The Brand You Podcast with Mike Kim

Today we wrap up this series on making a career pivot. I share my story of how I turned my blog into a business. I'll also mention a chance for us to work together if you want to take a look at making a career pivot more seriously. A Quick Preview of the Podcast: How you can potentially earn thousands of dollars before you even launch a blog. How often you should blog if you want to attract clients and customers. An opportunity to work together with me personally through your career pivot. Affiliate Programs I Participate In: Bluehost (for web-hosting) Amazon Associates LeadPages (to grow my email list) Podcasting A to Z finder's fees with other designers and consultants If you'd like to work with me: For a limited time, I am making myself available for personalized small-group coaching (for up to 10 people only) to help you market yourself, turn your past into profit, and make that career pivot successfully. If you are interested, go to mikekim.com/pivot. And don't forget, the business that stays open will always outsell the business that stays closed. [Tweet "The business that stays open will always outsell the business that stays closed."] Today's Resources: Google AdSense Secrets by Joel Comm My designer Jason Clement of Red Letter Design Legal Zoom Would you mind leaving an honest review for the Brand You Podcast on iTunes? Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Are you struggling with how to price your products? Leave a note in the comment section below and I'd be glad to respond. Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!

Personal Branding, Marketing Copywriting, Consulting, Business, Coaching

I can’t wait to share today's episode with you, where we'll cover some ideas on pricing your products or services when you're starting out. Now, price is always relative to other factors including your market and competition, but in most cases I've found people charge less than they should. A Quick Preview of the Podcast: The two "types" of personal brands, and how that affects pricing. The 20% rule, and how this will help you position your prices relative to your market and competition. The story behind how I increased quadrupled my prices from one client to the next. Today's Resources: Value Based Fees, by Alan Weiss (book) The Art of Value Podcast with Kirk Bowman Red Booth Studios with Brian Moore Would you mind leaving an honest review for the Brand You Podcast on iTunes? Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Are you struggling with how to price your products? Leave a note in the comment section below and I'd be glad to respond. Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!

Personal Branding, Marketing Copywriting, Consulting, Business, Coaching

We continue our series on making a career pivot by talking about how to find your first clients when you're starting out. These are the same steps I used locate and communicate with my first clients, and they're a lot easier to do than you might imagine. Check out the episode for more. A Quick Preview of the Podcast: Two online "gold mines" that will help you learn about and locate your first clients. The surprising thing you DON'T need to land your first few clients. Why most of the advice you hear online on building a personal brand isn't all that helpful. Get my "Landing Clients Email Template" here: Use this simple copywriting resource to connect with and land your first few clients. Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!

Personal Branding, Marketing Copywriting, Consulting, Business, Coaching

We continue our series on making a career pivot by covering 3 easy-actions to establishing yourself as an authority in your new industry -- even if you don't feel like one. These are the same steps I used when starting my career pivot, and they are a lot easier than you might think. Check out the episode for more. A Quick Preview of the Podcast: An easy step to make sure you are building authority in the right area How to use social media to quickly build your authority Examples from my personal branding journey on how to leverage and borrow authority from others Also, visit How To Get Client Testimonials to get your free resource. Get my Simple Social Media Calendar: Use this simple framework to utilize social media to quickly build your authority -- even if you're just starting out. Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!

Personal Branding, Marketing Copywriting, Consulting, Business, Coaching

What do the successful personal brands do that lead to their success? Actually, I don't think it has as much to do with "doing" as it does with "knowing" -- especially early in your brand building journey. Today I share 3 things that I wish I knew more clearly at the start of my business. 1. The first sale is to yourself. If you've ever sold anything online or in person, I encourage you to think of yourself as a businessman or businesswoman. Building a personal brand is either a business or a hobby. The more focused you are in this aspect, the better results you'll attain. 2. Are you the marketer or the maker? When you set out to build your brand, you've got to wear a lot of hats. But that doesn't mean you are automatically good at wearing all of them. 3. What is your primary draw? What appeals most viscerly to people's senses? Listen in as I discuss a few the prominent personal brands out there, and what makes them so appealing. You might surprised at what you hear. Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!

Personal Branding, Marketing Copywriting, Consulting, Business, Coaching

Today I answer a question posed by a listener named Josh Hogancamp on why I started podcasting. I'll tackle that within the framework of why a podcast may well be better than a blog these days. (Hard to admit because I love blogs, but it may be true!) 1. Blogs are like mixtapes, podcasts are like full albums. People scour blogs and only share the best -- podcasts are subscription based, so they have a better chance of retaining repeat consumers of your content. 2. Podcasts = binge listening. When was the last time you "binge read" a blog? Not likely. But binge listening to podcasts happens all the time! 3. Podcasts are more suited to today's on-the-go lifestyle. When do I do all that binge listening? While I'm doing other things, of course. Resources from this episode: Podcasting A to Z with Cliff Ravenscraft (use code "MikeKim" for $500.00 discount) Podcast Movement this summer in Dallas Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!

Personal Branding, Marketing Copywriting, Consulting, Business, Coaching

Marketing your personal brand is tough enough as it is -- but it's even harder if you go against the current. These 5 "laws" of marketing will help you get more traction and results. Violate at your own risk! 1. The Law of Leadership: It’s better to be first than better. This the most basic law of marketing. What’s the name of the first person to fly the Atlantic Ocean solo? Charles Lindbergh, right? What’s the name of the second person to fly the Atlantic Ocean solo? Bert Hinkler. The problem is no one knows who he is! Bert was a better pilot than Lindbergh — he flew faster and consumed less fuel. Yet who has ever heard of Bert Hinkler? 2. The Law of the Category: If you can’t be first, setup a new category you can be first in. What’s the name of the third person to fly across the Atlantic solo? You didn’t know the second, you might not know the third, but you actually do. It’s Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic solo. When Heineken became a big success, Anheuser Busch could have said, “We should bring in an imported beer, too.” If you can’t be first in a category, setup a new one you can be first in and promote it. Don’t ask yourself “how is this better than the competition” but rather “what are we first in?” 3. The Law of the Mind: It’s better to be first in the mind that to be first to the market. Apple’s problem in getting into its prospects’ minds was helped by its simple, easy-to-remember name. On the other hand, Apple’s competitors had complicated names that were difficult to remember. In the early days, five personal computers were in position on the launching pad: Apple II, Commodore Pet, IMSAI 8080, MITS Altair 8800, and Radio Shack TRS-80. Ask yourself, which name is the simplest and easiest to remember? 4. The Law of Perception: Marketing isn’t a battle of products, it’s a battle of perception. Think about the 3 biggest Japanese cars: Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. Now this reflects the mind in a very interesting way. You would think that the sales of these three brands would be the same in Japan as in the US. Toyota sells 4 times as many autos in Japan as Honda does. If I told you I bought a Honda recently, you might ask - Accord? Civic? But if we were in Japan, you might ask me “what kind of motorcycle?” In Japan, Honda is a motorcycle company. It’s the same as if you heard Harley Davidson was now making cars. 5. The Law of Focus: The most powerful concept in marketing is owning a word in the prospect’s mind. If you can own a word, you’ve become almost irreplaceable. This is where you’re getting really targeted and gaining major, major traction in your branding. Hershey: chocolate Xerox: copier FedEx: overnight Michael Hyatt: platform Tim Ferris: 4 hour John Maxwell: leadership Tony Robbins: motivational speaking Crest: cavities BMW: driving Volvo: safety These words aren’t complicated. They’re not even invented. These aren’t SAT words here, but they’re extremely powerful. Two books you should check out: The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries & Jack Trout Made To Stick by Chip and Dan Heath Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!

Personal Branding, Marketing Copywriting, Consulting, Business, Coaching

For this episode, I'm repurposing some content from a blog post that was well-received earlier this week. We take a look at Marvel's marketing behind their latest hit movie, The Avengers: Age of Ultron and look at what concepts we can apply to our own personal brands. A Quick Preview of the Podcast: five lessons from Marvel's marketing you can apply to your brand why I'm experimenting with repurposing content Featured In This Episode: Book: 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing Blog Post: Apply These 5 Marketing Lessons From Marvel's The Avengers Would you review this show? I would consider it a great honor if you would leave a written review on iTunes. It's one of the best way for word to get out about this podcast. I read every single comment ... leave any review you want, as long as it's honest. Thank you!