Nothing is more important to me than my personal brand – and that might sound a bit weird from a guy who’s always preaching “put the prospect first”.
But when you understand what “Personal Branding” means to me, that statement won’t sound as weird.
But first.. let me tell you about the 3 brand-killing mistakes that you should avoid at all costs..
Top 3 Branding Mistakes
- Mistake #1 – Being A Phony: The internet is much more transparent now that it’s ever been because of the rise of Social Media. There’s no more hiding behind the computer screen & hoping to run a successful business online.
Those who claim that they’re GURU’s, lie about how much money they make and pretend to be someone they’re not, are all gonna be discovered and laughed at. (..I know I’ll be laughing..) :0D
- Mistake #2 – Being A Jack-Of-All Trades: I’ve spoken about choosing a sub-niche, and how that can catapult your “expert-status” - but did you know that NOT choosing one is hurting you?
Becoming the expert for the ENTIRE online marketing industry, or direct sales industry is just like saying “I can help you be a little successful in everything – but can’t help you be REALLY successful in ONE”
- Mistake #3 – Only Thinking About Your Pockets: Now, this is what my Personal Brand means to me. We need to understand that our BRAND is defined by what OTHERS think of us.
Read that again, because I think it’s the most important line in this post.. matter fact, I’ll type it again..
Our BRAND is defined by what OTHERS think of us.
If my brand is defined by people’s perspective of me, you can be darn sure that I’m gonna give them something GOOD to think and talk about when they say Hector Cuevas.
Delivering good, valuable content will make your visitors, readers, prospects & customers happy - and this is what your brand will be built around – PEOPLE, not money claims..
Is There Anything You’d Like To Add About Boosting Your Brand?
Please share your tips with the rest of the community in the comments below - remember that those who share value are perceived as experts – so take advantage of this opportunity to do just that..
As always – If you enjoyed this post, please share it, tweet it, digg it, & stumble it – I’d really appreciate it.
Talk soon my friends,
Hector The Alexa Director
32
Hector,
I can see how these mistakes that can be made can impact a blogs audience and following, #2 i can see though as a person being an expert at multiple areas and not just focus on one, Example: Someone can really be good at Videos and also getting on to page 1 of the search engines, two specific expertise so my opinion is Being expert at a few things that you truly can specialize in. I agree Jack of all trades can be hard to handle but having more than one skill set is always a plus.
Thanks for Sharing!
.-= Chris Bernardo´s last blog ..Easy Way to Use Forums to gain Traffic, Backlinks, and Leads =-.
Chris
I definitely agree with you.. Having as many skills as possible is a great thing – I mean, I design all my graphics & web pages, I run a successful blog (in my opinion lol) – and I’m pretty good at lead generation.. So as my personal brand, I want to be perceived as the expert in “Creating a Lead-Getting Central Hub” – simply combining the two areas where I’m fairly good at..
Thanks for your input bro
Talk soon
Hector
Hey Hector,
It’s so true, that if you are a jack of all trades, people just won’t do business with you. I know because I will not do business with a “know it all” or a “do it all” type of person. I don’t trust them.
Thanks,
Coach Freddie
.-= Coach Freddie´s last blog ..How’s Your Lifestyle? =-.
Freddie,
You’re right.. it’s so much easier to say.. “I’ll go to THIS GUY/GAL because they specialize in THIS specific area.”
Talk soon
Hector
Great points Hector. It can take a little time to find what one is really comfortable with, good at can share and then one must focus one’s efforts to consolidate.
~Marcus
.-= Marcus Baker´s last blog ..Call Your Home Business Leads, Call Them Now and Here’s Why =-.
Hey Marcus,
Thanks bro..& you’re right.. Finding that ONE thing that you can focus on, get results and talk about for months is key to branding yourself around that particular topic..
Talk soon
Hector
You have a great writing style! Awesome info on personal branding. Thanks Hector.
Jennifer,
Thanks for the compliment.. glad you enjoyed the post
Talk soon
Hector
Hi Hector,
3 powerful points which any network marketer ought to heed.
“Our BRAND is defined by what OTHERS think of us.” Yes, that is on the money advice! Your personal brand is created by the viewpoints of others.
Thanks for sharing your insight.
Ryan
.-= Ryan´s last blog ..What 50 Cent Teaches You About Commitment To Success =-.
Ryan,
Very important line.. I’m glad you caught it..
Talk soon
Hector
Hector, great post. Your personal brand is truly the Internet version of your own personal character. It is the magnet in lead magnet. It is one of the few things that you have control over on the Internet and it is therefore so important to ensure that you craft it as you do your own personality and character traits.
Very powerful stuff.
~BT
.-= Brian Tomlinson´s last blog ..Entrepreneurship – How To Find Your Purpose in Business =-.
Brian,
I agree with you 100% bro.. thanks for sharing your thoughts
Talk soon
Hector
Hector,
People take their brand for granted. They really don’t
understand the impact it could have if you are a “Jack
of All Trades” and are constantly bouncing around from
subject to subject.
It can hurt your business, your reputation and your chance
to really learn what your strengths are.
Thanks for breaking it down!
Tommy D.
.-= Tommy DiPietro´s last blog ..Four Steps On How To Start A “Fame Monster” of An MLM Blog Lady Gaga Style =-.
Tommy,
Finding your strengths is the main goal, because you can leverage those in different ways.. Once you discover what that is.. being perceived as the expert in that niche or sub-niche is not too far away
Talk soon
Hector
Hey Hector,
You did a great job with describing what “Personal branding” is. Most really have a hard time with what this means.
I think more people will get this now.
Not to mention how important it is to avoid these brand-killers. They can kill your creditability and everything you have worked so hard to come true. We don’t want to do that.
Thanks for passing this on.
Have a great day,
Jerome Ratliff
.-= Jerome Ratliff´s last blog ..What Are the 4 Tips in How to Win and Influence People to Take Action =-.
Jerome,
I agree.. these can kill everything you’ve worked on..
thanks for stopping by
Talk soon
Hector
Great post and I especially love point #2, because helping people find their ideal niche is what I’m all about.
I’ve found that people often discount their knowledge in a particular area because it’s so natural for them that they assume everyone else shares this knowledge. They don’t. Each of us has a special gift to share, and we just need to tap into what that is.
thanks for sharing,
Cindy
.-= Cindy Schulson´s last blog ..5 Tips to Energize your Business Marketing Articles =-.
Great point Cindy.. just because you know something doesn’t mean the person next you does. Having & sharing that valuable info is what makes you stand out from the crowd..
thanks for stopping by.. talk soon
Hector
Another great post Hector. It’s a shame that there are still a lot of high profile so called guru’s doing nothing more than blasting one promotion after another. It would be nice if these so called guru’s took a page out of Hector Cuevas marketing playbook and actually gave something of value away like you do. Like most marketers I am on several marketers email lists and rarely do I get any valueable content that builds a relationship with me.
Keep charging my friend, you are an incredible marketer who provides valuable content with each and every post.
Jesse
Jesse,
“…a page out of Hector Cuevas marketing playbook..” – that made my day bro.. seriously
Our goals aren’t short term goals.. NO WAY – they can’t be. If you really wanna make an impact and really grow, you need to share away..
Thanks a lot for your comment.
Talk soon
Hector
This is so important. No more hiding behind companies, opportunities, products, or even your computer. People definitely recognize authenticity and respect it. I see this in art, business, and life. Plus, it is much easier to be yourself than anything else!
Thanks for the great post Hector!
Garth
.-= Garth Reynolds´s last blog ..Networking Lesson Passed from Father to Son =-.
Garth,
I totally agree with you – it’s 100x times easier to just be who you are.. than trying to pretend to be someone you’re not.
thanks for stopping by
talk soon
Hector
Hi Hector,
It is important to find what is our brand, because if we have no brand we will not make any money, because no one will trust us.
Great point.
Talk soon,
Jiri Majkus
Internet Marketing Coach and Author
.-= Jiri Majkus´s last blog ..How To Promote Live Event That You Are Using For Recruiting People To Your Network Marketing Company =-.
Hey Jiri..
Specifying what you stand for will definitely increase the amount of trust you get from your visitors and prospects which in turn, turns into cash.
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
Hector. Nice post. This personal branding thing has been bothering me for some time now. As my business involves helping save money and make money is this my personal brand….oh and of course personal development. I’m not sure what I am and it’s making it hard to write blogposts. Any help appreciated. Kerry
.-= Kerry Painter´s last blog ..My Top Motivational Tunes =-.
Hey Kerry.. sorry for the delayed response, I’ve been a bit busy over here with stuff :0)
It’s common to get this niche and brand thing mixed up. Your niche is basically your target market – the group of people you are gonna be speaking to and adding value to.
So for example: Online Entrepreneurs is a niche market.
Now a sub-niche, which is what I recommend everyone to start looking for, goes even deeper.
For example: Video Marketing Coach FOR Online Entrepreneurs – this is very specific and you can become THE expert in that niche a lot easier.
Now your personal brand is YOU.. you need to become a leader by providing value to your niche market so you can attract that market to your business.
Once you figure out what you love talking about, what you can help people do, what you have experience in and can share that with others, YOU have yourself a niche.
Helping people save and make money can be drilled down a lot further.
Talk soon.. hope that helped
Hector
Hi Hector, great post as usual! I especially love the first point, it is so true and in my online journey have come across so many I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count them all on!!
Thanks again for sharing
cheers
Nat
.-= Nat´s last blog ..F*R*E*E* Tools – My List Of “Must Haves” =-.
Nat,
They’re gonnna be there.. all the time for the rest of time – we just need to do our thing and move on.
thanks for stopping by
talk soon
Hector
Thanks Hector for a great post! Sometimes people struggle to define their own brand and determine what they can become ‘experts’ in. It’s all about identifying what we are passionate about and what we are good at, and then understanding the rules and practicalities of personal branding, marketing and creating content. You point out some crucial rules here: be yourself, become an expert and leader in your field, and provide value! Hector, your integrity transpires through your blog!
.-= Justine Simard´s last blog ..The Mechanics of Positive Thinking – The Limbic System. =-.
Justine,
Thanks for your comment.. I truly appreciate it!
I couldn’t agree with you more.. identify your passions and share that value with our target market.. short – sweet – and to the point
talk soon
Hector
Hi Hector,
Very good post about brand-killing mistakes. Every person has their own unique gifts and talents and that strength can be used to focus on creating that particular personal branding.
And I also like what you emphasized here: Our BRAND is defined by what OTHERS think of us.
Thank you for sharing this.
Nelly
.-= Nelly Paekukui´s last blog ..The Ingredient for Success: Talent or Tenacity =-.
Nelly,
Totally agree with you.. our strengths can be leveraged to create our personal brand – that’s the way to do it
Thanks for commenting
talk soon
Hector
Hey Hector,
This is such an important topic. Especially when you are build an online presence. People enjoy watching sincerity and genuine individuals when they are starting out. When pretending to being something you are not will show. Great topic!
Chat with you later…
Josh
.-= Josh Garcia´s last blog ..Adopt This Specific Leadership Skill and Be Prepared For Success =-.
Josh,
Thanks for stopping by bro, there’s nothing more unattractive than hypey sales copy and outrages money claims without any real value to back it up.
talk soon
Hector
Hector,
I love what you said about basically not being in it for just your own pocket book – we really need to focus on others – not that we have to be perfect…our own unique style is what makes you – YOU! And that is who I want to always be. I am glad that you wrote this article!
Believe in Yourself, always!
Ange;-)
.-= Angela Giles´s last blog ..The 2 Little known Factors to Achieving Wealth in this Shifting Internet Climate =-.
Angela,
You’re so right.. YOU are the only thing that differentiates you from the masses. Acting, Writing, Speaking and Sharing Value like everyone else will not get you noticed..
thanks for sharing your thoughts
talk soon
Hector
Hector,
A recognizable brand is one thing, but having a brand that people get to know and like is another. In addition to that is having a brand with the “right” kind of reputation. Get that wrong and you may fight an uphill battle for a long time.
Mark
.-= Mark Gubuan´s last blog ..Sneak Preview of The New Business Builder Training Module =-.
Mark,
Yes.. this is so true – there’s a difference from seeing a logo time and time again & actually interacting with that “logo” and getting to know the brand.
Great point
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
Hi Hector,
You have made 3 valid points. We see people all the time who claim they are successful and wealth within the industry but how seldom are. Something else that could hurt your brand is recommending a dodgy product or business, in fact it could completetly destroy it!.
Tristram Lodge
.-= Tristram Lodge´s last blog ..5 Business Opportunities To Be Wary Of On The Internet. =-.
Tristram,
I agree that recommending a crappy product or business just for the quick buck will kill your brand
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
The value of your brand is determined by how others view you and could disappear over night.
Pretty scary stuff
.-= Peter Fuller MBA´s last blog ..Secrets of greatness: Practice and hard work bring success =-.
That’s right Peter..
thanks for stopping by
talk soon
Hector
Hey Hector,
Great post. These days it seems that everyone is a guru or expert. It’s so prevalent, that I just ignore such claims now and look to see if there is any real content.
.-= Nancy Collins´s last blog ..Small Business Advantage with a Pitney Bowes Postage Meter =-.
That’s right Nancy,
if we look for those who provide value, we’re much better off.
Thanks for stopping by
talk soon
Hector
Hey Hector,
Good post man. Your brand can make or break you. In building a brand, one should focus on being genuine and not faking the funk like you mentioned.
You just have to be the best person that you can be and truly try to give value to others. If you can do that, your brand will take care of itself.
.-= Fred´s last blog ..Over 400 Million Reasons Why You Should Be Using Facebook To Build Your Business =-.
Totally agree with you Fred,
your brand will build itself if you’re doing all of the right things as a marketer.
Thanks for commenting
talk soon
Hector
Like a young kid all excited heading off to college we want to help ourselves find something we can become passionate about…BUT…along comes all the fun and exciting things at college that make us forget to really slice down our specialties…you cannot be good at everything.
Hey Hector! #2 mistake above is a HUGE one for many people using free social media. The reason I say this is because we try and take all these classes, so to speak, and learn everything we can to figure out what we may actually be good at online.
My problem has always been that I like many subjects, yet this kills my time management using social media.
Do you have any followup thoughts to this?
Zack
MarketingFormulaPRO
.-= Zack Covell´s last blog ..FREE GIVEAWAY: Add a CooL Shadow BeLoW Your Videos for Increased CTR… =-.
Zack, sorry for the delayed response.. Been caught up with stuff
I can definitely relate to that. It’s not BAD to be skilled at more than one thing, that’s actually a really good thing. Education will always be the backbone of your business.
As far as learning about social media, I think the best courses are those who teach you how to get the most out of it without spending hours in it everyday.
Time managemtment is key when building a business from home, and gettig organized now is the best move you’ll ever make.
Talk soon
Hector
Hi Hector,
thank you for sharing these three aspects with us.It’s hard to point out the most remarkable aspect, but I think especially mistake Nr. 1 is very frequent. Perhaps people don’t want simply wait in front of their computers, but they post their affiliate links and opportunities all over the place. These wrong activities are also a kind of laziness, laziness by avoiding to do the right things. Keep up your great work.
Take care
Oliver
.-= Oliver Tausend´s last blog ..How to Add the Notes Box with your Blog Feed to Your Facebook Profile =-.
Oliver..
I agree that laziness has a lot to do with it. Thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
Absolutely nailed it, Hector. It’s about authenticity, focus and value.
.-= Ty Tribble´s last blog ..A Sneak Peak: “Blogging for Prospects” =-.
Thanks for stopping by Ty, truly appreciate it
Talk soon
Hector
Hector, I love the way you cut to the chase and hit your target every time. Lack of authenticity and lack of caring are so easy to spot, and they send people running away. Thanks for this contribution.
.-= Louis Di Bianco´s last blog ..Team Leadership In MLM =-.
Thanks Louis,
Yes.. anyone that’s been online for a couple months can see who’s being real, and who’s trying to put their hands in their pockets…
talk soon
Hector
Hector,
I do believe you covered the magic button about being online! Your brand is so important. As you build your brand “listen” to the feedback you are getting from it. If people are not reading you how you think they should you need to adjust what you are doing accordingly. On the other hand it is fun when your brand starts producing the fruits you carefully planted!
Hector, you have an amazing gift of educating! Thank you for all the great nuggets you share on this blog!
Mary Thayer
.-= Mary Thayer´s last blog ..The New Economy’s Simple Formula For Financial Success =-.
Mary,
Thanks for stopping by, always love your comments.. and yes, I totally agree – your BRAND is the most important if you’re trying to get people to trust you.
Thank you for that, I appreciate it.. & your welcome
Talk Soon
Hector
Hector, you are 100 % right again..
Its so normal, that pretending we are someone else, that we are masters of all secrets in this business is 5 minute lasting brand.. I mean whats gonna happen when someone give us a call and start a conversation about a subject we pretend to know about? What if our lead call us, ready to sign up, but he sees from conversation that you are not who you pretend to be?
Thats why I get respected from people I talk to.. I write about what I know from my own experience, maybe its not perfect, but its mine and I can cover it any time.. I freely admit that I am not perfect in everything and people relate with me and make better trusting connection..
Thanks Hector for pointing out this crucial mistakes!
Milena
Milena,
That was a great point!
Faking it does backfire when you’re confronted with a prospect face to face.. or on a call. or webinar.. or whatever.
That’s why authenticity is everything – thanks for sharing this great comment!
talk soon
Hector
Hector, hi great post. Well done for pointing out these very common mistakes. It is very important to try to remain yourself and be genuine when you are branding yourself. A great read, brief and to the point. Bravo
Thanks Sofia.
Being authentic is the ONLY way..
..and yea, I try to keep things short and sweet, I know you all like it – plus it’s easier for me too :0)
talk soon
Hector
In this day in age you got to be real with yourself and real with others. This was a great post to point that out. There are a lot of perpetrators online that gives you this fake glamorous image thinking that people will not figure it out. It’s a shame… Thanks for this post.
Sherman
.-= Sherman Smith´s last blog ..A Great Application To Expose Your Blog =-.
Sherman,
Perpetrators will be exposed – they can’t hide for long..
thanks for stopping by
talk soon
Hector
Hey Hector Great Post! This message needs to go far and wide. There are some many online experts and gurus that is laughable. These people don’t have a brand to protect…just a front.
Thanks for sharing this valuable information. It’s important for people to know what NOT to do!
Talk later,
-James
.-= James Hampton´s last blog ..Thinking About Getting Into Network Marketing? – Part Two =-.
James
It really is laughable.. but everyone pays their dues, and they’ll learn from their mistakes and hopefully create something that’s real and authentic and profitable..
thanks for sharing..
Hector
Great post Hector what is we need about as much as an internet connection to be successful online? Our brand our unique contribution to the whole.Your right we need to focus on a few things and master them so we know them inside and out and can share that with others.
Steve Shoemaker
.-= Steve Shoemaker´s last blog ..Home Business Leads A Conversation =-.
Steve..
That’s exactly the point and when you master it, you can share your experience doing it. The good, the bad, the ugly – and most importantly, the results
this is what people want.. and that’s what we need to share
thanks for your comment
talk soon
Hector
Great post Hector. You have a great writing style. It is essential for one to develop that one particular “place” that they fit. It may take a little while to figure out exactly what that “place” is, but one must keep digging, and sharpening their focus, and then act on it.
.-= Steve Harlow´s last blog ..Are You Training to FAIL in Network Marketing Recruiting? =-.
Steve..
Thanks for your comment.. I really appreciate it.. & you have a great point – finding that “sweet spot” – that topic you enjoy talking about and also benefits other people is KEY..
Just keep digging – never give up
thanks for sharing
Hector
Thanks for the personal branding tips! My favorite is the last tip. I shows it shows you are a person of integrity and not out to make a quick buck. Way to go!
Cara
Cara and Jennifer Oberfoell´s last post ..Gratitude Walk; Developing An Attitude of Gratitude
Cara,
Thanks for pointing that out – and for stopping by
talk soon
Hector
Another great post, Hector! I’m new to personal branding but those are definitely three things that I have been trying to avoid!
Stacy´s last post ..5 Simple Steps to Becoming Successful!
Great Stacy,
If you’re avoiding these.. you’re off to a great start!
Good luck on your journey
talk soon
Hector
WHEW! Those are good points!
Definitely being authentic is of utmost importance! People just getting started are afraid to admit that they aren’t “gurus” on a certain topic but in all honesty, if you work your butt off in your niche there will always be people who wish they were at the point you are.
I also get people asking me when we are establishing their personal brand what should their niche be? They always want to make it too broad. Being the “guru” in one tiny niche is extremely effective.
And most definitely, thinking only about what you can GET as opposed to what you can GIVE is a major no-no. While you may earn some fast-cash, no one will stick around or pay attention to your self-centered business for very long.
Appreciate your info Hector!
Amanda´s last post ..5 Tips To Help You Fire Your Boss (I Just Did)
Very thought-out comment Amanda,
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts within this community.. It’s crazy, but once you start seeing success – it’s like a light switch and you start getting emails from people who want your guidance and NEED your help.. that’s a great feeling – TO KNOW you can help others
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
I totally agree. I’ve seen a lot of bloggers and entrepreneurs spend a ton of time building a brand initially and then fail to nurture it. Greed, in whatever form it is for that individual, takes over, and they lose their ability to connect with the crowd they’re supposedly catering to.