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What A Brand Is & Isn't

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with 3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. #9001154

A brand extends far beyond colors, font styles and replication throughout all marketing aspects of a business. A brand represents YOU, Inc. whether you are a real estate professional, a stay-at-home mom, a pastor or a student.

As Chris Brogan explains in his recent blog, Personal Branding Basics for 2011, Chris mentioned that a BRAND is a PROMISE. It's where you start. He quoted Lance Armstrong about Yellow. Lance is not only a cyclist, he lives, breathes and promotes healthy living - the extension of his BRAND.

What BRANDING ISN'T is: a logo, the same photo repeated everywhere, a slogan, a catch phrase, a theme song. Those aspects, although necessary for repetition are a thing of the past.

BRANDING is living, breathing what YOU ARE. Hence, bringing it back to this Active Rain Blogging platform, BLOGGING and BRANDING works hand-in-hand.

Blogging is an expression of your thoughts and beliefs (at least it should be). You should always end up writing what you believe and not what you think your audience wants to read. Remember that in any given time, you can only attract about 25% of the people who already likes you. You could never convince someone who's not in the same wavelength as you.

A Brand is what you want to be known for. A Brand is what you want to be remembered as.

One of a great blogger that I'd use as an example here is Katerina Gasset. When you see her name and if you have followed her blog for a while, you'd know she's an advocate of Home School, she voices her opinions about politics respectfully and with no bashing, yet she expressed her viewpoints, she lives in an area with Polo Horses and clearly in a luxury market.

Other bloggers who have prominently created a brand for themselves are: Steve Shatsky with his photos of vintage cars and you know he's actively marketing the Dallas Condominiums. Debe Maxwell with her Charlotte homes (I picture the homes Debe sell in Charlotte), TLW with her whip (OUCH!). I could go on and on and you'd get the picture. They inject what they are into their blogs.

As for me, being a Christ-follower is the reason I'm in business. With a name like 3:16 team REALTY, it's hard not to wonder if the name has anything to do with the Bible. I constantly answer what does the 3:16 mean?

Take BRANDING to the next level, if you haven't already done so. Blogging is such that although it is somewhat of a passive method of lead generating, it is HIGHLY POWERFUL because it reaches out to only those people who want to seek that information. After all, isn't what our business is about? Reaching out to people who needs us? You can't be everything to everyone.

 

 

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Loreena Yeo - Frisco TX Realtor
Loreena Yeo - Realtor® in Frisco TX
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com

Loreena Yeo - Facebook Loreena Yeo - Linked In Loreena Yeo - Twitter Loreena Yeo - Youtube Channel Loreena Yeo - Flickr Photography

 

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Copyright © 2010 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY)
What A Brand Is & Isn't

Tom Waite
Thomas Waite Real Estate Broker - Cypress, CA
So Cal-Apartment Bldg Investments

Great post!  Branding can help with development of a company's market share, however, it's difficult to BRAND an individual agent.

I guess the best brand for an agent is SOLD!

Sep 28, 2010 04:45 PM
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Branding in real estate is more about what we think of ourselves then the image that represents us.  Most opportunities are spontaneous thus we need to be the living voice of what our brand is! 

Sep 28, 2010 07:14 PM
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Branding in real estate is more about what we think of ourselves then the image that represents us.  Most opportunities are spontaneous thus we need to be the living voice of what our brand is! 

Sep 28, 2010 07:14 PM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

Gail - Thank you so much for asking. I appreciate you wanting to know.

Here's what I know. Those people that do not want to do business with me will never call me. At this point in my business, I blog and work on my Internet marketing on websites. Potential clients call me. I do not actively call people. So those who call me naturally don't think my company name would offend them (I think).

Also,  I'm a minority (Chinese). I can speak several languages. I was born and bred in Malaysia until I came over here at 20. Hence, I understand people who does not speak English as a 2nd language. At least I think I could communicate better, understanding their slang and pronounication of words. So many times, before they struggle to finish their sentence (in English), I already know what they are trying to ask.

Many of these clients that I serve are non-Christians. Has religion ever make it difficult to do business together? Personally, I dont think it has in my business. If you want to take religion in a general business standpoint, everyone (including those who do not have religion) want to be treat fairly, honestly and communicated effectively.

Although 3:16 is my brand, no where do I discuss religion in my real estate transactions.

I think your comment inspired another blog (hopefully a good one).

Sep 29, 2010 12:34 AM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

Jayson - I appreciate you taking time to share your opinion. I have written another post about this and if interested, you could go there - Religion and Real Estates - The 2 Rs that do not go together.

For the record, you have made alot of assumptions for my business, to which I would just say I have my own opinions about them.

When you say, 3:16 team REALTY and 4:20 Realty, there is no difference. You're also telling me there is no difference between You as Re/Max and/or You as Century 21? Try bringing this up to other agents and brokerage firms of different brands.

It's like saying there's no difference between Starbucks and Seattle's Best Coffee, Mac & Windows, Pepsi or Coke. All the same, right?

Sep 29, 2010 01:48 AM
Mike Yeo
3:16 team REALTY - Frisco, TX

@Jayson - Thanks for your response. Not trying to defend our company name. Every business (I hope) has a set of core values on what the company is all about and culture. How could a company survive without these base core values and principles. Every company emerge from some neat stories behind them.

Our company started that way too. The name 3:16 is something that we belief in and not trying to shove religion down our client's throat. Does it make a different if the name is 3:16 or 4:20? Absolutely! For you it may not be but for us it means something.

As for mixing religion or politics with business, we live in one of the best country there is that allow people the freedom to do so. Our country is going through some interesting time on what and how this country was founded. Not going into that here. You have no idea how much conversation got started by someone asking what does 3:16 mean? Was the company founded on March 16 at 3:16pm? We do not cramp religion down anyone's throat.

In fact, we have clients from all religions. We do what is right, we do not discriminate anyone.

Your comment of "The purpose of branding in business is to promote the virtues of a company or product and differentiate those virtues from all other companies and products. The goal of branding yourself in our industry is to create and achieve a consistent flow of leads and prospects." is very interesting.

We are in the service industry and our product is us or you. How do you brand yourself to be different from the rest of the hundreds and thousands of realtors or company? What makes you different from the agent in your office? The only answer was how you conduct your business.

How do you conduct your business? Hopefully, they come from your core values. Would it be wrong to use your core values as your business name? To some it might, to others it may be an intrigue name. By the way, our company name came from 1 John 3:16. Not to shove religion down your throat but our core value believe that we should treat others, no matter what color or religion they are, the way that Christ did for us. Give our very best effort or honesty (even if the truth may hurt).

1 John 3:16 (New International Version) 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

I appreciate your comment on the post and hope that it opens your mind about branding and how others came up with their branding.

Sep 29, 2010 02:56 AM
Ken Bryant
Chino Hills, CA

Great post Loreena, I've been struggling with how-to brand myself in this very competive industry
you bought up some very interesting points that I will definitely use as I begin branding myself and the services I offer

 

Sep 29, 2010 05:02 AM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

@Ken - I know you'd hit me if I said shoes. But how could someone have such a prominent name like yours and not think about all the nice fashion Kenneth Cole represent. Like Debbie Proctor, you could play on the brand that's already done for you.

To me, Kenneth Cole fashion is stylish, classy and everything that you do could represent that. How you dress, how your presentation materials look like, all could play into the brand.

Trust me, it's better to have your name associated with Kenneth Cole shoes than Walmart Great Value products.

Sep 29, 2010 05:16 AM
Kenneth Cole
Weichert Realtors Appleseed Group, 2043 Richmond Ave. S.I.N.Y. 10314. office phone 718-698-9797, Appleseedhomes.com... - Staten Island, NY
NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Yoreena;  you're a doll.

Sep 29, 2010 09:39 AM
Tommy Cooper
Pillar to Post - Belleville, IL

Thanks

Sep 29, 2010 12:15 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

You are so correct.

Not about what you "say", but about what you "are"

Sep 30, 2010 02:58 PM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

This was a fun post because there are many good points about branding. Its something I still need to work on myself.

Sep 30, 2010 03:08 PM
Kim Boekholder Utah Real Estate/ PECO
Results Real Estate 801.580.5624 - Draper, UT
Broker Results Real Estate/Leasing Specialist PECO

Loreena~  I really need to work on my branding.  I am branded more as the company I work for than myself and I need to work on that

Sep 30, 2010 04:43 PM
Ken Bryant
Chino Hills, CA

Never thought about piggy-backing off of the Kenneth Cole brand name
I think you might be on to something

Thx, Kenneth!

Sep 30, 2010 05:58 PM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty

I like what you say about what branding is not.  I guess I've always related branding to a logo or catch phrase.  Great perspective!

Oct 01, 2010 01:58 PM
Jean-Paul Peron
The Outer Banks Real Estate Copmpany - Corolla, NC
Carova Beach - Living & Working in 4-Wheel Drive

Excellent post.

 

It reminds me that I need to give my blog more focus.

Oct 17, 2010 05:18 AM
Debra V. Edwards
edwards builders and realty, inc. - Cashiers, NC
Realtor/Builder, Cashiers, NC., Highlands, NC., Glenville

Loreena:  I am so proud of you!  At first glance I knew what 3:16 meant, but you have the 'love' to put it in your name.  God is so proud of you too!  In this age of Christians not being able to pray or say or be...you've done it in a name.  Mucho Kudos to You.

Thanks for helping me know in my knower what branding is and is not....bet you can't guess what my brand is???  At the bottom of all of my emails is a saying of mine; "Spay/Neuter...Don't Litter"  Then it says: 4 million 'pets' are put down across America yearly...just because they cannot find homes for them.  My Sister in Christ, debra 

Nov 30, 2010 11:11 AM
Debra V. Edwards
edwards builders and realty, inc. - Cashiers, NC
Realtor/Builder, Cashiers, NC., Highlands, NC., Glenville

Loreena:  I am so proud of you!  At first glance I knew what 3:16 meant, but you have the 'love' to put it in your name.  God is so proud of you too!  In this age of Christians not being able to pray or say or be...you've done it in a name.  Mucho Kudos to You.

Thanks for helping me know in my knower what branding is and is not....bet you can't guess what my brand is???  At the bottom of all of my emails is a saying of mine; "Spay/Neuter...Don't Litter"  Then it says: 4 million 'pets' are put down across America yearly...just because they cannot find homes for them.  My Sister in Christ, debra 

Nov 30, 2010 11:11 AM
Anonymous
Norberto Conradi

Thanks for the blog article.Really thank you! Want more.

May 10, 2015 01:07 PM
#85
George Fanucci
CoreFact.com - Los Altos, CA
Internet - Technology - Business - Solutions

"A brand is a promise." — Who first said that? It's been stated in Forbes Magazine and many other places over the past three or four decades. Where did it begin?

You always know what to expect, what you’re going to get, with a well-branded product or service.

May 10, 2015 05:38 PM