Jen Shea, Author at Bohemian Branding

Before the Logo

by Jen Shea | Nov 17, 2021 | Branding, Getting Started, K.Y.C. Know Your Client, Logo

KYC – Know Your Client, Be Yourself, Choose a Simple Business Name, and Designing Your Logo!

We’ve all heard the saying, ‘don’t put the cart before the horse’, right? This simply means, when there is an order to things, it’s much easier to follow it.

You can buy a car before you learn to drive. Yes. But, would you purchase prescription glasses before having your eyes tested? Not likely.

When it comes to branding and designing your business, it doesn’t make much sense to design the logo until you’ve gone through the branding process, or until you at least know who your audience is, know what they need and therefore know what they will be attracted to.

“Be Authentic”

You also need to be really clear on the image you want to put out there. That being said, I think that if you are your business… if you are the person that your future ideal clients will love working with, then you must be authentic!!

If you try to come across as a ‘Boss Babe B*tch’, and that isn’t who you really are… the people who find you will disappear because they will quickly discover that you are who you seem to be. The same thing is true if your image online is one of sweetness… flowers, lace and ruffles and then you open your mouth and your very favourite word is ‘F#ck’.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being sweet, or a baller… your so-called tribe will love you for who you are and how you can help them!

“Naming Your Business”

When trying to decide on a business name, start with a brain-dump (or brainstorm with friends) and start searching sites like GoDaddy for domain names.

If you are a Solopreneur like a Coach, Website Designer, Virtual Assistant, etc, I always recommend the first thing you do is try to buy your name. If it’s available in .com and other iterations of that, snatch it up. Even if you don’t use it right away, buy it because you wouldn’t want anyone else to purchase it!

If it’s not available, ask yourself what is the one or two keywords you use to describe your business.

For example, I am a clarity coach. So, I might buy JenSheaClarityCoach(.)com or ClarityCoachingbyJenShea(.)com.

If you are your brand, then get your name in there!!

Another thing to keep in mind is whether or not your business is going to be global or only local (brick & mortar). If you are a locally-only based business then it cannot hurt to use the name of your city or community in the title. For example, ‘Ottawa Nails by Jen’.

If there is any chance you might work with clients outside your community, then I would not recommend using identifiers that only make sense in your area/town/state-province. An example of this might be someone who lives in Texas, might be tempted put a cowboy hat in their logo, however that might dissuade people who don’t identify with cowboys/girls. (unless of course if you are a cowgirl and your business is about training people how to rope a steer).

“Creating Your Visual Identity”

Your logo is the very first thing people will see, that identifies your business…

I like to try to follow the K.I.S. theory when helping clients develop their logo.

KIS = Keep It Simple

Your logo doesn’t need to be intricate. It simply needs to be something unique that identifies who you are. Gone are the days when they were detailed cartoon images of people or things. The most popular logos now are often wordmark logos. A combination of 1-2 fonts with your business name or your name. You can add your tag-line after. You might even choose a small graphic symbol that represents your business, but only if it makes sense.

For example, if you are a heart-centred entrepreneur you may like a hand-drawn heart around your name… or if you a fitness instructor, perhaps a simple dumbbell. It is really important to make sure that the graphic image does not confuse your potential client’s. If I’m looking to work with a business development coach, then would an image of a dreamcatcher make sense? I’d say only if I am trying to attract clients who relate to dreamcatchers, but I would definitely look as though I am targeting a very specific market.

Now, if a dreamcatcher is something you truly relate to, then you can have your logo designer draw one for you and you can sprinkle in with your copy or with your logo. However, I wouldn’t recommend you use it in your logo if you are looking to attract corporate business women.

This is why knowing your client, who they are… what their needs are and what they would be attracted to is just as important in your visual branding as it is in your copy!

Doing all of this the right way is incredibly important to developing and designing a business that works for you.

There is much more to developing your brand, but the point is that your visual brand needs to be a reflection of who you are, what you do, and who you serve. You need to build your brand story all the way through in order to ensure you have the best chance at success, from the start!! (get my brand guide & workbook here)

I love talking all things branding, so if you’d like to have a chat, you can reach me by booking a call or simply using the contact form at the bottom of this page and send me a message!

Do you have questions? The best way to get in touch is to fill out this contact form and we will be sure to respond within 24 business hours.

Although I am currently located in the Eastern Time Zone, I work with clients around the world. I'd love to hear from you.

Let me know what services you are interested in and we can schedule time to connect via telephone, chat or video call.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call

You Are Your Brand

by Jen Shea | Dec 23, 2018 | Branding, Marketing, Strategy

Here’s what secret successful marketers know: customers don’t buy a product. They buy you.

Your personality.

Your experience.

The unique qualities only you possess.

There was a time when “branding” meant a corporate-looking logo and a slick catalog, but in today’s online marketplace, the real value is not in appearing to be a big company, but rather in just being you. And your personality shines through in a variety of ways.

Your Authentic Voice

How you speak and write and even how you act on camera or in an audio interview has the power to instantly identify you to your audience. You can see this in action if you scroll through your Facebook feed. It’s easy to know who has posted a particular image or status update, just by recognizing the voice with which they generally speak.

Here’s an even more important aspect of your “voice” though: it has the power to attract a specific audience. In recent years, a few high profile coaches and product sellers have become celebrities of a sort, largely because of their harsh, “don’t hold back” language. Ash Ambirge over at www.TheMiddleFingerProject.org makes no apologies for her use of offensive words, and her fans love her for it. And those that don’t? Well, as she says right on her home page, her site and services are “not for humourless bores.”

Snarkiness and foul language is not the only way to go, though. Carrie Wilkerson has built her brand almost entirely on her ability to be kind and generous. She always has a nice word, never appears defeated or overwhelmed, and is an inspiration to her fans and clients.

While very different in their approach, these two women have one thing in common: authenticity. It’s clear that if you were to meet either of them in person, they would speak and act exactly as they do online. And their brands are stronger for it.

Your Story

How did you get to where you are today? The backstory—which to you might seem boring and uneventful—is a powerful tool that can help solidify your brand and attract just the right audience.

Melissa Ingold tells of being a struggling single mother, and of creating an online business rather than simply choosing to work one dead-end job after another. Her success is an inspiration to her audience, and is a huge part of her branding.

Kelly McCausey speaks often of how she got started online when she was looking for a way to earn just a few extra dollars every month to keep the lights on. Creating graphics at $5 each quickly turned into a full-time online career.

Your story doesn’t have to be dramatic, and you certainly don’t have to share more than you’re comfortable with, but it does have to be yours. Be your true self, and you’ll never have to worry about attracting the right audience. They will self-select, and your perfect client will find you.

Know Your Ideal Client!

by Jen Shea | Jun 27, 2018 | Branding, Marketing, Strategist, Website

Show your potential customer why your proposal is worth the hassle!

KNOW YOUR CLIENT

Why do I think it is extremely important to Know Your Client (KYC)?

Not only do you need to know and understand your client in order to be able to market to them (and I really do think this is very important), but you also need to understand who they are, how they think and what they need.

Know their objections and have answers for every question and concern!

Most business owners will automatically throw up objection to a new proposal. In some cases it is just a reflex. They’ll say no before they say yes. In other cases, they are simply testing you. In any case, you need to be prepared explain, in detail, what you can do for their business. Tell them why they need you.. and how you are the right person to work with.

How can you do that if you don’t know who they are and what their business mission is. Do some research – do your homework!

“Put yourself in your client’s place”.

RESEARCH

Get to know the person who runs the business you would like to work with. Who is that person, or group of people? Besides learning what they sell, coach, offer… find out what their core values are. Google is your best friend. Do some digging!

MARKETING

The most successful businesses understand their client’s mentality. How do you do this?

The key here is knowing your client, inside and out. Do Your Research!

Zero in on your target audience and your marketing will become very clear and then it will suddenly become easy to do!

Learn everything you can about them; what makes them tick, their pain points, how they measure their success.

Whether it’s simply knowing what colours appeal to them, or knowing what ‘turns them off’, you will make your life easier if you can figure this stuff out before you put it out there.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY IN MARKETING.

For example, it’s important to be consistent with the language you use on your website, in social media and in all your marketing.

You need to decide what you are going to sound like in all your communication. Knowing your client will help you to discover your voice.

For example, if he or she is an older professional, you might be less inclined to use a lot of slang terms or even a few curse words. That being said, if you are talking to a hip young audience who aren’t offended by the occasional curse word, then you should consider speaking like they do.

Now that I’ve said that, I believe it’s important to sound like yourself. If you are the ‘rockstar chic’ type, then is your ideal client going to be an serious, middle-aged business man? Not likely. So, why would you go after this client?

Knowing who you are before you figure out who your ideal client is and you’ll come to your ‘sweet spot’. Where yin meets yang. Where you are going come together with the person you can help the most!

Do you know who your ideal client is?

Before you should do anything with your business, take that pre-branding journey of discovery.

Jen

Page The Process

by Jen Shea | May 22, 2018 | Uncategorized

WHAT ARE YOU CREATING?

Branding starts from the inside-out.

The most common mistake most people make when they are starting out is focusing on finding a logo designer and then a website.

**There is so much more to your brand than just ‘what it looks like’.**

**You need to know Your ‘Why’ and your ideal client‘s ‘What’ before you can start.**

I work with clients to help them dig deep and discover why they’ve decided create their business, what really drives their passion and I help them fine-tune in order to discover who their ‘Ideal Client’ is.

Once we’ve created that ideal customer Avatar, developed a memorable brand story and once the foundation is built, we set to work on making the visual aspect worthy and make it look beautiful!

Learn More

Explore

If you have any questions, get in touch by filling out the contact form below…

We will be sure to respond shortly. Thank you for reaching out to us.

Are you tired of trying to ‘figure it all out’? Are you overwhelmed with too many ‘specialists’ giving you conflicting suggestions?

Do you need someone who will listen, someone who is not only intuitive and creative, but also communicates and cares?

Nothing makes me happier than to have a client feel as though they’ve broken through a barrier with my help.

From concept to creation… brainstorming to the big reveal, I’m with you all the way. Whether you are starting from scratch or just need a fantastic new logo you love, I’m in 100%, and my unique skill set and creative background allow me to think outside the box and find solutions that are tailored to your specific needs.

“Experience… she has a lot!” I spent over 25 years working with large companies and small. From the Federal Government to managing a commuter airline… from property management to insurance and investment services… with cosmetician thrown in the mix. I worked in the capacity of administrative assistant, customer service, ticket agent & station manager, to rental agent, financial centre administrator, to life insurance sales to office manager and makeup artist.

I enjoyed at least some aspect of each ‘job’, but I never felt completely fulfilled until I took the leap to becoming a business owner myself in 2011 and now I can honestly say I wouldn’t change a thing (except maybe doing it a decade or two sooner).

Growing up I was never without a box of colouring pencils or a tin of paint. I was always drawing, painting, molding… creating something. It is no surprise that I love what I do!

If you would like to work with a creative collaborator who really listens to what you need, is effective, efficient, resourceful and has knack for understanding what you want (and need) and will make your life easier, just send me a message and let’s see what we can do together!

If you would like to learn more about working with me let’s schedule a free consultation today.

Sharing Testimonials

by Jen Shea | Aug 5, 2017 | Testimonials, Website

In this day of advanced technology even people who think they are technically challenged can log onto a computer and do a little research. Consumers may not always purchase online, but most people will check for reviews before buying a product or service.

Your client’s testimonials are reviews for your business and just like most consumers, most people will glance at, if not read through your testimonials. Grateful and satisfied client reviews are seen as social proof that you not only exist but if well-written, then can help ‘seal the deal’ for potential clients who are not quite sure if you will be the perfect coach or the best web designer for them.

It’s not enough for them to tell everyone that you are a great listener, or that your graphic work is beautiful.

You’ll want them to share why they came to you, what problem you solved and how you did it. Then, of course, how grateful they are for the results you afforded them.

I suggest when asking your clients for a testimonial you send them a form that helps them ‘fill in the blanks’. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

I basically ask my clients why they came to me, what I did for them, how I helped them and why they’d recommend me or why they’d choose to work with me again. I always ask permission to share (and give them options on what personal and business information they’d like to share) and I thank them for their review.

I’ve never had a client refuse to give me their feedback and comments.

The easiest way for people to give you a testimonial is in writing, but that’s not the only way! Why not ask them, if they are comfortable, to send you a quick video review. They can use your from questions as a guideline, and you can embed the video on the testimonial page of your website.

Give it a try next time you are asking your latest satisfied customer.

If you’d like to see what my form looks like, you can see it right here: https://www.bohemianbranding.com/testimonial-form/

If you have any questions I am happy to answer so fill out the contact form and I’ll get back to you.

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