The Visionary Chronicles

Brand Community | How to Build a Brand Social Following

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: September 27th, 2023
 
Brand Community | How to Build a Brand Social Following
 
"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said.” – Peter Drucker
 
Building a Brand Community is an effective way to engage with your customers, create loyalty, and a group of brand advocates who can help promote your products or services.
Building your Community requires precise brand positioning, diligence, consistent voice, values, and Vision.
 
Here are several steps to help you build a brand Community of Followers:
Define Your Brand and Values:
Clearly define your brand identity, values, and mission. What does your brand stand for, and what is its purpose? This will help attract like-minded individuals to your Community.
Know Your Audience:
Understand your target audience and their needs. What are their interests, preferences, and pain points? Knowing your audience is crucial for tailoring your Community to their interests.
Choose the Right Platform:
Select the appropriate platform for your Community. It could be a social media group, a dedicated forum on your website, a mobile app, or a combination of these. Choose a platform where your target audience is active.
Create Valuable Content:
Share high-quality, relevant content that resonates with your Community. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, or other forms of content that provide value and encourage discussions.
Engage and Interact:
Actively participate in the Community by responding to comments, asking questions, and encouraging discussions. Show that you value your community members' input and opinions.
Encourage User-Generated Content:
Encourage community members to create and share content related to your brand. This can include reviews, testimonials, photos, and stories. Recognize and reward outstanding contributions.
Offer Exclusive Benefits:
Provide exclusive benefits to community members, such as discounts, early access to products, or special events. This gives them a reason to join and stay active in the Community.
Create a Sense of Belonging:
Foster a sense of belonging and Community among your members. Use inclusive language and make them feel like they are part of something special.
Moderate Effectively:
Implement clear community guidelines and moderate the Community to ensure a positive and respectful environment. Address any issues or conflicts promptly and fairly.
Host Events and Activities:
Organize online and offline events, webinars, workshops, or meetups that allow community members to connect with each other and your brand.
Listen and Adapt:
Pay attention to feedback and suggestions from your Community. Use this input to improve your products or services and adjust the community experience.
Measure Success:
Set clear goals for your brand community and track key metrics, such as engagement levels, membership growth, and user-generated content. Adjust your strategies based on the data.
Evolve:
As your brand community grows, evolve your strategies to meet changing needs and preferences. Be open to trying new approaches and experimenting with different engagement tactics.
Celebrate Milestones:
Recognize and celebrate community milestones and achievements. This can include anniversaries, reaching a certain number of members, or successful campaigns.
Promote Advocacy:
Encourage community members to become brand advocates by sharing their positive experiences with your brand outside the Community, such as on social media or through reviews.
Building a brand community takes time and consistent effort. It's essential to create a brand journey environment where members feel valued and connected to your brand's values and Vision. Over time, a strong brand community can become a powerful partner for your business, helping you build lasting relationships and driving long-term growth.
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
 LiquidMind Inc.
 
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, Product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, ranked as the #1 Visionary and Top 50 Marketing Podcasts by Feedspot, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
You can contact or  follow him at;
 
 email | bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
 Facebook | @bryansmeltzer33
Instagram | @bryan_smeltzer
X |  @bryansmeltzer
LinkedIn |  linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 
#BrandCommunity, #BuildingACommunity,#BrandVision, #Vision, #creatingVision, #Visionaries, #disruption, #productstrategy, #BrandLifestyle, #Creators, #ElonMusk, #oakley, #jimjannard, #stevejobs, #theVisionarychroniclespodcast, #theVisionarychroniclespodcast, #theVisionarybrandbook, #brandtips, #brandingprinciples,
#theVisionarybrand,
 
 

The Visionary Brand | The Culture Matrix | Leadership

EPISODE 127
The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: September 20th, 2023
 
Content from Bryan’s new Award Winning, Bestselling Book
The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
Readers Favorite Award Winner: Best, Non-fiction, Marketing book
Amazon Bestseller.
 
THE VISIONARY BRAND | The Culture Matrix | Leadership
 
" Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit” - Jawaharlal Nehru
 
To be a Brand, you must first understand yourself, who you are, and what you do, then engrain a singular voice around these principles and apply this to every segment of your business. In other words, creating an authentic Culture, driven through a passionate Team and Community collectively realizing your Vision.  
Brands who embrace this authentic Culture are often led through Servant leadership. Servant leadership is proactive and self-sacrificing and leads to a cohesive team loyal to a brand's long-term growth. Many brands, such as Patagonia, are committed to being Servant leaders and giving back whenever and wherever possible. The commitment is carried through in their brand culture;
 
“Patagonia supports environmental organizations with bold, direct-action agenda, and a commitment to long-term change.”
 
What an awesome cultural statement that reflects Servant leadership and consistent brand voice. The Vision of Patagonia through founder Yvon Chouinard’s eyes and carried through the brand and its team's bloodlines! A passion that has led to one of the world’s most successful and admired brands, a Vision to be a Servant leader, and to build a Culture that lasts for generations.
For your brand, Servant leadership can be carried through serving others without any hidden agenda for the betterment of the brand, employees, or customers on a global scale. By engraining Servant leadership into your Culture, a brand can better communicate its values and Vision to those looking to join your Tribe. However, always keep it authentic, real, and value-driven; this is the anchor of Servant leadership.
Another cultural value that meshes with Servant leadership is Character. A leader's Character, which consistently follows through at all levels of your brand, builds loyalty and trust across your team. A leader with character issues often drives inconsistent or unauthentic leadership. Authentic Character is a Foundational principle of Visionary leaders, and once it is broken, the entire foundation of a brand starts to crack. If severe enough, the whole brand may crumble; this is how vital Character is to a brand’s viability. It is not the brand's success that builds a great team; it is the consistent Vision, Character, and Servant leadership of its Visionary!Diversity and Values leadership are additional areas required to create a solid brand Culture. Most brands fall short in these areas, not for lack of trying but not understanding the importance of maintaining both principles. You can’t simply pick and choose when you are committed to these principles; you need to be 100% committed once they are set. To say one thing and do another creates confusion, breaks trust, and reduces loyalty. While at Oakley, we had a “take no prisoners” attitude, which bled through the entire brand culture and showed throughout our Community. We were the Visionaries, the category leaders, and we knew it. We were cocky and had an attitude. Best in class, or nothing!
Can you honestly say you understand “who you are and your culture?” If not, get to work and define it. Otherwise, you are a rudderless boat with no sense of direction or destination.
Anchor yourself and your brand in Servant leadership first, with consistent Character, defined Values, and brand Diversity.
So, in conclusion, in order to build a Culture that lasts for generations, and is tangible, authentic and genuine you must have the following;
Servant Leadership
Leadership Character
Diversity of People, Opinions and Roles
Value Driven Principles
These are anchors to the foundation of any great brand, and a Culture which sustains and maintains its passion to succeed.
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
 LiquidMind Inc.
 
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, Product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, ranked as the #1 Visionary and Top 50 Marketing Podcasts by Feedspot, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
 
He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
You can contact or  follow him at;
 
 bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
 Facebook |  @bryansmeltzer33
Instagram |  @bryan_smeltzer
X |  @bryansmeltzer
 LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 
 

The Visionary Brand | The Power Triad | Product, Marketing & Sales | PART II

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
 
Content from Bryan’s new Award Winning, Bestselling Book
Te Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
Readers Favorite Award Winner: Best, Non-fiction, Marketing book
Amazon Bestseller
THE VISIONARY BRAND | The Power Triad (PART II)
 
"Stay hungry, stay foolish." – Steve Jobs
 
This quote from Steve is a passionate plea for creators never to be satisfied with the status quo. Always ask "Why” and “How” and search for answers to questions others have not yet asked. In response to these questions, find a way to separate your brand from the status quo; you need a transparent, cohesive process to ensure the greatest ideas become a reality!
In this podcast, I want to further our discussion on The Power Triad, the three engines that keep a brand thriving; Product, Marketing & Sales. Bringing insanely great products to market is a process, a method to the madness. You will often create a product when there seems to be no demand. The supply and demand problem, what to do, and how to do it?
When the Power Triad determines opportunities to disrupt or reinvent how a product works or how a  process provides a solution, this is the front end of the ideation process. The Ideation process is driven by and led by the Product and Marketing teams, each responsible for a critical ingredient to a brand's ongoing success formula, starting with a premium product, commercialized when ready, not by Marketing but by the product team. When the Power Triad process is not followed correctly, when marketing gets ahead of Product, or Sales get ahead of Marketing, whatever the breakdown, it always leads to a disaster.
One real-life disaster, a case study in my new book The Visionary Brand, is when Under Armour, driven by my marketing success in its early years, decided to enter a new market, football cleats—a category without core expertise. During the commercialization process, marketing had committed a campaign budget to a specific release date, which the Product team had not signed up to. Although the Product team was not on board with releasing the Product, Marketing had commitments, and they took the lead with a product not ready for primetime. The release was a product disaster, having to return most of what was released. The real damage was related to trust and authenticity, which take decades to earn, and weeks to lose.
Lesson learned through the following formula.
Great Product + Great Marketing = SUCCESS
Wrong Product + Great Marketing = FAILURE
When building your Power Triad, ensure they follow the process; Product to Marketing to Sales. There is input from each core group along the way, with most being in the front end of ideation, but Product must commercialize the Product, Marketing must market the Product, and Sales must Sell the Product. Simple but challenging for most brands to commit to and follow through.
In my new award-winning and bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands, I reference Breakout or Breakdown. You can either Breakout, where each needs each through Interdependence, or Breakdown, where each needs itself through Independence. The Power Triad is an Interdependent group of cross-functional team members working towards a singular goal. To crush the competition!
Build a great Power Triad team, and give them the Independence to be Interdependent on one another—the formula for success in building a generational product pipeline and loyal brand following.
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
 LiquidMind Inc.
 
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, Product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, ranked as the #1 Visionary and Top 50 Marketing Podcasts by Feedspot, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
You can contact or  follow him at;
email |  bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
Facebook |  @bryansmeltzer33
Instagram |  @bryan_smeltzer
 X | @bryansmeltzer
LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 

The Visionary Brand | The Culture Matrix

EPISODE 125
The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: August 16th, 2023
 
Content from Bryan’s new Award Winning, Bestselling Book
The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
 
Readers Favorite Award Winner: Best, Non-fiction, Marketing book
Amazon Bestseller.
 
THE VISIONARY BRAND | The Culture Matrix
 
" Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
 
A brand's bloodline, values, and foundational principles are carried out through its Culture. Within a brand, the Çulture is a living, breathing thing; everyone within the four walls can feel it, and those outside can see it. Building a Vision dedicated to sustaining a brand Culture is the core of a brand's ultimate success. Without it, you are merely a company selling products, a Commodity. With it, you gain loyalty from your team and long-term value from your Community.
So when you look at Culture, what is it, and how is it built? I am often asked, “What does a brand Culture look or feel like?”  It is a phenomenon few experience, as there are so few genuine, authentic brands. I often say, just because you say you are a brand, does not mean you are a brand. A brand is an earned position, and Culture is a crucial ingredient to successfully crossing that bridge. Culture is an intuitive feel. Your products, communications, and bloodline connect everyone to the brand through a common thread called a Vision.
To build your Culture, there are four distinct areas to focus on.
Authentication | Be authentic in all you do as a company, clearly understanding your brand Vision. It all starts with a Vision executed through others and authenticated with a consistent voice.
Character | Do not allow a disconnect between what you say and what you do. As simple as this sounds, it is often difficult to maintain. Ensure you are true to what you stand for; others can see through the nonauthentic company pretending to be a brand.
Loyalty | Provide value beyond product, and be loyal to those who are part of your brand through purchase. Consistently and authentically engage beyond purchase, and personalize their experiences. Your Community values your products, but they also appreciate the Lifestyle you promote through your Culture.
Trust | Be a brand that is true to what you stand for, with no BS, be authentic, and don’t fake it. Do not trade a short-term reward for long-term pain.
Becoming a brand involves many ingredients to build the formula for success. Brands are defined by their Culture, set by a clear Vision. Their Products are consistently excellent, and their Lifestyle is tangible through Products and Vision.
If there is a disconnect between a brand's Vision and Culture, it starts to tear it apart, starting small but eventually infecting the entire company. Internal brand Torchbearers and external advocates are the ones who keep the Vision alive and pass along the torch to the next generation. This is how a brand becomes brand and generational; think Nike, BMW, Lamborghini, and Ralph Lauren are iconic and all generational in their success.
Build a Culture around becoming a brand through a Vision set by your Visionary. Stay consistently excellent, consistently authentic, and committed to your Vision. Become generational and leave your legacy for others to follow!
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
 LiquidMind Inc.
 
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
 
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, Product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, ranked as the #1 Visionary and Top 50 Marketing Podcasts by Feedspot, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
 
He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
 
Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
You can contact or  follow him at;
 
 email | bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
Facebook |   @bryansmeltzer33
Instagram | @bryan_smeltzer
X | @bryansmeltzer
LinkedIn |  linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

Brand Vision | How to Create A Vision for Your Brand

 
EPISODE 126
CHRONICLE: August 18th, 2023
Brand Vision | How to Create A Vision for Your Brand
"Think Different." - Steve Jobs
 
Think Different, simple, but sophisticated, just like Steve wanted it to be. Not all brand Visions can be as sophisticated, yet having a Vision is critical to your success as a company. Establishing a Vision is one of, if not the most important, things you will do when starting your company. It sets the tone, the culture, the long-term goals, and what you want to accomplish. This is a lot to accomplish, but it must be succinct, and bringing it down to a few simple words will be your most challenging task.
Along with Steve’s Vision, think of other brands, BMW and “The Ultimate Driving Machine.”
Setting a Vision for your brand is crucial in defining its purpose, direction, and long-term goals. A well-crafted Vision statement helps guide your company's decisions, actions, and strategies. Here's an 11-point step-by-step guide on how to set a Vision for your brand:
Understand Your Brand's Purpose | Start by clarifying why your brand exists beyond profit-making. What product does it Create, and what problem does it solve? What value does it bring to your customers' LIFE? Your brand's purpose is the foundation upon which your Vision will be built.
Define Your Long-Term Goals | Consider where your brand will be in the next 5, 10, or 20 years. What do you hope to achieve? Consider market share, revenue, geographic expansion, or customer base growth metrics.
Analyze the Market and Competition | Understand the landscape in which your brand operates. Analyze your competitors' strengths and weaknesses. Identify gaps in the market that your brand can address uniquely.
Consider Your Brand's Values | What foundational principles guide your brand's actions? Consider values like innovation, disruption, brand sustainability, integrity, or customer-centricity. Your Vision should align with these core values.
Involve Key Team Members | Engage key team members with “out of the box” thinking in the Vision-setting process. Their insights can provide valuable perspectives and ensure alignment.
Craft a Clear and Inspiring Vision Statement | A Vision statement should be concise, memorable, and inspiring. It should capture what your brand aims to achieve in the long run. Use language that brings emotion and paints a clear picture of the future.
Make It Ambitious and Realistic | Your Vision should be ambitious enough to motivate and excite but also grounded in reality. Striking a balance between aspiration and feasibility is critical.
Ensure Alignment with Mission and Strategy | Your Vision should be aligned with your brand's mission (why you exist) and your strategic plan (how you'll get there). These elements work together to provide a clear roadmap.
Communicate Internally and Externally | Share your Vision with your team consistently to get buy-in and commitment. When your employees understand and believe in the Vision, they are more likely to work towards it. Communicate the Vision externally to customers, partners, and investors to build a shared understanding.
Review and Update Periodically | Your brand's Vision should not be set in stone. Market conditions and business dynamics change over time. Regularly review and adjust your Vision to stay relevant and aligned with the evolving landscape.
Lead by Example | Embody the values and principles outlined in the Vision as a leader. Your actions and decisions should demonstrate your commitment to achieving the brand's long-term goals.
Remember that a well-crafted Vision is not just a statement on paper; it's a guiding force that influences your brand's culture, strategies, and actions. It should resonate with everyone associated with the brand and inspire them to work together toward a common purpose.
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
 LiquidMind Inc.
 
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, Product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, ranked as the #1 Visionary and Top 50 Marketing Podcasts by Feedspot, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
You can contact or  follow him at;
 
email | bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
Facebook | @bryansmeltzer33
 Instragram | @bryan_smeltzer
X  | @bryansmeltzer
LinkedIn |  linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 
 
 
 

Brand Positioning | Stay Premium Find Success

EPISODE 124
 
CHRONICLE: August 9th, 2023
 
"Just say NO to COMMODITY!"
                                       Tom Peters, The Circle of Innovation
Content from…
 
The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands.
Readers Favorite Award Winner; Top Marketing Book
Amazon Bestseller.
 
Brand Positioning | Stay Premium Find Success
 
Positioning is a cornerstone piece of defining your brand strategy. Having described your brand's position in the marketplace, you will have determined your point of difference vs. your competition, how future products will enter your selected distribution channel, and what type of products will fit into your portfolio.
Each of these foundational questions is part of your positioning strategy. Within each question are deep-rooted answers which will direct your path as you move forward.
With Positioning, you are either premium or commodity, with a sprinkling of some brands in the middle of the road. Defined as "good," "better," or "best," Positioning, your objective should be to be the "best," or at the very least at the top tier of "better," but NEVER "good"! This is where the commodity companies, notice I said commodities and not brands, play, and you do not want to play in the bloody water—too many sharks and insufficient food or margin to s. Go where the water is clear, and no one fights over scraps. Granted, this is more difficult, as these waters are more vast, but it will support your success long-term. This is why being DIFFERENT is critical to a brand's success, not worrying about competition, and finding ways to stay ahead of the innovation curve and disrupt wherever possible.
When establishing the Positioning for your Brand, several questions must be asked.
What are we Selling?
Who are we Selling to?
Where are we Selling?
How do we want to be Perceived?
Each of these sets a foundation for your Vision to where your brand can travel and what paths are prohibited. Travel down these paths and succeed, veer off course and fail. Your choice!
24/7
With data being consumed by your customers 24/7, how does a brand cut through the clutter? Once you have defined your Positioning, you need to set a cohesive, vertical strategy that allows you to engage with your community, build an authentic audience, and enable them to be a part of your growth. Remember, it is better to have ten authentic ambassadors of your brand than 1,000 who are not committed to supporting your Vision.
With 35-40 touchpoints a day, it is critical to have a set plan, a clear, cohesive strategy understood by all who are empowered to execute its success.
Once you have set your Positioning and determined your 24/7 marketing strategy, ensuring you stay the course, do not sell out, take shortcuts, or maneuver off course is critical. When a brand decides to pursue these, they end up having to put the brand in reverse, and they also damage community loyalty and the equity of all brands.
So as you set your course, start your Journey, stay True to who you are, define your brand culture, reward those who contribute to your success and never look in the rearview mirror. Keep blazing the path for others to follow.
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands. He recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and the UCLA Media, Entertainment and Sports programs, and the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
 
Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
 
email | bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
Facebook |  @bryansmeltzer33
Instagram |  @bryan_smeltzer
Twitter | @bryansmeltzer
LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 
 

Brand Alignment | Managing Marketing & Sales Teams

 
EPISODE 123           
The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: August 2nd, 2023
 
PODCAST: Brand Alignment | Managing Marketing & Sales Teams
 
" Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people.”
   Wisdom from Steve Jobs
 
With over 88% of companies indicating a misalignment between marketing and sales on items such as; strategy, branding, and creation, it is an area that needs vast improvement across almost every brand.
Our clients at LiquidMind (LiquidMindsite.com), both large-cap through start-up, face the same issues, and most do not either recognize the misalignment or understand the process to improve the alignment. In addition, as more brands move to DTC, the sales cycle becomes more tangible on the direct-to-consumer side and with your retailers as they fight for both dollars and time. As a result, this alignment becomes more critical to a company's short and long-term success.
With most brands, you will find these two functional areas run independently when they should be working in parallel, ensuring the brand is in complete alignment across all channels and modes of communication. However, they need each other, and frustration, inefficiency, and misalignment set in when separated.
So how does a brand work to correct this misalignment?
At LiquidMind, we work with our brands on the following areas, and step by step, piece by piece, the alignment becomes a reality.
 
Content Creation
Based on the brand positioning, creative assets, and channels, marketing often makes assumptions that what they are creating is valuable to the sales teams, buyers, and customers. You must understand where, when, who, and how you create and communicate to define what is needed.
Is this content a valuable tool for the sales team, and does the marketing strategy take a regular "pulse" check with your brand community, buyers, and sales team? Creating for the sake of producing is not a strategy. Moving does not mean you are making progress.
To create alignment with Content Creation, ensure the sales team is mapping your creative strategy, both online and in-store. Also, provide your community with engaging with your content, and they find something "beyond" the product helpful.
 
Understand Need
More often than not, these two areas do not understand each other's needs. Always start with Marketing, and end with Sales. Just because you "create" something does not mean it is an effective tool for the sales force.
To better understand the need, have the sales team provide regular input on tangible tools to make their lives easier and provide branding, tools, and communications to make your communities' lives easier. Understanding and balancing both is critical to marketing your brand and ensuring you maintain brand equity and loyalty with both sales and customers.
 
Mind Merge
Regular sessions with the sales team, communicating marketing efforts, and applying the strategy daily builds trust with both organizations.
Merging ideas and concepts with reality will bring the Marketing Strategy to a more tangible level for the sales team. So get them involved, but sales must also understand their role in the process NOT to create, but rather provide details on NEEDS.
 
Tool Generation
Ensure marketing has laid out the sales team's tools, resources, and integrated brand strategy. The sales team needs to be seamless with "messaging" to buyers and consumers and the lead driven by marketing.
Without a clear strategy, vision, or plan, you can imagine how quickly this alignment can break down.
Ensure you provide online and offline marketing tools that both internal sales and external buyers or customers can use.
 
With the fast-paced, digital world we live in, aligning with everyone inside a brand is critical to the successful execution of your strategy. Frustration and misalignment can be replaced by an authentic, genuine passion and excitement for what your brand is doing and yet to accomplish. Together, lock arms, understand shared needs, complement one another strengths, and work on your weaknesses to better the brand!
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. The Visionary Chronicles podcast is the #1 Global Visionary podcast and Top 50 Marketing podcast for 2022 & 2023, ranked by Feedspot.
In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands. He received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
 
He is a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and the UCLA Media, Entertainment and Sports programs, and the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
 
 e-mail | bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
Facebook | @bryansmeltzer33
Instagram |  @bryan_smeltzer
Twitter | @bryansmeltzer
LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 
 
 
 

The Art of Competition | Creating a Strategy to Eliminate Competitors

 
CHRONICLE: July 25th, 2023
 
PODCAST: The Art of Competition | Creating a Strategy to Overcome Competitors
 
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster."
                                                                                                         Sun Tzu, The Art of War
 
The Forces of Competition, which determine strategic planning and marketplace execution, are shared among all industries. Those who can anticipate both industry and competitive moves will succeed for generations.
Anticipation is the "Art of War," and brands who fight and win the battle without having pulled a sword are the ones who have mastered the "Art of Competition." But unfortunately, many have gone to war and have shown nothing for their efforts; a strategy built on a foundation of brute force inevitably fails.
Find a way to determine outcomes before they are fought, and you will build a team and a brand set on a solid foundation, a fortress others cannot enter. Creating a culture where everyone knows their role, works together to ensure the foundation stands, and others envy what you have made and want to know your future Vision. The best they can hope for is to follow your path but never lead.
There are several forces brands must be aware of to execute The Art of Competition in the marketplace.
 
New Blood
With this scenario, new blood is the latest entry into your category, one who has a new idea and provides a potentially better service or product.
Combatting this competitor takes anticipation, an innovation process, and the ability to never look over your shoulder. Each of these allows a brand to advance with its Vision while ensuring this new blood is blocked or eliminated from establishing a beachhead without doing anything different. Changing course is not an option, but pivoting without disrupting your business is critical.
 
Scale
The scale was a strategy many were caught off guard by during the pandemic, and most were unable to recover in whole or in part.
However, the winning formula is attaining sufficient scale with a manufacturing matrix with the core competencies needed to produce a consistently excellent product and out-innovate yourself first.
 
Community
Loyalty, recurring revenue, and value creation are foundational to longevity. These pieces of your foundation will create a wall no competitor can climb.
This takes consistency, an understanding of who your customer is, what they value, and why they buy your products and is a strategic weapon built off your team's shoulders.
 
Commodity Players
The Imitators, not the Innovators, are the commodity players. They are not to be feared; instead, they are the ones to be called out and challenged at every turn.
Imitators churn great Ideas into inferior-quality products and lower-tier price points. As a result, they do not build a trusting, loyal community that embraces the value provided by the brand but rather a following looking for the next significant "draw-down."
Some have been successful with this strategy, but this is like building your foundation on the sand vs. rock. YOUR CHOICE.
 
Rivals
The most threatening part of a brand executing its future Vision is its direct Rival, those who have authentically built a loyal community, created their innovation pipeline, and stayed true to their foundation.
They are to be respected, but the Art of War principles are genuinely beneficial and provide the most benefit. You want to anticipate the moves of your Rivals,  find ways to outflank them, diminish their impact, and put the fires out before they start.
The Art of War is winning without having gone to battle. So what can you do to anticipate your Rival's next move and step out and take risks, never to relinquish your lead?
 
The Art of Competition is understanding the landscape, anticipating your Rival's moves, outflanking your Competition, and finding ways to win the battles through a strategy where you never have to draw your weapon! Find a way to win!
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. The Visionary Chronicles podcast is the #1 Global Visionary podcast and Top 50 Marketing podcast for 2022 & 2023, ranked by Feedspot.
 
In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands. He received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and the UCLA Media, Entertainment and Sports programs, and the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
 
 bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
Facebook |  @bryansmeltzer33
Instagram | @bryan_smeltzer
Twitter | @bryansmeltzer
LinkedIn |  linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/