Since I announced the launch of my upcoming resource, The High-Concept Brand Bible™, I've been getting all kinds of questions about branding from my subscribers and clients.

If you signed up for the pre-launch list (send a blank e-mail to contactus5-134674@autocontactor.com -- you will find out how to save $100 if you order by Dec. 22), you received a brief answer to the question: My market -- and my clients -- are very unique. I don't understand why a brand would possibly help me get ahead.

My short answer to the list was:

This question gets posed to me repeatedly, and the fact is that while I understand that you feel strongly about this, it really doesn't matter what market you're in, it doesn't matter how competitive your niche and no, your clients are not different! The High-Concept Brand strategy that I teach you in The High-Concept Brand Bible™ is the same system used by companies like Nike, Sony, Apple ... oh, and by thousands of small businesses and micro-businesses such as health care consultants, financial professionals and, yes, marketers like myself.

You might think that, for example, my own service/publishing business has nothing to do with the devoted fans who buy each new set of Nikes that comes out -- but guess what? People are people and have a set of needs much like everyone else on the planet. You just have to know what they're looking for, and then brand your business accordingly!

But I don't feel that that does the question its full justice.

So brace yourself because I'm going to be more blunt than my mother raised me to be: :)

The brutal truth is, you can tell yourself that your market is special all you want. You can claim that your clients are not like other people's clients, that they won't respond to a powerful brand message, that they won't respond if you try to raise your rates, that they won't see you in a different light if you finally claim the expertise that you and your small business have in spades.

You can shy away from making a bold move to turn your business into a brand powerhouse based on the same principles as the big players do.

But the underlying cause of all this hesitation isn't about any "marketing truths" about your clients -- it's about your fears ... of change, of moving outside of your comfort zone, of succeeding.

Don't let fear dictate your marketing

We all seek out vendors because we have a problem that needs solving. And the easier that those vendors make our lives, and the more pleasurable our experiences dealing with those vendors, and the more that we see the value of working with those particular vendors, the more likely we are to go back, spend more and tell others about them.

Your clients are no different. We're all just human beings with the simple need of a solution to the things that challenge us in life, whatever they may be. We know and expect others to promote their businesses to us because they are in the business of making money or will go out of business far more quickly than we hope.

Telling yourself that you cannot expect *your* clients to handle a simple promotional slant to your communications with them is to say that you don't think your business is good enough, that you don't have a strong enough relationship with your clients to be able to stake your claim on success in the marketplace, plain and simple.

If I sound frustrated, it's because I am!

Time and again, I see business owners just like you sell themselves short when they could finally be succeeding. I'm talking about highly talented, even gifted people who aren't paid what they're worth because they have never attempted to show the world what they're capable of, what their products or services are actually worth.

And it's all because of an unwillingness or inability to lead, to risk upsetting a handful of overly sensitive clients while strengthening your standing among the rest of your clients -- and a whole lot of new prospects as well.

So let me ask you this? If I gave you the tools to lead the way with your brand, would you?

If you were given the chance to learn a step-by-step approach to figure out why your business is so special, to boost your confidence, to raise your standing in the eyes of your clients and prospects, would you take it?

Brand success is just around the corner

When you take the time to understand what clients are looking for, regardless of industry, occupation and personal likes and dislikes, you begin to see that each and every one of us can benefit from turning a "follow the leader" business model into a "leader teaches its following" High-Concept Branded™ business. It's just that simple.

When you take the time to lead the way, you pave a path for yourself and your business that heads toward the kind of success that gives you the money, time and freedom to do the things you want in your life. And it doesn't matter what size your business is, what type of clients you have, etc.

All you need is the vision to turn your business into a brand. And that is what The High-Concept Brand Bible™ is all about, folks: finding your vision, building from your business's strengths and taking charge of your business success from this point forward.