Web Marketing and Traditional Advertising are more Effective with Proper Branding

Posted on October 2nd, 2008 in Branding by admin

It really won’t matter if no one knows your product or service because you haven’t branded your business correctly. Some companies and businesses spread their ad dollars around with direct mail, radio, broadcast and web. But without long-range branding plan you are wasting your time and money.

The Age Old Branding Question

Let’s presume that you own a ‘brick and mortar’ jewelry store, plus you sell your products online. How do you convert casual browsers into buyers in both situations? I can say it in one word.
BRANDING.

People buy brands. A brand should represent everything you stand for. What do you think of when you hear the name ‘Tiffany’s’? Expensive, chic and elegance are a few words that come to mind.

Ask yourself, How do you want people to identify with you or your brand? Find and identify a niche in your market and exploit it any way you can.

Logos, Taglines, Mascots and Attitude

The long-range branding of Nike has been a steady-on, unwavering approach. They show imagery with ambient sound effects followed by their familiar Nike logo swoosh. Sometimes they add the tagline, ‘Just Do It’. This is their branding attitude.

Aflacs’ insurance commercials feature a bumbling duck. This cute, feathery, accident-prone mascot became the quintessential reason why you need to buy insurance - - their insurance. Aflac took this sleep inducing subject and made it entertaining and memorable.

Local Branding Hero’s

The home town branding factor can bring you excellent recognition. Can you think of a restaurant, car dealership, jeweler or any local business brand that sticks out in your mind? Identity is branding’s most common denominator. You have to stand out in the crowd or get lost in the clutter.

Give your customers a reason why they should do business with you.

Where to Start

Start by consulting with a full-service public relations agency or advertising agency. We use Rourk Public Relations in Virginia Beach, to help establish our company brand. David Rourk, President of the company, has captured in words our business philosophy, unique product and value to customers. This branding has helped VISIONEFX become one of the leading Web design companies in Virginia.

Good branding will last the life of your business. Go forth and brand!

About the Author
http://www.visionefx.net - Visionefx President Ricardo Vidallon has been in the creative business of advertising, cable broadcast, animation and the World Wide Web for more than two decades. His work has been featured on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., Fox News and NBC Entertainment. His career track in Web consultancy includes the global companies of Reynolds and Reynolds, CMGI Solutions, and Automark, Inc.

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Logo Design Tips for Effective Branding

Posted on September 23rd, 2008 in Branding by admin

How memorable is your business? It might be your service, your products, or most importantly… your company branding.The elements that go into your company’s logo has a significant effect on how successful your business will be in bringing customers in and keeping them coming back. Company branding is predefining everything you business is about.

It helps to stick your products and services in the minds of potential customers. Lets give an example to make this easier. You wake up and you ready to run errands for the day. It’s a busy Monday afternoon. You know you need to buy groceries, drop the kids off for basketball practice, and pick up the dry cleaning. Around noon you remember you need to get groceries. The thought of food runs through your mind and your empty stomach. Looking for a quick bite to eat, an image of Golden Arches sticks to the back of your mind. McDonalds. Now that’s good company branding.
A good logo design needs to be:

- Attractive and easy to read even from a distance

- Memorable and elict thoughts that relate to your business. McDonalds uses red and yellow which elict hunger responses.

- A great tag line that defines your products or services.

Getting Started: Creating A Superb Logo:

You’ve invested all you could into your company name and building products designed to sell. You’ve even hired the best employees in the community through tough interview processes. Now you need a good logo to wrap it all together in a neat little package in your customer’s minds.

How memorable is your business? It might be your service, your products, or most importantly… your company branding. The elements that go into your company’s logo has a significant effect on how successful your business will be in bringing customers in and keeping them coming back. Company branding is predefining everything you business is about.

It helps to stick your products and services in the minds of potential customers. Lets give an example to make this easier. You wake up and you ready to run errands for the day. It’s a busy Monday afternoon. You know you need to buy groceries, drop the kids off for basketball practice, and pick up the dry cleaning. Around noon you remember you need to get groceries. The thought of food runs through your mind and your empty stomach. Looking for a quick bite to eat, an image of Golden Arches sticks to the back of your mind. McDonalds. Now that’s good company branding.
A good logo design needs to be:

- Attractive and easy to read even from a distance

- Memorable and elict thoughts that relate to your business. McDonalds uses red and yellow which elict hunger responses.

- A great tag line that defines your products or services.

Getting Started: Creating A Superb Logo:

You’ve invested all you could into your company name and building products designed to sell. You’ve even hired the best employees in the community through tough interview processes. Now you need a good logo to wrap it all together in a neat little package in your customer’s minds.

5 Logo Design Tips That Sell:

- Easy to read font style

- Relates to your companies services or products

- Works well with your company name

- Clearly communicates your business

- Strong balanced image with no clutter.

http://www.CaffeineMarketing.com/ - CaffeineMarketing.com Your Daily Dose of Marketing Articles

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Branding All My Ex’s Live In…

Posted on July 27th, 2008 in Branding by admin

…my senses. I know, you were thinking ‘Texas’. Well, if they do live in Texas, then it’s a good thing that I live in Virginia (dodged that bullet - swish!). In fact, most of my experiences, good and bad, nestle deep in the base of my subconscious until ’something’ wakes them up. It could be the ocean air, a certain perfume, the sound of fireworks or a song, the touch, the feel of cotton, or even the taste of burnt pizza. Yup, all of these sensory experiences can bring any memory rushing back to the front of your mind.

So, what does this have to do with branding?

Have you ever smelled french fries and said, “Oh, I could go for McDonald’s”.

Nokia, the leader in cell phone manufacturing design their phones to touch at least 4 of the 5 senses, and touch some more than others. The design of the phone is perfectly shaped to the contour of the users hand (touch). The interface is designed to be exactly the same in any language, to the point that a Japanese user change his settings to English and know exactly where everything is (sight and touch). Their ringtone is unique and a branded Nokia sound (also used on their web site), so that it is easily recognized worldwide (sound). Their packaging has a branded scent that is emitted into the users brain the moment it is opened (smell). And, I wouldn’t put it past them to find something taste-worthy to tie into their brand.

Again, what does this have to do with branding? EVERYTHING!

Branding for the senses takes your brand to another level of memorability. Did you know that the Disney Parks purposely spray the scent of cotton candy in areas where there isn’t any? This drives traffic to other areas of the Parks where there is cotton candy! Did you know that the ‘new car smell’ is a manufactured scent? It’s deliberately added because people love it. It is the finishing touch, the icing on the cake, that makes the decision to buy final.

Some stores have a branded scent, or a branded sound when you walk in the door. You don’t realize it, but when you hear that sound or smell that smell you will automatically think of that store. Certain hotels hand you warm chocolate chip cookie when you check-in - this is to wake the memories of home, which is how they want to remembered!

So, what does your brand smell like?

tandembranding is a nation-wide branding firm, and we work with marketing directors to make their company famous. We specialize in industries that cater to the customer experience.

For more articles on how branding can make you famous, please visit tandembranding.com

Mark Campanale, Brand Expert
tandembranding
tandembranding.com

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