What is the Brand Building Lab?

Like many multi-passionate online creatives, I have more than are of interest. In fact, I have been in the personal finance space for quite awhile. I run a website and podcast called Michelle is Money Hungry where I talk about all things personal finance with a social equity focus. Here’s the thing, I also have a niche site about Colorado that I let simmer in the background for a number of years. So, what in the hell is The Brand Building Lab and what is it’s role in my business?

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Thinking about starting your brand website?

It’s pretty simple to do and cheap! Start with Siteground and WordPress.org. With this winning combination you’ll own your own website by the end of the day. Siteground has easy to follow tutorials to help you with setting up your site. Create a website that you own. I recommend using Siteground to host a WordPress.org (self-hosted) website where you can own your own content and design your online brand. They even have tutorials on how to set up your website. Be clear about the products and services that you’re selling. I recommend using Canva to create marketing materials that “wow!” Thinkific is the platform that I use to create my tools and courses.

Listen to the Episode

Resource

Grab my “Do It Ugly” toolkit today.  Perfect always gets in the way of done. If you’re looking to get started on your blog, podcast or other digital components of your business grab this kit.

Qube Money

When I first started my business, my finances were a mess. I was paying off debt and just trying to hustle until my business grew. I tried everything to keep my finances in order ranging from using online money management platforms, spreadsheets and the envelope system. This year I discovered Qube Money which is a digital envelope system paired with a debit card. You deposit your money into an FDIC insured account and then can spend based on dedicated Qubes that you’ve created within the app. If you’re paying for tools such as Flodesk for your emails, Thinkific to host your courses and coaching programs, or Deskpass for your coworking access, Qube keeps you organized and can be one of your dedicated business accounts. I’m a proud affiliate of Qube Money, check out the link that I share in the show notes.

Show Notes

• To be honest, this is not the first time that I worked on an online entrepreneurship vertical. This is the second time. The first time I tried to do this I realized that it was way too early in my entrepreneurship journey to truly understand the role of an entrepreneurship vertical with my brand. I also discovered that my personal goal at that time was to grow my personal finance business first. Whatever that was.

• So, I decided to let go of building out an entrepreneurship vertical. I had to let go of it. I was still in learning phase. But, I’m glad that I made the mistake.

• What I learned the hard way, you may have a good idea but it may be too early to impliment it.

• I also mentioned that I have a niche site about Colorado. I would post from time to time and let it simmer in the background. Why? Because I discovered lesson #1 about building an online brand: You have to focus on ONE THING first before you can add secondary projects. This is the hardest lesson that I learned in my online business. Why is this lesson so important?

• Your first online business is where you:
  • Learn how to make money online
  • Discover SEO
  • Product targeting
  • Consistency
  • Email list building
  • Kick Imposter Syndrome’s ass
  • How to build social media followers
  • Attracting high profile followers who will market your business
  • What products to create
  • How to serve your clientele
  • How to pitch
  • Affiliate marketing if you’re into that
  • In-person speaking
  • Brand partnerships

• Once you’ve learned at least half of these skills and had some consistent success then it’s a hell of a lot easier to focus on secondary projects while replicating the skills that you built up with your first project. You also learn what needs to be delegated, what’s important to focus on and workflow.

• At this point I’ve been on PBSNewsHour, referenced in Forbes articles, Business insider, and Today to name a few media mentions.

• MC Hammer currently follows me on Twitter. Can’t touch this.

• I’ve launched a course, coached other entrepreneurs, and most importantly, made enough income to pay off debt and make a living online.

• What is The Brand Building lab? It’s for burnt out professionals working on designing online businesses that reflect their personal values and serve communities that they believe in.

• My goal is to share all of the lessons learned from building an online business in the past 8 years.

• Also, The Brand Building Lab is literally a funnel to my business and the services I provide. Seriously.

• I realized 3 things about adding The Brand Building Lab to my content creation process:
  • It was the right time
  • I kept having a gut feeling that my entrepreneurship content needed a different home
  • I had something to say and enough results and mistakes to share

• I was driving myself crazy with all of these lessons and content that I wanted to share but I kept feeling like it was the wrong energetic fit for Michelle is Money Hungry.

• If you’re looking for all things online entrepreneurship from ME, Michelle Jackson, The Brand Building Lab is where I plan on sharing it.

Buy Me a Coffee

Was this information helpful to you? Are you looking for a lowkey way to help me continue to share useful insight, tips, and more without starving? Buy Me a Coffee. I love working from my favorite coffee shop patios (especially during COVID). But coffee and running online platforms can get expensive. Your donations help me keep the digital lights on. The Brand Building Lab content is all the extra information that lives rent free in my head that I didn’t want to share on my Michelle is Money Hungry personal finance platform.