Starting a business is an exciting venture, but also quite the undertaking. Anyone who has braved the entrepreneurial path knows all too well just how much time, energy, and money is required to get a young company off the ground, not to mention the further investment required to sustain and grow it. Before a new business evens get out of the starting gate, its commercial … [Read more...]
How to Differentiate Your Brand for a Competitive Edge
Sponsored by VISA Business: An unoriginal brand is unlikely to succeed because it’s constantly chasing brands that are already on the market and have already taken a space in consumers’ minds. To achieve maximum success, you need to position your brand against competitors by differentiating it in some way. Of course, differentiators don’t have to be huge to be effective. … [Read more...]
How Audio Branding Can Help Define Your Business Culture
Guest contribution by Colleen Fahey (learn more about the author at the end of the article): The most important brand touch-points for customers are your employees. Since employees are the flesh and blood manifestation of your brand, they need to know they belong and be clear about what they belong to. It’s no wonder many companies use audio branding primarily for their … [Read more...]
IP is the New Black
Last night I learned the best business information that I have heard in quite a while from Oliff & Berridge, PLC wait for it-Intellectual Property Rights. In building our empires we are so caught up in success and growth that we don’t think about risk. After you have spent years building your brand recognition and customer base, how easy is it for someone to come along and … [Read more...]
Build a Brand – Not Just a Career
Guest Post by Laura Ries (learn more about Laura at the end of this article): Talk about "having it all." How about the 37-year-old woman, pregnant with her first child, named the new CEO of a $5 billion company that last year had net profits of $1 billion. With Marissa Mayer's Yahoo appointment, there are now 20 female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. So how do you … [Read more...]
Why Some are Fearful of Social Media
In the financial services industry, compliance departments are up in arms because of industry rules requiring firms to retain records of all the social media conversations that their advisors are having. The Securities and Exchange Commission has been reported to be conducting a sweep of registered investment advisers' use of social media and social networking (Investment … [Read more...]
Building Your Brand “Buddy The Elf” Style – Part 2
Last week I talked about the first two steps of brand building: awareness and understanding, and developing brand associations and meaning. Just to refresh, if you have seen the delightful holiday movie Elf, you are familiar with the endearing qualities of child-like hope and wonder “Buddy the Elf” exudes. How endearing is your brand to your customers? What do you your … [Read more...]
Building Your Brand “Buddy the Elf” Style – Part 1
If you have seen the delightful holiday movie Elf, you are familiar with the endearing qualities of child-like hope and wonder “Buddy the Elf” exudes among believers and non-believers. How endearing is your brand to your customers? What do you your customers believe and understand about your brand? Let’s use “Buddy the Elf” as an example for the four steps to brand building. … [Read more...]
Six tips to creating a business that means something
Stop a minute and think about the impact you have on your clients and the industry you serve. Are you presenting yourself as a leader in your field, full of great ideas and providing valuable resources to everyone who comes your way? Are you making a difference in the lives of the people you meet, either online or in person? Sure, the goal of every business is to make money- … [Read more...]
Messaging is Critical – How’s Yours?
When someone asks, “What do you do?” how valuable is your answer? A run of the mill, “I am a financial advisor” or “I run a consulting firm” response has the person who asked knowing almost less about you than before they asked. You gave them a phone book response. You were about as personable and memorable as a business directory. AND you’ve forced them to jump to a … [Read more...]