Branding......More Than Looking Great By: Karen "KJ" Johnson

You’ve heard the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”.  And while the human mind will forever initially do just that (which is why appearance and your presence should look great), it’s the substance that will determine the ultimate value of your brand.  Now, don’t misunderstand, our worth is determined by God; however, if you’re not committed and dedicated to doing the work, you are not able to inspire, impact, influence & leave a positive imprint on the minds and hearts of those you encounter. 

Too many times, our focus and time is spent on the exterior: a sexy logo, a beautifully designed website, top notched business card, best looking banner, gorgeous social media feeds and even our personal exterior of makeup, attire, shoes & accessories. But, upon closer review, the substance of what is being delivered is not up to par.   Too many times, we are super excited to launch a product or service that the time, research, planning & adequate funds needed are not applied to the process. The product or service would actually be the solution needed to solve a major problem, but because the due diligence and process was seen as a “waste of time” and/or too long, it was rushed or totally eliminated and now the end result doesn’t hold any value.  

Remember, the magic is in the process!  Spend time in your prayer closet to better understand how God wants you to proceed.  Research, research & research. Understand your targeted market’s needs. Understand the market/industry. Develop a marketing strategy. Map it out.  Determine costs. Conduct a beta-test. Complete an analysis. These are just some of the steps and work you should be conducting before launching. Once the “main course” is cooked, you can now begin setting the table.  You now are ready to send out invitations requesting the presence of others to an intimate, well-cooked and scrumptious meal in a brand-tastic atmosphere.
​
KJ is the owner & Master Brand Expert of KJ Strategy Design Studio with over 25 years of experience, with numerous awards, accolades & nominations for her work, including being named as one of the Top 25 Purpose Driven Women to Watch, one of the Top Sales Trainers, awarded & honored at the annual Making History in Heels for her contribution to the community as a woman-owned business, just to name a few.  She is a trainer/speaker, helping faith-based women owned businesses, educational institutes (educators & students) to understand how a strong personal brand breeds a positive culture of diversity, creating exponential results & profit. Book her to speak at your school and/or for a free-30-minute Brand Discovery Chat. 

Website: www.kjsdstudio.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kjsdstudio
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kj_strategy_design_studio
Cell: 469.734.4448

​

---