4 Easy Ways to Elevate Your Brand, Blog or Business

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Fashion Week is right around the corner. I’ve been covering this epic fashion event for nearly 7 years. New York, Milan, Paris…good times. But right around this time my inbox and DMs start getting flooded with people asking me for PR Contacts and asking how they can go to fashion week or pull from designers and such. I don’t have a problem giving out contacts but the sheer volume of inquires gives me anxiety. Why don’t people care to do their own research anymore? Instant gratification is a hell of a drug and I’m not a supplier. It took me years to really define my brand but there are some quick and easy ways to create a more cohesive and polished brand + business. Here are 4 things I did that instantly set my brand and business up to win. I also believe that these things help me when it comes to landing brand collaborations and partnerships. But honestly, these actions can be applied to any business. First impressions are everything. Ease of finding information is paramount and professionalism is key.

UNIFY YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITES

The best way to present your brand or business as professional and legitimate is to unify all of your social media and websites. I do this by using the same photo for everything. This makes your brand or business easily recognizable. If you are a blogger or influencer you are the face of your business just as businesses use a logo across all of their social, you should do the same for yourself. My Facebook business profile, blog sidebar, Google, Linkedin, Etsy Store, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Youtube all have the same photo. I try and update my photo every 4 months to coincide with the seasons or use my most liked photo of the quarter. You can even go the extra mile and have specific brand colors that you use often. Whether that be in your Instastories or linked words in a blog post. All of those little details create brand recognition and cohesiveness.

GET THE LOOK

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CREATE A LINKEDIN PROFILE

Linkedin is one of the best business tools I’ve ever utilized. It’s one of the first things employers and potential business partners will check when doing a google search. Don’t act like you’ve never google searched someone and checked out their Linkedin Profile. If you are serious about your brand or business you should have an online resume and that’s what your Linkedin Account can serve as. Not to mention you can do research on brands you want to work with via Linkedin and even find their contact information to reach out outside of Linkedin or within the network with an upgraded business profile. You can even find job listing on Linkedin. I’ve gotten many blogger and influencer collaborations because of Linkedin and one of my last Physical Therapy Jobs was found  through a Linkedin connection.

ELEVATE YOUR EMAIL SIGNATURE

This was one of the first things I did before I started pitching to brands as a blogger back in 2011. A cold pitch email is instantly upgraded when you have a professional signature linking to your website and social media as well as describing your accolades and provides the easiest way to get in touch with you. You don’t have to have a professional email (I still use my gmail account) for business purposes, but it doesn’t hurt and does look more professional if you do. But one thing you can’t skip on is a professional email signature. I love using wisestamp.com to create professional modern email signatures. I also use the same photo in my email signature that I use on all my social platforms and update it when I update everything else. Something as small as this could be the difference between a brand taking you seriously and actually giving your your requested rate or never responding to your inquiry.

 

 

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SPEND MONEY TO MAKE MONEY

I’ve never spent money on my brand + business that wasn’t returned two fold. It takes money to make money. You can’t take the cheap route when it comes to your business or else you will reap cheapness. Some purchases I made for my business included investing in Canva Business for creating my templates and ebooks, invitations, thank you cards and more with ease. My Vlog camera was a cool $800 and was paid for with money earned from a collaboration. I can now easily create video content for my Youtube (that I can  then monetize) and for brand collaborations. I got Lightroom CC for my iPhone to make it super easy to edit and level up my photos in a snap with my own customized presets. I spent $1800 for my new Cloffice space which serves as a backdrop for endless content opportunities from photos, to Instastories and videos. Subscriptions to my favorite magazines keep me inspired and give me content ideas. I purchased a ring light, a new printer/scanner and an external hard drive for my business. And invest in apps that help level up my content (especially Instagram). Every time I spend money to level up, I make more money. Start small. If you know there are areas of expertise that you lack and need to make your brand + business flourish, the best thing you can do is invest in yourself. $39 for an Instastories Pro eBook may seem like a lot of money until you get offered $500 for 1 Instastory with a swipe up link. 

POPULAR MONEY + BLOGGING POSTS ON FASHION STEELE NYC

How I made $3K Using Instagram in 1 Week

My Cloffice Reveal Video

What Being Laid Off Taught Me About Being a Full Time Blogger

Blogging: Money, Morals and What I Wish Brands Knew

A Week Balancing my 9-5 and Blogging

 

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PRO TIP

Do the research and the work before running to someone and asking and/or begging for ALL THE ANSWERS. This is one of my pet-peeves. The same answers I have, that you may want, I got from researching. No one owes you anything when it comes to business. I’ve had people harass me for a contact when a simple google search for it pops up in the first 4 suggestions. That let’s me know that 1. they’re not serious and 2. they have a sense of entitlement. If you don’t have a burning desire to even try to do something yourself, you probably aren’t deserving of what it is you want. IE — my contacts for every PR Firm for Fashion Week. LOL.

 

SHOP PITCH TEMPLATES 

USE CODE: NYFW40 for 40% Off Your Order Until Sunday January 27th

Instastories Pro eBook

So you wanna be a blogger? The Ultimate Guide to Blogging Successfully eBook

The Perfect Pitch Template Package: To Brands, Hotels and to Cover Fashion Weeks + Rates Sheet Template

 

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These are just a few ways to easily elevated your Brand, Blog or Business. It’s all about first impressions and the little details that give your brand direction and focus. I’m actually going to do a major relaunch in the Spring utilizing more brand colors and my own logo! Speaking of which if you are looking for some assistance with developing your brand check out my girl and graphic design extraordinaire Nailah Ali! I can’t wait for you all see what she did with the upcoming issue of Fashion Steele Magazine (also rebranded the name of the Magazine too)! You can also check out Brittany at The Idea Girl Co. She is amazing at brand development.

As always thank for reading!

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xx

Monroe