Donald Trump Network

Now in it’s third season, Donald Trump’s killer television series “The Apprentice” is officially a “franchise.” With new seasons in the making, a clothing line that carries “The Apprentice” brand, DVD’s in production, and mega-fortunes to be made, it’s no surprise that the king of real estate… a man who knows a excellent thing when he sees it… is involved. I like Donald Trump a lot. Mostly because I learn something new from him every time I watch him in action. One of the barbs critics aim at Donald Trump is that he’s a shameless egomaniac who can’t get enough of the spotlight. Well, they may call it egomania, but from my perspective… it’s a brilliant business strategy. I’ll admit it: I’m a marketer. My job is to make people sit up and take notice of my clients (and their products or services), and to deliver a “brand” message at every opportunity. That’s exactly what “The Donald” does. If that makes me him an egocentric, self-congratulatory target for media pundits, who cares? Because it also makes him a “household name”…in households from Bangor, Maine to Bangkok Thailand. Brand recognition is the foundation of every marketing strategy. If you’re a small business owner, YOU are your brand. That means you must sell yourself as well as your product or service. Trump understands the concept, and what’s why you see his brand Trump on everything. You’ve got to be willing to get name out there… Willing to say, “Hey look me!”… Ready to stand up for yourself, believe in yourself, and blow your own horn… Loudly and as often as possible. Have you noticed that each episode of “The Apprentice” includes a segment devoted to a current Trump project? This as an opportunity for “The Donald” to billboard a success tale.

Week after week, he tells millions of people, “I’m a fantastic real estate giant and here’s the proof.” Take a tip from “The Donald”… You’ve got to be your own full-time marketing campaign 24 hours a day… because nobody else will! Especially if you’re an entrepreneur. When you’re the own of a business, especially a new business, it’s kind of like being a parent. Before your business can “talk”… before your “small one” has grown and established a reputation that literally “speaks for itself”… you need to be the “spokesperson.” How long will this last? You may not want to hear this, but the answer is — forever. You must always be ready to carry the banner for your business and your success. So, before you give Donald Trump “two thumbs done” for shameless self-promotion, consider how his ego… and his knack for savvy marketing… is a real asset to his business empire. If it’s excellent enough for “The Donald,” it’s excellent enough for me… and YOU, too. The next time you sit down for the next episode of the “Book Smarts vs. Street Smarts” season of “The Apprentice,” open your mind. Instead of picking at the negative traits of “The Donald” or his “top guns” Carolyn and George, reckon about their success and question yourself… What can I learn from this guy? How does he marketing himself? How can I adapt this concept to me and my business? The truth is, if you can’t get at least a handful of “golden nuggets” from this super-successful entrepreneur, you may be hopeless. What I’d like to do is share some of the key marketing insights I’ve learned from Donald Trump and “The Apprentice” that you, too, can use in your business. Before we get to the marketing insights, but, there’s a larger business concept that you need to know.

The Rebel Millionaire