by admin | Apr 14, 2014 | Brand strategy
I have a secret for you, though it’s hardly a revelation: most brands fail at what they are trying to accomplish. And the only thing more frustrating about how terrible so many brands are is how clueless many small businesses executives and entrepreneurs are about what branding is. Most people think of branding as simply “the logo,” but a logo is just the beginning of a brand’s visual aspect (which also includes the website, marketing materials, and ad copy — which in turn includes tag lines, marketing/PR/sales copy, and advertisements). Read more about building a successful brand...
by admin | Apr 14, 2014 | Brand strategy
Marketing without branding is like fishing without a hook. You’ll be distributing your message, sure. You may see results in the forms of sales closed and new customers. But is there even anything behind the words? As expert James Heaton eloquently puts it, your marketing is a method of pushing your message out, while your branding is the pull that attracts customers. While a marketing campaign may convert a prospect into a buyer, your brand is what retains their business for life. In an ideal scenario, it’s so much more than pure messaging. Branding strategy allows you to position your business in your market solidly, build meaningful relationships, and retain customers over time. In an ideal world, a solid brand should precede your marketing. However, that’s not to say it’s ever too late to begin developing a branding plan for the future. No matter when you start, it’s sure to offer immense benefit to your marketing program and outcomes. The following are some of the ways that defining your organization’s core can act as your marketing secret weapon. Read about them all in this...
by admin | Apr 11, 2014 | Innovation
Leaders want more innovation in their cultures. To compete, they know they can’t play it safe – which requires employees to take chances and not be afraid to fail. Yet, most organizations subtly (or overtly) encourage safe behavior, by rewarding straightforward successes and punishing failures. Employees get the signal quickly that taking work risks is just too high a personal risk for their careers. It’s no wonder that Gallup’s research shows that only 13% of employees are engaged at work. If we’re continuously told we need to be innovative and creative, yet we’re limited in our ability to do so, dissatisfaction and stagnation set in. Read more about the opportunity...
by admin | Apr 11, 2014 | Innovation
The Samsung Galaxy S5 launch is barreling toward us (going down on most major carriers this Friday, in case you don’t know), and Samsung’s looking to ramp up the advertising to get people excited. Their latest ad has hit YouTube, with the South Korean company touting “meaningful innovation” in their latest flagship. Whether or not you believe anything they’ve done is “meaningful” is up to you to decide, but we imagine those who aren’t expecting a rocket-sized list of improvements on a tight yearly release schedule are perfectly fine with the device. Be sure to watch the ad above if you’ve got half a minute to spare today. Once you’ve wrapped up, why not drop a poll below and head to the comments letting us know if you think the Samsung Galaxy S5 is truly innovative. Read more about the Samsung Galaxy S5 and its overall innovative design right here....
by admin | Apr 10, 2014 | Brand strategy
Integrated marketing is one of the most important – and effective – ways for marketers to reach their target audience. A successful integrated marketing strategy uses a consistent identity throughout multiple marketing channels to support a brand’s marketing and sales function. Developing an effective integrated marketing strategy is a time-consuming process. The following marketing tips can help marketers develop an effective integrated marketing campaign that has a dramatic impact on how brands reach their target market. Focus on the customer. The customer has to be first. Know who your customer is, what your customer wants, and know a lot about your customer’s spending habits in order to utilize the right marketing mix. Learn the other five tips on integrated marketing...
