A STAR ISN’T JUST BORN, IT’S BUILT.

photo: Annie Leibovitz

A STAR ISN’T JUST BORN, IT’S BUILT.

Ever heard of Stephanie Germanotta? Maybe.
Ever heard of Lady Gaga? Definitely!

Guess what…they are one and the same. Lady Gaga’s wild success story is not just the result of her incredible song and dance talent, but also a tale of branding. While she may have been born a star, her star power was systemically built. Gaga leveraged her character from the stage, social media and the big screen to fiercely break out from the crowd and carve a niche for herself all while connecting emotionally to develop a genuine bond with her audience (loyal clients that flock to theaters and buy her albums.) That is the power of a star brand!

“Don't you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can't be exactly who you are.” – Lady Gaga

So, how do you build a Gaga star-power brand? Well, let’s start with grasping what a brand is and what it isn’t… A brand is essentially the well-defined soul of your business, not just a sleek logo or trendy website. It’s the full Mother Monster that includes your brand voice, cohesive visual style and a clear understanding of your ideal client coming together to form your unique position in your industry. 

Butterflies in your stomach wondering "Is my business ready to become a brand? Am I ready to take that leap?” The answer is HELL YES! Put on your “Poker Face,” step out on stage and make that “Money Honey!” Here are seven signs you are ready to headline your brand in your industry.

7 SIGNS TO KNOW
YOU’RE READY TO
TAKE CENTER STAGE

1. YOU’VE BEEN HUSTLING FOR 5-10 YEARS (OR MORE)

You’ve pounded the pavement, been through the wringer and from that, you’ve made adjustments, established processes and have a general workflow in place (even if that means color-coded post-its on your desk). It’s been the “Perfect Illusion” but you’re ready for more.

2. YOUR BUSINESS IS PLATEAUING

The beginning of the ride was up and down, then there was a steep incline in business (which rocked!), and now it’s still all good, but it’s also all the same. If you’re feeling stuck on the carousel, it’s a good sign it’s time to sink your “Teeth” into a brand refresh and rise your star to a new level.

3. YOU L-O-V-E YOUR CLIENTS

The spark is real and your clients are “Dope!” They inspire you. You want to spend more time with them. And honestly, they keep asking you to do more stuff for them anyway so why not make it a win-win situation? (read: sell clients more services and products.) 

4. YOU’RE O-V-E-R YOUR CLIENTS

“Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe.” Your clients are draining you and the spark has flickered out. Feeling underwhelmed by inquiries and disenchanting leads, you’re definitely ready to find new clients. You desperately want to swipe right on the kind that recognize your amazing talents and make you feel badass again.

5. YOU’RE READY TO MAKE BANK

“Hello, Hello!” Charge. What. You’re. Worth. It’s time. You’ve put in the hours to learn your craft, honed your niche but still not charging what you know you’re worth. The trick is making sure your brand backs up your perceived worth with potential clients to support your pricing. Honestly, you could be only a few tweaks away from earning your dream income.

6. YOU ARE SICK OF BEING UNDERCUT BY THE UP & COMERS

It's bullsh*t. You’re wiser, better and not going anywhere. You’ve got killer systems, established clout and you’re in it to win it. It’s time to take a stand and refocus the spotlight on your business. You already have a “Million Reasons” for clients to book you, the next step is being sure your brand is up to date showcasing your services in a way that is undeniable. You think Gaga would let someone take her spot? Absolutely, not! It’s time to take it to the EDGE!

7. YOU’RE READY TO WORK “ON” YOUR BUSINESS NOT JUST “IN” YOUR BUSINESS

You’re the boss/the brains/the creative and you’re finally at a place where you can really embrace that. Your team is fab, your systems flow (mostly) and now you can take a step back, look at the bigger picture and do the top-level dreaming & decision-making to get there. Our businesses are a “Love Game” of give and take. Too often they just take, take, take our time and our energy but now is the moment for you to give yourself the business you truly earned and deserve. It’s easier than you may think...

Scored high on the list and asking what does it take to make your brand fierce AF? Answer: A solid foundation and a “Goody Goody” glam squad to help you shine. Editor’s Edge develops and defines your Brand’s Style and Voice with our customized guides. Supply your team with the internal tools required to present a cohesive image and voice. Together, we’ll systemically lay the groundwork to strengthen your brand, knock out the competition and attract your fan club. It’s "You and I", baby… We’re here for you. No judgments. Just mad support.

“JUST DANCE” 

over to your screen of choice and 
schedule a free brainstorming session on the “Telephone."
(…even better if you can get Beyoncé on the line too!)
 📩

Like a Boss: Directing 101

photo: Zee Nunes

DIRECTING 101

It’s MORE than just “management.”

Whether it’s the assistant that doesn’t understand timelines or the one who can’t get it right the first (or second) time, we find ourselves going in circles to get sh*t done when there’s way bigger fish to fry. So what’s the catch? Well, you might want to ask yourself, “Am I managing my team or directing them?” There’s a difference! As the boss, your agenda should be on top-level items: setting goals, providing tools, and defining success for your team. That then trickles down to your team, who should be managing themselves. It might sound easy in theory but we know it’s hard in practice (been there, done that, still doing it). Good news is we’ve got a few tips to get you rolling. 

The 4C’s of
Directing like a BOSS

1. COMMUNICATE

BECAUSE: Unfortunately, we’re not all mind readers. Save yourself the annoyance of confusion and be crystal clear when talking about what you want and expect from your team. Bonus points for taking the time to understand the different ways each of your colleagues learns – whether they lean on visuals or need some examples, cater to their style and you’ll all find success sooner. 

BE WARNED: Let’s just say communication is the backbone of directing a team. Without it, you’re going to find yourself burning the midnight oil to catch up on the tasks that your team totally effed up.

2. COLLABORATE

BECAUSE: There’s no “I” in team, or in boss for that matter. Working together can unlock opportunities and solutions you couldn’t come to on your own. The sense of collectiveness will also instill responsibility and ownership in your employees. They’ll feel more invested in your business, which is always a good thing.

BE WARNED: A “my way or the highway” style of micro managing will get you nowhere fast. Not only is it totally annoying but also completely inefficient (see above: you have bigger fish to fry). Empower your team and make them feel they have something to add. Which they do! Otherwise, why did you hire them?

3. COMPLIMENT

BECAUSE: Give credit where credit is due. When it comes to team members, you’re not only building a positive rapport but also giving them a boost of confidence to keep doing great work! Pro tip: it’s the cheapest way to increase employee morale. Regardless of who you are, positive reinforcement will always make you feel like a million bucks. 

BE WARNED: Lack of accolades isn’t great for company morale…or employee retention…or your continued efforts to find your Zen. We’re big believers in the power of positive reinforcement so why not check your ego at the door and give credit where credit’s due. A little goes a long way.

4. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

BECAUSE: One word: GROWTH. As the boss, for better or worse, it’s part of the gig to support growth in our team members. Honest feedback delivered in a clear and encouraging way will truly resonate with your team to push them to improve and do better work. All that equals less micro managing and more time dedicated to important boss stuff…like finding the perfect LBD for your next speaking engagement. 

BE WARNED: Cue resentment. Without critique, your team can’t look back to look forward and set themselves up for success. Which is incredibly frustrating to them and it’s going to be incredibly frustrating for you too. Skip the passive aggressive hostilities by doling out advice that they can use to create an action plan to accomplishment.  

So to sum it up: Communicate, Collaborate, Compliment and Constructive Criticism. Rinse and repeat for team-fueled success and hard-earned BOSS freedom!

Ready to Call the Shots? 
This Way to Direct Success. 

 

Falling in (and out of) Love with your Business

photo: Mark Shaw

FALLIN’ IN (AND OUT OF) LOVE WITH YOUR BUSINESS? 

Let’s play True or False to find out…

1: Just the thought of marketing yourself and your business makes you throw up in your mouth a little bit: TRUE or FALSE?

2: You dream of a specific team of collaborators but don’t quite know how to connect with them: TRUE or FALSE?

3: When you look at your digital galleries, it’s a bit all over the place and even you aren’t sure what you’re selling: TRUE or FALSE?

4: You used to want to buy your clients a drink…now want to throw one in their face: TRUE or FALSE?

5: There’s a disconnect between how you envision your brand and how others see it: TRUE or FALSE? 

If you answered “True”
  to any of those questions, it’s time to
work through a few things.

Don’t sweat it; we all go through some emotional downs in our business (sometimes that leads to a side-hustle affair). Lucky for you, Editor’s Edge is a great relationship therapist. So just lay back (on our imaginary leather couch), read up and start fallin’ back in love with your brand.

WARD OFF NAUSEA: Authentic content is like ginger ale to ward off marketing queasiness. Create content that really connects with your ideal client and you’ll never have to bust out the barf bag again. 

PLAY THE FIELD (PROFESSIONALLY): Is there a special someone arranging flowers you have an Insta-crush on; or do you keep pinning images by the same art director? Reach out! Gush over how awesome they are (everyone loves a compliment) and propose a collaboration. It could be a match made in industry-heaven.

GET A (DIGITAL) FACELIFT: What you show is what you get. Sit down with Dr. 90210 to curate your perfect aesthetic. Giving your work a nip/tuck will make sure you’re keeping up with the (young) competition. 

EMBRACE EVOLVING RELATIONSHIPS: Your business isn’t as young as it used to be, you’ve outgrown a few things...like those clients who want everything to stay the same – including your rates! They say people come into your life for a reason, and you’re grateful for the support from your long-time clients, but you’ve got to keep moving forward. Be clear in communicating who your brand is and the type of work you're (currently) accepting; we bet they'll start taking you out for drinks. 

SEE YOURSELF MORE CLEARLY: Mirror, mirror on the wall…we all know how that tale ends. There’s no magic apple for this one, only honest feedback will wake you up and get you on the right path. Soon enough everyone will be seeing eye to eye with your brand clearly. 

It’s about falling back in love with your work. From embracing a new (leaner) look to finding your tribe, being true to your brand will take a sad song and make it better. Soon enough you'll be singing it from the rooftops!

Still wondering, “where is the love?”

We’ll help guide your search, 
just take a seat on our comfy couch.