Over the next few articles I write here – we will be talking about branding during the entire process.
This is product branding (not “You’re business branding – different subject). We all want our customers to know where to find more stuff to buy from us. If we don’t consider this process from the get-go, a lot of catchup work will need to be done later.
Catchup = re-doing your products… yuck.
Looking into the future… you will want to have a “brand” that transcends all possible selling venues and “be found” in the search engines.
This would include the Name of your business. One that you can use on all the selling channels, your domain name and on your products.
You might also want to include a graphic that represents your public domain publishing business.
I have many different ‘things’ I ‘do’ for income generation… and not all of them have to do with publishing public domain content into products.
In this instance I want my eBay Id, my Etsy store name, my graphics, my website etc. to all have the same name and a logo.
The reason we need to start thinking about this Right Now – is this:
You want your customers to receive a product that they will show them how to always be able to find YOU and your products. And you want to have a brandable name and image that you can include in (an on) your products.
Why Do You Need It Now?
When you are creating the CD file that will be burned to your disk – you will need all of this “branding stuff” available at that moment.
The next article I will share with you will be about creating the CD… but unless you have all the pieces and parts ready – you will not be able to finish the product.
Once you have your branding elements – you will be able to use them on the CD label, The CD case, The eBay listing, An Ebay store, An Etsy store and your own website. Most importantly (regarding the actual product) you will need to have your branding in place.
Also – When I edited the books for my first product - I watermarked the last page of each book with a copyright notice (copyright the compilation) and a url to my website.
Do You Have A Domain (Website) Or Do You Even Want One?
I firmly (without hesitation) believe that YES – you should have a website that is used for your public domain publishing business.
You may not have anything on it at first – it may just have a link that directs anyone who finds it to your eBay store or Etsy store… yet it’s a start.
The domain name should be the name you use for you eBay Id and your Etsy store name.
For instance:
- Brand – Ancient Treasures
- Url - AncientTreasures.com
- eBay Id – ancient_treasures
- Etsy store name – Ancient Treasures
- Graphic Logo – Treasure chest with the words “Ancient Treasures” as the contents of the chest.
Of course – these are just made up things (AncientTreasures.com is already taken).
An Example: Udderly Good Stuff has some fantastic graphics and branding which carries from her eBay store into her eBay listings.
She carries over to her Facebook page.
She uses her branding on her own blog.
She could (should) use her logo on Amazon as well:
Why Do We Need Branding To Maximize Sales?
Good question.
I’ll share a few scenarios:
1. I have this fantastic CD that I bought on eBay – and my friend would like a copy. I have no idea who I bought it from and I would need to go onto eBay and search for my purchases.
OR – I could just look on the packaging and type the url into my browser and find the product.
2. I love the information that I received on the last CD I purchased. I’d like to see if the seller has more on this same subject.
3. I’m on Etsy and I see the store name – I wonder if the seller has more stuff for sale elsewhere. I can type in that name on Google Search and find out that seller is “everywhere”.
Do you see why I think you need “branding”?
Don’t Be Tooooo Quick To Brand
I’ve changed my eBay store ID several times – because I was toooo quick to select what I thought was the perfect branding.
I’ve selected my Amazon ID – poorly – because I was toooo quick and didn’t have a plan.
It does not matter to me WHAT you call yourself… It does matter that you choose with a plan in mind.
I now have a plan in place:
I thought about how I was going to market these products.
I wanted others to view the branding – and within a few seconds of viewing the graphic, the tag line and the name – be able to visually see that my publishing is “different, unique and will be something that they might like to investigate further.
Even though I have now drafted out a plan and have a domain name, graphic, tag line, switched my eBay Id (again), opened a New Etsy store… etc. – I still am not totally POSITIVE that it’s perfect.
That’s okay. It doesn’t have to be Perfect.
The fact that you have a plan in place is all the perfection that is required.
The fact is this… everything can be changed. It would be a pain in the hind end… but it’s doable. Nothing is carved in stone.
You will thank me for this advice in the long run. I just know it…
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post Debra!
I thought about this before and dismissed it in favour of just getting stuff out there! The thing is, I can see now how important it is – 2 of the main people I “follow” have branding in place that makes their online identity easily seen to me and I do feel much better about buying any of their products as I feel comfortable that their products are consistent.
It is hard to figure out what brand to go for, but I will definitely be giving that a lot of thought now.
Hi Debra-
I just wanted to know how I use the about me page in ebay. Sometimes it can be overlooked as a source of traffic to your site and it goes with ‘branding’ as well I think. I have a push for my customers to visit my about me page in my ebay listing. Once they go to my aboutme page – it directs them by link to other stuff I have. In other words – there is a lot of wasted space that people don’t use here that can be very lucrative.
Hi Debra:
Just love the report on “How to get ready to sell PD content on a CD or DVD”. That had me stymied, but your PDF is loaded.
I really want to put my website on a CD and sell it on eBay. You are covering every aspect of how to do that for us. My question is about “Branding”. I have about 1200 postive feedbacks in eBay, but I don’t have a good eBay name. I hate to change my eBay ID and have to start all over again. How did you handle that?
You the greatest! I bought your Public Domain Treasure Hunter, but am still struggling to make my first dollar using PD!
Thanks for sharing how inportant it is to get the unique brand name, tag lines and catchy graphics from the get-go. Would you outsource all that to Elance?
Mary
David L. Thank you for you comments… it means that I hit the target and made you think.
I think that having your products easily identifiable is a real key in this business.
Glad I could help. 8)
Sylvia – great point. I believe the eBay About Me page is just as important as an “about me” page on my blog.
This one page can go along way in getting more sales and helping the buyer have confidence in “you” and “your products”.
Thanks for sharing – and I will be sure to address this in the future.
8)
Hi Mary Brouilette, (I have two Mary B’s here
)
So glad my “freebie” helped you work through some of your hang-ups.
I switched my eBay name and don’t loose any feedbacks. The only thing that happens is they show an icon that says you have changed your name (that only shows for about 30 days).
It’s also a problem to change your name if people “find” you buy doing a search for your old name. This is why I changed it now – I still keep my high feedback. I haven’t been selling on eBay for quite some time so I don’t really worry about others finding me by my old name.
About selling PD – if you need any help with Public Domain products (selling) let me know and I’ll try to get you going in the right direction.
About graphics… I don’t outsource that anymore. I’ve got enough (minimal) skills to make graphics that pass my own personal “is it good enough” test.
You could get graphics done on Elance – I never have so I can’t give you any clue.
I used Dawn over at http://dpk-graphicdesign.com/ She is good at helping you figure out what you need. I used her for several years and she never dissapointed me – in fact she often over delivered.
8)
Hi, this website helped me greatly in the past and with setting up my online store, where I sell PD films and eBooks, pictures etc. There’s one thing that is bugging me though and was wondering if you could shed some light into this. I was going to sell the documentary film Chariots of the Gods based on Erich Von Daniken’s book. As I’ve seen that it was in the PD. But it was made in 1970. Would you know of a list of PD films? I can’t find any information online on whether it is actually in the PD.
Thanks again for all your posts. I love this website!
Hey Damien,
Thank you for letting me know this site has helped you so much… that means everything to me.
Please shoot me an email about your Chariots of the Gods question. Or a support ticket
http://www.thoughtrocketpublishing.com/support/
Debra,
Great post! I have been struggling with branding for quite some time. Anid I still haven’t figured one out.
On Twitter, Facebook, and just about everywhere else, I’m known as MaryB2010, (which I started using before I started thinking about starting a business.
I have 2 different usernames for eBay, one that is fairly generic enought that it could be used for everything. The other one is strictly cooking, recipes, cookbooks and everything to do with all that.
Both have graphic icons that I had my sister’s boyfriend do for me that I just love, but I’m not sure either one will work for everything.
I have the easy gluten-free living thing going, but that is such a narrow niche that I really don’t want to pidgeon hole myself into just that. Although I have reworked some PD recipes to be gluten-free.
Maybe I’ll email you with the details of everything, (if that’s alright). Wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to post all that info on here.
Mary´s last [type] ..Gluten-Free Mother’s Day Menu
Hey Mary…
I know what you mean about having your current branding not work for new directions.
If you are going to be publishing Public Domain content – in a variety of niches (as we are talking about currently) then everything that deals with branding for this
specific type of business is NOT your name (maryB2010) nor is it niche specific (regarding the Gluten Free stuff).
Please email me and we will brainstorm this together so you have a clear plan.
8)
Debra:
Thank goodness for your timely Blog Posts all last week. I definitely have SOS. You kept me from buying 3 new “shinny objects” training courses . My brain was already swirling with information overload. You helped me realize with that Free Report that what I really want is PD CD/DVDs to sell on eBay & Amazon. I drift off from one exciting email offer to the next, but I always come back to you because I trust you and you respond so quickly with sound advice . This time I’m here for keeps and I am NOT going to open any other emails except yours!. I have your PD Treasure Hunter’s Kit and “Let You Tax Dollars..”, but I don’t know how to get started selling. Your Find,.Focus & Finish Guide I will read over and over again, till it sinks in.
I looked at your sites created with Public Domain content and can’t figure out the sequence of “old” vs “new”.
You offered to help me get started. Do you have Mentoring classes? I would love to be a student.
To email you, do we just fill out a support ticket or just respond on the Comment Section?
Mary Claire
P.S. Thanks for the tips on changing your eBay ID. And that “Udderly Good Stuff” branding makes you want to have a “killer” Logo.
I
Mary Claire Brouillette´s last [type] ..The Pain-Free Alternative
Mary – to start an email conversation either reply to one of my newsletters or submit a support ticket. I will get back to you ASAP.
I’m so glad I could help keep you on track (and with your hard earned money still in your pocket).
I’m so glad you figured out what you want to do… selling Public Domain content on CD’s is a good choice.
If you really want to learn some of the “get started” stuff – I recommend Steve Pokes product.
I will eventually have a product teaching everything from -start to finish – but it’s a while before it get’s finished. I’ve learned where to get started from Steve’s product.
Yep – “killer logo” is a pretty big deal – I do think that Udderly Good Stuff might have gone just a bit overboard. But you will never forget the logo and if you ever
hit on one of her auctions again – you will remember that logo. That is just a tiny bit of branding – still, something that is important in the overall scheme of products.
Debra
Hi Debra:
Thanks for the quick answers. There was such a wonderful feeling of freedom today, because I ignored all those tempting emails except yours and will continue to do so!
I’m rejuvenated and ready to dig into PD Treasure Hunter Kit full time.
Signed up for Steve Poke’s 7 day course, before buying the product.
I use to sell CDs on eBay, so I won’t be a newbie.
Amazon has given disgruntled eBayer sellers a new platform.
I use to get your newsletters all the time, but not lately…. please send me the link.
Thanks a bunch .. looking forward to each day without information overload.
Mary Claire
Mary Brouillette´s last [type] ..The Pain-Free Alternative