10 Easy Steps to Create an Online Brand Fast

Why Should You Create an Online Brand?

Before you start to create an online brand, it helps to understand what it means. What is a brand? It used be what we now think of as a trademark, like Apple or Doritos. Over time, companies and marketers figured out that a brand is more than a logo and a company name. A brand embodies the perception that people have of you and your company.

When you create an online brand, it gives your potential prospects and customers a quick glimpse of who you are. They’ll see you, your logo, your colors and your tagline. When people visit your website, blog, or social media profile, they make a snap decision – is this what I’m looking for? Can this person or business help me, inform me, or entertain me? If they like what they see, they will stay to learn more about you.

If network marketing is part of your business, (notice I didn’t say that network marketing IS your business), you want to create an online brand centered around YOU, not the network marketing company you represent. Don’t create a blog or facebook page dedicated to a network marketing company. There are plenty of those on the internet. Stand out if you want to be seen and heard. The best way to stand out is by being YOU. Be yourself and you’ll be unique. Create an online brand and company that is separate from your network marketing company.

How Do You Create an Online Brand?

Creating an online brand is a process. Your brand will evolve over time, so don’t feel like you have to have these things figured out in the next week or month. But, you can set a side a few hours, knock this stuff out, and have a good shell of your brand in one day. Start by writing down your thoughts, colors, images, and plans, and it will come together over time. Deliberately planning your brand will make you stand out from other marketers who are inconsistent and don’t have a clear path.

My suggestion is to set a time limit for each step below, say 20 minutes. Do what you can, then move on. These things are important, especially #6, but this isn’t what brings in new customers. Remember what makes you money.

1. Pick A Company Name

First, pick your company name. This can be something that represents your industry or market, like “Network Marketing Mama”. This helps people find you if they’re searching on the internet or facebook. It could be a traditional company name, like “Baxter, Inc.,” though that seems a bit corporate-y or boring. It can be your name, like “Kari Baxter”. This won’t help anyone searching for “network marketing” find you, but it makes it easy to be unique! If you have a common name like Jane Smith, you could name your website or company, “The Real Jane Smith” or “Joyful Jane Smith”.

2. Create A Tagline

Usually when you create an online brand, you will have a blog, website, or facebook page. Come up with a catchy tagline that explains your purpose quickly. Your tagline should be who you serve and how you can help them. Keep it simple and short. This is harder than it seems. I’ve changed mine 2,643 times. Write down a few ideas, but don’t get stuck here. As with all of your brand, you will fine tune it over time.

3. Plan Your Look

This is my favorite part of branding and what most people think of when they think of branding. Have a logo designed. Pick your colors and the feel of your brand. Again, I could spend hours fine tuning this stuff, but don’t do it! Give yourself a time limit and move on.

You can get a cheap logo designed at fiverr.com. Most services at Fiverr cost $5, hence the name Fiverr. If you want to work with a more experienced designer, 99designs is a great resource. Their services start around $99. You might have a friend, or a friend’s kid, who can design something for you. At the time of this blog post, I don’t have a logo. I’ve had my blog for 3 months and it’s not important to me yet. Writing content and setting up my funnel is more important. Getting a logo designed is easy, fun, and pretty quick, though, so do it if you want to. Just remember you don’t have to do everything right from the beginning. It’s a process.

Pick 3-4 colors to represent your brand. These will be in your logo, on your website, and in photos you post online. Pick colors that are complementary, professional, and easy to look at. I love this article for color design ideas.

4. Think about the Voice for your Company

What personality do you want your brand to have? Will it be funny? Serious? Smart?? Silly? Business-like? Fun? Straightforward?

How you write will likely be the voice of your company, but you can put some thought into it and direct the tone of your writing. If you’re a funny person, let that come out in your writing. Decide to make that part of your brand and use it.

5. What is your Specialty?

What does your company specialize in? What does it do? What services or products does your company provide? This DOES NOT refer to your network marketing company. I’m not talking about your shakes or skin care products. This refers to the products that YOU will provide. Kari Baxter, Inc. provides online marketing and network marketing training. In the beginning, this is in the form of blog posts. As I develop my company, it might be 1-on-1 coaching or a digital product. If someone likes my training and wants to join my network marketing company with me, that’s awesome, but that’s not what my company does.

6. Who is your Target Market?

This is the most important part of planning your company and your online brand. Your target market is your customer.

Who are they?
What do they look like? How old are they?
What do they do every day? Do they stay home with kids? Work full time?
What are they worried about?
What do they want – today and in the future?

Spend time on these questions and really hash out who this person is. All your marketing, products, videos, and posts are for this person. Talk to them like you’re sitting in your living room with them. Here is a good article on defining your target market.

7. Who are your Competitors?

When you’re creating a brand, you will have competition. Research who is in the same niche, in the same market, vying for the same customers as you.

Decide how you’re different than your competition. How will you stand out, serve your target market better, and get more customers? There are enough prospects, leads, and customers for everyone, but you have to stand out or you won’t get any of them.

Standing out could mean your funny posts, silly videos, or connecting with people one-on-one in the beginning. Go a step beyond the ordinary to stand out from your competition.

8. What are your Core Values?

What do you stand for? This can set you apart from your competition. Don’t hide what makes you unique. Be the Christian Marketer. Be the Atheist Marketer. Be the Blogger with the Most Kids. Be the Honest Marketer. Let the things you believe, shine in your content. You will stand out and people will be attracted to you. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. You want raving fans, not lukewarm prospects.

People like to know what to expect from an online person and business. If you believe in going above and beyond, do that consistently. If you believe in providing the best training in your niche, tell people that, then over–deliver amazing training.

People will figure out who you are over time, but there’s nothing wrong with helping them figure it out faster.

9. What is the Main Goal for your Audience?

What do you want your readers, watchers, prospects and customers to learn or have? Do you want them to get more customers? Do you want to help them recruit more reps? Do you want to help them overcome their fear? Do you want to help them build a big business?

Decide, then infuse that goal into your content.

10. Be Consistent.

Take what you wrote down for #1-9, post it by your computer, then deliver that in your content. This will create an online brand. It doesn’t matter what angle you take or what you decide to do for your audience, but you have to decide, then do it consistently. If you’re inconsistent, your audience will be confused and leave. People like to know what to expect. Decide and deliver.

Whew! This is a lot of information. Take it a bite at a time. Jot down your thoughts and let them guide you. Don’t stop doing money-making activities while you figure this out, but let your brain work on it in the background. Start infusing your branding ideas into what you’re already doing.