Category: Branding

If you run a company or work for one then you will know just how important it is to have a recognisable brand and to make sure that it is noticeable and have others be aware of it. There are numerous different strategies that companies employ to make sure that their brand and logo is noticed by other companies and individuals alike. You don’t necessarily need to have a huge and complex scheme to ensure that your brand is noticed; small scale changes can be just as effective. One simple change that you can make is to your stationery and office equipment. Having a noticeable brand and logo will create a professional image for your company.

Putting your company name and brand on your company stationery may not seem to be an obvious way of increasing interest and making you noticed but it can work and produce good results for your business. If you regularly have meetings with clients and potential clients then you need to make the best possible impression and present a strong image. You can help to do this through the use of appropriately placed company logos and branding on items of stationery and documents that you use in your meetings with clients and customers. Having a logo placed on any relevant materials will help to increase the attention given to your brand by clients. If people frequently see your company name and logo then they are more likely to remember it and pay attention to it than if it has just been mentioned once on one occasion.

There are many ways that you can make sure your brand is noticed ranging from large banners outside your offices to bespoke document wallets bearing the company name or logo. Customised stationery with your company brand printed on it can also help to create a more professional image of your company and convey the right impression to your clients. As you know, creating the right impression to clients can make the difference between getting the business or not. Having all of your notes for a meeting organised together in a bespoke document wallet with your company logo on it makes you look much more professional and organised than if you simply had a disorganised pile of papers and documents. It can only take one small detail for people to change their mind about whether to use your company or not and having that extra touch to your documents and organisation can tip the balance in your favour.

One of the key areas that can make a difference to the success of your company is having a professional image. Having a professional image adds an air of confidence of success to proceedings and can be very beneficial in meetings with clients and other companies. One simple but effective way to create a more professional look is by having personalised stationery products such as ring binders and document folders; having these made with your company logo printed on them will help you stand out from the competition.

Article Contributed by Erin Ferree

Now, that sounds just like exactly what you need to get your business fired up and moving along! But then reality creeps in…

There’s the pressure of creating a fresh, interesting and new idea. You can’t just reach into a magic hat and pull that perfect idea out. Sitting and waiting around for that genius to strike doesn’t seem action-oriented enough for you. You’re ready to get started on what’s next… but you need the idea to begin with, plus the insurance and assurance that it’s a good one.

Then there’s the danger of introducing fresh ideas into your brand. You’ve worked long and hard to build your brand and nurture your fans and clients. So, naturally, you’re worried that you’ll come up with an idea that’s fresh, exciting, new and different, pour your heart and soul into developing it, and do all the incredible work behind getting that idea out into the world… and after all of that, your clients and fans won’t like it.

That they might freak out. What if they don’t like the idea you worked so hard on? Wouldn’t it be terrible if clients who were going to hire you decide, based on your new idea, not to?

Or, worse yet, that your chatty, happy and engaged clients and fans clam up, withdraw and become uninterested and disengaged. Clearly the opposite of what you’re looking for, and a sure sign that you’re on the wrong track.

Why are new ideas so tricky?

Introducing new ideas takes a special mix of ingenuity, bravery and finesse.

Here’s how they work together:

The ingenuity to generate an idea – OK, this is more like “a bunch of new ideas”… so you can have the freedom to create a bucket full of many less-fantastic ideas on the way to one fresh, new, interesting idea. And then you need the foresight, common sense and client-understanding to sort out the good from the not-so-good ideas.

The bravery to launch that idea and incorporate it into your brand and marketing. After all, your brand is precious and you’ve worked hard to build it. Launching a new thing can be both exciting and scary – exciting because you’re proud of your new idea and can see the possibility in it, and scary because you’re not quite sure how your clients and contacts will react to it. You can cut down on the scariness by selecting a few of your clients and unveiling the idea early, to see how they feel about it and what questions they have. That way, you can fine-tune your idea with their input, to make it make the most sense and impact possible.

The finesse to introduce the idea to your clients in a way that doesn’t freak them out. This is the part that takes the most discipline. You have to roll out your idea in a way that brings your clients along with you and your excitement over it – instead of making them slam on the brakes. That means keeping them comfortable before, during and after your launch – and letting them know whether this is a whole new direction or if you’re still offering the things they’ve gotten used to.

When you bring ingenuity, bravery and finesse along on your quest for new ideas, you’ll find yourself creating the kind of innovative, interesting and engaging ideas that keep your clients coming back for more.

About the Author:

Erin Ferree is a branding coach, design genius and strategic thinker. She’s been told that her right-brain, left-brain combination of creativity and logic is hard to come by… and that it’s what small business owners need to be successful. She loves connecting the dots between passion and profit, mixing strategy and inspiration and shaking things up.

She deeply enjoys working with entrepreneurs who want to help more people and look good doing it. Who want all of their branding and marketing to make sense and speak to their ideal clients. And who want an open, honest, inviting brand with integrity – instead of using icky, pushy, sleazy marketing tactics and trickery.

She’s branded over 450 small businesses in the last 10 years. She’s been published in so many books and periodicals that she stopped counting. She’s shared stages with some awesome people – like Michele PW, Linda Hollander, Lisa Cherney, Sheri McConnell and Kelly O’neil.

In the rare moments when she’s not obsessing about branding or design, she can be found hugging her corgi-dog Stanley, going for long walks, cooking improvisationally, or throwing parties so her friends can enjoy them.

Learn more at http://brandstyledesign.com

If you help to run a company or work for an organisation then you will know just how important it is to create the right sort of image for your company and the importance of promotion and creation of interest. One key element in creating the right sort of image is making sure that you look professional even down to things like the company stationary items. Having personalised or bespoke stationary can really help to create a good image around a company or organisation.

Your work may involve meeting various clients or important visitors face to face for discussions or meetings and you will know that impressions are very important in these sorts of situations. Creating the right sort of impression can be helped through the use of custom folders and ring binders. Having a company name or logo on a file can add a little more importance and promote an even more professional image. It is possible to have custom ring binders with your company name and logo printed on it and you can then use these for meetings and other important events to increase exposure of your company name and brand. It may be the case that you send out various pieces of promotional literature or brochures to prospective clients and customers. If this is the case then these can be sent in personalised folders which bear the company logo or have the company name clearly printed on them. If you are trying to increase the interest in you or your products then every little bit of promotion can help to achieve this. Customised presentation folders and wallets can help to increase the interest and can attract attention more than a plain folder would.

If you send out promotional brochures in folders with a company name and logo on them to people then not only are they more eye-catching for that person but there is a chance that other people may be more likely to see them and take notice of them. Any increased attention to your company name or brand is likely to be good news and might lead to further interest from people who were not your original clients. As a name and brand means so much in terms of advertising it definitely pays to have your company name seen as much as possible by as many people as possible. Like the majority of people, if you see a folder or information pack that has an eye-catching name or logo on it then you are more likely to pick it up and read it than if it is a plain and unbranded folder.

Customised and personalised stationary is a useful tool to use when you are promoting a company and attempting to increase interest or to create a more professional looking image for the company. Brand identity can be crucial for making sure your business is a success and so it is essential that you promote it through the use of the company name and logo wherever it is possible to do so including on files and folders.

Article Contributed by Martin Neil

Having an attention-getting sign is critical for your local businesses – no matter the industry.  Your business signage identifies your business and location and it establishes your business image. Your business signage is the core of your brand identity strategy, whether it is proudly mounted on the building, on your booth or display at a trade show, or on your company vehicles.

It’s also the most cost-effective advertising you can do.  The Small Business Administration says, “…signs are the most effective, yet least expensive form of advertising for the small business.”  Building signage is often taken for granted, but signs are always on the job, advertising 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How Improved Business Signage Will Help You Brand Your Company, Communicate with a Highly-Mobile Society & Leverage Your Advertising Efforts

1        Your business signage is the only indicator that you exist and would like your prospect’s patronage.

2        A frequently-noticed business sign sends your message to more people per dollar invested than any other form of advertising.  For example, if you display a $200 sign for one year at a location where 10,000 cars pass every day, you’ve reached over 3.5 million people (not counting passengers), at a cost per person of less than $.000057. (Less than six hundred-thousandths of a dollar.)  Even a high-end, lighted or monument sign that costs $5000, still reaches those people at a cost of $.0014, or a little over a tenth of a cent each.

3        95% of retail business is location-based.  As consumers pass by your place of business, an attractive and effective on-premise sign will leave a positive impression. When the time comes to make a decision or purchase, consumers will be attracted to you.

4         About 40 million Americans move annually to a new home, all needing to buy goods and services, and looking for brands that stand out.

5        Enhanced sign technology allows sign faces to be easily changed to match evolving marketing circumstances.  New developments in lighting, plastics, digital printing resolution, and color profiling mean signs can now achieve the same visual effect as four-color magazine advertising.

6        Your company does not need to be a national franchise with a major advertising budget to “brand” your site with effective signage.  If appropriately designed and placed, your sign can develop top-of-mind awareness of your products and services, no matter the size of your business.

7        Many communities and cities have strict sign codes requiring that signage remains attractive and in harmony with the look and feel of the community, while encouraging business activities.  Advances in sign design and technology means that via signage, your company can communicate more effectively to potential customers in a way that enhances both your site and the community at large.

8        Purchase habits can be influenced with effective signage.  Pricing or product information can influence a purchase decision or prompt an unplanned stop, which is critical, since nearly all businesses rely in part on impulse visits.

9        A well-designed sign can provide a positive perception of quality and service and create the image of a leader, even for the smaller business.  For the national franchise or chain, on-premise signage reinforces all other media advertising, and maximizes advertising effectiveness at a low cost.

10    By adding your business signage to your car and “wrapping” your company vehicles with striking vinyl, you can generate over 600 visual impressions for every mile driven  At about $0.35 per thousand impressions for a typical vehicle wrap, the cost is almost trivial compared to $3.56 for outdoor advertising or over $20.00 for typical magazine advertising.

About the Author:

Orange County Business Signs Specialist Martin Neil contributes value to businesses and non-profit organizations across the United States by increasing their brand awareness with the very best sign solutions. He specializes in custom requirements for commercial building signage, vehicle wraps, office inside signage, trade show displays, promotional banners & flags, and large-size wall graphics. Improve your business signage by going to: http://www.Calibersi.com/Building-Signage.html

 

 

Article Contributed by DSLserviceproviders.org

Because our society has grown so dependent upon the internet for marketing, networking and branding, it’s hard to imagine that the technology has only existed for about fifteen years. In such a short time, it’s become nearly impossible to manage your brand or protect it without some working knowledge of the internet. If you’re looking to keep your brand secure, here are ten tips that might smooth your path.

1. Keep It Distinctive – The best brand names are those that are unique and easy to remember. As you begin to build your brand’s reputation, you’ll have to live with the name you’ve chosen or forced to start from square one. Take your time choosing a brand name, and make sure it sticks in the minds of your customers.
2. Trademark It – While it’s not legally required, the best and most effective way to protect your brand name from trademark disputes is to register the name as soon as possible. There are a myriad of services that will run trademark and common-law searches to be sure that the name you’ve chosen isn’t already in use; it’s a good idea to utilize these services before attempting to register.
3. Sign Up For Google Alerts – Using Google Alert will help you to track the reputation of your brand with little fuss. The first step to keeping your brand’s reputation up is to know what people are saying. With this service or others of its ilk, the process is painless.
4. Design a Memorable Logo – A well-designed logo is an absolute must for establishing your brand; building an online presence as soon as possible will protect your brand from any confusion if a business with a similar name begins to do the same. Your logo will be the one that people recognize first, if it’s eye-catching.
5. Go to War With Negative Reviews – Despite your best efforts, bad reviews will inevitably crop up. Disgruntled former employees or even competitors may seek to malign you by leaving undeserved poor reviews; make it a priority to learn how to “wash out” negative mentions.
6. Create YouTube Videos – One of the first returns on almost any Google search is a related YouTube clip. Use this to your advantage by creating your own form of viral marketing videos; do something edgy and people will talk about your brand.
7. Make Social Networking Work For You – Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are crucial for raising brand awareness and protecting a brand name. Create profiles and build the strongest possible brand presence on the sites; in addition to being a top Google search return, these also allow customers to interact with you and to share information about your brand with one another.
8. Blog Religiously – Start a blog, and update it with relevant content as often as possible. Informative blog entries will attract attention, boosting your online presence and creating a buzz about your brand.
9. Twitter Away – Tweet, tweet and tweet some more. Retweet posts relevant to your brand, follow those who are following leaders in your industry, and create goodwill by helping to promote your peers.
10. Make Sharing Simple – Add buttons to your website and blog that make sharing on Facebook, Digg and Twitter as simple as the click of a mouse. When content catches a user’s eye, they can easily share it with all of their friends and followers. These shares will boost your presence exponentially.