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
Smart Branding…How Manufacturers and Distributors Can Compete With Amazon
Let’s face it, the elephant in the room—and indeed all over the world—is Amazon. They aren’t big for no reason. Customers like the convenience of 24-hour shopping at the click of a button, and Amazon sells just about everything. At first it was books, then everyday items like clothes and toys and electronics. But now it’s creating original shows and … Read More
Rebranding—The Time Might Be Now!
A favorite question for celebrities and successful professional athletes is: “What advice would you give your younger self?” It is asked so frequently because most of us know that we are much different people today than we were in our high school or college days. We are wiser and more mature. We have gone through heartache and pain, trials and … 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 Biotech And Pharma Startups
Biotech and pharma startups often overlook the importance of branding efforts during the early stages of their development. This is not uncommon… Usually the initial team consists of a professor at a university and maybe a few other essential professionals. Some of these include additional researchers, accountants, attorneys and regulatory experts. Each must carry the lion’s share of early startup … 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
B2B Branding: Your Customers Are Researching Their Options…
The B2B market is as competitive as it’s ever been… and the landscape is changing rapidly. As more companies downsize and try to save on costs, the costs of goods and services is one of the first line items to be reconsidered. Increased competition is challenging traditional long-term relationships with suppliers. Yes, even today, your B2B competitor is trying to … Read More
Smart Branding In The Real Estate Market
There is one truism in creating and building a real estate brand: One size does not fit all. There is no magic checklist or software program that will produce a perfect real estate brand… because smart branding is both science and art. The science is making sure your company can be found (physically, yes, but also your website and social … 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