yourbrandcoach

What is brand coaching?

I'm often asked the question, what is brand coaching?  Here's how I define it -  a synergy of professional coaching models with high-level brand communications process, that helps clients to discover their brand, express their brand and live their brand to it full business potential. 

How does that work? 

A coaching model creates a relationship with clients that engages them in looking at their own brand co-creatively.  Coaching tools and techniques can help people get beyond their linear thinking minds, which is useful for creating and expressing their brand.  Coaching is also about moving into action, specifically moving values into action and living the brand authentically – which is where many brand initiatives fail. 

How is it different than a brand consultant? 

Coaching empowers the client in the branding process – they are really the expert in their own brand – they just may not know it, yet.  It is also the client who has to live the brand every day - and coaching inspires and support that process. And because brand marketing is my background, I can combine coaching with mentoring and strategic consulting depending on my clients needs. 

3 new clients in two hours...

Sounds incredible - and - for my 'brand coach on call' service client it was true... permit me to share this story...it's the kind of story we all like to have in our business: someone who worked with us and got results! ... 

"My background up till six years ago was in high tech. I was an IT consultant, the CIO of Sony Canada, a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group and finally a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded four companies (and sold two of them, with the third now a leading supplier in the Insurance software solutions field.)

I first used Cheryl’s branding services to focus my thinking and messaging re my third startup. I put together what I thought were pretty good marketing, branding and PR ideas and materials. Cheryl took those ideas and materials and created a totally different – and hugely more compelling – story for the company. Both my partner and our clients strongly endorsed the new ‘image’ of the company.

Three years ago I followed my passion and chose a new vocation, as a coach to businesses, relationships and individuals. Recently I created a marketing message to solicit clients, to support me in a Certification program I will commence next month. Once again I asked Cheryl to give me her valuable insights. And once again she brought in her marketing and branding magic. I adopted her extensively revised content almost verbatim. This new marketing pitch garnered me three new clients almost immediately. And a fourth started her reply with “This time you've captured my attention!” And another "What a difference!  I hadn't deleted the old one, but I hadn't sent it to anyone yet - this one I've sent to a bunch of people.  Good luck!"

I can’t endorse Cheryl’s expertise, professionalism and wonderful energy in too strong terms." Ilan Levy, MBA, CMC, CPCC

do you have a story like this about your brand? if you do, skip to the next paragraph.  if you don't, then ask for it.  you can ask customers directly one-to-one or you can use an on-line survey tool, like survey monkey  to gain stories.

what can you do with the story?  first it will help you 'know your brand', by giving you insights about what your customers value about your brand. then you could use it to 'express your brand' in marketing materials. and you could use it to 'live your brand' through self-motivation (and we can all use a little of that these days:-), inspiring your staff, or deepening your relationship with customers...

love your brand^tm

don't print that brochure yet...

it happens regularly. someone i know has a brochure or flyer for their small business or workshop or a web page and they send it to me for quick guidance.  why? well, they want a second opinion. and they call on me to make sure their communication piece is working as hard as it can for them.  i use a combination of coaching and branding skills to help them make their communications reflect who they are and what they're up to, in a way that will ring true to their potential customers.

so, i started thinking, perhaps i could offer this focussed coaching service to other small businesses who can't afford to hire an ad agency, but could use some support for their brand communications. 

are you a small business on a small brand budget? are you doing it yourself? are you ready to put your best face forward to your potential customers?  do you want an experienced, fresh perspective on your brand communications? 

yourbrandcoach on call is a unique 2nd opinion service for small businesses.  you email us your draft brochure or flyer or web page. we review it and give you a minimum of 2, and up to 5 concrete recommendations on how to improve it, for a fee of $250. 

you'll make your investment of time and money in communications work harder for you and ring truer to your customers. it's as simple as sending an email