The Brandtelling Podcast Brandtelling | Arthur Germain

Why ain't your MSP brand getting the love it deserves? I've got some thoughts.



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01 - You think brand strategy and storytelling are luxuries.

If you’re focused on hiring BDRs and salespeople to “bring their book” instead of building a compelling story for them to tell customers, you may be missing out.



02 - You don’t think that a strong brand matters for selling.

Good salespeople are worth their weight in gold, bitcoin, or Nvidia stock. But even the best salesperson needs an authentic, compelling, relatable and memorable customer success story to share with prospects.



03 - You’re afraid you can’t show thought leadership.

Give yourself more credit. You built your MSP on more than your vendor products and some hustle. You provide comfort, value and benefits your clients can’t find anywhere else.



Talk about that.



04 - You think it’s too much trouble to build your brand.

Which businesses earn your attention in your social feed, inbox and at events?



I’m betting its those companies that have done the hard work establishing, strengthening and promoting a consistent brand.



05 - You’re not sure where to begin.

This is the real challenge, because when you don’t know where to begin, sometimes you don’t.



Take the leap and look at your brand. What makes it different? What makes your customers keep coming back? What can you do to guide them and help them?



What Should You Do? Hire a brand strategist and storyteller that gets your business.

Work with someone who understands all your funny acronyms, speaks fluent chanel and is willing to stand up to your vendor partners when necessary.



Hire someone who can support the brand building activities you need to grow.



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Let’s meet.

Get a free consulting call to see if we’re a fit.

https://letsmeet.brandtelling.com



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Want more? Grab a copy of my paperback or eBook Bundle. Available at TheArtofBrandtelling - dot - com

Use code MORE20 for 20% off the eBook Bundle.



Follow me for more thoughts on improving your brand story and connecting with your audience:

LinkedIn: https://arthurgermain.com

Ever wonder why your brand isn't turning heads? I've got some thoughts.===5 thoughts about why your business brand isn’t turning any heads.01 - Lost in TranslationIs your brand echoing the same messaging as your competitors?Differentiation is crucial in a crowded market.Develop a unique selling proposition and brand voice to avoid being another "me too" brand.02 - Message MayhemDoes your brand story resonate with customers or do your messages change all the time?If your brand narrative is difficult to follow or fails to connect emotionally, you can lose and confuse your audience.Remember, consistent, compelling storytelling is vital to building an influential brand.03 - Ghost TownAre you getting engagement for your content and stories? Are customers responding to your emails?A brand that fails to connect is like a ghost town - eerily quiet, instantly forgettable.Use your brand voice like a town crier, proclaiming your message from the rooftops.04 - Trust IssuesUltimately your brand is a promise that you’re making to customers.Businesses that fail to deliver on their brand promises are on shaky ground.Maintain customer trust by ensuring your brand's actions align with its words.05 - Invisible Man SyndromeA strong, recognizable visual identity stays imprinted in your customers' minds.Are you losing potential brand recognition due to a weak or inconsistent brand identity.Build a brand face that paints an unforgettable picture.What Can You Do? Review, Refresh and RebuildReview your brand from top to bottom to ensure that you’re always delivering a consistent and powerful message.Look for opportunities to strengthen and refresh your brand story when necessary.And don’t be afraid to rebuild your brand when you’ve made a big change.Want more? Grab a copy of my paperback or eBook Bundle. Available at TheArtofBrandtelling - dot - comUse code MORE20 for 20% off the eBook Bundle.Follow me for more thoughts on improving your brand story and connecting with your audience:

LinkedIn: https://arthurgermain.com

Ever wonder how to "get your name out there?" I've got some thoughts.



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Most brands tell me the single most important brand objective they have is to "get our name out there." But that is often a challenge for five reasons.



01 - Not sure what you want to say.

Your own unique and differentiated perspective should be the foundation for every article you write, social media you post, presentation you give and event where you exhibit.



There isn’t any question about what you want to communicate when you’ve taken the time to determine this first.



02 - Not sure who you want to reach.

Decide whether you’re trying to communicate with a prospective investor, employee, partner or customer. Don’t try to reach everyone all at once.



Then draft your message for ONE PERSON in the audience group you’re trying to reach.



03 - Not sure where you want to say something.

When you understand who you are communicating with, you next need to know where they go for information. Be there.



LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram all have their place. But not every audience group you want to reach will be in every place. Match your message with your audience’s preferences.



04 - Not sure when you should say something for most impact.

Match your message strategy with your audience’s attention capacity. This isn’t easy.



Event attendees’ ability to listen and focus is inversely proportional to the time left before the event.



Plan your messages alongside your industry calendar.



05 - Not sure why you saying something makes a difference.

This is often the biggest challenge. A strong Brand Story Strategy includes knowing what, who, where, when and WHY you are communicating in the first place.



What impact will your message make in your industry?



What Should You Do? Build a Strong Brand Story that Accounts for the 5Ws.

Content and activities for the sake of showing motion are no substitute for strategy and planning.



Every communication requires an objective and a target audience.



Otherwise it’s just more noise.



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Want more? Grab a copy of my paperback or eBook Bundle. Available at TheArtofBrandtelling - dot - com

Use code MORE20 for 20% off the eBook Bundle.



Follow me for more thoughts on improving your brand story and connecting with your audience:

LinkedIn: https://arthurgermain.com

Ever wonder why you're struggling to connect with your copy? I've got some thoughts.



Hint: Me, me, me, me.

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Many brands struggle to overcome the instinct to talk about themselves. That is a challenge for five reasons.



01 - Your copy feels self-congratulatory.

You like you, and that’s ok.



But if all your blog posts, news releases and LinkedIn shares begin to sound like you’re a character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s time to take a step back from the Koolaid Kooler.



02 - There is no “I” in team, but there’s a lot of “us, we, I and me” in your copy.

You want to talk about your accomplishments.



You want to claim your accolades.



You wonder why no one outside your organization is liking your posts?



Think about it.



03 - Your copy sounds like you walked your industry tradeshow floor with a recorder.

That list of meaningless adjectives may impress your high school English teacher (sorry high school English teachers) but not your prospects.



Look for these fun terms in your copy: Scalable, robust, unique, powerful.



Check, check, check, check?



04 - Customers don’t see themselves in your copy.

Your customers work with you for a reason. They see themselves benefitting from the relationship.



If your articles, posts, podcasts and videos don’t share that relationship, why bother posting them?



05 - You forgot that you’re not in the soliloquy business.

Hamlet got away with talking to himself. You’re business isn’t so lucky.



You need to connect with your audience. You want to let them know you’re on their side. You want them on your side.



Otherwise, you’re just talking to an old skull and hoping for the best.



What Should You Do? Focus on “you” and “me” in your copywriting.

Your content should connect, not repel.



Connection comes from building real relationships based on providing value and benefits that are meaningful to your customers.



Make your copy focus on the outside, not the inside.



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Want more? Grab a copy of my paperback or eBook Bundle. Available at TheArtofBrandtelling - dot - com

Use code MORE20 for 20% off the eBook Bundle.



Follow me for more thoughts on improving your brand story and connecting with your audience:

LinkedIn: https://arthurgermain.com

Ever wonder if your brand is telling a powerful story? I've got some thoughts.===5 thoughts about telling your own powerful brand story.01 - Define your unique value.Take the time to identify what sets your business apart from your competition.Your “unique value proposition” should be clear, concise and compelling, and it should resonate with your target audience.02 - Clearly identify your target audience.Identify and focus on your ideal customer, including their needs, pain points, and buying habits.While every customer is different, you will begin to identify certain similarities that you can use as you develop messaging that resonates with them.03 - Craft your brand messaging.Develop a consistent, cohesive and compelling set of messages that articulates your value proposition and speaks directly to your target audience.Your messaging should be memorable, easy to understand, and differentiate your brand from competitors.04 - Tell your brand story.Create a narrative that brings your brand to life and connects with your target audience on an emotional level. This is where customer success stories (not “case studies”) can really play a part in connecting with your prospects.05 - Amplify your brand message.Share your brand story through a variety of channels and touchpoints, including your website, social media, content marketing, advertising, public relations, tradeshows, and other marketing initiatives.Consistency and repetition are key to building a strong and recognizable brand story.What Can You Do? Focus on your “Different”Instead of playing the “me too” game with your competitors, try changing the game altogether.Make a comparison chart and highlight what makes you different, where you stand out, and why customers enjoy working with you.



Want more? Grab a copy of my paperback or eBook Bundle. Available at TheArtofBrandtelling - dot - comUse code MORE20 for 20% off the eBook Bundle.Follow me for more thoughts on improving your brand story and connecting with your audience:

LinkedIn: https://arthurgermain.com

"What do you do?"



It's the cocktail question -- some may say the $64 million question. And even experienced business owners and business leaders can find themselves umm-ing and ahh-ing when asked this simple question.



In this episode of The Brandtelling Podcast I offer a simple suggestion for formatting your answer to help people understand what you offer and how you help.