Positioning statement – part of the brand puzzle

Building a brand takes time and planning. After all, you want to build a brand your customers will rally around. When you build a strong brand, they’ll understand who you are, what you offer and why they should do business with you. And, better yet, they’ll talk about you in the best possible way. BeforeContinue reading “Positioning statement – part of the brand puzzle”

Say it simply

You have an exciting opportunity to build a strong and meaningful brand by being consistent in everything you do. Your brand is an important asset. It’s a perception in the minds of consumers and represents what they know and how they feel about you and your business. Your brand offers a compelling promise to yourContinue reading “Say it simply”

Customer service is a table stake

Who likes sitting on hold with a service provider? Not me! I wanted information about my home insurance, so I gave my provider a call. I navigated through the series of automated choices carefully choosing the purpose for my call and remembering long-forgotten PIN numbers. Then I waited. And waited. Despite the warnings that IContinue reading “Customer service is a table stake”

Will they recognize you?

An iconic brand readily identifiable by consumers is a valuable asset to any company. Understanding the services or products you offer through your key messages and actions builds brand loyalty. This will happen overtime as consumers gain exposure to your brand. Other important components of your branding are the visual cues you display. This includesContinue reading “Will they recognize you?”

When your brand changes hands

Every experience someone has with your brand is an opportunity to form an opinion or a perception about your business, good or bad. Consumers want to deal with a company they trust to provide great products and great service. They may also appreciate a brand for its values, if they align with their own. Reliability,Continue reading “When your brand changes hands”

Strengthen your reputation and build credibility online

As a small business owner, you work hard to build a business you’re proud of. You’ve set your goals, identified your target market and defined how you’re going to differentiate yourself from your competition. Part of your business planning should include a marketing strategy — how to tell the world what you’re up to andContinue reading “Strengthen your reputation and build credibility online”

A case for planning

One of the fun parts of my job is planning events for small businesses. I have a number of contacts who specialize in creating party favours and printed items, but the real fun comes with the planning. Mary runs a small home design shop where she displays various fabrics, mirrors and other stylish vases andContinue reading “A case for planning”

Build it and they’ll come

You want to build a brand that will be memorable and at the same time, reflect your values and personality. After all, this is the brand that’s going to stand out in the minds of consumers and help you achieve your business goals. Right? These brand-building foundational questions will hopefully get you thinking and startedContinue reading “Build it and they’ll come”

Your brand inside and out

You’ve put a lot of thought and planning into your brand. You’ve decided on the brand’s characteristics and the tone and feel you want to project. You’ve got a brand promise you feel good about and, in the process, you’ve nailed your key messages. Everything is coming together nicely. A well-thought-out visual identity, complete withContinue reading “Your brand inside and out”

How forgiving are you?

Creating a positive brand experience is key to building a successful brand. Bad brand experiences are not. I would normally focus my blogs on the positive, but since I’ve run into a streak of less than positive experiences, I’ve decided on a little healthy vent. Here I go! Incorrect phone numbersNot long ago, I wasContinue reading “How forgiving are you?”