The old school of marketing teaches you to put up your best front when trying to sell something. While this is true, your best dress is not always what sells. You need to over-deliver on the product your selling. Give your customer more than what they expected and they’ll be more likely to buy from you again in the future. But how you brand yourself in your marketing materials can make a difference, too.

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t get into internet marketing to have to wear a suit and tie… Put on my Sunday best. I like the idea of not having to shave when I get up… Dressing like a slob while I’m working… Working at whatever time of the day or night that I feel like… etc. If I wanted to dress up for work, then I would have a JOB!

Someone who is portraying themselves as an internet guru by wearing a suit and tie just doesn’t have a clue as to why most people get into this business. If they have no idea as to why I am an internet marketer, then how the hell are they going to teach me anything about the business… They don’t have the first clue! They’re just trying to sell you (and me) more junk that they copied from someone else and have never even tried on their own!

Branding yourself is very important in this business. People like to know who they are dealing with. Why else do you think my picture is on the front page of this site… besides me being one handsome SOB… and most of my other marketing materials??? Because I want people to know who I am!

You need to find a picture of yourself and incorporate it into your advertising as much as possible. Use the name you wish to be known by as often as possible, too. Pictures of your pet or an avatar won’t do much to instill confidence in your buyers. They want to know they are dealing with a real person!

I was known as Hammer the Almighty on the net, so I branded my marketing efforts around that name. But I haven’t stopped there. I’ve been incorporating my real name as often as possible to brand it with my marketing company. I want people who see “Hammer the Almighty” to think “Gary Calvert” and vice versa.

This has worked out well for me. The people who knew me from social sites now link Hammer with Gary and other marketers link Gary with Hammer.

The best advice that I think I can give here is to just be yourself. Be real! More people will relate to a real person than one who is so full of BS that he can’t see through it. Look at the most successful marketers out there… Frank Kern, Mike Filsaime, Joel Comm, Yanik Silver,… etc; Do they dress in suits and ties in their marketing pics? NO! Why? Because they are projecting their own image… Not the image they think will make them look more successful.

Truth be told, many people are intimidated by successful people. The average Joe (or Jane) is able to relate to other average people much easier than someone who is trying to impress them with their dress for success attitude.

So, get your name and image out there. Let your light shine! Be real and you will find that many more real people will follow you and listen to what you have to say and buy what you have to sell… But remember to over-deliver, too.

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