Smart branding is more than simply having a memorable logo, trademark or tagline. A complete and mature brand is also associated with trustworthiness, quality, dedication, reliability, creativity, thinking outside the box, work ethic and loyalty. It may take years to develop a solid brand identity—only to have it be destroyed by one single act or a series of unfortunate incidents. … Read More
Stay Ahead Of The Disruptors With Real Estate Smart Branding
Advances in technology are changing the way traditional industries market to—and interact with—customers. Taxis are being replaced by Uber and Lyft. The medical industry is starting to embrace telemedicine. Car dealerships are being challenged by CarMax. And similar innovations are disrupting the real estate market. Real estate agents are facing fierce competition from for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) listings, as well as larger … Read More
Is Your Landing Page Helping Or Hurting Your B2B Branding Efforts?
Popeye eats spinach to become stronger. Marathon runners carbo-load with pasta before a race. People go on vacations to relax and recharge. And if you’re a B2B company, you are the spinach… the pasta… and the vacation. Your company’s mission is to make your clients feel better about themselves when they conduct business with you. B2B branding solves your clients’ … Read More
Corporate Social Responsibility—Are You Doing It?
All of the largest U.S. companies are engaged in some type of corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. CSR activities include charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, pro bono work hours and participating or leading fundraisers… And the activities usually focus on environmental, social or economic causes. But it is not only the big corporations that engage in CSR activities. In today’s rapidly … Read More
Smart Branding For Manufacturers And Distributors
The relationship between manufacturers and distributors is like milk and honey… cookies and cream… tequila and lime (hold the worm). These entities work in harmony and even complement each other. But the relationship between the two is evolving as more and more manufacturers choose to go directly to the consumer—effectively bypassing distributors. And the elephants in the room such as … Read More
Smart Branding for General Contractors and Subcontractors
One thing is certain, the economic future of the Triangle is… hot, hot, hot. Yes, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding areas are on fire, and this can only mean good things for both general contractors and subcontractors in the area. But don’t just take our word for it… A slew of recent polls rank the Triangle with some very … Read More
Building A Long-Term Brand Identity
Branding and building a long-term brand identity are not mutually exclusive from marketing goals. But they are birds of the same feather. For example, McDonald’s spends millions of dollars on marketing campaigns for the reintroduction of the McRib sandwich every year. But we universally recognize those golden arches as the company’s logo. Branding and brand identity can be accomplished using … Read More
Leveraging Digital Communities When Branding Healthcare Businesses
Digital communities (DCs) are becoming more and more popular as a way for all businesses to reach consumers and build brand advocates. But first, DCs are different from a basic online platform or entity such as Facebook or Twitter (although many DCs can be found within Facebook). DCs are contained online communities where people with common causes, goals, issues or … Read More
Corporate ID Materials Are Essential for Branding Professional Services Businesses
If you’re in the business of selling professional services, you are in good company. You invested a lot of time and energy and money into getting your education and training and certifications… Then you brainstormed and strategized and executed… And now you’ve established your brand. But how much thought have you given to your corporate ID materials? Start With A … Read More
How to Articulate Your Brand Internally
There is a lot of advice out there about branding yourself, your business, and a combination of the two. Whatever you choose, you do not just have to communicate that brand publicly. You must also articulate your brand within your own organization. Without internal fidelity a brand falls apart. What people don’t understand is that brand is the skin of … Read More