Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Tag: brand

  • BlogWorld 2010 -> 7 Ways to Take Action Now

    BlogWorld BadgeThe largest Blogworld yet is behind us.

    What now?

    The hours of helpful (and not so helpful) seminars, the miles we walked on the trade floor, the networking parties, and the innumerable conversations with vendors, future partners and potential customers. We are hopefully inspired. We might be overwhelmed. We are definitely exhausted.

    We came away with many new ideas. Maybe too many! Maybe just enough so that once we get back into the grind of our busy lives, we don’t find our way to act on any of these great ideas.

    It is too easy to leave all those great ideas in that closed notebook on the desk. Too often we never get around to sifting through the computer files where we stored those ingenious tidbits that were going to transform our business.

    Here are 7 trajectories of action that you can use to guide your after-the-show efforts.

    1. Attitude Boost

    Participating and persevering in a still-emerging industry during a struggling economy requires courage, passion, and energy.

    Select one source of inspiration from the expo that resonated deeply with the challenges you face. What is one way you can transform that model, story, and/or attitude into a vehicle to recharge your juices, restore your confidence and/or rededicate your efforts?

    Take action to boost and reinforce your attitude for the work ahead.

    2. Personal Branding

    Feeling your blog is lost in a crowded sea of exponentially expanding bloggers, consultants, experts, celebrities and companies?

    Which one or two speakers at BlogWorld do you remember most clearly? Why do you think the memory is so clear? How do they describe themselves in their title, (more…)

  • American Idol Savvy: Simon Dilutes His Brand

    IdolSimon Cowell is sabotaging his own distinct brand.

    Known for his direct but not always sensitive feedback, Simon is increasing his air time with additional antics that are coming at the expense of this powerful “brand.”

    His inability to resist throwing barbs while the other judges (particularly Paula) are talking, has the effect of diluting what we like best about Simon… his withering critiques of the contestants.

    (All right, his homo-ambiguous sparring with Ryan Seacrest is becoming an Idol staple. But this is the exception that proves the rule.)

    The proof comes when Simon wants to give positive feedback. It gets diluted, if not entirely lost. Watch for this.

    Disastrous for Simon, in my mind. There’s a lot of power in his positive responses precisely because they are so rare and (previously) so focused. Is he forfeiting his power to influence?

    What are your brand distinctives? Are they getting lost by trying to be too many things to too many people? Is it time to refocus, get back to basics, or cut out the side shows? What power are you forfeiting when you dilute your brand?