Welcome to our branding and marketing blog
This is the best place to learn how we think as creative and strategic communicators. You’ll find various observations and best practices about branding, design, client relations, and communications, in general. We try to keep things instructive and advisory. However, we can’t guarantee that there won’t be a rant or rave once in a while. So, please cut us some slack.
FEATURED BLOG POST
Your credibility is on(the)line
by Step2 Branding & Design
When you meet new prospects, network or attend industry events, the moment you hand out your business card, your credibility will be on the line. Typically, the first thing most people do when they get back to the office is check out your website. If it doesn’t immediately convey a genuine sense of empathy (quite possibly, your greatest sales tool), you can lose your audience in seconds.
Branding and marketing blog posts
Start-ups need to get branding right out of the gate.
The bankruptcy courts are full of great ideas that were undermined by ineffective branding and promotion. Build it and they will come? No, they won’t. Not unless you make them really want to. Or, better yet, need to.
WHO are you selling to, anyway?
Price, style, features and convenience will always be important factors to closing a sale. However, there’s a lot more to promoting your business than what your goods or services mean to your direct consumers. In fact, your audience is likely much broader than you realize.
WHAT are you selling, anyway?
In order to be an effective marketer, it’s imperative that we continually remind ourselves of the true value we bring to our markets. Usually, that customer benefit is intangible. Quite often, we learn that it’s an emotional one.
Why I unfollowed you on LinkedIn.
You’re missing a huge opportunity to really shine in front of your network and those beyond it. You have a wealth of knowledge that most of us don’t have. You are the only one in the world with your perspective. So, why not share it?
Never assume anything
Never Make Assumptions about Your Audience. That seems like an obvious rule, right? But, we all do it to some degree. It’s human nature. We follow our gut instincts. We proceed without having the data to back up our actions. Remember New Coke?
I’m your potential customer and these are the things I care about.
You seem to be great at what you do. You have a terrific product. Your media coverage has been impressive. You’ve been serving the industry for decades. But, what does it mean to your customers? What’s in it for me?