Who ARE You?
By Peg Bastin
Are you afraid to tell your real name online? What's the
big secret? Are you ashamed of it? I just don't understand
why people hide their identity. 'Branding' yourself is
letting others know who you are and what kind of business
you do.
You have to build trust online. Would you buy from
someone's website if you had no idea who they were or how
to contact them? Your website contact information should
include your name, address, telephone number, and email.
I provide all his information on each page of my own
website as well as my photo. No one has called me on the
telephone in the year and a half I've had my website, but I
have received several emails requesting help or advice, or
permission to use my articles.
If you want to be taken seriously online, you must have a
way to be contacted. That means no silly or cute names or
autoresponder addresses if you want to be considered a
professional business person.
Try to pick a short, easy to remember name for your email
or domain name. Something that describes your business. You
DO have a domain don't you? Stay away from unusual
spellings of your domain name. If people can't spell it,
they won't find you.
If you want to be successful, tell the world who you are,
what you've got to offer, and why they need it. Start
networking, make online friends, then link, talk, send
feedback, join forums, enter contests, write articles,
advertise and help others. All these actions will help to
brand your name.
Another great way for free exposure is to send in your
profile to the growing number of ezines who are asking for
them. It's a great way to introduce yourself and your
business at no cost to you. Make several profiles of
different lengths since ezines have guidelines of just a
few lines, others allow a paragraph or even 200 words or
more. Some want personal information and some want your
business information. Do up several and keep them handy. I
love reading about other subscribers and get ideas from
them on how they promote themselves and their product or
service.
Other ways to brand yourself - Advertise, advertise,
advertise, over and over and over. Buy solo ads, especially
those with a contest that gives a reader a reward for
reading your ad or visiting your website. Pick ezines that
don't flood their readers with a zillion solos every day.
Don't forget to include your name at the bottom of the solo
and soon your name will be associated with your business.
Also, you can give away free ebooks with your name and
links in them. You could write a report or eCourse and
offer it by autoresponder. You will then begin to get an
opt-in list to mail your offers to.
My personal favorites are to write articles and exchange
reciprocal links with websites that are compatible with
mine.
All these suggestions can help to build your reputation as
a responsible business person who can be trusted. But it
all starts when you tell the world who you are and how they
can find you.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Written by Peg Bastin Learn to Understand Your P.C. in
Simple language! If your PC is a Pain in the ya know where -
Learn "How" and "What" to do!
http://www.bastinmarket.com
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated.
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