Finding Your Brand

"Branding" seems to be a popular catchphrase among 21st-century authors. The term tends to make me feel like a box of Milk Duds; stick me in a box with a gaudy label, stash me on a shelf, and hope someone buys me!

 

But branding represents a vital part of marketing. As Christian authors, each of us has been granted an individual message to communicate to the world. If God has given you a message, shouldn't you communicate it as clearly as possible? Shouldn't you focus on getting your message out to the maximum number of people in your target audience? That's what branding is all about: helping people "get a handle" on your message and your ministry.  

 

I'm still working on developing my brand and my tagline. It's amazing how your concept of your ministry, your writing and your brand can morph over time. One of my "branding struggles" has been to find a brand that encompasses all of my books and my ministry interests without sounding too vague. I had chosen the tagline "Redemptive Writing and Speaking," but that's probably not focused enough. So I'm still searching for the perfect brand.  

 

Author and writing mentor Mary DeMuth has written one of the best articles I've read on branding. If you need help choosing a powerful brand, please read Mary's article by clicking the link below:  

canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing/2007/09/how-i-found-my-.html

 

I've love to hear your own brands and how you came up with them! Please post a comment here. Thanks!