brand building & giveaway

[before i forget...be sure to pop over to makeunder my life to check out my diy design your life post]

do any of you watch bethenny ever after (previously: bethenny getting married?) on bravo?  well, i almost hate to admit it, but i am strangely obsessed with that show.  a former "real housewife of nyc", bethenny frankel is a successful entrepreneur - she's written several books, has a "skinny girl" margarita line of products and also has the reality tv show.  busy lady.  (blatant teaser: keep reading...there's a giveaway : )

skinnygirl margarita

i think what has me utterly fascinated is how successfully bethenny (yes, we're on a first-name basis) has built her brand.  (and, let's face it, that's pretty much what the blogosphere is all about - building a brand, a persona, a voice.)  the cool thing about being your own brand is that it's completely self-defined.  you decide what you stand for, what you talk about and what you endorse.  you become a revered expert just by discussing/trying/doing things that you love or are interested in learning more about.  pretty cool.

credit {here}

as i've said before, that is what i'm working on here at lifestyle maven.  one step at a time.  i know it will take a while.  kim kardashian, martha stewart and bethenny frankel didn't become "brands" overnight.  it took time.  it took effort.  but, they also prove, it can be done. 

i read a great book called crush it! by gary vaynerchuk.  and it talks all about the steps involved in building a brand.  it's an awesome read, and i would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to make blogging (i.e. their brand) their full-time job (eventually).  his step-by-step guidance really gets your wheels turning, and his advice is completely applicable and gets you totally motivated : )

this could be yours!

i would like to send one lucky reader a copy of crush it!  trust me, if you love your blog and blogging, you will not be able to put this book down.  it tells you exactly how to turn your passion into a business/brand via social media. so cool!

so...are you ready to win?  here's how to bolster your odds : )

1 point - be a follower of lifestyle maven

1 point - follow lifestyle maven on twitter

1 point - like lifestyle maven on facebook

1 point - tweet about this giveaway

2 points - add the lifestyle maven button to your blog

please leave a separate comment for each entry.  (if you grab a button, please leave two comments.)

the winner will be chosen at random next friday, march 18th : )

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