Let's Talk About Brand

So much of personal branding involves getting out of our own way. Silencing the doubting voices within us and around us so that we can forge our own path. Surrendering to the greater reality of who we are and what we're meant to do⏤the rest be damned. Transformational coach Kute Blackson has seen the power of surrender to set people free to be their greatest selves. We discuss how surrender is an...

No, you don't have to invent something totally brand new and different in order to have an impactful brand...but it certainly doesn't hurt to buck trends and chart your own branding path sometimes! Robin Albin has helped create unique brand positionings and voices in a variety of industries. She discusses how to make sure your brand stands out from the crowd in a memorable way. Follow Christine Gr...

Self-empowerment is, of course, one of the benefits of a strong personal brand⏤but the strongest opt to bring others up along with them. Throughout her varied career, Allison Walsh has always made it a priority to use whatever power she has to empower others in turn. She guides us through some ways to do it and why it matters. Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesda...

We know how important it is to determine how our brand looks (colors, fonts, even people), speaks (brand "voice"), and feels...but what about how it sounds—literally? What about how it moves? In his work creating multimedia pieces for brands, David O'Hearns has learned the importance of sound and motion in creating and conveying an overall brand impression. We discuss what that means and how to de...

What makes your brand worth listening to? It's all about the story your brand is telling—and how. Scott Newman of work x work and On Air Fest discusses the importance of telling your brand story through content, with a focus on podcasting as a uniquely powerful medium. ❤️ Get Started on Your Personal Brand Journey with a sampling of Christine's Personal Branding Questions here: https://www.gritmon...

You don't need a fancy origin story to be "super"—you already are! Dana Bowling tells us how to figure out what makes ordinary ol' you simply MARVEL-ous by figuring out your own superpowers—then wearing them like a badge of honor (or even a cape!). Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesday for the  #ChatAboutBrand  Twitter chat. Subscribe to the  Let's...

"Personal branding" can seem like somewhat murky territory. If only there were some kind of guide you could follow while constructing it... Well, good news! Professor Karen Freberg has boiled down personal branding education down to a clear, easy-to-follow "blueprint." Today, she shares the system she's taught to hundreds of students—and even turned into a personal branding simulation with Stukent...

Even though we talk about "brand" here every week, it can still seem like a nebulous concept. What is a brand? How do you figure yours out? How do you express it to others? Shelley Röstlund has branding down to a science. Her well-defined system for building brands has helped hundreds—and will hopefully clarify the process for you as well! Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join he...

We all think we know what a "story" is—but what is a brand story? What elements need to go into it, and what can it do for us? Master "business storyteller" Park Howell gives us his proven structure for coming up with a business story and expressing it in the clearest, most impactful way possible. Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesday for the  #ChatAboutBran...

If you don't have a brand positioning, you won't have a brand for long. But what is brand positioning, and what are some of its most important elements? Todd Irwin of Fazer (not "Frasier," as I erroneously pronounced it at first!) helps brands strategize their brand positioning all the time—as well as how to leverage a tactic he terms "de-positioning." We dive into what all of that means, why it's...

How can brands build trust—and how has the internet changed that? Chris Brogan has been on the forefront of internet culture, helping brands adjust to building relationships online since the beginning. We discuss managing online reputation, the importance of genuine engagement, the rise of influencer marketing, and the constants of trust-building—both on- and off-line. *** Follow Christine Gritmon...

AI art isn't just for bizarro DALL-E experiments—when done deliberately, it can be an incredible tool for creating an endless supply of relevant, on-brand images, to a degree that stock sites cannot even begin to touch. Branding expert Jenna Soard explains why AI art is such a powerful tool for your brand, how to use it strategically, and what further technology is on the horizon. *** Follow Chris...

Social media has not negated the importance of the humble website. Far from it—as social media sites (and their users) come and go, having an owned piece of the internet that you can call your own is more crucial than ever. Andy Crestodina shares how to make your website work harder for you by making your audience do LESS work to figure out who you are, why they should care, and what they should d...

When we think of creative branding efforts—especially videos—we often think of B2C brands. It is for this reason that creative B2B branding has such opportunity to stand out and be noticed. Hope Morley of Umault is a master of the happy medium between "stale demo video" and "pure entertainment," making entertaining and informative videos for B2B brands that really sell. We discuss why the B2B mark...

People aren't static, and neither are brands. But how can you keep a brand fresh without negating all the familiarity of its previous incarnation?  Designer Marisa Messick of Quill and Co. has helped create and re-create many a brand, as well as studying what has made big-brand refreshes flop or soar. She shares her tips for balancing consistency and newness, and lets us know what should neve...

Social media is often a "highlight reel" of the prettiest, most perfect parts of people's lives—which can leave us feeling "less than" when we compare our own whole, human selves to those images of perfection.  Julia Jornsay-Silverberg rejects that notion, and brings her "Anti-Highlight Reel" realness to her own content, resulting in important conversations about mental health, self care—and...

Before there was even marketing, there was word of mouth. Saul Colt explains how to get people talking, why it matters, how it differs from traditional "influencer marketing," and how to measure your results. *** Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesday for the  #ChatAboutBrand  Twitter chat Subscribe to the  Let's Talk About Brand Newsletter &nb...

Being yourself shouldn't feel like work—but when you're trying to build a personal brand, it sure can feel like it!  Fab Giovanetti of Alt Marketing School helps us understand how to focus our time and energy on what really matters, so we've got some left over to actually enjoy life. ❤️ Get Started on Your Personal Brand Journey with a sampling of Christine's Personal Branding Questions here:...

It's exciting to see lots of "likes" on our posts, and disheartening to see lower engagement—but which numbers actually matter, and why?  As data scientist Katie Robbert of Trust Insights tells us, it's important to understand which metrics do and don't matter as we build our personal brands, and how we can use that information to strengthen our strategy moving forward. *** Follow Christine G...

There's a big difference between so-called "influencers" with millions of followers, and people with actual influence on the people around them.  Jason Falls works with professionals to build the kind of trust and expertise that inspires real action. He shares what matters, what doesn't, and how to leverage that influence for good and not evil. *** Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritm...

A conversation with Michelle Ngome about inclusive branding—what it means, what it doesn’t mean, and how to get it right. ❤️ Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesday for the #ChatAboutBrand  Twitter chat Subscribe to the Let's Talk About Brand Newsletter  that goes out every Monday to ensure you don't miss a beat! Listen to Let's Talk About Brand on y...

A conversation with Rich Brooks about discovering your remarkability. What makes you remarkable (yes, something does, I assure you!) and how can you harness that power in your own personal brand? Tune in and find out! Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesday for the #ChatAboutBrand  Twitter chat Subscribe to the Let's Talk About Brand Newsletter  that goes...

A live conversation with Agorapulse Chief Marketing Officer Darryl Praill about brand evangelism. What is it? Why does it matter? How can your brand harness its power? Tune in and find out! Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesday for the #ChatAboutBrand  Twitter chat Subscribe to the Let's Talk About Brand Newsletter  that goes out every Monday to ensure...

A conversation about brand humanity with Courtney and Bryan Kramer of H2H Coaching. This episode was originally broadcast as a livestream on February 26, 2021. It has been edited from its original format. *** Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesday for the #ChatAboutBrand Twitter chat Subscribe to the Let's Talk About Brand Newsletter that goes...

A conversation about branding with psychology with Rob and Kennedy. This episode was originally broadcast as a livestream on February 19, 2021. It has been edited from its original format. *** Follow Christine Gritmon on Twitter: @cgritmon and join her each Tuesday for the #ChatAboutBrand Twitter chat Subscribe to the Let's Talk About Brand Newsletter that goes out every Monday...