The Ready Fundraising Company
There are many fundraising companies that are out there today, and one of the most well-known and successful of all is the Ready Fundraising Company. They are a fundraising company which began in the year 1909 as the manufacturer of Ready Jell, and this firm is one which supplies and sells fundraising programs to youth groups throughout the United States.Owned and operated by the same family for over four generations during a 90 year history, the Ready Fundraising Company has always been a wholesale distributor to the fundraising industry.nefits. (Ahem, not in those words.) I explained it would be a disservice to his company if I repeated the sterile announcements written about their company. Their response rates would stay the same and I wouldn't remain true to my brand.

My brand falls into the category of direct response marketing. I didn't want to be known for creating corporate fluff. And I'm not afraid to turn away projects that require that.

How can I turn away money? Just do what they want and get paid. Am I nuts?

No.

I believe my reputation and brand are more important than getting paid work. If I get branded as a utility writer, then clients who want a pure, direct-response copywriter wouldn't hire me. And they are the ones who write the big checks.

That's why I didn't want to commingle my brand. I didn't want to be painted with the same brush as those utility writers. That would be costly.

Here's an illustration:

Luciano Pavarotti is known for his dynamic operatic tenor voice. If he decided to make waves into Country Western music, he'd gain some new Country Western fans, but he'd lose a greater deal of opera fans. And eventually, music fans wouldn't know what to make of him because he has tainted his brand.

What about you...

What is your brand? How do people label you? What are you known for? Are you a princess at one skill, or a pauper of many?

Do people say, "Oh, Sandra's an accountant. She's great with numbers. Her reports are always neat and timely. And she's speedy with the ten key."

Or do they say, "I saved over $2,700 with Alexi. She's a wiz at reducing taxes."

Whom would you hire to do your books?

< important than getting paid work. If I get branded as a utility writer, then clients who want a pure, direct-response copywriter wouldn't hire me. And they are the ones who write the big checks.

That's why I didn't want to commingle my brand. I didn't want to be painted with the same brush as those utility writers. That would be costly.

Here's an illustration:

Luciano Pavarotti is known for his dynamic operatic tenor voice. If he decided to make waves into Country Western music, he'd gain some new Country Western fans, but he'd lose a greater deal of opera fans. And eventually, music fans wouldn't know what to make of him because he has tainted his brand.

What about you...

What is your brand? How do people label you? What are you known for? Are you a princess at one skill, or a pauper of many?

Do people say, "Oh, Sandra's an accountant. She's great with numbers. Her reports are always neat and timely. And she's speedy with the ten key."

Or do they say, "I saved over $2,700 with Alexi. She's a wiz at reducing taxes."

Whom would you hire to do your books?

<eater deal of opera fans. And eventually, music fans wouldn't know what to make of him because he has tainted his brand.

What about you...

What is your brand? How do people label you? What are you known for? Are you a princess at one skill, or a pauper of many?

Do people say, "Oh, Sandra's an accountant. She's great with numbers. Her reports are always neat and timely. And she's speedy with the ten key."

Or do they say, "I saved over $2,700 with Alexi. She's a wiz at reducing taxes."

Whom would you hire to do your books?

Sandra's description is too general, and that can kill her business. Alexi's description positions her as an expert who saves money for her clients. And isn't that someone you want crunching your numbers?

If you don't have a brand, go out and build one NOW. Be specific. Don't be tempted to become branded as a solver of multiple problems. Become known as the sharpshooting solver of one major headache.

And if you already have a brand—stick to your guns. People will seek you out and pay high dollars if they know you are the pre-eminent expert in your field. But if your brand is muddied: improve it by becoming known for helping people with their "blank."

Here's what you should avoid...

I met an event planner at a networking event. She knew her craft and had a lot of experience according to her website. I read her blog and found she moonlights as a pet sitter, and as a make-up sales rep.

That picture I had of her as an event planning expert was shattered. She wore too many different hats. She's diluted her brand. I don't know whether to call her for make-up advice or for dog sitting. But I'll probably end up not recommending her at all.

But you won't repeat her mistake because you'll come up with a specific brand that people will know, trust, and recommend.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at www.TommyYan.com.