I get asked often, how someone should assess their brand strategy if they’re in the start up mode and can’t yet afford a professional assessment. I think the answer can be fairly simple, but will require a dose of humility and vulnerability from you to pull off. The answer: let people in and ask for real feedback. Many in the marketing field have said that your brand communication is precisely what others are saying about you. I think there is a lot of truth in this and you can use it to your strategic advantage. So, don’t just do a survey, but rather request genuine feedback from a select group of clients and/or other professionals in your market. What do they say your style is? What would they say you value? How would they describe the experience you provide?

Take this info to heart and compare it with what you’ve been trying to communicate. If things aren’t lining up, then you’ve got some work to do. But, gaining some clarity and focus through this type of exercise will help you achieve better positioning in your market and will push you closer to your goals.

Remember, require honesty in the feedback you receive….encouragement from your closest allies is great, but real feedback from clients and vendors will likely serve you better, if you’re willing to listen.

Let us know how it goes! Good luck~