Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much!
The difference between your brand and your reputation can be easy to miss because so many marketing writers use the terms interchangeably. The fact that the terms really are similar in many ways does little to help with the confusion. Both concepts have a major influence on how your business is perceived, but your brand is only a part of the whole that forms your reputation.
The word “Friend” may have been generally devalued by Facebook brilliantly taking “ownership” of the word, but its all about how YOU use it, and the reputation you build. Always keep in mind… Your brand is what you do, your Reputation is what people Remember and Share.
If you want to reach more people, if you’re measuring audience size, then the mantra of the last twenty years has been simple: make it dumber.
Use clickbait headlines. Short sentences. Obvious ideas. Little nuance. Don’t make people uncomfortable or ask them to stretch. Remind them that they were right all along.
Generate a smile or a bit of indignation. Most of all, dumb it down.
And it works.
For a while.
Who knows your business as well (if not better) than you do? The people who work in your business, of course! And I’m not talking about a sales staff. I’m talking about your nuts-and-bolts employees who know the everyday ins and outs, whether they work with your customers, handle inventory or do the behind-the-scenes work that helps run your company. In today’s socially-connected world, employees are often an untapped resource that (with a little guidance) could exponentially expand your company’s word-of-mouth reach. Empower them so they can power your business.
David Reimherr: Ted, to dig in, what do you feel is the first thing a small business should do before they start their digital and social strategy?