#brandingstrategytips

What do the likes of Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Grant Cardone have in common? If you’ve heard of any of these four business owners, you’ll know that they focus on their personal branding. Personal branding means using your reputation to attract more customers. It means forgoing the sale for now and focusing on leveraging aspects of your personality to build proper, lasting relationships. Subscribe to Read the Largest Marketing Live Book => The good news is that it doesn’t matter if you lack the natural charisma, swag or charm of a Gary Vaynerchuk. When it comes to personal branding, everything can be taught, learned and implemented. In this article, we take a look at how to create the kind of personal branding that makes people feel SO good about you that your business grows and grows.

Have the Right Intentions

If you go into this with all the wrong intentions, you will ultimately lose. In 2019 and beyond, more and more of your customers are looking for honesty and transparency from you. In fact, it’s something they’ve now come to expect. And now that social media is dominating our lives, anything you say on there will either be a blessing or a curse. If your intentions are all wrong, social will be a curse. Having good intentions means going into this with the right values. These right values should include goodwill, generosity, honesty, transparency, and a genuine desire to help people. As long as you keep these values in mind at all times, your message will resonate with the right people, and your relationships will flourish. If, on the other hand, your intentions are bad and all you care about is your next sale, you will soon be exposed.

Provide As Much Value As Possible

As well as having values, you need to provide value to your community. The likes of Grant Cardone are pumping out an insane amount of daily content. A quick cursory check of his YouTube profile shows us that he’s uploaded a ton of content in the last few days alone. Source: YouTube And it’s all free. Notice also that a lot of the content isn’t directly related to what he’s selling. Instead, he’s producing content that’s designed to educate and inform people, and foster strong relationships with his audience. In essence, Grant Cardone is treating his personal branding as a media company. As well as YouTube, he’s also producing a pile of content for his Facebook page and his website. He’s providing value to his community, and in exchange he’s winning fans and making people feel good about him. They feel so good about him that many of his more devoted fans lovingly refer to him as ‘Uncle G.’ That’s the kind of personal branding that works.

Be Unique

One of the biggest challenges of personal branding is standing out from the crowd. Gary Vaynerchuk isn’t the only entrepreneur who owns a media company and who tries to motivate and inspire others. But he stands out because his voice, message and branding is as unique as his angle. It’s important that you find a way of distinguishing yourself from the crowd, otherwise you won’t have a personal brand. What is YOUR core message and theme? What aspect of your personality makes you different to anyone else? Remember, there will always be people who try to copy you, but no one can be you. Leverage what makes you unique — it could be your wicked sense of humour, your style of writing engaging copy etc — and run with it. Another way to help you stand out from the crowd is to show different sides of your personality. If you’re a fitness guru who focuses 100% on one aspect of your personality, you will be just like all the other fitness gurus out there.

Engage with People on Social Media

You’ll be amazed at what taking the time to respond to comments on social media can do to your profile. Your fans love the thought that you’ve taken the time out of your day to engage with them. It shows them that you care and appreciate them. It also shows that you’re listening and will help to refine your reputation. It doesn't take long. Just put some time aside each week to respond to comments across your social media platforms, make sure to provide value feedback, by making your social media interactions useful.

Look for Guest Blogging Opportunities

Guest blogging can be a great way to raise awareness of your personal brand in 2019. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s when you pitch an article idea to a high domain, authoritative blog in your niche. Upon acceptance, you write your article, before it’s published to the website. The rewards can be huge. By publishing content to high-traffic websites in your niche, you’re positioning yourself as the expert. You’re putting your brand in front of new faces and building your brand. Naturally, guest blogging takes a lot of time and effort. You’ll need to use an SEO tool to find relevant blogs in your niche, and you’ll need to put together a small team that includes someone to pitch article ideas and someone to write them. You can also delegate the process to the companies providing content writing services. Meanwhile, you can use tools like BuzzSumo or implement social listening techniques to generate content ideas. Recommended: 4 Ways to Find Best Sites for Guest Blogging

Double Down on Email Marketing

The thing with personal branding is that you need to have a dominant mindset. You need to be everywhere — and this includes inboxes. Email marketing will continue to be a powerful weapon for brands in 2019. Use it to stay in touch with your subscribers, and send out regular emails. Mix up your content — hit people with educational, informative and entertaining content, as well as your sales emails. Remember, everyone has an email address. If you can bring all your customers together in one place, you can then work on using your personal brand to build your business with personalised content that hits the spot. To this end, segment your list so that you target specific audience segments with the right content. Recommended: 7 Email Marketing Trends to Start Implementing Right Now

Conclusion

The marketing industry is like most others in that the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected how marketers do their jobs and how they appeal to customers. Many analysts say that things will never go back to the way they were before the coronavirus hit. Instead, people will adapt to a permanent new normal. Here are seven ways the pandemic permanently affected marketing trends, marketing professionals' jobs and people's purchasing priorities.

1. It Urged Marketers to Pay Attention to New Shopping Habits

When a study asked U.S. consumers how the coronavirus permanently changed how they shop in stores, the top answer was that they sanitize their carts and baskets. The next most popular answer was that people keep their distance from others while shopping. These findings suggest that marketers need to emphasize safe shopping strategies as much as they once called attention to new product lines or buy-one-get-one-free sales. Many people are willing to return to stores despite the coronavirus infection risk remaining present. However, if they see or even perceive that a store has not taken the necessary steps to boost safety, they'll likely shop elsewhere with outlets that have such measures implemented. Marketers that show how keeping customers safe is a top-of-mind concern should find it easier to succeed in the post-COVID-19 landscape. Recommended: 5 Strategies to Battle Shopping Cart Abandonment

2. It Forced Marketers to Adapt to Different Consumer Priorities

The coronavirus highlighted new consumer priorities. A report shows that many of those marketing trends could be here to stay. The document profiled the responses of people polled from April 2-6, 2020. It indicated that 68% of them would permanently shop in ways that limit food waste. Moreover, nearly half of the respondents said they would forever be more cost-conscious when buying things. These conclusions mean that marketers must tweak their efforts to better cater to what people want most. For example, when promoting a new food product, they may call attention to how it has a longer shelf life than competing products or that it comes in five individual portions for people who want to take the item with them to work or school. Angling a product towards people who pay attention to price may mean redesigning a package to say how it offers a two-week supply or that the container provides 50% more of the item for the same cost as the smaller package. The goal is to convey to customers that the product is a good buy. Marketers can do that by discussing how the item reduces the likelihood of waste or helps consumers spend wisely as a start.

3. It Encouraged Marketers to Look Beyond Conventional Live Events

Large gatherings — such as concerts and sporting events — give marketers opportunities for sponsorship and advertising. Similarly, when looking at live events like conferences and seminars, marketing professionals can promote their products through trade show booths, keynote speeches and demonstrations. However, a recent poll found that people are in no hurry to return to large events. It showed that most people who typically attended concerts, movies, sports matches and amusement parks would not resume doing so until scientists develop an effective vaccine.  A more worrisome finding was that some respondents may never attend such events again. The music industry responded especially quickly, with many artists now holding virtual events. On the conference side of things, gatherings that did not get canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak frequently went virtual instead. Some people weighed in to say that keeping things that way makes sense for many reasons. They say it increases access from people who cannot afford to travel or avoid it due to the environmental impacts. No matter what, marketers need to be at least open to permanently changing how they handle live events.

4. It Let Some Marketing Professionals Work from Home Forever

As the coronavirus caused lockdowns around the world, companies made the shift to remote work for many — and even all — workers. The internet was particularly helpful to small businesses since it helped them launch or improve websites and use cloud computing apps to increase collaboration despite the distance. Marketers experienced the benefits, too, especially as analytics apps, teleconferencing tools and other resources helped them stay on top of things from home. Some marketing professionals will keep working from home for good, even after the worst of the coronavirus passes. Jack Dorsey announced that employees at Twitter could work from home for good. He made the same decision for people at Square. Dorsey is the CEO of both companies. The option to keep working from home is not necessarily the best for every person in the marketing sector. These professionals may find it hard to stay motivated while at home or realize how much they miss the communal atmosphere at an office with peers. Others may find that working from home poses too many challenges, especially if they have young kids in the household or cannot get reliable internet access. Even so, the push towards at-home work will help marketers explore new ways of getting stuff done.

5. It Made Most Marketers Anticipate Lasting Branding Strategy Changes

Marketers in many industries are feeling the pinch of downturns brought about by COVID-19. One report showed that 42% of marketers decreased their marketing campaigns due to COVID-19. A quarter of the people in that group said they did so significantly. Another finding from that document showed that 13% believe the coronavirus will have a permanent impact on branding strategies. Only 13% believe the coronavirus would have a short-term effect. The majority (57%) expect a lasting influence, but not a transformative one. The rest remain unsure of what the future holds in this regard. An analysis published elsewhere focused on the main themes different industries chose to highlight during the pandemic. For example, car companies discussed deferred payments and free pickup or delivery for shoppers who bought cars online. At the same time, internet tech and wireless communications addressed needs by mentioning reliability and secure connections. These shifts could remain, especially as people adjust to new ways of life due to COVID-19. Recommended: How to Build a Foolproof Communication Strategy for Your Brand

6. It Pushed the Marketing Industry to Facilitate Online Shopping

Brands without an online presence scrambled to catch up as the pandemic triggered widespread lockdowns. Businesses are starting to reopen in many places, but a survey of Americans found that many of them will increase their time spent shopping online anyway. The data showed that 45.1% would permanently change their shopping habits to spend more money online. The segment increased to 50.4% in the 30-44 age group. These findings mean that marketers should continually examine how to make it easier for people to shop online. That may mean redesigning a website or offering more buying options, such as by letting people select and pay for items online and pick them up in stores. Despite the growing interest in shopping online, some brands still do not have websites. Primark — which operates stores in the United States, the United Kingdom and nine European countries — is a prominent example. Reports emerged several years ago that executives decided e-commerce did not support the brand's rock-bottom pricing strategy. Other brands determined they could not avoid operating online any longer, and that's one of the marketing trends likely to continue.

7. It Altered Consumer Behavior Trends Associated with Shopping and Buying

One consumer buying study split respondents into several groups according to how — or if — they would change their consumer-related tendencies in the post-coronavirus world. The categories included options like "get to normal," "back with a bang" and "stay frugal." There was also a "cautiously extravagant" category of people who plan to spend more on things that are important to them but do it carefully because they expect a global recession. The statistical breakdown showed that 45% of the cautiously extravagant segment think that how they shop will change forever. Then, 38% of the people in that group believe they'll have permanent changes in what they buy. Marketers should keep in mind that 62% of the cautiously extravagant group would be more likely to purchase things from brands that are doing good things for society. Plus, 29% said they would pay more for brands that contribute to communities. Recommended: 5 Proven Ways to Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment

Marketing Trends in Flux?

The marketing industry is like most others in that the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected how marketers do their jobs and how they appeal to customers. Many analysts say that things will never go back to the way they were before the coronavirus hit. Instead, people will adapt to a permanent new normal. Here are seven ways the pandemic permanently affected marketing trends, marketing professionals' jobs and people's purchasing priorities.

1. It Urged Marketers to Pay Attention to New Shopping Habits

When a study asked U.S. consumers how the coronavirus permanently changed how they shop in stores, the top answer was that they sanitize their carts and baskets. The next most popular answer was that people keep their distance from others while shopping. These findings suggest that marketers need to emphasize safe shopping strategies as much as they once called attention to new product lines or buy-one-get-one-free sales. Many people are willing to return to stores despite the coronavirus infection risk remaining present. However, if they see or even perceive that a store has not taken the necessary steps to boost safety, they'll likely shop elsewhere with outlets that have such measures implemented. Marketers that show how keeping customers safe is a top-of-mind concern should find it easier to succeed in the post-COVID-19 landscape. Recommended: 5 Strategies to Battle Shopping Cart Abandonment

2. It Forced Marketers to Adapt to Different Consumer Priorities

The coronavirus highlighted new consumer priorities. A report shows that many of those marketing trends could be here to stay. The document profiled the responses of people polled from April 2-6, 2020. It indicated that 68% of them would permanently shop in ways that limit food waste. Moreover, nearly half of the respondents said they would forever be more cost-conscious when buying things. These conclusions mean that marketers must tweak their efforts to better cater to what people want most. For example, when promoting a new food product, they may call attention to how it has a longer shelf life than competing products or that it comes in five individual portions for people who want to take the item with them to work or school. Angling a product towards people who pay attention to price may mean redesigning a package to say how it offers a two-week supply or that the container provides 50% more of the item for the same cost as the smaller package. The goal is to convey to customers that the product is a good buy. Marketers can do that by discussing how the item reduces the likelihood of waste or helps consumers spend wisely as a start.

3. It Encouraged Marketers to Look Beyond Conventional Live Events

Large gatherings — such as concerts and sporting events — give marketers opportunities for sponsorship and advertising. Similarly, when looking at live events like conferences and seminars, marketing professionals can promote their products through trade show booths, keynote speeches and demonstrations. However, a recent poll found that people are in no hurry to return to large events. It showed that most people who typically attended concerts, movies, sports matches and amusement parks would not resume doing so until scientists develop an effective vaccine.  A more worrisome finding was that some respondents may never attend such events again. The music industry responded especially quickly, with many artists now holding virtual events. On the conference side of things, gatherings that did not get canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak frequently went virtual instead. Some people weighed in to say that keeping things that way makes sense for many reasons. They say it increases access from people who cannot afford to travel or avoid it due to the environmental impacts. No matter what, marketers need to be at least open to permanently changing how they handle live events.

4. It Let Some Marketing Professionals Work from Home Forever

As the coronavirus caused lockdowns around the world, companies made the shift to remote work for many — and even all — workers. The internet was particularly helpful to small businesses since it helped them launch or improve websites and use cloud computing apps to increase collaboration despite the distance. Marketers experienced the benefits, too, especially as analytics apps, teleconferencing tools and other resources helped them stay on top of things from home. Some marketing professionals will keep working from home for good, even after the worst of the coronavirus passes. Jack Dorsey announced that employees at Twitter could work from home for good. He made the same decision for people at Square. Dorsey is the CEO of both companies. The option to keep working from home is not necessarily the best for every person in the marketing sector. These professionals may find it hard to stay motivated while at home or realize how much they miss the communal atmosphere at an office with peers. Others may find that working from home poses too many challenges, especially if they have young kids in the household or cannot get reliable internet access. Even so, the push towards at-home work will help marketers explore new ways of getting stuff done.

5. It Made Most Marketers Anticipate Lasting Branding Strategy Changes

Marketers in many industries are feeling the pinch of downturns brought about by COVID-19. One report showed that 42% of marketers decreased their marketing campaigns due to COVID-19. A quarter of the people in that group said they did so significantly. Another finding from that document showed that 13% believe the coronavirus will have a permanent impact on branding strategies. Only 13% believe the coronavirus would have a short-term effect. The majority (57%) expect a lasting influence, but not a transformative one. The rest remain unsure of what the future holds in this regard. An analysis published elsewhere focused on the main themes different industries chose to highlight during the pandemic. For example, car companies discussed deferred payments and free pickup or delivery for shoppers who bought cars online. At the same time, internet tech and wireless communications addressed needs by mentioning reliability and secure connections. These shifts could remain, especially as people adjust to new ways of life due to COVID-19. Recommended: How to Build a Foolproof Communication Strategy for Your Brand

6. It Pushed the Marketing Industry to Facilitate Online Shopping

Brands without an online presence scrambled to catch up as the pandemic triggered widespread lockdowns. Businesses are starting to reopen in many places, but a survey of Americans found that many of them will increase their time spent shopping online anyway. The data showed that 45.1% would permanently change their shopping habits to spend more money online. The segment increased to 50.4% in the 30-44 age group. These findings mean that marketers should continually examine how to make it easier for people to shop online. That may mean redesigning a website or offering more buying options, such as by letting people select and pay for items online and pick them up in stores. Despite the growing interest in shopping online, some brands still do not have websites. Primark — which operates stores in the United States, the United Kingdom and nine European countries — is a prominent example. Reports emerged several years ago that executives decided e-commerce did not support the brand's rock-bottom pricing strategy. Other brands determined they could not avoid operating online any longer, and that's one of the marketing trends likely to continue.

7. It Altered Consumer Behavior Trends Associated with Shopping and Buying

One consumer buying study split respondents into several groups according to how — or if — they would change their consumer-related tendencies in the post-coronavirus world. The categories included options like "get to normal," "back with a bang" and "stay frugal." There was also a "cautiously extravagant" category of people who plan to spend more on things that are important to them but do it carefully because they expect a global recession. The statistical breakdown showed that 45% of the cautiously extravagant segment think that how they shop will change forever. Then, 38% of the people in that group believe they'll have permanent changes in what they buy. Marketers should keep in mind that 62% of the cautiously extravagant group would be more likely to purchase things from brands that are doing good things for society. Plus, 29% said they would pay more for brands that contribute to communities. Recommended: 5 Proven Ways to Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment

Marketing Trends in Flux?

The marketing industry is like most others in that the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected how marketers do their jobs and how they appeal to customers. Many analysts say that things will never go back to the way they were before the coronavirus hit. Instead, people will adapt to a permanent new normal. Here are seven ways the pandemic permanently affected marketing trends, marketing professionals' jobs and people's purchasing priorities.

1. It Urged Marketers to Pay Attention to New Shopping Habits

When a study asked U.S. consumers how the coronavirus permanently changed how they shop in stores, the top answer was that they sanitize their carts and baskets. The next most popular answer was that people keep their distance from others while shopping. These findings suggest that marketers need to emphasize safe shopping strategies as much as they once called attention to new product lines or buy-one-get-one-free sales. Many people are willing to return to stores despite the coronavirus infection risk remaining present. However, if they see or even perceive that a store has not taken the necessary steps to boost safety, they'll likely shop elsewhere with outlets that have such measures implemented. Marketers that show how keeping customers safe is a top-of-mind concern should find it easier to succeed in the post-COVID-19 landscape. Recommended: 5 Strategies to Battle Shopping Cart Abandonment

2. It Forced Marketers to Adapt to Different Consumer Priorities

The coronavirus highlighted new consumer priorities. A report shows that many of those marketing trends could be here to stay. The document profiled the responses of people polled from April 2-6, 2020. It indicated that 68% of them would permanently shop in ways that limit food waste. Moreover, nearly half of the respondents said they would forever be more cost-conscious when buying things. These conclusions mean that marketers must tweak their efforts to better cater to what people want most. For example, when promoting a new food product, they may call attention to how it has a longer shelf life than competing products or that it comes in five individual portions for people who want to take the item with them to work or school. Angling a product towards people who pay attention to price may mean redesigning a package to say how it offers a two-week supply or that the container provides 50% more of the item for the same cost as the smaller package. The goal is to convey to customers that the product is a good buy. Marketers can do that by discussing how the item reduces the likelihood of waste or helps consumers spend wisely as a start.

3. It Encouraged Marketers to Look Beyond Conventional Live Events

Large gatherings — such as concerts and sporting events — give marketers opportunities for sponsorship and advertising. Similarly, when looking at live events like conferences and seminars, marketing professionals can promote their products through trade show booths, keynote speeches and demonstrations. However, a recent poll found that people are in no hurry to return to large events. It showed that most people who typically attended concerts, movies, sports matches and amusement parks would not resume doing so until scientists develop an effective vaccine.  A more worrisome finding was that some respondents may never attend such events again. The music industry responded especially quickly, with many artists now holding virtual events. On the conference side of things, gatherings that did not get canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak frequently went virtual instead. Some people weighed in to say that keeping things that way makes sense for many reasons. They say it increases access from people who cannot afford to travel or avoid it due to the environmental impacts. No matter what, marketers need to be at least open to permanently changing how they handle live events.

4. It Let Some Marketing Professionals Work from Home Forever

As the coronavirus caused lockdowns around the world, companies made the shift to remote work for many — and even all — workers. The internet was particularly helpful to small businesses since it helped them launch or improve websites and use cloud computing apps to increase collaboration despite the distance. Marketers experienced the benefits, too, especially as analytics apps, teleconferencing tools and other resources helped them stay on top of things from home. Some marketing professionals will keep working from home for good, even after the worst of the coronavirus passes. Jack Dorsey announced that employees at Twitter could work from home for good. He made the same decision for people at Square. Dorsey is the CEO of both companies. The option to keep working from home is not necessarily the best for every person in the marketing sector. These professionals may find it hard to stay motivated while at home or realize how much they miss the communal atmosphere at an office with peers. Others may find that working from home poses too many challenges, especially if they have young kids in the household or cannot get reliable internet access. Even so, the push towards at-home work will help marketers explore new ways of getting stuff done.

5. It Made Most Marketers Anticipate Lasting Branding Strategy Changes

Marketers in many industries are feeling the pinch of downturns brought about by COVID-19. One report showed that 42% of marketers decreased their marketing campaigns due to COVID-19. A quarter of the people in that group said they did so significantly. Another finding from that document showed that 13% believe the coronavirus will have a permanent impact on branding strategies. Only 13% believe the coronavirus would have a short-term effect. The majority (57%) expect a lasting influence, but not a transformative one. The rest remain unsure of what the future holds in this regard. An analysis published elsewhere focused on the main themes different industries chose to highlight during the pandemic. For example, car companies discussed deferred payments and free pickup or delivery for shoppers who bought cars online. At the same time, internet tech and wireless communications addressed needs by mentioning reliability and secure connections. These shifts could remain, especially as people adjust to new ways of life due to COVID-19. Recommended: How to Build a Foolproof Communication Strategy for Your Brand

6. It Pushed the Marketing Industry to Facilitate Online Shopping

Brands without an online presence scrambled to catch up as the pandemic triggered widespread lockdowns. Businesses are starting to reopen in many places, but a survey of Americans found that many of them will increase their time spent shopping online anyway. The data showed that 45.1% would permanently change their shopping habits to spend more money online. The segment increased to 50.4% in the 30-44 age group. These findings mean that marketers should continually examine how to make it easier for people to shop online. That may mean redesigning a website or offering more buying options, such as by letting people select and pay for items online and pick them up in stores. Despite the growing interest in shopping online, some brands still do not have websites. Primark — which operates stores in the United States, the United Kingdom and nine European countries — is a prominent example. Reports emerged several years ago that executives decided e-commerce did not support the brand's rock-bottom pricing strategy. Other brands determined they could not avoid operating online any longer, and that's one of the marketing trends likely to continue.

7. It Altered Consumer Behavior Trends Associated with Shopping and Buying

One consumer buying study split respondents into several groups according to how — or if — they would change their consumer-related tendencies in the post-coronavirus world. The categories included options like "get to normal," "back with a bang" and "stay frugal." There was also a "cautiously extravagant" category of people who plan to spend more on things that are important to them but do it carefully because they expect a global recession. The statistical breakdown showed that 45% of the cautiously extravagant segment think that how they shop will change forever. Then, 38% of the people in that group believe they'll have permanent changes in what they buy. Marketers should keep in mind that 62% of the cautiously extravagant group would be more likely to purchase things from brands that are doing good things for society. Plus, 29% said they would pay more for brands that contribute to communities. Recommended: 5 Proven Ways to Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment

Marketing Trends in Flux?

What do the likes of Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Grant Cardone have in common? If you’ve heard of any of these four business owners, you’ll know that they focus on their personal branding. Personal branding means using your reputation to attract more customers. It means forgoing the sale for now and focusing on leveraging aspects of your personality to build proper, lasting relationships. Subscribe to Read the Largest Marketing Live Book => The good news is that it doesn’t matter if you lack the natural charisma, swag or charm of a Gary Vaynerchuk. When it comes to personal branding, everything can be taught, learned and implemented. In this article, we take a look at how to create the kind of personal branding that makes people feel SO good about you that your business grows and grows.

Have the Right Intentions

If you go into this with all the wrong intentions, you will ultimately lose. In 2019 and beyond, more and more of your customers are looking for honesty and transparency from you. In fact, it’s something they’ve now come to expect. And now that social media is dominating our lives, anything you say on there will either be a blessing or a curse. If your intentions are all wrong, social will be a curse. Having good intentions means going into this with the right values. These right values should include goodwill, generosity, honesty, transparency, and a genuine desire to help people. As long as you keep these values in mind at all times, your message will resonate with the right people, and your relationships will flourish. If, on the other hand, your intentions are bad and all you care about is your next sale, you will soon be exposed.

Provide As Much Value As Possible

As well as having values, you need to provide value to your community. The likes of Grant Cardone are pumping out an insane amount of daily content. A quick cursory check of his YouTube profile shows us that he’s uploaded a ton of content in the last few days alone. Source: YouTube And it’s all free. Notice also that a lot of the content isn’t directly related to what he’s selling. Instead, he’s producing content that’s designed to educate and inform people, and foster strong relationships with his audience. In essence, Grant Cardone is treating his personal branding as a media company. As well as YouTube, he’s also producing a pile of content for his Facebook page and his website. He’s providing value to his community, and in exchange he’s winning fans and making people feel good about him. They feel so good about him that many of his more devoted fans lovingly refer to him as ‘Uncle G.’ That’s the kind of personal branding that works.

Be Unique

One of the biggest challenges of personal branding is standing out from the crowd. Gary Vaynerchuk isn’t the only entrepreneur who owns a media company and who tries to motivate and inspire others. But he stands out because his voice, message and branding is as unique as his angle. It’s important that you find a way of distinguishing yourself from the crowd, otherwise you won’t have a personal brand. What is YOUR core message and theme? What aspect of your personality makes you different to anyone else? Remember, there will always be people who try to copy you, but no one can be you. Leverage what makes you unique — it could be your wicked sense of humour, your style of writing engaging copy etc — and run with it. Another way to help you stand out from the crowd is to show different sides of your personality. If you’re a fitness guru who focuses 100% on one aspect of your personality, you will be just like all the other fitness gurus out there.

Engage with People on Social Media

You’ll be amazed at what taking the time to respond to comments on social media can do to your profile. Your fans love the thought that you’ve taken the time out of your day to engage with them. It shows them that you care and appreciate them. It also shows that you’re listening and will help to refine your reputation. It doesn't take long. Just put some time aside each week to respond to comments across your social media platforms, make sure to provide value feedback, by making your social media interactions useful.

Look for Guest Blogging Opportunities

Guest blogging can be a great way to raise awareness of your personal brand in 2019. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s when you pitch an article idea to a high domain, authoritative blog in your niche. Upon acceptance, you write your article, before it’s published to the website. The rewards can be huge. By publishing content to high-traffic websites in your niche, you’re positioning yourself as the expert. You’re putting your brand in front of new faces and building your brand. Naturally, guest blogging takes a lot of time and effort. You’ll need to use an SEO tool to find relevant blogs in your niche, and you’ll need to put together a small team that includes someone to pitch article ideas and someone to write them. You can also delegate the process to the companies providing content writing services. Meanwhile, you can use tools like BuzzSumo or implement social listening techniques to generate content ideas. Recommended: 4 Ways to Find Best Sites for Guest Blogging

Double Down on Email Marketing

The thing with personal branding is that you need to have a dominant mindset. You need to be everywhere — and this includes inboxes. Email marketing will continue to be a powerful weapon for brands in 2019. Use it to stay in touch with your subscribers, and send out regular emails. Mix up your content — hit people with educational, informative and entertaining content, as well as your sales emails. Remember, everyone has an email address. If you can bring all your customers together in one place, you can then work on using your personal brand to build your business with personalised content that hits the spot. To this end, segment your list so that you target specific audience segments with the right content. Recommended: 7 Email Marketing Trends to Start Implementing Right Now

Conclusion

The marketing industry is like most others in that the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected how marketers do their jobs and how they appeal to customers. Many analysts say that things will never go back to the way they were before the coronavirus hit. Instead, people will adapt to a permanent new normal. Here are seven ways the pandemic permanently affected marketing trends, marketing professionals' jobs and people's purchasing priorities.

1. It Urged Marketers to Pay Attention to New Shopping Habits

When a study asked U.S. consumers how the coronavirus permanently changed how they shop in stores, the top answer was that they sanitize their carts and baskets. The next most popular answer was that people keep their distance from others while shopping. These findings suggest that marketers need to emphasize safe shopping strategies as much as they once called attention to new product lines or buy-one-get-one-free sales. Many people are willing to return to stores despite the coronavirus infection risk remaining present. However, if they see or even perceive that a store has not taken the necessary steps to boost safety, they'll likely shop elsewhere with outlets that have such measures implemented. Marketers that show how keeping customers safe is a top-of-mind concern should find it easier to succeed in the post-COVID-19 landscape. Recommended: 5 Strategies to Battle Shopping Cart Abandonment

2. It Forced Marketers to Adapt to Different Consumer Priorities

The coronavirus highlighted new consumer priorities. A report shows that many of those marketing trends could be here to stay. The document profiled the responses of people polled from April 2-6, 2020. It indicated that 68% of them would permanently shop in ways that limit food waste. Moreover, nearly half of the respondents said they would forever be more cost-conscious when buying things. These conclusions mean that marketers must tweak their efforts to better cater to what people want most. For example, when promoting a new food product, they may call attention to how it has a longer shelf life than competing products or that it comes in five individual portions for people who want to take the item with them to work or school. Angling a product towards people who pay attention to price may mean redesigning a package to say how it offers a two-week supply or that the container provides 50% more of the item for the same cost as the smaller package. The goal is to convey to customers that the product is a good buy. Marketers can do that by discussing how the item reduces the likelihood of waste or helps consumers spend wisely as a start.

3. It Encouraged Marketers to Look Beyond Conventional Live Events

Large gatherings — such as concerts and sporting events — give marketers opportunities for sponsorship and advertising. Similarly, when looking at live events like conferences and seminars, marketing professionals can promote their products through trade show booths, keynote speeches and demonstrations. However, a recent poll found that people are in no hurry to return to large events. It showed that most people who typically attended concerts, movies, sports matches and amusement parks would not resume doing so until scientists develop an effective vaccine.  A more worrisome finding was that some respondents may never attend such events again. The music industry responded especially quickly, with many artists now holding virtual events. On the conference side of things, gatherings that did not get canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak frequently went virtual instead. Some people weighed in to say that keeping things that way makes sense for many reasons. They say it increases access from people who cannot afford to travel or avoid it due to the environmental impacts. No matter what, marketers need to be at least open to permanently changing how they handle live events.

4. It Let Some Marketing Professionals Work from Home Forever

As the coronavirus caused lockdowns around the world, companies made the shift to remote work for many — and even all — workers. The internet was particularly helpful to small businesses since it helped them launch or improve websites and use cloud computing apps to increase collaboration despite the distance. Marketers experienced the benefits, too, especially as analytics apps, teleconferencing tools and other resources helped them stay on top of things from home. Some marketing professionals will keep working from home for good, even after the worst of the coronavirus passes. Jack Dorsey announced that employees at Twitter could work from home for good. He made the same decision for people at Square. Dorsey is the CEO of both companies. The option to keep working from home is not necessarily the best for every person in the marketing sector. These professionals may find it hard to stay motivated while at home or realize how much they miss the communal atmosphere at an office with peers. Others may find that working from home poses too many challenges, especially if they have young kids in the household or cannot get reliable internet access. Even so, the push towards at-home work will help marketers explore new ways of getting stuff done.

5. It Made Most Marketers Anticipate Lasting Branding Strategy Changes

Marketers in many industries are feeling the pinch of downturns brought about by COVID-19. One report showed that 42% of marketers decreased their marketing campaigns due to COVID-19. A quarter of the people in that group said they did so significantly. Another finding from that document showed that 13% believe the coronavirus will have a permanent impact on branding strategies. Only 13% believe the coronavirus would have a short-term effect. The majority (57%) expect a lasting influence, but not a transformative one. The rest remain unsure of what the future holds in this regard. An analysis published elsewhere focused on the main themes different industries chose to highlight during the pandemic. For example, car companies discussed deferred payments and free pickup or delivery for shoppers who bought cars online. At the same time, internet tech and wireless communications addressed needs by mentioning reliability and secure connections. These shifts could remain, especially as people adjust to new ways of life due to COVID-19. Recommended: How to Build a Foolproof Communication Strategy for Your Brand

6. It Pushed the Marketing Industry to Facilitate Online Shopping

Brands without an online presence scrambled to catch up as the pandemic triggered widespread lockdowns. Businesses are starting to reopen in many places, but a survey of Americans found that many of them will increase their time spent shopping online anyway. The data showed that 45.1% would permanently change their shopping habits to spend more money online. The segment increased to 50.4% in the 30-44 age group. These findings mean that marketers should continually examine how to make it easier for people to shop online. That may mean redesigning a website or offering more buying options, such as by letting people select and pay for items online and pick them up in stores. Despite the growing interest in shopping online, some brands still do not have websites. Primark — which operates stores in the United States, the United Kingdom and nine European countries — is a prominent example. Reports emerged several years ago that executives decided e-commerce did not support the brand's rock-bottom pricing strategy. Other brands determined they could not avoid operating online any longer, and that's one of the marketing trends likely to continue.

7. It Altered Consumer Behavior Trends Associated with Shopping and Buying

One consumer buying study split respondents into several groups according to how — or if — they would change their consumer-related tendencies in the post-coronavirus world. The categories included options like "get to normal," "back with a bang" and "stay frugal." There was also a "cautiously extravagant" category of people who plan to spend more on things that are important to them but do it carefully because they expect a global recession. The statistical breakdown showed that 45% of the cautiously extravagant segment think that how they shop will change forever. Then, 38% of the people in that group believe they'll have permanent changes in what they buy. Marketers should keep in mind that 62% of the cautiously extravagant group would be more likely to purchase things from brands that are doing good things for society. Plus, 29% said they would pay more for brands that contribute to communities. Recommended: 5 Proven Ways to Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment

Marketing Trends in Flux?

Branding influences the way the world sees your business and dictates the standards and mission you project, but it isn’t always easy to know where to start in your brand-building process. However, some things are obvious, such as creating a logo you can use everywhere and sticking to a specific standard for customer service. Around 45 percent of the image a brand projects is attributable to the message the brand emits, as well as how it presents that message. How do you go about putting your message out there, and how will you know the reception beforehand? Here are nine specific strategies you can use to showcase your brand in the best light possible. Come Up with a Catchphrase Take the time to create a catchphrase you want your customers to walk away with. "Have a nice day" isn't enough anymore. Your slogan should be unique enough to stand out, but also encapsulate what you want customers to take away. Use your catchphrase when they purchase from your brick-and-mortar store, as well as when they are buying online. Showcase What Makes You Unique What makes your company unique? Maybe it’s your sense of humor, or perhaps you have more experience in the industry than any other company around. Whatever makes your company stand out from the crowd, use that element as a chance to brand your company as the best of the best in that area.

Beardbrand shows off their commitment to helping men feel more confident by offering high quality, easy-to-use grooming tools. They come right out and state this about their brand, then back it up on their blog by providing tips for different beard styles and how to pull them off. Wrap Vehicles There are so many ways to get the word out about your brand, but if you’re looking for some offline ways to market your brand, then a vehicle wrap is an excellent place to start — anyone who sees the wrapped vehicle will see your message. Vehicles wraps have a strong return on investment (ROI), as well, generating as many as 70,000 daily impressions. Highlight Your History A big part of your brand story is how your business was born and how it’s grown to what it is today. Take the time to tell your story on your website and social media to let your customers know more about you. If you’ve always strived to put customers first, then you should reflect that in your story, which is also part of your overall branding efforts.

Schneider Electric does an excellent job of presenting where their company started and how it has always been on the edge of technological innovation. They also highlight how long they've been in business — 180 years — which lends an air of reliability to their brand. Because the company has been around for so long, they also highlight important dates in the company’s history and offer ranges to show the many phases of the company's growth. Create Social Media Buzz You already know you need to market on social media, but figuring out how to create a buzz isn’t quite as easy. Facebook makes it harder than before to reach people unless you pay to boost a post or start an ad campaign. However, you can still get social media buzz going by getting your customers involved in the process. Ask them to use a specific hashtag and upload them using your product, or host a contest for the person with the most shares or likes on their post. Show Why You’re the Best Part of your overall branding strategy should be to show consumers why you’re the best in some area. However, you have to figure out the best ways to share this information. There are many ways you can show you're the best, from comparison charts to simply playing up why your product is impressive.

Branding influences the way the world sees your business and dictates the standards and mission you project, but it isn’t always easy to know where to start in your brand-building process. However, some things are obvious, such as creating a logo you can use everywhere and sticking to a specific standard for customer service. Around 45 percent of the image a brand projects is attributable to the message the brand emits, as well as how it presents that message. How do you go about putting your message out there, and how will you know the reception beforehand? Here are nine specific strategies you can use to showcase your brand in the best light possible. Come Up with a Catchphrase Take the time to create a catchphrase you want your customers to walk away with. "Have a nice day" isn't enough anymore. Your slogan should be unique enough to stand out, but also encapsulate what you want customers to take away. Use your catchphrase when they purchase from your brick-and-mortar store, as well as when they are buying online. Showcase What Makes You Unique What makes your company unique? Maybe it’s your sense of humor, or perhaps you have more experience in the industry than any other company around. Whatever makes your company stand out from the crowd, use that element as a chance to brand your company as the best of the best in that area.

Beardbrand shows off their commitment to helping men feel more confident by offering high quality, easy-to-use grooming tools. They come right out and state this about their brand, then back it up on their blog by providing tips for different beard styles and how to pull them off. Wrap Vehicles There are so many ways to get the word out about your brand, but if you’re looking for some offline ways to market your brand, then a vehicle wrap is an excellent place to start — anyone who sees the wrapped vehicle will see your message. Vehicles wraps have a strong return on investment (ROI), as well, generating as many as 70,000 daily impressions. Highlight Your History A big part of your brand story is how your business was born and how it’s grown to what it is today. Take the time to tell your story on your website and social media to let your customers know more about you. If you’ve always strived to put customers first, then you should reflect that in your story, which is also part of your overall branding efforts.

Schneider Electric does an excellent job of presenting where their company started and how it has always been on the edge of technological innovation. They also highlight how long they've been in business — 180 years — which lends an air of reliability to their brand. Because the company has been around for so long, they also highlight important dates in the company’s history and offer ranges to show the many phases of the company's growth. Create Social Media Buzz You already know you need to market on social media, but figuring out how to create a buzz isn’t quite as easy. Facebook makes it harder than before to reach people unless you pay to boost a post or start an ad campaign. However, you can still get social media buzz going by getting your customers involved in the process. Ask them to use a specific hashtag and upload them using your product, or host a contest for the person with the most shares or likes on their post. Show Why You’re the Best Part of your overall branding strategy should be to show consumers why you’re the best in some area. However, you have to figure out the best ways to share this information. There are many ways you can show you're the best, from comparison charts to simply playing up why your product is impressive.