On names...I shifted over from pseudonyms about 4 years ago or so because honestly, even when you're a writer, a business owner, or whatever your name is your brand. If someone wants to get hold of my via email it's as simple as my name, and that certainly helps more often than you'd think. Plus I think people have more of a comfort zone knowing it's a real person, you know? I mean not that anyone is trying to hide but when they see the name out there they feel a bit better talking to you instead of seeing you posting as "cheeseismylife199" you know? And no that was never my net handle.
Brand wise I see so many people screw up branding it's not even funny. I guess the biggest mistake I see folks making is their logos. Having an unreadable logo is just death. You might not like it, you might think it looks like ass, but if you can read it, that's the most important first step! Next people changing things up or mixing their brands...it's just crazy. I like the concept behind War of Independents but I have to wonder at the brand mixture involved and what it's ultimately doing for any of them other than wasting their time. If my character is in there I want her logo, my studio logo, and our branding in the mix of things very visible and obvious. That's like putting a generic label on a can of Campbell's chunky soup! No one will want it if they don't know what's in the can.
