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How to be your own brand

23/11/10

Our partner Rasheed Ogunlaru is a life and business coach, and regularly runs a workshop called ‘Be your own brand’ in the Business & IP Centre. Aimed at the self-employed, sole-traders and freelancers, the next session is on Thurs 25 November.

Find out more and book

We asked him for his top tips for freelancers working on a tight marketing budget.

Top tips from Rasheed

If you are shrewd, you can grow your profits, profile and prospects on a very limited budget. When I started as a coach I knew little about business but a lot about people, performance and personal PR.  Within a year I'd appeared on national TV and had spoken at national events.  Here are a few tips to help you on your way.

1. Know where you're going and what you're about: have a clear vision and values and stick to them.

2. Communication is everything: be clear, crisp, compelling, concise and customer focused.

3. Network with warmth, heart and interest (online and offline), both with peers and potential customers.

4. Develop a strong network of like-minded people with a range of skills and expertise.

5. Punch above your weight: share, swap, support others, smile, synergise and use special offers.

6. Use mediums that suit you: write a book or blog, seek opportunities to speak, join online and offline networks, use video or vlogs and run events - start small but have your eye on the bigger prize.

7. Visibility: develop a presence on websites and events relevant to your customers and industry.

8. Mine your contacts: most people come nowhere near to fully utilising their contacts; it starts with communication.

9. Be giving, genuine, grateful and gracious - this will develop a powerful sense of loyalty to you and your business.

10. Be yourself: be personal, professional and always deliver - reputation is everything.

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