Technological advancements have made it easier than ever to start an online business. Due to lower barriers to entry, information overload, and greater marketplace participation, it is imperative to develop a brand that stands out from the rest of the crowd. [RELATED: 5 Ways to Revamp Your E-Commerce Brand] Shade Y. Adu is a personal brand strategist, empowerment speaker, and the founder of Savvy Consulting LLC, which offers signature online branding services for visionary women entrepreneurs. She is trained specifically to help individuals strategize and establish themselves as a visible and 'rock star' online brand empire. Her years of experience as an international educator and trainer allow her to offer creative solutions and set realistic objectives in order to point womenpreneurs and their brands towards the coveted path of online brand building success. BlackEnterprise.com recently caught up with Adu to learn the top 10 proven ways to build an irresistible brand online: Position Your Expertise The marketplace values experts and irresistible brands that are masters at strategically positioning their expertise. Experts are highly sought after and are paid more for their knowledge. Consumers pay more attention to experts because they naturally standout from the crowd because experts are niche specialists that can speak to a specific need. Brands can easily position their expertise by creating valuable and engaging content that your target market will love. Establish yourself as the go-to expert in your field and your audience will find you. Know Your Target Market Magnetic brands know their target market and are successful at developing campaigns that attract them. Narrowing your target market by demographics, life experiences, and common frustration, allows your audience to connect with your brand in a greater and more intimate capacity. Online brands are built on developing relationships with your target audience. Speak directly to their needs and concerns and your brand will shine even in a highly-saturated marketplace. Create Signature Brand Experiences Brands understand that their loyal tribe value exclusive experiences that can only be provided by this particular brand. Consumers are willing to pay more for unique experiences that only your brand can create; on and offline. Starbucks is a master at creating a coffee and mobile work space experience. Coffee drinkers and non-drinkers alike enjoy the ambiance and complementary WiFi. Starbucks has been a profitable brand by creating a signature experience that customers look for every time they purchase a cup. Brands can create similar signature experiences in the digital space. Solve a Problem Ask yourself, 'Do you solve a problem?' Customers are looking for help and answers to specific questions. Being a solution-based business provider can instantaneously catapult you to irresistible brand success and recognition. Consumers are currently Googling answers to problems that your brand was designed to solve. Be Authentic In a world full of well-crafted tweets, filters, and Photoshop, authenticity is the most valuable brand currency. Customers are looking to connect with brands on a humanistic level. Consumers are not looking for perfection. They are looking to make a connection. Personal brands can thrive by creating a unique level of honesty and transparency that consumers truly appreciate. Get Social Great brands understand the importance of strategic social media marketing. You don't have to be on every platform in order to be visible to your target market. But you do need to be socially engaged. Find the social media platforms that work best for your business and start getting socially active. (Continued on next page) Be Consistent Consumers have become trained to rely on brand consistency. Every time a consumer has an experience with the brand, they are expecting the experience to be similar. Be consistent with providing your audience with great content and top notch services. Your audience will be craving for more. Master Collaboration Relationship building and networking are essential to increasing your net worth. Connect with other brands in similar markets. Exude the mantra of 'collaboration over competition.' Great brands look for ways to partner with their competitors in order to have the greatest level of impact and visibility. Engage Your Audience Brands must engage with their consumer base in order to remain relevant. Respond to tweets and answer Facebook messages. Speak to your consumer base and ask them what they want and create campaigns that surround their marketplace needs. Including them in the process increases engagement and builds a greater level of anticipation for product launches. Pay Attention to Brand Packaging and Presentation In the digital age, your market will judge you by the look and feel of your website and social media presence. Create beautiful brand materials and graphics that align with your brand messaging and vision. Be intentional when it comes to developing your visual brand. Remember: Beauty attracts, but substance keeps your clients coming back for more. Roz A. Gee (@RozAGee) consults as The Media Match Mavenâ„¢ of The Rated Gee Agency with core service sectors in Media Relations, Brand Readiness and Speaking/Training. Roz has masterfully mixed over 20 years of cumulative experience and has worked professionally for industry titans such as General Electric, AT&T, AOL, IBM, and Northrop Grumman. Schedule a complimentary analysis at www.MediaMatchMaven.com. Twitter: @RozAGee Facebook: TheRatedGeeAgency