If you want an influential voice in your marketing and brand message this is one of the most important tips to walk away with. “What you love will attract your tribe and sell your offers with ease.”
Read that sentence again!
If you want an influential voice in your business, understanding that your passions, where your heart pounds, where your soul is at, will attract your tribe. Stop shopping your business at people every second of the day! Share from your heart who you are and what you’re passionate about and watch what happens instead. Come on, admit it, aren’t you TIRED of “What do you do” at every networking event you go to…especially since they really aren’t listening?
I would argue they really don’t care.
This is often the hardest lesson from my clients to learn. Marketing begins with first a level of vulnerability, then credibility. Credentials are easy; establishing that you know what you’re talking about is easy. Heck, many people just stealing from others to show their “credible”!
Being truly vulnerable, to share parts of yourself and your own journey to get where you’re at is a whole other level of being. Especially if you believe that you are in the business of changing people’s lives. And guess what? Most of us are in the business of changing people’s lives when we really get down to it! Even my natural handcrafted soap makers want people to change their lives and stop putting chemicals on their body and in their systems!
So have they told the story of why they use natural products?
If you are a coach, have you shared your journey and challenges?
Just today I shared with a client that there is ALWAYS a “next level”, and my struggle to get to the one I have recently transcended to. I share with her how I felt like everywhere I went EVERY ONE did what I did, which shattered my self- confidence. At least enough for me to GET to the “next-level.”
Then I had the opportunity to be around a collective group of people at the next level…and guess what? We ALL did the SAME thing! Just wrapped in our unique messaging. And my message, my story attracts my tribe.
Are you ready to attract yours? What do you need to share to build your influential voice with them?
Ultimately, building your influential voice in your business requires that you truly discover you and your influential voice. The fourth element in my book, The Influence Factor, focuses solely on doing this. I find with every client I work with the biggest struggle they have is understanding who they are and how that’s different from what they do. When you want to build an influential voice that attracts and calls the tribe of people who want what you have to offer you need to dig deeper than just what you sell.
There are many ways that you can dig deeper and understand who you truly are and infuse it into your brand message and marketing. When you do, you will truly discover your influential voice in that message. In the book I give several great activities to help you on this journey, and one of the things that I encourage you to do is step away from the roles that you play and start to think about who you are regardless of those roles. For example, I am “smart savvy and sexy”! I actually think it says that on my About.me page! And if you look at my brand messaging all three of those things come through: in my writing, in my personal style, in my pictures, website and my graphics.
Funny thing? Is for a long time I tried to NOT “do me” and dumbed down my best self. My hair, the clothes I wore, the language I used (Bad-Assery never was said back then!). I was afraid (needed to overcome being scared) that they would impact people in a negative way, and then they would not want to work with me. And all I did was attract people that didn’t really like me, and frustrated the hell out of me! Now I stand up tall and proud show off who I am use my savvy opinions and mindset show the intellect that I carry and do it in 5 inch high heels!
It’s me. It calls my tribe. And embracing it makes my influential voice and brand message powerful. Who are you what do you need to bring forward in your influential voice and for your brand message?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Building your influential voice and brand messaging can be a challenge. And I am known for saying forever, just as people known me forever, “there are a million people who do what you do it’s you that makes a truly unique.” This means that your influential voice and brand messaging comes from your stories. I find more than too often because people live their lives every day that they see their stories as ordinary and boring.
Shift that thinking, and realize that your influential voice comes from sharing the stories of your life. Why? Because people will relate to you. I recently saw a multi-millionaire business owner speak from the stage. He said that the fastest way to grow your brand is to start telling your story.
I completely agree.
Storytelling makes you real, it makes you likable, and it builds trust. It allows people to step into the human side of the person behind the business. Simple storytelling makes people laugh, smile, cry, even get angry sometimes! It’s the power of the story. As a brand messaging coach this is the most important layer of my 6 pronged approach with my clients: building, and sharing the STORIES. And another layer is uncovering the BRAND story.
For a long time in my business, and I’ve been self-employed since 1997, I know ancient times (lol), I did not want to tell my BRAND story. I was afraid of being judged, of having people feel sorry for me. And I’m a warrior; I don’t want people to feel sorry for me! Then it clicked that my story is the journey of why the warrior exists! It is who I AM. The battles I’ve had to fight to overcome the things I’ve overcome. Understanding that the biggest battle is me. It is what allows me to teach you what I teach. My story on a deeper level matters.
The day-to-day stories, although they are important too, and I post them regularly on my blog just go read the wild hair post! Those stories connect on a personal level.
But have your created your influential voice and brand messaging yet? Do you understand how it calls your Tribe?
Do you still believe that you have NO STORY? Maybe we should set up a strategy session and talk!
This video shows the power of your STORY to Brand Message. It is my story. Take 3 minutes, I think you will see the power.
After you’re done reading this article, I want you to do TWO things:
#1. I want you to tell me a story about a time when shared a story and it helped your business. Tell me what changed, and how it helped you. Leave a comment. Share anything you can that you think will benefit the Warrior-Preneur community.
#2. Do you have a friend who you think needs to understand how their story is important to their brand message? Someone like a life coach, a social media marketing expert, or anyone that offers products and services? Send them a link to this article.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Today I had three private coaching sessions with my amazing clients. Stepping into your influential voice really requires that you own your self-worth. In my book, The Influence Factor, this is one of the four key elements to truly developing your influential voice.
These three clients are struggling with owning their self-worth. How do I know? Because they struggle with owning the value of what they sell. I have written about owning your self-worth and valuing what you offer several times before. I feel compelled again to share how significant it is.
One client in a multilevel network organization said that many struggle because when they first start asking people to sign up, the question is: “Well, how much money are you making?” My response to her was: “How many times have you asked me when I have sold you an additional coaching package, and named the price, what are you making?”
She just started to laugh!
Why? Because she’s never asked me that question! I step into the power of who I am and value what I offer, and able to own that price with ease.
Then we talked about alternative things to say instead of focusing on how much money you’re making when you just start out selling what you sell. The conversation was quite eye-opening and enlightening for her. We talked about what their needs and desires are, what opportunity exists, and selling the benefits, versus the money.
Then, she said quietly: “I don’t know my worth, Ann.”
This is why one of the six layers of my coaching program is about developing this value in my clients. Without, we never get to a place where we EARN what we DESERVE.
When we struggle with our personal value, our self-worth, we struggle with the price to offer. And we often put obstacles in place that stop us from being able to attract the customers we want. Owning your self-worth will empower you to step into your influential voice and own your price.
Where to you struggle with the relationship you have with yourself, that is stopping you from your influential voice, and ultimately getting what you deserve financially?
After you’re done reading this article, I want you to do TWO things:
#1. I want you to tell me a story about how you have struggled with owning your self-worth. Tell me what you changed, and how it helped you. Leave a comment. Share anything you can that you think will benefit the Warrior-Preneur community.
#2. Do you have a friend whom you think needs to own their self-worth and earn more?” Someone like a life coach, a social media marketing expert, or anyone that offers products and services? Please send them a link to this article!
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Your Influential voice and copying…that has been our topic. Last week I shared WHY I know it doesn’t work. This week let me expand further and share another powerful point as well as THREE steps to be your influential voice.
See, there’s the bigger deal that I see happening especially because of the Internet: you are running around copying YOUR competitors stuff. You are copying: strategies, design, names, words on the sales pages, and types of products or services…you are just copying it. You figure if it’s working for them…won’t it work for me?
And then to make it even worse? You’re spending all this time on social media sites looking at what everyone else is doing to “get their business out there” and guess what? Most of those people that you’re copying from are flat broke! Why do you think they spend so much time on Facebook! And copying marketing from people who are broke is really not a smart business strategy.
So what do you do if you want a more authentic influential voice and Bad-Assery business?
1-Step into your most authentic self. Believe in you. Own your self-worth as I said in this Showcasing Women article. Stop telling yourself lies. Realize how extraordinary your life really is. TELL your story. Know that you call your TRIBE when you do. THIS is your influential voice-not someone else’s.
2-Step away from watching what everyone else does and decide what makes you uniquely you. Build it into your brand message and energetic connection. (Yes, I even do this with my beauty business clients, not just consultants and coaches, everyone needs it) Now I know some of you think your lives are very ordinary but trust me you all have a unique point of view, I wrote about that in my Empower Your Truth post.) It’s been given to you; you are on this earth to stand out uniquely among others.
3-Spend time journaling daily.“Oh, Ann!!! And now you’re going to make me write?” Yes, I am. Here’s what I know of the hundreds of small business owners that I have worked with over the years: every single one writes. And those that stick to it find their story. Those that stick to it see their uniqueness. Those that stick to it are more creative. Your writing will help you find you and your unique approach. Breakthroughs happen when you write, which is why I do a 30 day writing challenge if you are up for it!
Please understand, I’m not saying that some techniques and strategies aren’t important to copy, absolutely there are sales and marketing strategies that work. Follow the ones highly successful business owners are doing! And I’m going to say something that is often hard to hear: that boils down to $$! You are NOT in business to be broke! There are business practices in terms of managing your money that are smart, follow them of course, using your influential voice!
Creating your message that calls your tribe is how you stand out Build your Influential Voice, and have a Bad-Assery business! Where might you be a copy and need to stand out in your originality?
After you’re done reading this article, I want you to do TWO things:
#1. I want you to tell me a story about a time when you copied someone else and it just didn’t work for you long term. Tell me what you changed, and how it helped you. Leave a comment. Share anything you can that you think will benefit the Warrior-Preneur community.
#2. Do you have a friend who you think is stuck in “copy mode?” Someone like a life coach, a social media marketing expert, or anyone that offers products and services? Send them a link to this article.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Building an Influential Voice in marketing can be challenging. Especially if you want to have a Bad-Assery business! In my book, the Influence Factor I believe copying is a critical mistake for your influential voice. Remember what Bad-Assery means:
See Bad-Assery, and having an influential voice in your marketing requires that you DO YOU. Copying is an epic fail on many levels!
So let’s talk about COPYING. Such a stinky word eh? Remember as a child being told how bad it was? And the Internet today has made it so easy…. We often don’t realize we are doing it. Interestingly we are TAUGHT to copy…and we only loose ourselves in the process. YES, we are taught:
Play by the rules.
Color inside the lines.
Talk this way, look this way, act this way.
Do what the people you want to be like do…
See my point?
Let me share with you a crazy story related to copying that impacted me for years. I was told that if I wanted to be seen as a professional in the speaking industry I needed to dress a certain way, and wear my hair a certain way….and… I fell for the okey-doke! I thought that in order to be successful as a speaker and coach that I better dress and act and talk and wear and BE like them.
Now if any of you have gotten to know me personally, you know that I have wild natural curly hair, that I like to wear brightly colored nail polish (royal blue and green), that a pair of kick butt heels with jeans rock, and if I can add some sparkle somewhere in my jacket or tank top I’m all over it! But for years I dressed the way I thought I should because that’s how others in my industry did. I copied them.
It wasn’t until years later at a conference while video recording myself and then meeting with now one of my best friends that I realized the trouble with this. I wasn’t authentic to me; to my influential voice. I immediately made these changes and embraced me-wowza, business flowed. I did lose a client who said I was inappropriate. Well, I found two more even better ones in their place! See, when you stop copying and do you, you create space for the RIGHT unlimited space and potential to show up.
But some of you are scared of that huh? Some of you are scared that if you stop copying everyone else, no-one will BUY YOU.
And some of you are thinking and that’s just silly. That changing what you wear will help to make more money. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Your customers can see through your in-authenticity.
Some of you reading this are saying: “But Ann I just sell soap what has this got to do with anything?” See, people by experiences– they buy with their heart first, then their wallets. So no matter what you sell YOU create the experience. And when the experience is inauthentic to you, it isn’t YOUR influential voice- it is someone else’s.
Oh feeling frustrated? Come back next week and learn how to be your most influential voice in your marketing with three steps!
After you’re done reading this article, I want you to do TWO things:
#1. I want you to tell me a story about a time when you copied someone else and it just didn’t work for you long term. Tell me what you changed, and how it helped you. Leave a comment. Share anything you can that you think will benefit the Warrior-Preneur community.
#2. Do you have a friend who you think is stuck in “copy mode?” Someone like a life coach, a social media marketing expert, or anyone that offers products and services? Send them a link to this article.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
If you want an influential voice in your marketing and brand message this is one of the most important tips to walk away with. “What you love will attract your tribe and sell your offers with ease.”
