic, sincere place so clearly and so compellingly that people automatically choose you instead of your contemporaries.

I got tremendous value out of Samantha’s course. The question what am I doing and why and am I doing it as much as I want is always at the forefront of my mind so I can stay aligned with it. Her course helped me deepen my connection considerably.

The parts of her course that made me focus on what’s important about who I am and what I’m doing allowed me to go deep into imagining who I want to be for people. Not in terms of the ego, but in terms of who I’ll be, say, five years from now, if and when I am more well-known – what is it I want to be known for and what is it I want people to get from me?

That kind of thinking allows me to grow into who I really am, and deliver value in a way that is consistent with my soul. I never relized that writing a book wasn’t enough – she made me think about what it would be like to be a best-selling author, and how I could contribute from the position of authority that gave me. What will I deliver, and how, and to whom?

Suddenly my world expanded from me just being an artist who happened to also be and EFT practitioner selling books and teleclasses to a person who people respect and appreciate for the information and value she gives and the person she exemplifies. Very different viewpoint, and way empowering – made the whole thing come together for me.

Then she helped me structure the elements involved – both inner and outer – so I can offer them in a congruent, consistent manner. I’m one of those people who has way too much creative power, so I have tended to get scattered all over the map. Her course helped me consolidate and focus.

It’s also been tremendous because I can look at the materials I got from her and keep myself updated all the time – it isn’t a one-time rah-rah and off-you-go kind of course.

The difference I notice in my business is two-fold – one, I have more passion and a stronger conviction in what I know and deliver than ever, and two, I’m getting the exact clients I like to work with and am getting amazing results with them. I’m seeing more results with my own income and recognition than ever, as well, which is gratifying, as well.

From what I’ve seen, most people who know what they offer and how they want things to be already have a look and feel – a brand – and it’s really easy from there just to focus, clarify and strengthen what you do have. It’s not about getting glitzy and doing big-noise ads.

It’s about taking that core strength you already have and bringing it to the forefront and honoring it more so others can, too.

I hope that helps – please keep me up on how you do, OK? (And tell Samantha I sent you!)
much aloha and my best to you -
Angela

 Image credit: Branding image from LatoshaTate.com

==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==

© Angela Treat Lyon 2009 • I invite you to feel free to use this article as long as you use it in its entirety, including my © and contact information. Lyon at IDareYouRADIO.com • Thank you!

EFTinEveryHome.com
You can help get EFT into every home on the planet–just share this EFT Basics site with everyone!

EFTBizSuccess.com
The Insider Secrets to Your Successful EFT/Energy Business

PIGEES.com
The most unique Wealth-Building System Alive!

WealthMaverickAudios.com
Creating Your Wealth-Being with Mind, Heart and Soul!

==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==.==