Branding Tips for Entrepreneurs Digital Hollywood

Personal Branding and Company Identity panel from Digital Hollywood October 22 with Dawn Nadeau, co-founder IAmElemental Toys; Julie Spira, CyperDating Expert; Debra Fine, CEO I Have a Dream Foundation – Los Angeles; Kirsty Spraggon, founder KirstyTV; Liz Heller, founder Buzztone; Kate Neligan, founder SynergyTV Network. Moderated by myself, Linda Sherman, co-founder, Courage Group

This is the video of our session.

Topics Covered in the Video:
– Why your personal brand is important
– Personal Brand transition
– Power and Passion of current entrepreneurial project/position
– How to get press for your start-up (including press release tips)
– Importance of Contacts for your business and how to build them with networking, and networking follow-up
– Writing (op eds, for major pubs, website with your name)
– Klout, influencer marketing and social media strategy
– Speaking engagements, including TEDx
– Getting the brand benefit from your Cause donations/activities
– Proof of concept with KickStarter
– Timing of PR versus product availability

Three of our panelists (Debra Fine, Kirsty Spraggon and Kate Neligan) participated in this same themed panel May 2014. There were a few topics we weren’t able to get to this time, and not everyone got to say everything they wanted to say about the topics we did cover (we needed three hours!) So you can find more here with a full transcript of the May 2014 Personal Branding and Company Identity with these additional topics:
– Participating on Board of Directors
– Vlogging (video blogging)
– Company brand image transition
– MasterMind support groups
– Diversity

Audience Comments on Twitter. Thank you!

Up next at #DigitalHollywood is a discussion on women entrepreneurs and how they brand themselves with @LindaSherman and @juliespira

— Business Wire (@BusinessWire) October 22, 2014

What a panel! Women entrepreneurs and how they brand themselves and their businesses. pic.twitter.com/KxzmQ2hGtl @LindaSherman @JulieSpira

— @serena (@Serena) October 22, 2014

People do business with people they like – are you presenting your best self, in person or online? #digitalhollywood

— @serena (@Serena) October 22, 2014

Are you interested or interesting? When you change the conversation from YOU to THEM, you get higher social engagements. #digitalhollywood

— @serena (@Serena) October 22, 2014

Another great way to build your personal brand, and your organizations brand? Video. Update it frequently! #digitalhollywood @juliespira

— @serena (@Serena) October 22, 2014

Bravo @LindaSherman @juliespira @lizheller @iamelementaltoy @debralynnfine @kirstytv @mindfulmediaent Great panel #DigitalHollywood

— Ellen Olivier (@SocietyNewsLA) October 23, 2014

@LindaSherman @KirstyTV @JulieSpira @IAmElementalToy @DebraLynnFine @MindfulMediaEnt @lizheller YOU LADIES ROCK!!!!

— Kristin Cruz (@KristinCruz) October 22, 2014

Lots of responses and support to our tweets. Thank you!

Come hear @KirstyTV @JulieSpira @IAmElementalToy @DebraLynnFine @MindfulMediaEnt @LizHeller 10:45a #DigitalHollywood pic.twitter.com/uYPbWHCudL

— Linda Sherman Gordon (@LindaSherman) October 22, 2014

Resources:
The Brand Called You classic by Tom Peters for Fast Company from Dawn Nadeau
Container Store CEO says Women Make Better Employees from Kate Neligan
How to participate in a Twitter chat by Linda Sherman
Please note there are further resources on our May branding panel post

Our Panelist Bios and Social Links

Dawn Nadeau, co-founder IAmElemental
Dawn Nadeau is the Co-Founder of IAmElemental, (www.iamelemental.com) an independent toy company that is changing the way people think about girls and action figures. She is a member of the board of Monica Bill Barnes & Company (www.monicabillbarnes.com), a creative modern dance company, is a Strategic Advisor to Women Moving Millions (www.womenmovingmillions.org) and is an Advisory Board member of Flip Labs (www.fliplabs.com).

Dawn has worked on all sides of the business development equation. As one of the original team members at Fast Company magazine she helped design, develop and oversee their incredibly successful Live Events group. While at Fortune magazine, Dawn was the Director of Content and Development, and worked closely with the editorial team to develop the magazine’s content into such successful programs and products.
 At Goldman Sachs she was a Vice President in the Office of the Chairman and worked in the Partner Practices area.

She began her career (too long ago to share in polite company) as a management consultant at Renaissance Solutions and at Nextera Enterprises where she supported mergers and acquisitions efforts.  A graduate of Wellesley College, Magna Cum Laude, with a B.A. in American Studies and a G1-level Instructor in Krav Maga, an Israeli form of self-defense – Dawn feels she is mastering the fine art of both giving and taking punches gracefully, metaphorically speaking of course. Unless you take her cab. All bets are off then.

dawn@iamelemental.com
Twitter: @IAmElementalToy
Facebook.com/IAmElementalToy
Linkedin.com/pub/dawn-nadeau/0/205/a35/

Julie Spira, CyberDating Expert
Julie was an early adopter of the Internet and began her digital career three decades ago as a broadcasting executive for RKO Radio Networks. She’s the CEO of Cyber-Dating Expert, an online dating coaching and advice service and founder of Social Media and More, a social media strategy and branding company.

Julie turned lemons into digital lemonade when her first book, “The Perils of Cyber-Dating” was published and became a bestseller. She’s the go-to person in the media for online dating advice and has been featured over 600 times in news stories.

Julie writes about the marriage of love and technology on Huffington Post and is passionate about social media. She’s received numerous honors and held positions including one of the “Top 10 Columnists to Follow on Twitter,” was named “One of America’s Ultimate Experts” by Woman’s World magazine, and ranks as the top most influential person in “dating” and “online dating” on social media influence site, Klout.

Julie started her career in broadcasting as the first female radio show host and voice-over announcer at WAAL in Binghamton, NY. Her digital career began when she was the youngest female executive at RKO Radio Networks, the country’s first digital-delivered satellite radio network. She later went on to become an executive at IDB Communications, a global satellite and telecom provider serving the broadcast industry.

Julie’s presently developing several television and film projects and is writing her second book, “The Rules of Netiquette: How to Mind Your Digital Manners.”

Twitter: @JulieSpira
Instagram: @JulieSpira
Linkedin.com/in/juliespira
Facebook.com/juliespira
Facebook.com/cyberdatingexpert
Web: CyberDatingExpert.com
Web: RulesofNetiquette.com
Web: SocialMediaMore.com

Kirsty Spraggon, founder KirstyTV, Motivational Speaker
Kirsty Spraggon attacks life like it’s a chocolate cake. She is the Executive Producer & Host of KirstyTV. An international speaker, author & entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. With 21 years experience in every facet of the sales industry. Her outstanding career saw her ranked in the top 1 percent of individuals in RE/MAX’s global network of 121,000 sales agents worldwide. She has continued her success in speaking, being awarded the 2011 Breakthrough Speaker of the Year, at the National Speakers Association. Kirsty hosts an online talkshow called Kirsty TV where people share their personal stories, the lessons, struggles and growth they have experienced. The show focuses on sharing inspirational and empowering stories. The Today Show recently referred to her as ‘The Next Oprah’. Her online show has hit 100,000 views & she recently spoke at TEDx.

Twitter: @KirstyTV
Instagram: KirstyTV
Web: Kirsty.tv

Debra Fine, CEO I Have a Dream Foundation – Los Angeles
Debra Fine has been CEO of both private and public companies in the educational media, technology, and consumer product sectors. She is on the Board of Directors of The Maple Counseling Center, which provides low cost mental health services in LA. Debra Fine founded Fineline Foundation to help victims of violent crimes. She has appeared on CNN with Piers Morgan, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, HuffPostLive, Business Rock Stars and other TV outlets. She been featured and quoted in The Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Santa Monica Mirror and other leading publications. Debra Fine has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal of Honor for saving lives.

Twitter: @DebraLynnFine
Twitter: @IHADLA
Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/DebraFineCEO
G+: plus.google.com/+DebraFineCEO
Instagram: DebraLynnFine
Facebook.com/IHaveaDreamLA
Facebook.com/FinelineFoundation
Facebook.com/DebraFine1 (personal timeline)
web: DebraFine.tv
web: FinelineFoundation.org
web: IHADLA.org

Liz Heller, Founder Buzztone
Liz Heller has been described by USA Today as “the godmother of the women’s cyber movement in Hollywood.” She has been working in technology and new media from its’ inception.

Liz is the Founder and Chief Alchemist of Buzztone, a Los-Angeles based marketing company focused on digital strategy, business advisory, social media, and e-commerce. She is also the co-founder of ScreenSpaces, a social publishing platform. Liz has worked as a strategic and initiative advisor for TOMS since 2007, and works as a social media and eCommerce advisor to many socially conscious based companies and startups including Tropare, Boopsie for Libraries, Gravy, Smarty Pants, and FreeCity Supershop.
A powerful voice for women in technology, Liz has held senior positions at Capitol Records, MCA Records, Island Visual Arts, and produced the film “The Basketball Diaries.” She is a graduate of UCLA.

Kate Neligan, Founder SynergyTV Network
Kate Neligan, Founder of Synergy TV Network & Life/Career Coach, is a story-teller, mirror holder, and inspiration catalyst. She brings over twelve years of entertainment and digital media expertise to her mindful media company Synergy TV® an online, curated video channel that entertains, enlightens, and inspires. Previously, Kate was the Vice President of Video On Demand & Digital Marketing at Lionsgate where she promoted and distributed thousands of films and created successful partnerships with iTunes, Comcast, DIRECTV, Xbox and many more. Kate also ran the marketing and event planning for American Film Institute’s Digital Content Lab and started her career at iN Demand. Kate holds a Master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology from USM.

In addition to sharing transformational and uplifting stories, Kate is also a Conscious Rockstar™ life and career coach, empowering men and women to live lives that rock. Kate’s specialty is working with corporate groups and individuals in equine coaching, where she partners with horses that operate like mirrors to help people grow in self-awareness. Together, they teach and train people to develop effective communication, inner power, and leadership skills that lead to success in all areas of life. Kate’s personal story on trailblazing can be found in the compendium book “Women Will Save the World”. Kate is also a motivational speaker and her TEDx talk is entitled “The Pursuit of Perfection.”

twitter: @mindfulmediaent
facebook.com/ConsciousRockstar
facebook.com/synergytv
twitter: @SynergyTVNet
web: consciousrockstar.com
web: synergytvnetwork.com