Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category

10 Reasons Small Businesses Need to be Branded

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their businesses with a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. But they rarely explain the reasons behind this advice. Below are some of some of the benefits of having a professionally designed logo and identity system.  To attract more clients Some clients look for a ...

The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al and Laura Ries is a fantastic book with principles that are easily understood and applied to any business. It's an easy read (about 2-3 hours) and through the many examples offered to support the principles they teach, the Ries' offer a wealth ...

Kmart: A Brand on the Brink

Monday, February 18th, 2008

One of the United States’ largest chain of discount stores, Kmart filed for bankruptcy on January 22, 2002. The action came after poor Christmas sales and the company’s inability to pay its major suppliers. The bankruptcy filing was viewed by the US business media as the culmination of a series ...

The Importance of Focus & Differentiation

Monday, February 18th, 2008

Focus & Differentiation are the two most important concepts in brand design. Here's a few guidelines: By definition, a brand is not for everyone – therein lies its power. The more specific your brand’s promise is, the stronger your brand’s equity will be. Ideally, the brand tells a story that is ...

Is This How People See Your Business?

Monday, February 18th, 2008

One Mission. Your Image. The fact is, most small businesses do not have a recognizeable and memorbale presence. In their book The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, Al and Laura Ries write "One of the fastest routes to failure is giving a brand a generic name. The problem with a generic brand ...

Branding Basics

Monday, February 4th, 2008

Branding is the science and practice of differentiating your business from your competitors. Just like the metal branding iron is used to allow your horse to be recognized among the rest of the herd, so too must your business’s brand set you apart. Although your name and logo are important ...

Three Important Branding Concepts

Monday, February 4th, 2008

A great deal of information (and misinformation) exists around the notion of brands and branding, but I have found that the essence of a brand can be distilled down to three simple concepts. Understand these concepts and you’ll become a branding expert. Consistently reinforce them throughout your organization and you’ll ...

Top 10 Branding Practices

Monday, February 4th, 2008

It doesn't get much more basic than this. These ten principles, when followed consistently, deliver clear and powerful brands. 1. Focus on what your business achieves for its customers. Your brand is no good to you if it isn't delivering what customers want. 2. Take ownership of your brand. Pay attention to ...

Branding 101 2.6

Monday, January 28th, 2008

Branding 101 – Why should I brand myself? Branding makes you memorable.   Forty percent of people better remember what they see than what they hear or read. So having graphics associated with your business and having consistent graphics on your business materials make you more likely to come to the forefront of potential ...

Branding 101 2.5

Monday, January 28th, 2008

Branding 101 – Why should I brand myself? Branding gives clients a sense of stability.   You may not have been in business "since 1908," but if you have invested in a brand, you are much less likely to fold in the eyes of your customers. It goes a long way toward building ...