The Personal Branding Podcast - Brands On Brands

When Brandon was at the Thrive: Make Money Matter conference this past weekend, he heard some of the presenters speak on the subject of businesses that are neither for-profit nor nonprofit, rather “for-purpose,” managing both the financial growth of the former with the altruism in the latter. Traditional nonprofit organizations do very important work, but they’re ultimately limited by how many donations they receive. For-purpose businesses take the best of both worlds and create something even greater. In this episode, Brandon discusses the how and the why of a for-purpose business, relates his recent encounters with a couple of listeners, and explains how he’s using this show as a means to bring a little extra good into the world. The Finer Details of This Episode: What does it mean to build a “for-purpose” business? Brandon thanks those listeners who’ve left reviews and tracks Brands on Brands on Brands’ rise through the charts. Why you shouldn’t be ashamed of having low viewership so early in the game. Which two “mystery listeners” Brandon had the chance to chat about the show with. What you’re eligible for if you sign up for Brandon’s coaching before this Sunday (June 9). How you can use your business as a tool for good, and how Brandon specifically is giving back using his coaching. A couple of key pieces of advice that Brandon took back from Thrive.  Quotes: “If you build a business—an engine that can generate money—you can use that money for good.” “How are you gonna do something that touches people and is built around more than protecting your lifestyle and those few things that you want to accomplish in life?” “This is long term for me. I’m investing in this and this will be here long after I’m gone.” “What can you do to use your business as a tool to advocate for that cause that you already care deeply about.” “I know what I have to offer, I know that I can help people, and I hope you guys see that and appreciate that.” Links:   Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

Brandon turned 40 this January, which has made him contemplate what his goals are and how he’s going to accomplish them moving into the next 10 to 20 years of his life. While he knows that, statistically, many people in their middle age and beyond are capable of achieving a lot—thanks to experience—he’s still concerned that his path has been too safe. To create real success, and on a faster timeline, it will be necessary to break from routine and take what Robert Frost called the road less traveled. In this episode, Brandon discusses the three “roads” available to you in the course of your professional career, outlines their upsides and downsides, and explains why the riskiest road might be the best choice for you. The Finer Details of This Episode: Thinking of life in terms of the road you travel to get from point A to point B. The first road: the “routine road,” where everything is well lit and maintained, there are pit stops, and everybody’s cheering you on along the way. However it’s a safe loop and you end up back where you started. The second road: the “hero hill,” from which you’re able to see where you can pull off to make improvements such as a promotion, new job, or big idea. But it’s still a slower path where you may have to wait in line for opportunities. Big things feel beyond your control. The third road: “Stormy Mountain Highway.” It’s unlit, windy, rainy, animals are running across the road. Overall, it doesn’t look safe, but many people have been down this road before you and have left signs, care packages and overall just a wealth of information to guide you along your way. Ultimately, none of these paths are free from mistakes and missed opportunities, but the riskier path can get you to where you want to be sooner. Keep moving, get yourself out of your comfort zone, and embrace change.  Quotes: “A lot of what I do and how fast I get there have to do with the roads I take.” “For a lot of us I think growth is inherent with our happiness.” “You weren’t the first person to ever take that stormy mountain highway.” “There’s so much growth that can happen when you are challenged.” “There’s gonna be mistakes on every road, and you’re gonna learn from those mistakes.” Links:   Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

Dr. Mark T. Wade is the CEO of Virtual Summits, the host of the top-rated Virtual Summits podcast, and now helps entrepreneurs interface remotely yet directly with their customers. As well, his Hustle & Scale coaching service works with online business owners to turn their side-gigs into six and even seven figure ventures. In this episode, Mark makes a case for why you should give virtual summits a go, relates some of the obstacles he’s come up against running his own, and explains why direct customer interaction is so essential for branding. The Finer Details of This Episode: How Mark went about starting his own summits and making use of list-building. Why the summit approach worked better for him than email lead magnets. The reason you should focus on directly engaging with your customers, and why summits play such a big role in that. What compelled Mark to expand from his successful private posture practice. How Mark’s curiosity has led him to experiment and expand over the years. What entrepreneurs need to understand about summits and make the most of these events, and why summits are so important to entrepreneurs. The challenges Mark has had to grapple with when running summits and how he’s managed to forge relationships with his customers through thick and thin. Why he values branding so much over selling. Mark explains his “fire starter” approach to influence.  Quotes: “Generating an engaged audience that you could have a conversation with and build a relationship was fundamental to any business.” “Summits are the engine to conversation, collaboration and empowerment.” “We all have a message that needs to get out to the world. A summit is a way to start that conversation.” “The elephant in the room, really, is attention span. That’s what we’re all competing against.” “We're literally changing people's lives by giving them access to people with the answers to their problems.” “Magnetize, monetize, maximize and multiply.” Mentions: Apple, Dodge, Harley-Davidson, Scubapro, Amazon,   Guest Links: Hustle & Scale - https://hustleandscale.com/ Virtual Summits Software - https://virtualsummits.com/ Virtual Summits Podcast - https://podcast.virtualsummits.com/ Hustle and Scale Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hustleandscale/   Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

Talking points are required for any business conversation. These points make a case for what you’re selling as quickly and clearly as possible. If you use these talking points correctly, and with the right strategy, you can develop the relationship you’ve already built with your community even further. In this episode, Brandon relates the moment he realized he couldn’t simply ad lib the big choices and explains how you can steer the conversation through phone and email. The Finer Details of This Episode: Brandon celebrates as Brands on Brands on Brands continues to rise in the charts and gives a shout out to everybody who’s reviewed the show! The anecdote from Brandon’s own past that emphasizes why you should have a plan in place for important life decisions. To understand what you want out of these important business conversations, you need to understand who your customers are and what they desire. Always make sure that you sound relatable and direct—individually tailoring emails is a good start! How to check in with your clients without coming off too sales-y.  Quotes: “We don’t think enough about how we talk to people that are involved and engaged in our business.” “In any conversation, your first step is figuring out what you need to know about the listener to determine the goal of the conversation.” “You should have your intentions figured out so that you know what you’re trying to accomplish and it comes off clear in the call.” Links:   Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

If you hope to develop your skills and eventually make a name for yourself, you’re going to have to do more than the bare minimum training that your job provides you. That means getting involved when and where the average employee isn’t expected to get involved, reaching out to like-minded professionals, and coming up with content that you can pitch to an enthusiastic audience. You are your own most precious resource, and you should invest in yourself like you would any other important asset. In this episode, Brandon explains why conferences are key for getting yourself out there, reveals just how helpful writing regularly can be, and helps you get over your apprehension toward networking. The Finer Details of This Episode: How Brandon worked his way up the corporate ladder and what he realized he missed out on. Make a point of attending industry events that usually only managers and owners take part in—aim for 1 per quarter. After you’ve attended a few of these conferences, think of ways you can add value to them, either by pitching yourself as a speaker or inviting other speakers back to your company. Really take an interest in your industry’s news and literature. Read past headlines and check out the works of writers and speakers you find fascinating. Self-help: you might think it’s corny, but it can help you bring out your best strengths and mitigate your weaknesses. You might be averse to networking, but consider it an opportunity to help others rather than just have it create opportunities for yourself. Making writing a daily habit will help you develop your voice and identify your passions—this will build your online profile in the process. Quotes: “There’s a lot that’s happening out there in your industry that you aren’t connected to.” “There’s nothing better than finding things you’re passionate about and investing time in it.” “Once you contribute and invest in your own personal development, suddenly your job and your life becomes way more satisfying because you’re growing.” “You’re not trying to meet people to get something out of them, you’re trying to meet people to develop relationships.” “Don’t underestimate the power of having your own voice.” “Don’t rely on a company to teach you everything you know to take that next level.”   Links: Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

Marshal Gillen, aka Marshal LIVE, is an inspirational speaker, lifestyle entrepreneur and author based out of San Diego. Marshal shares how he turned his mess into his message and now inspires others to turn what they previously thought were unreachable goals into achievable realities. In this episode, Marshal reveals how his emotionally troubled upbringing shaped him, discusses the chance encounter that set him on the path to motivational speaking, how he built his personal brand, and explains why he believes selling is “dead.” The Finer Details of This Episode: The rocky but ultimately life-affirming path Marshal took to find his passion for motivational speaking. How Marshal turned his formerly annoying energy into a talent he was grateful for. Why he’s able to so effectively get to the core of what motivates his clients. Marshal’s honest, non-sugarcoated approach to coaching clients and even himself. Finding your “drill” rather than simply relying on a “screwdriver.” How Marshal “hacked the system” to create his own personal brand. How Marshal treats his social media platforms as digital storefronts, and why you need to be available in audio, video and written word. Figuring out what message you want to put out into the world. What Marshal did to jumpstart his speaking career, and how he’s currently trying to redesign his life. Quotes: “The only thing stopping me from having legitimately anything and everything that I want in life, is me.” “Success is not final and failure is not fatal.” “The reason I keep winning is because I'm not afraid to immediately ask for feedback and then take action.” “What is your mission in life, and how can you go out and be evangelical about that mission because you don't anyone else to feel that pain that you used to feel?” “The brand pre-sells your service or product.” “I really want to help people tap into an energy and an understanding of themselves that they didn't even know is possible.” Mentions: Colgate, Apple, Nike, Bird, Charmin, Alkaline 88, Progressive   Guest Links:Store Front - https://www.marshalgillen.com/home18390043 Marshal TV - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxGt7ASK6sbsRTUbQhm1JEw Brandon's Links: Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

For this Freestyle Friday, Brandon shares his own professional journey, reveals what he's passionate about, and lays out what he hopes his work can find a resolution for. Brandon discusses future guest, Mike Kim from the Brand You podcast and runs through an exercise he learned from Mike's content, answering these questions: What pisses you off? What breaks your heart? What’s the big problem you’re trying to solve? The Finer Details of This Episode: Please leave a review on iTunes! You’ll help give this show a boost and get the word out to people who need it. Plus Brandon will give you a shoutout on Freestyle Friday! Brandon explores which aspects of his career have been frustrating, what he cares about, and how that drives him. Debunking the notion that “anyone” can be a marketer—anyone can become one, but it is a difficult process. Why Brandon feels specialization is hurting us in the long run. The reason we need to make it easier for people to tell their stories. Give this process a shot and let Brandon know how things are working for you by joining the Facebook group. Quotes: “It pisses me off that you can work that hard in an industry and still become irrelevant simply because of your age.” “I think it’s heartbreaking that you might be stuck doing something without any sense of how to invest in yourself and your personal growth.” “If yesterday you didn’t do it, now is the time to start thinking about how to connect better with your passions.” Links:Brand You Podcast - https://mikekim.com/brandyoupodcast/ Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

Some of the hottest marketing trends and useful tools to reach your customers authentically are livestreaming and pre-programmed messenger bots to breathe life into your marketing and make it accessible to any curious customer, even if you’re technically not there to answer their questions. So listen, take notes, and get on top of these things now so you aren’t playing catch up in a few years. In this episode, Brandon explains how you can do more with less using a single live video, lays out how you can tag your way to success, and has some tips for how you can spice up boring old emails. The Finer Details of This Episode: Live videos and bots allow us to interact directly with our customers and get instantaneous feedback. Why a simple Facebook live video, for example, can provide a wealth of engaging content from podcast audio to images to blog posts. More and consistent content gets the attention of not only your users/readers but the algorithms that push your brand to the top of search results. Chat/messenger bots on your site can instantly provide curious users with needed information and make them feel welcome even if you technically aren’t available. Smaller brands can excel at adopting these techniques—when they have the time—because they can pivot much more quickly than larger brands. Using live video to create appointment viewing. Instead of sending the same promotional email out to your entire base of followers, try to tailor different versions to specific demographics within that community. More tags and more keywords = more often your bots can provide specific answers to inquiries.   Quotes: “Put out live content and use that to feed the machine of your media platforms.” “You are using your communication as a way to better connect with customers and as a way to solve problems.” “If you can focus on building community and listening to community, you are at such an advantage.” “You need to figure out how this stuff’s used and play with it while you still have the permission to make mistakes.” Links: Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

Chris Strub is the CEO of I Am Here, LLC, a social media consultant agency, and an expert on how to get your brand noticed, discussed and promoted. He is also the author of 50 States, 100 Days - The Book and the first person to livestream in all 50 United States, both of which allowed him to promote youth-centric nonprofit organizations across the country. Through his extensive experience with social media over the last decade, Chris knows what will and what will not get people talking about you. In this episode, Chris lays out how he and other experts have pioneered this era of social media branding, reveals how you can make a name for yourself on Twitter, and explains why everything boils down to getting people to talk about you.   The Finer Details of This Episode: Chris explains the 50 States, 100 Days challenge and the roadtrip that gave him the idea. The very personal reason Chris got into nonprofit work. How old media actually helped Chris develop his skills with new media. Explaining why this decade’s successful social media brands will be seen as pioneers by future generations. Chris makes his case for Twitter and how it’s an excellent tool for professional AND personal networking. Why he thinks Twitter is far from the dying platform some people have said it is. Chris’ biggest piece of advice for getting started: ignore your follower account. The one tweet that can help you set yourself up for success as an online destination. Having an excellent product does nothing unless people are talking about it. Why selling and branding won’t mean much unless you have a solid product or service to back it up. The sheer hard work and coordination it takes to turn your brand into something reputable. What Chris hopes his customers and the people he regularly engages with would say about him. Quotes: “I know now that even at a relatively young age I’ve left something that has made this world a better place.” “It’s really a matter of having a good idea and executing upon it at all costs.” “I’m trying to do things a little better today than I did them yesterday, and trying to do them a little bit better tomorrow than I’m doing them today.” “If you don’t start something soon you’re gonna get lost in the wash.” “When you’re on Twitter you’re basically establishing your voice.” “Use social media as a mechanism to connect with real people in real life.”   Mentions: Shonduras, Dan Gingiss, At Your Gate, Switcher Studio, American Airlines, Twitonomy, Publix, Uber, Mario Armstrong   Guest Links: Chris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisStrub Chris Strub - Social Media Education: https://www.teamstrub.com/ I am Here, LLC: https://twitter.com/iamherellc 50 States, 100 Days - The Book - https://www.amazon.com/50-States-100-Days-Book-ebook/dp/B019J7MA3Y   Brandon's Links: Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!

It’s the first edition—or official edition, at least—of Freestyle Friday, where Brandon follows up with listener questions, comments and reviews, and discusses what happens to be on his mind. Something that’s obviously on his mind this week is Brands on Brands on Brands’ recent launch, especially the work he had to do to step up the quality of the show, and also the feedback sent by you listeners and supporters. In this episode, Brandon discusses the weekly format of this new show, how Brands on Brands on Brands’ launch went, and how he went from transforming his old show into this new one. The Finer Details of This Episode: What listeners can expect from Brandon every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Brandon thanks everybody who supported him through the launch and written reviews. Why reviews during launch are so important. What steps Brandon took to relaunch his show and who he consulted. The ways people in Brandon’s formative years shaped how he seeks out and makes use of knowledge for himself and others. Quotes: “This launch week is about you guys.” “Your feedback is critical, so let me know what you’re liking the best.” “If I’ve learned something along the way, I love to pass that back to the people coming up behind me.” “I think that mentorship that I was missing I’ve always looked to give back.” “I feel like I’ve grown more this year than in the past 10.” Links: Visit Brandon’s website at www.BrandsOnBrandsOnBrands.com Join the Brand Growth Community on Facebook at www.brandonbrands.com/community And please leave a rating and review on iTunes!