Back in 2005, I spent some time in the African country of Zambia visiting a family member who was a Peace Corp volunteer. Zambia is a beautiful place with the variety of animals, warm people, and scenery. I recall one day being out in the middle of nowhere when we came upon a little store. Though that area of Zambia did not have electricity or running water, that store had something that I see often when I visit store in my area: Coke. Coca Cola has done a great job building its brand to the point that it is recognized in even the most remote parts of this world.
There are some companies here in the USA that we know well as they have built their brand. Most of us know that the golden arches are a symbol of McDonalds and that a curved arrow made into a smile is the symbol for Amazon. Most of us also know that “just do it” is the slogan for Nike. If you are a real estate and note investor and want to increase your business, it is important that you also build your brand. There are several things that are important for one to do as you build your brand:
- People need to feel that you are provide a reliable, trustworthy service or product
- People need to feel that they know you and trust you
- Building your brand is something that is done over time. It has taken decades for McDonalds and Coke to build their brands, and it will take many years for you to do the same. You build brand in a myriad of ways such as the following:
- Interacting with people at real estate meetings, note events, and other gatherings
- Social media posts, podcasts, and video
- Marketing through letters and emails
While perhaps it is unreasonable for a real estate or note investor to aspire to have a brand as well recognized as Amazon and McDonalds, it is not unrealistic for them to do that bit by bit. What will you do this week, this month, and this year to help build your brand? Best wishes in your real estate, note, and wealth building pursuits- RLW