readyBUZZ Blog

An effective social media strategy will create relevant two-way conversations about your products/services.

[readybuzz]

Turning Your Blog Into an e-Book

With a new year just a month away, you’re probably already starting to think of ways for your business to make more money and attract more customers. Well, rather than dig deep for some complicated algorithms or developing an intricate strategy, many small businesses have one tool staring them right in the face.

If your brand has a blog, you can use it in more ways than one. And if your brand does not have a blog, you need to remedy that right now.

For those with a blog…have you ever thought of turning it into an e-book? It’s incredibly easy, as the content is already there.

Of course, you don’t want to just throw your most recent posts into e-book format. That’s sort of like cheating, and your audience—as well as potential readers—are going to catch on to it.

Instead, go back through your blog and pick 10-12 of the most popular entries over the last year or two. Which ones generated the most traffic or the most discussion in your comment threads? Pick these out as sure contenders for your book.

In addition, you’ll also want to add a few “bonus” entries that aren’t available on your website. If people are shelling out their hard earned money for your book, give them something that Joe Blow off the street won’t have access to by simply reading your blog for free.

All in all, try to have 15-20 entries in the book. Don’t worry too much about your book’s length, so long as you aren’t overcharging for a smaller word count of less than 10,000 words. On the other hand, if you have your e-book packed with more than 30,000 words of valuable information and content, make sure you charge appropriately. Pick a price that is fair to the customer but also reflects the quality that you are putting out there.

This is a great way to have another revenue stream out there…something to always bring in a little extra cash. Whether you self-publish on Amazon or try to find a publisher, your blog-based e-book can be a great addition to your brand.

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/turning-blog-e-book/

[readybuzz]

Thanksgiving Branding Ideas That Never Were

A late Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Being a holiday, we thought it might be an opportune time to have some fun with branding and the holiday where most Americans stuff their face to the point of bursting.

So here’s a question…if branding had have been an issue what back when the Pilgrims and the Native Americans shared the first Thanksgiving, what do you think some of their slogans and approaches might have been?

We thought it might look something like this.

From the Pilgrim’s Perspective

There was no social media around, or not even a landline for that matter, so there was really no way of them to announce their arrival to those already living on the land that they had “discovered.” Therefore, we imagine that they were all smiles and trying their warm-up speeches and pitches. Perhaps they would have used openers such as:

Our guns are more accurate than your arrows, so let us teach you the ways of guns

Look at our fancy clothes. How are you not impressed?

These vast boats of ours have come across the endless oceans!

We promise, we’ll just stay here on this coast while you have all of that land over there for your families.

From the Native Americans’ Perspective

Who were these new people that were trying to sneak in and encroach on their land, anyway? And now they want to have this huge feast together? Something seems sort of fishy, but let’s not automatically jump to conclusions. Surely in the future, we’ll be good friends and our future generations will be abundant among these great people.

Your guns load much slower than my bow so no thank you.

Less clothes means less laundry. Also, what’s up with those ridiculous shoes?

Nice clunky boat you have there; check out how fast I can run.

But we were here first…

Add in to the fun. How do you think the slogans and catchphrases might have gone down during the first Thanksgiving?

[readybuzz]

Brands to Look for During the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

While it’s true that Thanksgiving often gets overshadowed by Christmas even before the turkeys have the time to realize their demise, there is one staple of Thanksgiving that has remained popular through the years: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.

An astounding number of people watch the parade on TV—or, rather, have it on in the background as they get ready for Thanksgiving dinner. But even if you only catch a glimpse of it here or there, you’ll notice that brands have their logos and mascots all over the place.

Believe it or not, this was not always the intent of the parade…if you believe what Macy’s spokespeople have to say.

While we’re not going to say that this parade has become nothing more than a blatant twist at consumerism just a month away from Christmas, we will say that…no, wait, we are going to say that.

Sure, there are the staples from cartoons…Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Dora and SpongeBob. But beyond that, it seems that companies like Disney and Universal are constantly sneaking in floats that tie into a movie that is being released right around the corner. Speaking of Disney, they actually have a brilliant branding strategy in place for the parade: to remind the viewers that they have characters and stories that represent Thanksgivings past as well as Thanksgivings of the future. This is why you will often see Mickey in the same parade as whatever new character they have to flaunt to promote a new movie.

It stands to reason that companies want to ride the popularity of the most prominent Thanksgiving event out there—especially when it can be presented as a form of entertainment.

As of late, even food brands have started to take advantage of the parade. This year, keep a look out for staples like Ronald McDonald, the M&M candy characters, and the Kool-Aid Man, courtesy of Kraft foods.

Hmm…food brands jockeying to get in front of viewers on a holiday that is all about eating. Is this clever or just soulless?

Your thoughts?

[readybuzz]

4 More Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Brand

We didn’t have you thinking that there were only three key mistakes that you can unknowingly make did we? If so, you’re more gullible that you might have thought.

While the issues that were raised yesterday are certainly some of the most damaging mistakes you can make without being aware of them, here are four other things to look out for.

  Not Knowing Your Market Segmentation:

You’re not going to be able to always give the people what they want…especially if you don’t know your customers well. No matter how great the product or service is, if your would-be customers don’t feel that you understand them or can’t meet their needs, they will likely take their business elsewhere. Get a good sense of who your customers really are before you start casting your line into those murky waters.

Don’t Get Lazy When It Comes to Standing Out:

Most potential customers don’t have time to weigh the pros and cons of which business they want to choose. Because of that, you should already have this task taken care of. Let them know right away how you are different and what you can offer than the competitors can’t. Make it obvious in the way of logos, your website, or even you tagline.

And Speaking of Taglines:

Make sure your tagline clearly explains what you do, but in a way that doesn’t simply spell out what you offer. Be catchy and to the point. If you can, be creative and clever. Your tagline is the equivalent of the blurb on the back of a book that makes people decided whether or not they want to buy it.

Consistent Communication is Key:

Keep the same tone, voice, and mood in all communications. If you don’t have a copywriter, this can be tricky. You want your audience to come to expect a certain feeling to your communications, one that will help define the character of your brand. Make sure you always sound like a level headed individual and not a crazy-face with multiple personalities.

What other mistakes have you caught in terms of your branding after the fact?

[readybuzz]

3 Common Brand Mistakes You Might Not Know You’ve Mad

You can ask anyone in business…the worst mistakes that you can make are the ones that you were completely unaware of until after the fact. Many brands have suffered this fate and have worked extensively to correct it. But there have been others that have made such mistakes and haven’t even discovered them yet.

Hopefully you aren’t among their numbers. But if you’re feeling a bit insecure, here are three things you can look for—surefire branding mistakes that you might not even know you’re making.

Don’t Get Cute or Overly Creative With Your Name or Logo

Even if you think you have what is the coolest, more unique company name there is, make sure it is something that your target audience is going to understand. You want your target market to know who you are and what you do right away. You don’t want to cause any confusion or guesswork just because you picked a confusing name that you thought was a clever idea.

Don’t Detach Yourself from Your Brand

Not only are you the boss of the office…you are the face of your brand. Your attitudes and behaviors are going to ultimately affect the way people view your brand. Keep this in mind when you are giving interviews, doing commercials, or any sort of press-related things. Do your best to match your brand to your personality and vice versa.

Never Underestimate Your Competitors

The internet has made competition very unpredictable in the business world. A business that was small and on the verge of dying one day can be the leader of the pack within just a few weeks. Because of this, you should always be investigating your competition. What are they doing that you aren’t? Is it working? What sort of customers are they bringing in that you can’t seem to attract? Never assume that you are better than any of your competition; this could cause you to overlook them only to have them blaze right by you soon after.

Have you ever caught yourself caught up in one of the mistakes-in-the-making? If so, how did you side-step it?

[readybuzz]

How Coca-Cola Uses Santa for a Branding Tool

Did you ever stop to wonder just how much influence certain brands have over the way we live our lives? It’s easier to spot than you think—especially around the Holidays.

You need look no further than the evolution of Santa Claus and how he has been closely tied to Coca-Cola. This is a connection that has been taking place since the 1920s. And whether you know it or not, many of the things you think you know about Santa are actually from Coke’s branding.

In 1931, Coke started to place ads in popular magazines. These ads featured a Santa that was actually Santa and not just a man dressed as Santa. Back then, this was considered to be risky and quite cutting edge. For inspiration, the ad’s creators drew from the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” which is better known as “The Night Before Christmas.” From the rosy cheeks to the jelly-like belly, the Coke ads stayed true to the poem.

Inspiration was also heavily drawn from oil paintings by a man named Sundblom, whom also based his popular Santa on “The Night Before Christmas.”

This design of Santa was first seen in The Saturday Evening Post and then later in The New Yorker andNational Geographic.

It is this version of Santa that plush/stuffed Santas were based on, as well as almost any other Santa that appeared in other ads for other companies. Chances are that any jolly depiction of Santa Claus you have ever seen bears some semblance to the one that was present in these ads.

Some of the more classic depictions of Santa in these Coca-Cola ads show Santa peeking into people’s fridges to take a Coke rather than milk and cookies, or simply delivering toys merrily while sipping on a Coke.

Santa and Coke have shared ad space every year since 1931 and there are no signs of stopping. Don’t you wish you could use the Holiday seasons to bran your business so successfully?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/coca-cola-uses-santa-branding-tool/

[readybuzz]

Giving Thanks to Your Customers

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and the joy and celebration of Christmas right behind it, mot people tend to get in a festive and thankful mood this time of the year.

Even if you aren’t in this camp, you still need to make sure that you use this time of the year to let your clients know that you are thankful for them. It’s the perfect time of year to truly standout; most businesses forget about Thanksgiving and wait until Christmas—just like everyone else.

So this year, separate yourself from your competitors by letting your clients know how much they mean to you and the success of your business. Here are a few ideas for you:

Contact your most important clients and let them know you’d like to have lunch with them (knowing that you will be footing the bill). Take the opportunity to let them know how important they are to your business and how you can help them in the future.

Send a basic Thank You card. Maybe even include a small voucher for a discount.

Consider giving them a gift of some kind, even if it’s as simple as a pen. Anything that is sent with a heartfelt “thank you” is always appreciated.

A step beyond y clients and think about your community at large. This is a great way to show the community that your brand is thankful for what you have and that you like to give back from time to time. Participate in a local Toy for Tots campaign or come up with your own. Perhaps consider giving a portion of your proceeds to a local charity for the month of November.

Do you have any other ideas as to how a business can give thanks to their clients in a way that isn’t already saturated by Christmas?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/giving-thanks-customers/

[readybuzz]

Keeping Quality Employees

If you can find a happy business and a happy brand, the chances are good that there are happy employees driving it. No matter how savvy of a businessman you are or how many seminars you’ve attended or how many books you’ve read, the true success of any business comes down to the mindset and overall condition of your employees.

Your employees should always know that they are highly valued. And while there are several different ways that you can show them this, there are three basic principles that are more important than any others.

So if you want to show your employees that they truly matter, try these three basic guidelines.

Keep Their Workspace Efficient and Clean (and Even a Little Fun)

Even if you’re not a very exciting individual, that doesn’t mean that the workspace you have provided for your employees needs to be boring and drab. Make sure you allow your employees plenty of freedom when it comes to their workspace. This does not mean to let them get away with being pigs or displaying vulgar material, but it does mean that you should always be thinking of ways to make their workspace interesting and inspiring.

Never Rush Them

A rushed employee is an unhappy employee. As a matter of fact, if you ever throw rush work at your employees, you are making two mistakes. You are giving your employees hard expectations to meet, therefore making them panic, and you are also potentially risking the possibility of sending your client a subpar effort that has been rushed.

Never put your employees in this situation.

Keep Them Consistently Happy

When you can keep your employees happy, you have less of a chance of losing them to some other job. Also, happy employees are a great reflection of your brand. If you want people talking about how awesome your brand is, it starts with customer interaction with your employees.

What are some other basics that you can think of when it comes to keeping your employees motivated and working at top performance?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/keeping-quality-employees/

[readybuzz]

How Bacardi’s Story Helps Sell the Brand

If you want to find an example of a strong branding presence, look no further than BACARDÍ. What some people don’t realize is that the strongest part of the BACARDÍ brand lies in their story. In fact, much of their history is better than the fabricated ad campaigns of their competitors.

The BACARDÍ family has seen a tremendous amount of adversity, including earthquakes, wars and revolutions within their home country of Cuba, exile from that same country, fires and more. But still, the company still stands and is more popular than ever.

A recent campaign tells the story of their unique past in a series of ads that highlight the brand’s Untameable Spirit. A few phrases and taglines that are being used include:

Some Men are Kicked Out of Bars – Others are Kicked Out of Countries

We Remember Prohibition – It was a Blast!

Earthquakes, Fire, Exile, Prohibition – Sorry Fate, You Picked the Wrong Family.

This type of built in character is priceless. The ads basically write themselves. And they tend to resonate with the BACARDÍ audience because the ads and the family history tell the story of overcoming the odds and reaching for their goals and dreams no matter what.

Another good thing about these ads is that they contain simple messages that are easy to translate in the realm of all media, right down to basic billboards and posters.

According to BACARDÍ’s Senior Category Director, BACARDÍ is known for “its passionate drive, regardless of circumstance, convention or expectation.” He also believes that this new campaign works because it “pays tribute to the brand’s enduring popularity, continuing ingenuity and connects with consumers as it inspires them.”

The campaign is working towards building an “untameable” attitude, not just with the brand but with its consumers as well.

This is proof positive that your own personal story can often be the strongest lynchpin in your image. Think of the attributes of your own life and use your own struggles and personality to better define your brand.

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/bacardis-story-helps-sell-brand/

[readybuzz]

Be Careful With Your Humor (and Your Booze)

Humor and advertising can be a very tricky pairing. When brands can get it to work, it can be incredibly successful. But when done wrong or without much tact, it can be disastrous. At its absolute worst, it can be offensive, wince-inducing and just downright stupid and harmful.

The trick is to go with your instincts. When it comes to humor in advertising, it is never a safe bet to use the current movie standards of comedy. It’s one thing to have risqué jokes and humor in movies; these are made up stories that we are watching in the privacy of our homes.

Advertising, on the other hand, is being seen by millions. And those jokes that are going public are a direct reflection of your brand. So while it is perfectly fine for Kevin Smith or Judd Apatow to make dick and fart jokes (it’s sort of a part of their brand, really), it’s not something you want to implement in your next marketing campaign.

Case in point…look at the following ad and tell us what’s wrong. If you don’t see it within three seconds, chances are that you are a terrible human being.

You read that right. That’s a blatant oral sex joke in a liquor ad. More than they, it suggests forced oral sex. Which is pretty close to rape.

This ad would have never worked anywhere, but the fact that it’s for a liquor company makes it about five times worse, considering that a lot of domestic abuse comes at the hands of those charming fellows that can’t handle their booze.

To make it even worse beyond that, this wasn’t an image that was placed in a magazine and then quickly taken back. No, it was posted to Belvedere’s Facebook and Twitter pages for the world to see.

So for some really open and honest conversation, do you see any way that this ad could have only been slightly altered…maybe even just the way it is was worded…where it might not have been so terrible?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/careful-humor-booze/

[readybuzz]

Branding Ideas for Christmas Gifts

With Christmas right around the corner, you should start thinking of gift ideas for your customers. While this might seem extravagant to some, there are many cost effective ways to provide your loyal clients with an item that has your brand name on it.

Looking for some suggestions? Try any of these, varying from the dirt cheap to the pretty expensive.

Pens: This is a great standby. Everyone can use a pen. Chances are that if you look around your house or office, at least half of your pens have been branded with someone’s logo or business name. These are relatively inexpensive but you can also get some very finely crafted pens for some extra cash.

Glasses and mugs: Coffee mugs are a pretty traditional gift as well. But you may also want to think about shot glasses, tumblers, drinking glasses, wine glasses, and soon. The more unique the item, the more special the gift will seem.

Shirts/Clothing: Here’s another classic. Sure, lots of tee shorts that are given away with a company logo on it has usually designated to yard work attire. But with a clever design and choice fabrics, your gifted shirt could quickly become your client’s favorite shirt.

Ornaments: Not many people have gone this route, but it’s a great way to get in the holiday spirit and can become something of a conversation piece—not only within your office but at Christmas gatherings at the homes of your clients all throughout the holidays.

Calendars: This should be a given. Who hasn’t gotten a calendar in some form from a business before?

Snow Globes: The most unique item on the list is also the most special. Don’t worry so much about getting your brand inside the globe, as you can place that on the outside base. These can be costly but will likely be remembered for quite some time.

What are some other unique gift ideas for branding that you’ve seen lately?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/branding-ideas-christmas-gifts/

[readybuzz]

Why KFC’s “I Ate the Bones” Campaign was a Bad Idea

Have you seen the Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials for their “I Ate the Bones” campaign? It’s for their latest type of boneless chicken wing.

At its base, it does make at least some vague sort of sense. But in reality, it’s another one of those marketing techniques that is backfiring terribly due to the way people are using social media.

Almost immediately after the commercials aired and even encouraged KFC patrons to use the Twitter hashtag of #Iatethebones, the campaign was assaulted. Many people started to tweet links to animal rights videos and even pictures of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. There was also a meme of people choking on chicken bones. In other words, this was a campaign that got the wrong sort of attention.

Sure, it’s hilarious, but those images and videos are now liked intimately with the KFC brand.

You have to give KFC credit for trying. They even went so far as to tweet the following: Fill in the blank.  “My first bite of boneless was ________.”

As you can imagine, the internet went crazy. From pornography jokes to cannibalism references, this was one campaign that was beaten to death. One Twitter user even went so far as to tweet: “They’ll never find that girl’s body.”

Needless to say, if you want something funny to read, you aren’t going to get much better than the Twitter responses to the “I ate the bones” hashtags.

The sad thing of it is that KFC seems to have the fundamentals of engaging with their online audience down very well. This was just one campaign that was doomed from the start even though many people do in fact enjoy boneless chicken wings.

Odder still is the fact that the reputation of the KFC brand itself didn’t appear to suffer from the poorly planned campaign.

What are some other recent popular campaigns that you have seen that weren’t bad as an initial concept was but just executed poorly?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/kfcs-ate-bones-campaign-bad-idea/

[readybuzz]

Branding vs. Advertising vs. Marketing vs. Public Relations

Not too long ago, a humorous comic strip made its rounds through the internet and was a great illustration of the differences between branding, marketing, public relations, and advertising. While funny, it raised key point that everyone should realize about these four areas.

So let’s break down a simple comic about love-making into a slightly more detailed approach to understanding the differences between these key areas in running your small business.

If he says “I’m a great lover,” that’s marketing.

Marketing is about getting the message out there. You want people to hear the key aspects of what you are about, letting people know who you are and what it is that you do well.

If she says “Trust me, he’s a great lover,” that’s public relations.

Any review you see on Amazon is a form of public relations. But if we stick to the sex illustration, it could go one of two ways. Either someone is trying to get this man laid and is ensuring to her friend that he’s a great lover, or  she is working for him, trying to help get him laid. Either way, word of mouth of going to help influence the decision of someone else.

If he says “I’m a great lover, I’m a great lover, I’m a great lover,” that’s advertising.

Advertising is all about repetition. Also, he’s probably saying this in church or a funeral, as advertising always tends to pop up in places where we really don’t want it.

If she says “I understand you’re a great lover,” that’s branding success.

This is when the woman has come up to the man from across the room and lets him know what she has heard. This is the equivalent of someone coming into your business and telling you that they came to you because they heard that you are the best in the industry. Of course, in both of these illustrations, this is exactly what you’re going for: winning results and a great reputation.

Does anyone else have any slightly inappropriate metaphors to better separate these four often confused areas?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/branding-vs-advertising-vs-marketing-vs-public-relations/

[readybuzz]

How Nine Inch Nails Built a Brand on More Than Just Music

In the mid-to-late 1990s, Nine Inch Nails had nearly become a household name. The band’s creator, front man and driving force, Trent Reznor, had become the icon of goth kids and aspiring musicians everywhere. Even today, Nine Inch Nails remain popular and while the majority of their lasting power is located within Reznor’s music, it has also been his ability to genuinely brand his music and band in a way that almost no other musicians has been able to do.

Chances are that even if you’re not a fan of Reznor’s music, you’ve seen the logo for his band. There aren’t many bands out there—if any—that can use a symbol of sorts for their band’s name and have people recognize it.

Reznor was able to do this with Nine Inch Nails because of his devoted fan base, but also his ability to incorporate his base branding efforts into each album and even video that he released. From tee shirts to bumper stickers, from desktop wallpapers to entire websites, his band’s logo is widely known in the music world.

But it’s not just that Reznor has created music that almost two generations have been able to enjoy. He has also become involved in other areas of the music industry. He helped lead the increasingly popular “name your price” downloads direct from an artist’s website, allowing his fans to purchase new albums for free. He also has a platform (also free) that allows fans to download the actual musical tracks from his recordings and make remixes of them.

Furthermore, tired of the way the record company was over-charging his fans for his music, he ended a lucrative contract and started releasing albums for much cheaper under his own label.

And all the while, he even stepped away from Nine Inch Nails for a while to win a Grammy Award for his score on The Social Network.

All of these ground breaking and unorthodox approaches to music are true of his brand because fans of his music know that his music is the same way: ground breaking and unorthodox.

So with Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor has created more than just a band—he had created a brand. And that is something that musicians have always tried to do and ultimately failed.

Are there any other musicians that you can think of that approach their music as a brand rather than just something to listen to?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/nine-inch-nails-built-brand-just-music/

[readybuzz]

When Weird Marketing (Sort of) Works: Mr. Six

Sometimes brand mascots are so weird and out of left field that they work because of their sheer uniqueness. But on the other hand, they can sometimes be weird enough to backfire.

And, oddly enough, there is even a third category: those mascots that fall somewhere in the middle.

Mr. Six, the mascot for Six Flags, is one such mascot.

Mr. Six was introduced to the public in 2004. He was a loveable, if not slightly awkward-looking senior citizen that had the apparent ability to make anyone who saw him joyful enough to start dancing and having a great time. He was always dressed in a suit with suspenders and a bright red bow tie.

Here’s the weirdest thing about Mr. Six. While he worked for quite a while, becoming popular is advertising and doing some good for the amusement park, his was a shtick that got tiring after a while.

The successes and failures of the Mr. Sic campaign can be summarized easily yet it still can’t help decide if the mascot was a success or a failure.

Successes

The commercials were certainly memorable.

The character danced to a popular song at the time (and also equally annoying, as the Mr. Six ads quickly became, too).

Failures

He was sort of creepy. The make-up had him looking almost too old.

There was mass confusion among the public why an amusement park would use an old (and potentially senile) man to lure younger people (namely kids) to Six Flags.

Love him or hate him, he was axed a few years after he was introduced as shareholders found him annoying and confusing. Yet, in another strange turn of the Mr. Six story, he was brought back a few years later. The reason given by the company was that the guests apparently loved him. It was a physical representation of their brand that people related to and recognized easily…even if they don’t really care for him.

Given this peculiar story, would you say that Mr. Six was a branding mistake or a branding success?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/weird-marekting-sort-works-mr-six/

[readybuzz]

Be a Branding Hero

Everyone loves a great hero story. FromBeowulf to The Avengers, heroes are ingrained in storytelling from all periods of human history.

Did you know that you can sort of take advantage of this fact when it comes to branding? It’s true. If you can cleverly see your business and brand as a story that had yet to be told, you can experience a hero’s journey within your workplace.

The Transformation

In any good hero tale, the hero is usually changed by the end of the story. The goals he set out with, whether accomplished in the end or not, are often changed in some way. Turned on its head in the marketing worlds, this can be used in terms of your band’s adaptability. Make sure your goals adjust accordingly to the other factors of your story…factors such as client needs, technology, finances, and so on.

Sharing the Hero’s Duty

At the start of your journey (or, for those already lost in the metaphor, the opening of your business) you need to be the hero. You need to be the little guy with obstacles to overcome. But as you gain experience and your goals shift (see above) it may be time to hand the reigns over to a new hero. And that new hero should probably be your clients. Make them feel like they are the hero in a story that you are helping them tell through your goods or services.

Making a Good Hero

The best heroes have their faults and are, at their base, very much human. For you, this means to remain relatable and available to your customers. And while superheroes often have secret identities, you may want to leave the “super” out of things when it comes to branding. You want people to know who you are at all times.

What other heroic attributes can you find in proper branding?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/branding-hero/

[readybuzz]

Striking Up The Brand

Let’s get back to basics and face the fact that some people in the small business environment still don’t have a proper handle on what branding actually is. This is that day in class where we review stuff from the beginning of the year, but try not to tune out here. It’ll make the other student’s look stupid…

Branding is not just about getting your audience to choose you over the competition. Rather, it is putting it into the heads of the public that you are the best solution to their need. Think about Starbucks…love them or hate them, their name is not just synonymous with coffee—their logo is just about the only one that comes to many people’s minds when they think about coffee.

So what can your brand do to gain that sort of power? It really all boils down to sticking to the three most basics of branding.

Clearly Deliver Your Message: Don’t be vague or overly poetic. Let people know who you are and what you do without complicating things.

Connect With Your Audience: If you can connect with your audience on an emotional level, you’re golden. What is it about you that your audience will relate to? Find that factor and enhance it to fit into your band and drive it forward.

Create Customer Loyalty: Delivering beyond expectations and enhancing the customers experience will ensure that your new customer becomes a loyal customer. And the more loyal customers you have, the stronger your brand becomes. Remember: when it comes to pleasing customers, there is no such thing as going “Over the Top.”

While there are certainly more detailed in successfully building your brand these three are the most fundamental. If you aren’t sure how to go about achieving these three factors, take a step back and re-evaluate what you want your brand to be about.

What are some of the more important factor you’ve stuck closely to in shaping your brand?

Source: http://www.readybuzz.com/striking-brand/