?Land your Brand?? with a focused tactical action plan. This is where many professional speakers can sink their brand in a minute if they don?t adhere to their brand plan with passion and commitment. Remember, audiences derive their impressions from what they see, hear, read, experience and even smell! All your points of contact with your target market should pass your strict brand standards code. And don?t try to be all things to all people. Stick with you core purpose. ? Small names are big. If you?re serious about building a powerful Brand Moi?, I would start with your professional name. Can people pronounce it? Does it have a meaning that would hurt what your brand promises? For example, I would consider a name change if your name were Tom Paine and you practiced dentistry. If your brand plan includes achieving celebrity status in your industry or in a mass market, short, memorable names are best.

? What they, see they believe. Next I recommend auditing your graphics and visual presentations. This includes every piece of correspondence that you can control. If you are an independent speaker this means your web presence, business cards, letterhead, thank you cards, proposals, advertising and all business forms. If you work for a company as speaker that has their own brand, this may means internal communications and personal correspondence to your customers and peers. Your wardrobe and personal appearance expresses your brand everyday. Make sure it?s saying what you intended.

? Speak loudly even when you whisper. Audio points of contact are also brand important! From your recorded message on your phone, to your on hold noise, to how you answer your phone, they all add to your brand imprint.

? Deliver a great experience, every time. Doing business with you should be a rewarding, memorable experience. Your environment whether your place of business or where you host events should be brand sensitive and support your message. Signage, your office, your desk and the cleanliness of your car speak about you also. All elements of your customer service and interactions with your market reinforce your brand.

? Your words are the language of your brand. Do your written documents and words scream your brand? Are they consistent with your brand promise, personality and unique position? If not, it?s edit time. Your writing style, choice of words and content are the foundation to your brand communication. This means emails, proposals, letters, keynotes and by-line articles.

Brand Moi? is essencial. As a professional speaker everyday you compete with many other speakers for bookings, consulting and budgets, you need a brand. Just like the products on the grocery store selves, it?s a cluttered, aggressive environment. It?s human nature to gravitate to people you like, trust and can relate to. Connect to their souls. Stand out. Be heard. Make your mark and tout the very unique and special being you are!

About the Author

About the author Karen Post, The Branding Diva?, is an author, national speaker and consultant on branding, marketing and communication issues. For nearly 20 years she has provided branding counsel and communication programs for individuals; start-ups; local, regional and national companies; politicians; and nonprofit organizations. For more information contact Karen Post at kp@brandingdiva.com or visit her at www.brandingdiva.com.