Branding Basics

"Branding is what people say about you when you leave the room."

When people inquire about becoming my client, the first thing I check is their branding. Before a publicist can pitch you to media, you need to have your brand right and tight. Here are some essential elements of a brand that I believe can assist anyone with developing or tightening a brand. 

1. Understanding your WHY - Having a solid understanding of why you're doing what you're doing is key and will help your brand remain sustainable. 

2. Choosing a great name - "A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold," Proverbs 22:1 says. While this is more about your reputation rather than choosing a brand name, I think both are relevant here. A good name leaves a lasting impression and helps people associate you with particular qualities or attributes. Choose wisely. 

3. Delivering on your promise - Great brands do what they say they will do. Developing a solid mission statement is an essential element that will set the tone for your brand. Here is a great link to assist with developing mission statements

4. Tagline - Taglines are tough to develop alone, but when you've done strategic brainstorming, they'll come. Sometimes they come before the business name. Spend some time on it, run it by people, and connect with a creative agency for help if you need it. These taglines are named the Top 100. Take a look!

5. Logo & Imagery - Every great brand needs a unique identity. There are many cookie-cutter DIY logo options out there, but if you want to avoid the rapid need for a rebrand, it's best to hire a graphic designer to help you stand out. 

6. Elevator Pitch - Think Shark Tank. Can you pitch your brand in 1-2 minutes? 

7. Talking Points - These are key points to cover in every conversation and especially media interviews. Develop them based on your mission and vision. 

8. Monetization - Last but not least, how will your brand make money? This separates hobbies from businesses. Building a brand takes TIME. Invest 10,000 hours into your brand and I bet you'll see incredible results. 

The one constant in life is change. The good news is, as you evolve and as your company evolves, you can update your brand. Re-branding is a taxing process, so if you do the groundwork early and get it right the first time, you can develop a sustainable brand that will outlast you. Ask about my branding services here.

5 Steps to Secure Sponsors & Brand Partners

Starting out as a Marketing Intern for ALIVE Magazine taught me a great deal about advertising and sponsorship proposals.  I was tasked to write proposals for Brown Shoe (now known as Caleres), and a host of large businesses in the city for St. Louis Fashion Week. 

Since then, I've had the pleasure of securing Miss Jessie's, Curls, Williams-Sonoma, Colour Pop, Design Essentials, SAVVY SLEEPERS, Shoe Dazzle, Harper-Collins Publishers and many more brands and nonprofits as sponsors for my clients. Below you'll find several pointers on how you can secure sponsors for your brand. 

1. Do your research - Spend time analyzing the brand that you're pitching. Who have they worked with in the past? Does your vision align with the brand's values? Who are the key players and decision makers in the company? How do you reach them? In the Google age that we live in, you can find so much information through company websites, news articles and on LinkedIn. 

2. Make the partnership mutually beneficial - No one wants to be in a draining, one-sided relationship. That includes brands. What value do you bring the brand that you're pitching? Think outside of the box and share what you have to offer them in exchange for their sponsorship dollars, free products, or collaboration. 

3. Use Graphics - Having a media kit readily available or infographics to share data make your information easier to digest and show that you have your ducks in a row. Use graphics to share your social media following numbers, website traffic, number of customers over time, or any data that you have. 

4. Don't be afraid to cold call - While introductions are nice, Sometimes you have to thug it out and call people you do not know to make your pitch. This is how many deals are made. 

5. Follow up. Follow up. Follow up. Sometimes this is the make-or-break factor for collaborations. People are just plain old busy and overwhelmed. Following up shows that you are serious and relentless. Many times, this is how I've broken through to get what I needed. 

Once the brand is on board to sponsor your event or to become a partner, place everything in writing! One of my favorite words is contract. If you need someone to perfect your pitch or develop your media kit/infographic, and you have a budget, send an email to me at info@gospelpr.com. 

Happy Pitching!

xoxo

Cartiay Reshay