How exciting is it to have your name in the paper? Unless you are a politician with a secret, we tend to feel pretty energized when it happens. We run to the gas station and grab a few copies, cut them out and send a copy to mom.

But why is it when we are mentioned online, or our blog does great, it just doesn’t seem to carry as much weight? According to a recent survey, people tend to view newspaper as more trustworthy than online articles.

But how does that translate to your marketing? Social media is truly the fastest way to get your name to the masses. In a click of a button you can communicate to thousands. We can link numerous ideas and concepts to enhance our marketing plans. But we can’t rely solely on internet to build our business.

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Does your company have a personality? Of course it does…but what does it say about you? The persona you portray to the public has to match the ideals and goals of the company. If you are a law firm you can’t have clowns and balloons in the lobby. Well you can, but people will not take you seriously.

If you want to move your business to the next level, some introspection may need to be done. Typically the image you portray is based on the manager’s or owner’s personality. Are you fun, boring, whimsical or flat?

Your personality needs to be seen at all levels of the company. Marketing, the lobby, your staff. Siliva Pencak from The Magnetic Look put it perfectly:

• Identify the traits that you want to represent you, and convey these traits in everything that the business does and makes.
• Select color themes which reflect your personality when creating templates for websites, letterheads, advertisements, etc.
• Craft positioning statements or stories around the image you wish to portray and ensure that it is circulated on all company materials. A brand building strategy which incorporates an interesting story will appeal greatly to prospective customers.
• Ensure that the way employees interact with prospective customers is of such, that the ‘personality’ of the brand is maintained at all times.

Marketing your business has to be done on a variety of levels and platforms. Your personality has to shine in all of them. If you are, by nature shy, does that keep you from having fun and interesting ads? Do you let your Facebook page show your true spirit, or will you step out of your comfort zone to push your business?

It’s all about redeveloping ourselves and our company. Define who you are and where you want to be. Then GO DO IT!

Oprah, Beyonce and Donald Trump all have memorable personalities for different reasons. And it shows in their business world as well. Does yours?