What I Learned in L.A.

Good day; and welcome to my blog post! This is Chris Teague, brining you news from the Other World.

Before I begin my post, I would like to quickly mention a respected PR professional, Mary Ellen Miller. I want to thank her for being such a wonderful asset to my marketing efforts; so Mel, Thank You!! I recommend you check out her site and blog as well. Okay, here goes today's post.

Being back on the East Coast has me thinking of the lessons I learned while in L.A. this past week. So, today's post is about taking my personal brand and integrating it within a new audience; the West Coast.

I have written and spoken on personal branding because marketing is a way of life for me. My clients expect me to understand how their brand resonates within the community, so I practice what I preach daily. In L.A. I was able to make sure my brand was evident and left a memorable impression upon the people I met.

I was in L.A. last week conducting business for a Reality TV series. If you know anything about the entertainment industry, image and reputation are everything. So, you may ask yourself how someone from the South was able to fit in on the West Coast? Easy, I made sure that I clearly communicated I was reputable and had the expertise to create the image my colleagues out there wanted to see.

First, I came prepared with registered writing samples so that they entertainment folks knew I was an actual writer. I also shared some of my marketing portfolio with them to demonstrate a thorough understanding of where the dollars come from in the Reality TV industry; advertisers.

Next, I shared all the research about the show that I discovered prior to meeting. This act boosted my brand to the top of the "Credibility Charts" quickly. Being prepared is part of my brand, and research is a huge part of how I succeed in this marketing world. So, I did not change my brand one bit; rather, I carefully integrated it into the West Coast scene by building credibility through knowledge. I positioned myself as an expert simply by knowing a few vital facts about the show I was discussing.

Lastly, I made sure I looked the part. I wore a custom-designed suit (the only one I own because I'm too cheap to buy them) even though I knew that the people I was going to meet would be dressed in more casual attire. By wearing this suit I positioned my brand as being professional, which complimented my expert positioning discussed earlier.

You see, my personal brand integrated nicely into the West Coast scene. I hope you can understand how this simple story is what companies seek to do with their brands everyday. There is a lot of thought, research and planning put into brand integration. I spent two months preparing to integrate my brand, and it was just for one sixty-minute meeting.

I will share more about what I did in L.A. in next week's post, so come back!

-Chris Teague