38 episodes
Brand Blaster C-Note
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- Business
Press Start on building your personal brand whilst focusing on 4 key areas of identity, purpose, focus, and connection.
I know what it's like to be just starting out. In fact, I've spent 18 years as a freelancer and am now starting my entrepreneurial path.
As an aspiring freelancer or entrepreneur, your head is all over the place. You're taking on any job you can, discounting your rates, staying up all night and it can be overwhelming. I assure you there's a better way.
You're not useless or terrible, you're just at the beginning of the game.
Let's Press Start and figure it out as we go. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brandblaster/support
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When to Ship It! How Perfection Gets In The Way.
There's a line we have to cross when creating any form of content and I call that the Shippable line. It's the point when a project is good enough to get out there into and have the potential impact it's going to have. Many of us don't know where this line is because this line comes with experience. You have to determine where that line is, and part of being a designer with a client or agency is knowing where that line is and educating others on where that line. This happens so you don't waste time and resources on polishing something that can't be polished any further or that the impact becomes significantly less with each updated iteration. At some point you have to ship and let the market decide if it's good.
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Are you a Freelancer or Entrepreneur?
Freelancing and Entrepreneurship can get a little muddy sometimes. Especially when we're seeking advice, we can be led astray by the excitement or perception of one over the other. On this episode we're looking to clear that up a bit and genuinely ask ourselves the question of "Am I a freelancer or an entrepreneur?"
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Speculative Work vs. Free Work
Speculative work is not something you want to get involved in but sometimes that definition can keep creators from doing any kind of free work. And free work is often what creates value and trust with the industries and clients that you want to become a part of. That can also mean finding ways to package inexpensive uses of your time to get yourself in the door. But yeah, speculative work is a no-no. So, what's the difference? That's what we're breaking down. bit.ly/brandblaster
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What You Need More Than "Brand"
I wanted to share a quick thought I had after a conversation with a good friend of mine about his message and creative direction. We spoke all about getting comfortable with putting his message out there as opposed to waiting for the right moment to strike with the right image or brand. Not every designer is going to tell you that, in favor of hitting you with their $2,500 branding package. Building a strong connective idea takes time and we often need to let it breathe and emerge.
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What is Branding, really?
Today on the show we're asking "What is Branding, really?" Is it imagery? Language? A logo? or is it something different entirely?
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"Let Me Pay You"
It’s very exciting when you get someone to say “I want to pay you for this” or “this was worth every penny.” Without even prompting them they just reach into their pocket and insist on giving you their hard earned cash. Why? Likely because you just gave them something invaluable and they don’t know what to do. So, logically, cash is the way to show appreciation.
I met with someone today and this ended up happening. We talked for 45 minutes as a discovery meeting. I just listened and did everything I could to get to know her and get to know her needs. I quoted her for a project and I could tell in an instant that she felt in way over her head. That happens, sometimes the costs are too high, I get it. However, further opportunity wasn’t lost on me and frankly, it was easier to talk now that money was removed.
The barriers were down.
I let her know that I wasn’t interested in taking money she wasn’t prepared to spend and I’m not cutting her off from my knowledge because of that. We talked about her goals, I shared my story and gave her advice on how to go forward. While she didn’t agree to what I quoted (which was work I didn’t want to do anyway) we eventually agreed to do ongoing consulting. Right then and there she insisted that she paid me.
Why?
I listened.
I took my own agenda off the table.
I made it clear I wanted to serve her.
I gave her room to make her own choices.
I let her know I wanted to work WITH her, not for her. That this is a joint effort.
She also resonated with my natural intuitive self and it doesn’t hurt to click.
The point of all of this is that I didn’t push the issue. Sales is not about pushing for the sale. You can’t trick a brain to be ready when it isn’t. Even if you do, they’ll sober up and regret it. That won’t bode well for your future relationship. And that’s what you’re doing, building a relationship based on existing needs and possibilities. Not ideals and desparation.
http://www.bit.ly/brandblaster
http://www.cnote.media
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brandblaster/support