It was so much FUN to be on the Speaking Panel for Networx Brisbane event "Marketing with Love - Creating Brands that People Adore" on Wednesday 30 March.

With great panel companions David Frangiosa (Variety) and Sarah Whyte (Tourism Queensland) and facilitated by Cat Matson (Alito), the discussion was potent and juicy - and totally my favourite topic to talk about!

In fact, I thought the discussion between the three of us was so full on I wanted to make a note of the points raised so you could refer to them for your own business.

(Left to right: Sarah Whyte, David Frangiosa and me on the panel at Networx Brisbane)

1. A brand is more than a logo

Your "brand" is the culmination of how you look, what you do and what you say (Presentation, Behaviour, Communication). Your logo, on the other hand, is the summary of all these things - like a snapshot that lets your customer know what to expect.

Yes, your logo is absolutely essential - it underpins everything about your business - but it's not "the brand".  Successful businesses understand this distinction, and ensure that their brand messages and values infiltrate all areas of the business.  (PS. For more about this - read about the Brand Circle)

2. Love is emotional and organic - it grows in its own way

You can't make me love you, any more than I can make you love me.

But you can provide opportunities and experiences that I might love. And that's the trick - giving your clients a positive experience that encourages them to love you. In a positive and supportive environment, love will grow of it's own accord.

3. Love is emotional and relationship driven - use the tools you have at hand to strengthen it

Gone are the days of simply telling your customers that your product or service is right for them. Customers these days are more likely to seek out recommendations from their peers, rather than just take your word for it. They'll figure out for themselves, based on what others tell them and how they feel about you, whether you're right for them.

In a tough world full of competitors fighting for empty ideas like price and "service", you need now (more than ever) to find a way to stand out.  

Use tools available to you across traditional, digital and social media, to encourage honest authentic relationships rather than using them to sell (shoving your product/service down your customer's throats with every other status update). You hate it when others do it to you, so why do it to your fans and followers?

4. Your brand touches more than just your clients - remember to engage your staff and your suppliers

If your staff don't feel the love themselves, how can they pass it on? 

The same thing goes for your suppliers and other businesses you work with - if you nurture strong, loving relationships with them they can equally be your raving fans.  When everyone who is involved in your business is excited, engaged and feels valued, love flows and results follow.

5. Got raving fans? Then your brand is loved - nurture it

If you've got clients who come back to you repeatedly, who refer you, who rave about you then you're loved - plain and simple. So if you want to increase that love and encourage it to spread to others, you need to nurture it.

Find out from your raving fans what it is they love about you and identify what it is you love about them, then set out to replicate that with other clients. Communicating honestly with your fans and building a stronger relationship gives you an opportunity to gain insight you might not have about your business, your brand and how your clients see you. This knowledge is GOLD and it's worth discovering.

6. If love is waning, recreate the "first date" for your client

Every relationship goes through it's ups and downs, but it doesn't mean it has to be over. So if you feel like the love for your brand is waning, take the time to find out what went wrong, and what you can do to fix it.

There was a reason your client fell in love with you in the first place - the spark at the "first date" that had them wanting you and only you. Talk to your clients, openly and honestly, and help them rediscover that spark by providing them with what's been missing.  Not only will you save a relationship, you may even find love that's stronger than ever before!

Ok - so there's a lot there and I could keep going! But it was a fantastic discussion...

Let's share the LOVE -  what other tips did you get from the Networx Brisbane "Marketing with Love" event?