How to be an Entrepreneur as a Business Journalist

Presented by Maya Payne Smart and Joe Grimm

Building YourProfessional Brand

Presented by Joe Grimm

AboutJoe

Today’s Agenda: 5 Steps

1. Identify Brand YOU

2. Describe that brand

3. Values & value

4. Own your brand

5. Grow it

Goals for Today

• Understand journalistic branding

• Begin to determine my professional values

• Start drafting my identity statement

• Inventory my promotional tools

• Commit to some first steps

Why Brand Matters

Unique = Value

• Unique talents, knowledge command attention

• Word of mouth brings clients to you

• Generic can be substituted for anyone cheaper

• Brands travel with their owners

Good Brands Are

• Remarkable

• Genuine

• Valuable

• Personal

• Passionate

Bad Brands Stick, Too

1. Identify Brand YOU

• Tap your talents

• Go with your passion

• Identify emerging values

• Look for new niches

2. Describe That Brand

• Clearly

• Consistently

• Client-centered

• As a value proposition

• Within a professional context

Oprah/Harpo/OWN

3. Values and Value

• Be the catalyst

• Set the pace, don’t just keep pace

• Don’t be afraid to turn down a bad job

• Stand out and stand up

4. Own Your Brand

• Publish often

• Work through online networks

• Use 2nd-degree connections

• Face-to-face is still the best

5. Grow It

• Be everywhere

• Contribute your ideas

• Mentor/teacher

• Build your practices in others

Summing Up

• To succeed, you need to be a brand

• Base it on your passion and valuable talents

• Broadcast a consistent message

• Never stop working on it

• When should I start? Today would be good.

Thank You

• Maya, Joe and the people at Reynolds feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with you on building your entrepreneurial business and your brand. We wish you much success. Come back often.