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Today I had the pleasure of speaking with the Creative Director of Bliss Consults & Co, Secoya Holmes. Secoya is passionate about strategic marketing and branding, but most importantly, she loves to help people take their business to the next level. She empowers small business owners to have confidence through deliberate design and impactful branding. 

Let’s jump into Secoya’s story about how your brand influences the way clients feel when they come across your business. Be Secoya’s branding bestie!

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 - 05:02] Opening Segment

• I talked briefly about valuable information that you can take advantage of in this episode
• I introduce our guest, Secoya Holmes, to the show
• Secoya talks about her background and how she started her business

[05:03 - 15:20] Keys to Building a Successful Brand

• Secoya talks about the difference between branding and a brand 

• • Your brand: who you are and how you represent yourself 
  • Branding: a component of your brand
• Secoya gives us insight into marketing and advertising strategies
• • Marketing is the foundation, and you have advertising components within it
  • Research and due diligence is key
  • Who is your primary target audience?

[15:21 - 33:20] The Beginner’s Guide and Strategies for Targeting Audiences 

• Secoya shares insight into the Audience and Targeting Guide for beginners
• • Ask yourself when you imagine a perfect client:
  • • What do they look like?
    • Who do you feel comfortable communicating with?
  • Define who your niche audience is
  • Do a bit of analytical research 
  • Narrow your niche 
• Secoya shares insight into a deep understanding of marketing and branding, which is often overlooked by most startups.
• • The misconception
• Secoya has top-notch tips on how to have an engaged audience that you don’t want to miss!
• • Identify who you are trying to reach
  • You have to be consistent
  • Do not follow the trends 
  • Diversify your train of thought: Don’t look at it from one perspective. 

[33:21 - 47:11] Why Flexibility is The Key To Marketing Strategy 

• Secoya gives us tips about brand color palette ideas 
• • The variety within your palette 
• Secoya talks about why flexible branding matters 
• Secoya shares fantastic insight on how to build credibility with your clients 
• • Customer’s satisfaction
  • Authenticity with the services that you can provide 

[47:12 - 55:35] How to start a Black Entrepreneur Business with Confidence

• Secoya shares an exciting story about what influenced her decision to build her business as a black woman entrepreneur
• • She talks about race and gender in the world of business  
  • Do you have to tone down your blackness in business to provide a level of comfort for the mainstream?
• Secoya shares great advice for people with start-ups who are willing to learn how to run a business. 

[55:36 - 57:40] Closing Segment

•  When you were starting your first business, if you could give yourself one piece of advice now, what would that be?
• • “Trust the process.”

• Where can people find you and keep up with you?

[57:41 - 01:10:50] Off The Clock and Review of The Week 

• How to continue to be an ally in the Black Lives Matter movement
• Three ways to simply continue the support:
• • If you're an influencer or somebody with a platform, continue to uplift black stories and LGBTQ plus stories and voices
  • To get Educated.
  • • Read Books. (See below for my recommended book)
    • Support and watch black films (See below for my recommended films) 
  • Continue to have those uncomfortable conversations.
  • • Be comfortable with just being honest 
    • Continue to aid in changing the culture

• Quick plug to my podcast producers, STREAMLINED PODCASTS
• • Use Promo Code: cnsloan for 10% OFF on your first month
• Review Of The Week: 

• Final words from me 

Tweetable Quotes: 

 “Your brand is who you are and how you represent yourself.” - Secoya Holmes. 

“Your brand is the story that customers tell about you.” - Secoya Holmes.

 “Allow yourself the flexibility in having a well-rounded brand once you identify who you're trying to reach.” - Secoya Holmes. 

“Take every moment that comes your way good, bad, or indifferent as a learning opportunity” - Secoya Holmes. 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

•  Bliss Consults & Co
• Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
• The 13th on Netflix 
• When They See Us on Netflix 
• The 5 Bloods on Netflix 
• Moonlight on Netflix 
• Working Overtime The Podcast 

You can connect with Secoya on Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit her website https://www.blissconsults.com/ to know more about brand identity development.

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