There is a TON of valuable information in this post. All of the links open in a new window and the content will laser in on that topic. I invite you to spend some time here and really take advantage of this FREE platform I’ve developed just for you.

For those of you who are just getting started online, this post would be excellent for you to print out and keep by your computer as you
build your online platform (your website, social networks, leads – it is all-encompassing of your touch-points online). For those of you who think they are on a great track online, this may be a good post to see what has slipped between the cracks or what area you could build up for better results.

So let’s get started. Consider your online platform and online presence. Really think about the blood, sweat and tears you’ve put into building a website (whether you invested $10,000+ or started a free WordPress site), into starting a social networking account and trying to figure it out, into listening to webinars and teleseminars and reading blog posts on “how” to do it all. Next, I invite you read each question *slowly* and really analyze where you’re at with each of these items:

• Do you have a professionally designed logo that can make for good branding?
• Are you staying ‘up to date’ on what’s happening in your industry so you become the go-to authority for news?
• Do you post to your blog regularly (not once a month, but one a week or more?)
• Is your business brand consistent between all touch points online – from your LinkedIn profile to your Facebook cover to your email newsletter look and feel?
• Have you looked at your content in the past three months to see what, if anything was outdated material?
• Do you do what you say you are going to do online (release new products on time, follow through with your ideas, etc.)?
• When is the last time you did keyword research or competitor research?
• Have you reached out to anyone lately to discuss the concept of collaboration, so you can grow your business more quickly in new markets?
• Do you have a growth plan or goals to help grow your business (such as how many email subscribers you’ll get, how many Facebook friends, how many blog posts, how many emails will you send out to your list each month, etc.)?
• Have you stepped back to evaluate if your web team really IS good, or just the inexpensive solution who isn’t really getting you where you need to be?
• Does your website design help you or hurt you, and when is the last time you’ve evaluated areas for improvement?
• Do you have a solid free introductory product you can give away as incentive for people to sign up to your mailing list?
• And is that free introductory product branded and professionally designed and formatted?
• Do you have obvious social networking icons and feeds on your website so web visitors can connect with you?
• Does your tagline make sense and help you stand out from the noise? Is it easy to remember and does it make an impact?
• Do you have a list of keywords you are targeting with every piece of content you write, so you can start dominating search engines?
• Are you regularly adding products to your website that are for sale so people can get ‘the next best thing’ from you?
• How often are you adding a ‘call to action’ in everything you do (at the end of blog posts, in your email newsletters, in every contact point)?
• Are you organized with your business and do you treat it like a real business with scheduling and planning meetings?
• Do you thank your web visitors, email subscribers, social networking friends and clients for sticking with you?
• How often do you implement new ways to drive traffic to your website and blog?

Your impact on the web IS what you make of it. Those are just a few questions you can ask yourself from time to time to make sure you are BUILDING. Starting an online business is not the easiest task in the world. You are competing with billions of web pages out there. But, there is more than enough room in the sea for us all to profit.

The trick is knowing what to do next to continue building your online platform. Stay focused. Don’t lose the momentum. If you need help with your direction or with implementing tasks, feel free to contact me and let’s have a loose conversation about it. The key is to get help from people who know what they are talking about – and that becomes obvious when someone writes about those topics and gives away the farm just to help others. I’m not tooting my own horn here so much as just teaching how to identify the right kind of person to help you with your business.

If you thought this post was of value, please SHARE this post with others on your social networks. My goal is simple: Helping Others. As many as I can get my hands on.

Thank you for spreading the light!

The logo that a company chooses is one of the single most important components of business success. A logo defines who the company is and what it represents. It is the trademark of the company. It helps consumers to recognize one company from the next. The logo is really the building block of marketing for the company. Choosing a logo wisely and thoughtfully will help build a lasting name and a reputation for the company.

Choosing is Different than Designing

The act of designing a logo is easy, especially today with all of the available resources such as graphic design services and software programs. While the act of doing the work around the logo may be easy, the real work happens before the design even begins. Businesses looking to build an online brand and create a strong solid logo for start-up need to be sure and not rush the creative process. Choosing an effective logo is the first step to building a reputation for the business. Thinking about who you are and what you want to represent is the first step in the process.

Your Logo

A company in the early stages of development wants to choose a logo that will make their goods or services unique. Think of all of the household brand names that have stayed strong over the years and built a good solid public reputation, and then ask why they have been around for so long. A logo creates familiarity and is the stepping stone to building a reputation for the goods and services.

Creating and keeping a loyal customer base is what will eventually grow a business. We have all seen businesses that come and go while others like Gerber, Kodak, Pepsi, McDonalds stick around and continue to build a following because they have become familiar household names and advertise their product in a way that attracts the public.

A good logo grabs people and keeps them. Customers tend to gravitate to the goods and services of businesses that they have come to know and trust. Interestingly, research shows that customers remain loyal to those brand names they have a familiarity with. Familiarity breeds emotional attachment. Customers tend to remain loyal to familiar brand names even when competitors offer cheaper, better or more appealing products.

Appealing to the Customer

An effective logo is not just about a brand name or an advertisement it is about identity and customer appeal. A brand identity often includes components in the logo that will appeal to everyone. While words are powerful and the name of the business is essential, finding ways to appeal to potential customers in a variety of different ways will help them remember one brand over the competition.

Appealing to a variety of different customers involves creating a brand impression that will incorporate many different strategies. Some people remember by words, some are visual and others may appreciate hearing a catchy slogan that advertises a product. Using all three can make a great brand impression. The more senses a product appeals to the more effective it is for a business plan.

The Branding Checklist:

Before you make a decision, it is important to know that you have considered the basics. The following checklist is a good place to start. Remember, if you are difficulty figuring these things out, it may be time to consider hiring a branding expert or marketing consultant to assist you and your team.

1. The color. Dark colors are going to elicit different emotions than light colors. Know your audience and what you are trying to emote. Are you trying to elicit a relaxed feeling or something more serious? This of course should depend on the services you provide.
2. The size. Are you looking for something “in your face” or are you shooting for something conservative that won’t stand out as much? When I think of “in your face”, I think McDonalds.
3. The shape. The shape of a logo can have a strong influence on people and how they perceive your brand. Are you looking for something sharp and serious, or round and relaxed?
4. Competition. It would be a shame to choose a logo that is similar to one of your competitors. Make sure that you are distinct from everyone you are competing in the same market with.
5. Versatility. The logo needs to function online, of course, but make sure you don’t limit yourself. The logo has to function well with other channels your company is or may be marketing through.

Building an Online Brand

The explosion of technology has enabled a new market through the Internet. Competing over the Internet offers its own set of challenges simply because there are so many new start-up companies all over the globe offering competing for the for the same on-line customer base.

The availability and accessibility of the Internet increases business competition threefold. Building an online brand and creating a logo that best represents the uniqueness of your online business is much more important because the competition is so fierce in the virtual market. Regardless of the platform in which you are starting a business the basic principles around building and creating a strong logo remain the same.

About the Author: Matt Jones is a branding and marketing enthusiast. By day, he is working diligently on improving business signs for his clientele. By night, he is engulfed in the blogosphere writing on all custom signage, branding, and marketing related subjects!