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 … [Read more...]
2 Traits To Create Relationship Through Your Brand – With People You’ve Never Met
November 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Are you “marketing at” your precious potential clients or connecting with them? In other words, do your marketing efforts feel more like you’re shouting at them with a megaphone, or like you’re having a two-way conversation? We all have a craving for connection and conversation – for that rich, recognition-filled two-way exchange of thoughts and information. That goes for both YOU and your potential clients… in fact, the effect can be multiplied many times over for your … [Read more...]
Guerilla Marketing: 3 Cost Effective and Powerful Tactics
May 24, 2011 By 1 Comment
Part 2 of the Series: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Small Business Guerilla Marketing is the countless free or very inexpensive tactics you can deploy do to build awareness for your brand and generate new business. Guerilla Marketing takes creativity, persistence, and work to make things happen with very little investment. A key strategy in Guerilla Marketing is to know your customer. Define your ideal customer and all of the offline and online places you can reach them. Create a … [Read more...]
The Brand Profitability Cycle: How Your Brand Can Help You Make More Money and So Much More!
March 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When I say "profit", do you think about money? Most people do! Entrepreneurs are no different, and one of the most common ways to measure business success is by financial profitability… how much did you make last year versus how much you spent. When you’re looking at profitability in your business, you look at the return on investment. But what do you do when you’re measuring the profitability of a piece of your business that doesn’t just lead directly to money… like your … [Read more...]
Simple Steps for Presenting Great Ideas
February 1, 2011 By 2 Comments
A picture is worth a thousand words. So why do we rely on bullets in PowerPoint so much to communicate? Before becoming a consultant, I worked in telecommunications for about 20 years. I created countless PowerPoint presentations in the corporate world and have drawn more network clouds than I care to admit. Each company and management team had different rules for slide creation. Some had branding guidelines so tight I learned quickly to not adjust the font size or dare change the color … [Read more...]
The 7 Secrets To Creating A Fashionable Brand!
December 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
If you’ve ever been confused about branding your small business, here’s a simple way to think about it: Branding Is Your Business’s Fashion Statement. Here’s how branding is like fashion: When you’re picking out a fashionable outfit for a night out on the town, there are several angles to consider, like: 1. Your fashion style. Do you consider yourself a sporty dresser, vintage, a bohemian, urban, or a little bit rock and roll? A trendsetter or more classic style? Your … [Read more...]
Don’t Just Wait-and-See, Make Plans for 2011
November 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It’s hard to believe we’re almost at year-end. For myself, and many of my consultant colleagues, this year has been a very dynamic one: sluggish business growth earlier this year has rapidly turned into much more activity as we move into fall. This really makes me think hard about what next year will bring. Yet rather than passively wonder what next year will bring my business, I’m looking forward to actively planning what I’ll bring to my business—and WIC has put together a … [Read more...]
Ready, set… brand?
October 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
One of the questions I get most often is some variation of, "I just started my business. Don't I need to create a brand before I can tell anyone about it?" And you'd expect me to say, "Of course. You must run out immediately and design a brand this instant or else!" After all, I'm a brand designer. But, I don't actually believe that. Shocking, isn't it? What I do believe is that branding too soon can hurt a business in its beginning stages. Why? Good branding isn't cheap. Why spend … [Read more...]
Customized Branding Options for Consultants
June 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment
There are dozens of options for creating additional branded materials. But, before you run off and pour thousands of dollars into designing everything you might need, consider this list of 4 of the most effective brand kit additions for consultants: A mailing label. Make your mail look more professional with simple Avery labels. Design full pages of them in Microsoft Word and then print a page or two at a time, as needed. You won’t have to pay for envelopes, and changing your address … [Read more...]
An Economical Branding Kit for Consultants
June 9, 2010 By 2 Comments
How do you design a marketing kit that will make you look professional in your meetings, but not break the bank? Here are the basics you’ll need: Design a logo. This should be a text logo at the very least – designed in an interesting font whose meaning is tied into your business’s personality. A logo with a graphic and text is best! You’ll need a business card. This is an essential tool for client meetings, networking and marking other opportunities. Who knows when you’ll … [Read more...]
