I ran across a bunch of great branding resources (a bunch of "introductions" to the topic) so I thought I would share them with anyone interested.

Here's the (severely shortened) list from today's stumbling!

The List

1. An (ex)-American Icon - What (bad) Cigarettes Can Teach You About (good) Branding
   
2. Personal Branding - Personal Branding - Why and How…
   
3. Some Basics - What is Branding and How Important is it to Your Marketing Strategy?
   
4. Branding with Social Media - 100 Personal Branding Tactics Using Social Media
   
5. Great Branding Interviews - Branding - Radio Shows
   
6. Simple intro to branding - Branding Your Business

Feel free to add to the list. I would love to check out some new sites.

Edit: One More

Hi Josh, I am new and don't really know what branding is. Can you tell me what it is and what it will do? - Thanks

Hi btruelove:

Branding is your ability to position yourself as the expert in your field in the hearts and minds of others. It's what other people think about you and what they say about you to others.

As a marketer, you want to be seen as the expert in your field. There are lots of different ways to brand yourself ... to build a positive perception of yourself in the minds of others. Let me suggest you listen to the following radio shows on the subject.

12 Ways to Become the Recognized Expert

The Brand Called You

Get Slightly Famous

You will benefit from all of these programs.

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Branding takes decades to build for most companies. Today everyone is taking about branding with a lot of confusion on how to brand yourself, product or your service. I like to think more along of owning a category than compete with a brand. (Yeah, I march to the beat of a different drum).
To become an expert, one must differentiate themselves from others..why I am different, why you should do business with me over anyone else. This is called a USP or Unique Selling Proposition. I also call it a UVP Unique Value Proposition...I like to sell value, therefore I think in terms of value. Some also call it an elevator speech, tag line, irresistible offer, but I thing those really refer to other things.
A small business or start-up business person has to be very niche focused. They must use public relations to build the brand. Remember this, advertising supports the brand after it become a brand. Most advertising, per se, is not measurable...if this is the case, you cannot, as a small business, afford this type of promotion.
Being active in this forum is one way to establish yourself the expert in your niche.