February 5, 2012

Working the Brand Loyalty and Solving the Case of the Missing Sock

The Missing SockNope – Athol is AWOL. I am talking about those socks the dryer eats. I have a basket full of socks that I think are going to miraculously reappear one day – and when they do, their match will be waiting for them. I may get rid of that basket.

The monthly tip at Dressing Well concerns winter hosiery. All the pointers were useful – but one stood out – exercise brand loyalty when buying socks. Then, when the dryer eats one or eight, you still have matches and when you have to buy more, buying the same kind keeps the singles you have useful. Why haven’t I thought of that before?

Th simpleness of it all made me reconsider other areas where brand loyalty is important.

  • I always use the same clothes detergent because I know it works and I know no one in the house has a reaction from it.
  • I always use the same dishwasher powder and kitchen cleaner because I know it is dependable.
  • I never vary on my hairdresser or nail guy because I am careful about grooming.

Seems to me that many of us are in the business of branding – whether it be ourselves or our company. The dryer provides a valid argument for sock brand loyalty.

How do we harness that same strategy?

*Photo credit to Inga Galkinaite

Business Choice – Corporate or Personal?

If you missed the big announcement, I left my previous real estate brokerage to join one that has newly opened. A brilliant agent and friend opened the first Sellstate franchise in the state of Georgia right here in Richmond Hill and I was all too happy to join her.

It has been quite the challenge. I was fortunate that my previous broker allowed me to keep my listings (the listings acquired by an agent technically belong to the broker and he had every right to keep him – he’s a nice guy). However, moving the listings over has taken some leg work. Then there were the different social networks that I belong to that required updating. I am sure I didn’t get them all yet. The last feat was the tweak of my main website to reflect my new brokerage.

I wouldn’t trade a minute of it. I am excited about the fresh start that just so happens to coincide with the start of the new year. However, I would be lying if I didn’t say I had one solid concern. Sellstate as a brand is unknown in my local market.

I considered that thought for a while. I then decided that, while Sellstate was a virtual unknown, I was not. It is my belief that people largely do business with people – not necessarily businesses. That’s what my gut said and I went with it.

Question 1 – What does your gut say about it?

Today I read an interesting post from Joanna Young at Confident Writing. She issued a bloggy challenge for authors to consider with new eyes their “About” page. Her idea is that her About Page should reflect her blog – not the author. She had some very successful bloggers that agreed with her (Skellie, Darren Rowse and Brian Clark).

Because I think know Joanna is brilliant, I gave her idea much thought. You see, my about page is all about me – my heritage, my family, my friends. I revisited the page and considered different ways I could change it to fit Joanna’s challenge.

Then my belief of person not business resonated in my head. My About Page is my vehicle to let readers know, in one post, who April Groves is as an individual. In my opinion, this is the way mine should be. I can’t imagine why people would want to trust, confide, relate or do business with me if they have no idea who “me” is.

Question 2 – How do you handle your “About Page” and why?

While I am comfortable…mostly…in my ideas on both subjects – I am always open to new ideas and great conversation.