Karl-Theodor Zu Guttenberg was the German Minister of Defense and was accused of copying the greater part of his doctoral dissertation.

Famous Examples of Plagiarism Cases

Plagiarism is a term that most students are familiar with, and something that they try desperately to avoid. Perhaps examining some real-life cases of plagiarism will further emphasize the importance of avoiding this problem.

Students are not the only ones often accused of plagiarism. There are many instances of celebrities and other famous people plagiarizing speeches, writings and lyrics as well. Throughout the ages, there have been many examples of plagiarism. Some famous examples include the following:

Melania Trump

First lady, Melania Trump’s 2016 speech at the Republican National Convention not only mimicked the overall message but used some of the exact wording of the speech that Michelle Obama gave in 2008 at the Democratic National Convention.

Joseph Biden

Former Vice President Joe Biden has fallen foul of plagiarism several times throughout the years. He failed a course when he was in law school because he plagiarized a paper. According to the New York Times, Biden stated that he had "used five pages from a published law review article without quotation or attribution" in an article he wrote for the Fordham Law Review. In 1988, Biden was forced to withdraw from the presidential race due to plagiarism allegations. Some of his speeches were taken from speeches made by the Kennedys, Hubert Humphrey and Britain’s Neil Kinnock during his campaign against Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Stephen Ambrose

Stephen Ambrose, a historical writer, used writings from other peoples’ books in some of his own works. Ambrose is best known for his book made into the miniseries Band of Brothers. In 2002, he was found to have plagiarized from Wings of Morning by Thomas Childers in his book The Wild Blue. This was followed by allegations that he used other authors’ work in several of his books.

Rene Diekstra

In 1997, Rene Diekstra, a former psychology professor at Leiden University, was accused of committing scientific plagiarism. He left the University due to these accusations.

Alex Haley

Writer and Pulitzer Prize winner Alex Haley is best known for his book Roots. This book was later turned into a famous miniseries. Haley was accused of taking parts of The African by Harold Courlander and using them in Roots. He was sued in 1978 and eventually admitted that he had plagiarized the information.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller was accused of plagiarizing a short story, "The Frost," that she wrote when she was 11. This story was published and quickly noticed to having a similarity to Margaret Canby’s "The Frost Fairies." Keller said she had no recollection of this story but later it was revealed that she was read Canby’s story at one time.

Martin Luther King

It has been claimed that in the 1950’s Martin Luther King Jr. plagiarized some of his doctoral thesis at Boston University, as well as some selections in his speeches. Portions of his thesis were proven to be taken from a previous student’s dissertation and the works of Paul Tillich, the subject of his thesis. Whether or not his speeches were plagiarized is less clear cut, as it has been argued that using the words of scripture and other preachers is a tradition in preaching.

George Harrison

George Harrison used the same melody in his song "My Sweet Lord" as the Chiffons did in "He’s So Fine." Another interesting incident involving George Harrison was when he plagiarized himself (which actually can be considered a serious issue in academia). The beginning of "I’m Looking Through You" has been said to be the same as the end of "End of the Line" from his band the Traveling Wilburys.

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash’s song "Folsom Prison Blues" was taken from the song "Crescent City Blues" by Gordon Jenkins. The opening lyrics are identical. Both songs also use the same melody.

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boy’s hit song "Surfin USA" was taken from Chuck Berry’s song "Sweet Little Sixteen." Since there was no disputing this fact, Berry was added as a cowriter for the song and given royalties.
Jayson Blair
New York Times columnist Jayson Blair resigned in 2003 after he was caught using content from other newspapers and wire services. In his series for the Times on military families, Blair also made up sources, fabricated events and even lied about where he was when he was reporting.

So you don’t want to see your name on this list? There are many ways to avoid plagiarism, some are quite simple. For example, the best way to avoid any sorts of issues is to just make sure that you always cite your sources. It’s always better to overcite than to under-cite or worse yet, not cite at all. Never copy more than two words in a row from any text you are using as a source. If you do, then you need to use quotation marks to indicate that that is being used from another source. To be extra careful, run your text through a plagiarism checker.

Melania Trump

First lady, Melania Trump’s 2016 speech at the Republican National Convention not only mimicked the overall message but used some of the exact wording of the speech that Michelle Obama gave in 2008 at the Democratic National Convention.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has fallen foul of plagiarism several times throughout the years. He failed a course when he was in law school because he plagiarized a paper. According to the New York Times, Biden stated that he had "used five pages from a published law review article without quotation or attribution" in an article he wrote for the Fordham Law Review. In 1988, Biden was forced to withdraw from the presidential race due to plagiarism allegations. Some of his speeches were taken from speeches made by the Kennedys, Hubert Humphrey and Britain’s Neil Kinnock during his campaign against Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

List of the Most Famous Plagiarism Lawsuit Cases

Nevertheless, with the rise of digital technologies, it is now easier to detect your own plagiarism, and so it is wise to check any work that you do, and make sure that it has not been plucked from your unconscious mind and been taken from another person s work. There are a plethora of famous cases of plagiarism, and this article briefly documents five of the most well-known of these, which includes the cases of.

A lot of celebrities were involved in appropriation that ended in a scandal. Some cases are so high-profile that they are interesting for each individual who digs a little deeper into plagiarism. Let’s see the nine most famous examples of such cases of “borrowing”.

Resources:

https://fixgerald.com/blog/plagiarism-lawsuit-cases
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/what-are-famous-examples-of-plagiarism.html
]

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In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the things you can do to take care of your mental well-being as you go through college. We’ve also included some tips on how to deal with stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues that you may encounter as a college or university student. If you have any questions about any of these topics, feel free to reach out to us in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

The Importance of Mental Health

Mental health is an important part of your overall health, and you should be taking care of it just as you would any other aspect of your health. You should be eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and taking your medications as prescribed. All of these things are important, but you should also be making sure that you are mentally healthy as well. You need to make sure that your brain is functioning properly, and that you aren’t suffering from any mental health conditions.

College is a time when you are going to be spending a lot of time on your own, and this can be a stressful time for you. You may be dealing with the stress of balancing your studies with your social life, or you may be trying to balance your studies and your extracurricular activities. Either way, it can be hard to keep up with everything that you have going on in your life. This can lead to stress and anxiety, which can have a negative impact on your overall mental health.

If you are struggling with stress or anxiety, you should talk to someone about it. You can talk to your parents, your friends, your professors, or even a counselor at your school. There are many different ways that you can get help if you need it.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Mental Well-Being

Here are some tips for you to keep in mind if you are trying to manage your own mental health while you are in college:

– Get Enough Sleep

You should be getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night. This will help you to be more alert and focused during the day, and it will also give you the energy that you will need to get through your day. If your sleep schedule is off, you may find that you start to feel tired all the time. This is a sign that your body is not getting the amount of sleep that it needs. If this is the case for you, try to get back on a regular sleep schedule as soon as you can.

– Eat Well

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is important for your overall physical health, but it is also important for the health of your brain. Make sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

– Exercise

Exercising is a great way to keep your body healthy and strong. It can also be a great stress reliever. Try to exercise at least three times a week, and make sure to do it for at least 30 minutes at a time.

– Manage Your Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, but too much of it can have negative effects on your mental and emotional health. It is important to learn how to manage stress in a healthy way, and there are many ways to do this.

One of the best ways to reduce stress is to get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep will help your body to recover from the stress that it has been through, and will allow you to feel more relaxed when you wake up in the morning.

Another way to reduce your stress levels is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the ability to focus on the present moment, and to be aware of what is going on around you. When you practice mindfulness, you will be able to notice the things that are happening around you without getting caught up in your thoughts about the past or your worries about the future.

– Talk to Someone

Talking to someone can be one of the most effective ways to relieve stress. Talking to a friend or a family member can be helpful, but talking to a counselor or a therapist can be even more effective.

There are many benefits to talking to someone who is trained to help you deal with your stress. A counselor or therapist can help you figure out what is causing your stress, and they can also help you come up with a plan for dealing with it. They can also teach you how to better manage your stress in the future, so that you don‘t have to struggle with it as much as you did in the past.

– Get Help if You Need It

If your stress is getting out of control, or if it is affecting your mental or emotional health, it may be time to get some help. Talk to your family, friends, or a counselor to see what options are available to you.

Depression, Anxiety, and Other Mental Health Issues

College can be an exciting time, but there are also many things that can stress you out. It‘s important to remember that you‘re not the only one who is going through a difficult time. You are not alone, and many other people are going through the same thing as you are.

It can be difficult to talk to people about your problems, but if you do, they can be there for you when you need them the most. You do not have to go through your college years alone. You have a community of people who care about you, and who are willing to listen to you if you want to talk about how you are feeling.

We hope that these tips have helped you to better understand how important it is to take care of your mental health as you go through college. We hope that you feel better about yourself after reading this, and we wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.

Going through a break-up or divorce can be a very difficult time in your life. You may be feeling a lot of different emotions, and you may not know what to do to make yourself feel better. Here are some things that you should do to help yourself get through this difficult time:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are having a hard time dealing with your emotions, you should talk to your friends and family about it. You can also talk to a therapist, a counselor, or even a clergy member if you feel that you need to. Talking about your feelings will help you to work through them, and it will also give you the chance to share your feelings with someone who cares about you and who will listen to what you have to say.

2. Take care of yourself. You need to make sure that you are getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. You also need to take time to relax and to do things that make you feel good.

3. Find a support group. There are many support groups for people who have gone through break-ups or divorces. These groups can be very helpful, as they can provide you with people who understand what you’re going through and who can offer you advice and support.

4. Learn to say “no.” It can be hard to say no to people when they ask you to do something for them, but it is important for you to learn to do so. Saying “yes” to people who ask you for favors can cause you to resent them later on, and that can make it even harder to deal with the feelings that you have about the situation.

If you are in a relationship that is causing you stress, you may want to consider breaking up with that person. It may be the best thing that you can do for yourself, as it will give you a chance to start over and to find someone who will be a better fit for you than the person who you are currently with.

You may also want to think about whether or not you should stay in your current relationship. If your current partner is not treating you the way that you want him or her to treat you, then you may be better off ending the relationship and starting over with someone else.

No matter what you decide to do, you will be able to get through your difficult time if you take the time to do the things that we have talked about in this article. You deserve to be happy, and if you are not happy in your relationship, then it’s time to make a change. You will be much happier in the long run if you make the decision to break up with your partner or to end your relationship than if you continue to put up with something that is making you unhappy.

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A writer applying for a freelance part-time employment with our service should:

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EssayShark is an online writing service which helps students with papers and writers with essay writing jobs. It allows teachers, researchers, and representatives of other specialties to receive an additional or main source of income. Working with us, you will get convenient remote work: writing essays, term papers, theses, coursework, and any other writing issues that students face. Working for us is a great way to get paid to write essays. You can do it quickly, reliably, and with a guarantee of payment for your time and skills!

Open new opportunities with freelance essay writing!

What Do You Need to Be a Freelance Writer?

If you often read content and think “I could do better than that,” then that’s a good sign (so long as you’re not delusional!) And if you don’t read a LOT of content, I’d once again urge you to look within yourself to ask why you want to be a writer if you’re not an avid reader.

It can be literally anything. Between 2009 and 2014 I lived as an expat in Portugal, and wrote a huge amount of content about both expat life and Portugal itself. I’m also a Microsoft and Apple certified techie, so have had many writing gigs around computers and cybersecurity.

While specialist knowledge isn’t essential, it really does help. I hire writers myself, and always look for people with specific knowledge of a particular subject area. Most clients do that too. Sometimes it can be subject-matter experience that wins you a gig, rather than your writing experience.

Obviously much depends on what you’re writing about, but lots of research is part and parcel of freelance writing. It’s not about sitting in front of a burning fire letting the words flow. Far more often you’ll be trying to find a statistic to support what you’re saying!

We will be talking about places you can find generic (and usually low paid) content writing work later in this article. But generally speaking, if you want good writing gigs, you will need to send out pitches, chat with clients, and market your services.

The actual writing is only half the job. You also need to be finding those initial trial gigs, impressing the clients, and working to turn them into regular jobs. Many people sell writing courses that brush over this reality – but a reality it is.

We’ve already talked about spelling and grammar, but attention to detail goes way beyond that. It’s about sending in your work on time, in the requested format, and with all the images and supplementary bits and bobs most clients need.

The idea of a struggling writer is a little overblown and romanticised. Plenty of people doing online freelance writing make a VERY good and consistent living. However, it is a life where work tends to come in fits and starts, with lots of periods of uncertainty and anxiety – especially in the early days.

When you first start out, you will bid for loads of gigs that you never hear back from; You’ll end up with clients who want the earth for very little money, and you’ll endure lots of imposter syndrome until you gradually build up your confidence.

Tips On How To Become A Better Writer When Writing Online

1. Always Hunt For Work

Look up employment sites online or introduce yourself to the content director in an email to prospective clients. You must constantly search for new freelance writing jobs if you want to maintain earning money and avoid downtime between tasks.

2. Learn SEO

Have a fundamental understanding of how search engine optimization functions as a freelance writer and know where to strategically position keywords to increase web traffic to the company’s website.

When it comes to SEO, a list of keywords targeted at a certain phrase or category will be provided by a customer looking for SEO content. As the writer, you can make use of these keywords and incorporates them into your article in various ways.

3. Start Cold Pitching

Come up with pertinent article ideas and begin pitching them to the publications or newspapers you wish to write for because you probably have your own thoughts running through your brain if you are a writer.

4. Produce Tidy Work

When I say tidy work, I mean work that has been screened through for minute errors. If the editor or client has to point out a grammatical error in every paragraph, you know there is a problem.

It is crucial that you submit writing assignments with error-free text and this entails editing and proofreading your own work. Make sure your phrases are succinct, clear, and simple to understand.

5. Feedback Is Essential

You will receive comments on your work from your clients where sometimes you will turn in a flawless article, and other times you will need to spend a lot of time revising. Do not take criticism personally.

Remembering that every feedback is the key to becoming a better writer in your freelance writing career will help you improvise your writing skills when you start freelance writing.

Resource:

https://essayshark.com/freelance-essay-writing-jobs.html
https://www.homeworkingclub.com/online-writing-jobs-for-beginners/
https://outandbeyond.com/how-to-become-freelance-writer-no-experience/

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How to Write a Thank You Note at Work

Isn’t it wonderful to have an entire month dedicated to gratitude? November is special. One of the best parts of going to work and being a part of a team with other humans is the opportunity to express appreciation. Every person you work with brings unique value to projects and to the organization. Perhaps not everyone thinks about this, but it’s true! You are part of a unique group of individuals that can’t be found anywhere else on earth. Your organization has its own thumbprint of talent.

What Should You Say Thank You For?

So, if you’re just warming up to the idea of being appreciative at work, you might wonder, “what should I say thank you for?” The answer to this question is that you should show appreciation for any kind of behavior you’d like to see more of. Studies show that people respond well to appreciation and that it can be a powerful motivator for success. When you see someone being a good example, let them know with a thank you card and perhaps a small gift of appreciation. The following list of positive behaviors will give you some goodness to watch for. Maybe you’ll notice someone being:

Steps for Writing an Excellent Thank You Note

1. Watch and observe.

Get to know your people and their contributions. After you’ve taken a little time to pay attention, you’ll be ready to write a thank you note that is personal. After all, meaningful communication is in the details.

2. Decide on your format.

a. Email- You might choose to write an email if you want to get a thank you out quickly. If so, it’s a good idea to add “thank you” to your subject line. It will stand out in an inbox that’s usually filled with emails asking for something from your recipient rather than offering them something. It should be a pleasant and welcome discovery, and you wouldn’t want it to go unnoticed.

Are you on a first-name basis with the person you’d like to thank? If you work closely with this individual, go ahead and begin your thank you with a “Dear (first name)” or a “Hello (first name).” If you’re not as familiar with the individual, make sure you throw in a title of respect. Using Mr. or Ms. is nice, or increasingly, companies are opting to use the gender-neutral Mx. to avoid assuming gender, which can potentially lead to unnecessary tension in work relationships.

4. Say your thanks.

Now, for the fun part: expressing your gratitude. Use your introductory sentence to cut to the chase by explaining the purpose of your note. Example: Thank you for __________. Then, follow up with the “why.” This is the part that will help your recipient feel good about their contribution(s). It’s a warm fuzzy in written form. It lets them know the good they’re doing is being noticed and appreciated. These details are validating and go a long way in encouraging more of the same behavior in the future. Remember, it doesn’t have to be long or wordy.

5. Can you reciprocate?

Now might be the perfect time to mention you’d like to be helpful in return. Something to remember, though: Don’t offer unless you’re willing and able to follow through. If you’re sure you can, go ahead. Offering your help is a great way to strengthen relationships and build reciprocal friendships at work. I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine—together we’ll be itch-free and happy at work.

6. Wrap it up.

7. Sign off.

End your letter with a complimentary close such as: “Sincerely,” “Best,” or “Regards.” Follow this with your first name if you’re on a first-name basis with the recipient, or your full name for a formal thank you letter.

8. Spell and Grammar Check.

In a business setting, a thank you can be offered in any direction, up the ladder, down the ladder, and side to side between coworkers. Everyone is equal and deserving of appreciation, no matter their position in a company.

Someone in leadership might be thanked for their generosity, example, encouragement, mentorship, and for being observant of the needs and desires of employees. Employees can receive thanks for many of the same things. Clients, customers, contractors, or anyone who provides a service within or for the company is also worthy of notice and appreciation.

Successful businesses are always looking for ways to strengthen connections and build their network. Appreciation is an excellent foundation material for building lasting professional relationships. The following are some things you might say to express appreciation to those in various positions at work:

Thank You Examples

Hello Kiara,

Thanks for anticipating and offering the additional information I needed to complete my portion of our project together. Your foresight saved us both a lot of time.

Let me know if you’d like me to set up the tech for next week’s presentation at our off-site meeting.

Once again, thank you for thinking ahead. I appreciate the opportunity to work with you.

Step 1: Identify the Recipient(s)

Identifying who’s receiving your thank you note should be the easiest part. However, perhaps you have a lot to be thankful for lately — and a lot of people to thank. This is great. However, getting in the right headspace to write all of these notes in one or a few sittings may benefit you. Thank you notes don’t have to be for traditional exchanges or relationships, either.

It’s likely you’d feel compelled to thank a physician or a care provider, for example, and may wonder how to write a thank you message to a doctor . You’re also more than welcome to have a less-structured approach to your note writing and send them “just because.” This can also be a great approach. People love to be thought of and appreciated, if even for “nothing.”

Tip: Keep a running list on your phone, on your counter, or wherever you’re likely to not miss it. Jot down the names of people and keywords of what you’d like to thank them for. This can save you time and help you to not forget anyone over the holidays or on a birthday, for example.

Resource:

https://www.spoonfulofcomfort.com/blogs/corporate/how-to-write-a-thank-you-note-at-work
https://www.joincake.com/blog/thank-you-note/

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Creating a Brand Strategy: 8 Essentials & Templates [for 2022]

We will start by defining brand strategy as the process of achieving long term goals during your organization’s evolution. Said another way, brand strategy is the plan you follow so your most important outcomes emerge in the world.

A strategy is your map for achieving long-term goals that do not always need a discrete endpoint. A strategy is more like a process or a path that involves moving iteratively towards your goals.

Additionally, it is helpful to articulate any promises or guarantees you make to your customers. Expressing your brand’s personality conveys how communication with customers is a critical step in the brand strategy process.

What is a brand strategy?

Some companies are blessed with organic brand identities. If you’re the last manufacturer around for an obscure but critical device or component, that in itself is a pretty strong brand identity. However, in the world of technology and business services, most B2B companies are up against a dense field of competitors. Your solution might have various advantages over the others, but to explain them, you have to convince audiences that you’re worth their time and attention.

A strong brand identity can give audiences a sense of who you are, what you do, and why you’re different before they seek you out for a specific solution. It can give you an “in” by doing some persuasive legwork before you even begin targeting a lead with marketing and sales outreach.

There’s one sure way to build a strong brand identity that conveys exactly what you want. You must develop and execute a plan that defines your branding goals and lays out the road map you’ll follow to reach them. That’s your brand strategy.

Building Brand Awareness in 2022

These are the key areas my own brand agency executes on when we build brands for businesses just like yours. Let’s review the ways to build brand awareness through marketing, engagement and community building.

Website User Experience

This is the place that your consumers will visit to learn more about your business, and take action when they are ready. Not only does the user experience have to be exceptional in order to convert, but your messaging needs to tell your brand story.

The majority of your brand marketing activities will drive traffic back to your website. Aside from a professional and beautifully designed interface, your content has to be compelling.

SEO and Content Marketing

One of the most effective long-term ways to increase brand awareness and generate relevant organic traffic to your website is search engine optimization (SEO) and the right content.

There are many ways to achieve positioning in search engine results. Aim to develop a comprehensive strategy addressing the major search engine ranking factors, as well as creating highly valuable content that satisfies user intent.

A defined content marketing strategy will help you better connect with your target audience and support them through their customer journey—building brand trust to ultimately result in conversions.

Social Media Marketing

Every brand should be represented consistently across all social media networks via the posting of relevant, high-quality content. With social media, your aim for consumers is first to gain trust. Then become loyal. And then, advocate for your brand’s products and services.

Email Marketing

Did you know your highest click-through rate will come from the emails you send to your list? Don’t underestimate the power of list building early on in your brand building process.

The right content, at the right time, to the right person is critical for driving traffic to your website and increasing conversions from email. What’s more, not all email messages need to be sales-driven, as consumers are in different points of the buyer journey.

Paid Advertising

Building a successful paid advertising campaign for your brand comes with a unique set of challenges. There are multiple elements that contribute to the overall effectiveness of your pay-per-click (PPC) ads.

The allure of paid advertising is that it can yield quick short-term results. It is certainly effective, however, you’ll want to do PPC in conjunction with all of the above inbound marketing channels for long-term ROI.

Analytics & Reporting

Ongoing, you’ll want to monitor progress in key areas month-over-month and year-over-year. From this data, tweaks to your brand building and marketing activity can be made to leverage those tactics which show the most opportunity.

Your first step is ensuring that your website has Google Analytics installed. This tool is free and will give you loads of valuable information about user behaviors. It also allows you to set up goals to track conversion.

Putting all these components together with a strategy and consistent execution packs the punch that any new or existing business needs for successful brand building in the digital age.

Tools For Building A Business Brand

In the long-term, heck yes! Because a strong brand will automatically increase your know, like and trust factor. In turn, resulting in easier sales, consumer loyalty and brand advocacy.

Branding Knowledge

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BUILDING YOUR BRAND

Workshop – Branding Masterclass
Create a powerful blueprint that will transform your business into an extraordinary brand (…so that you win the hearts and minds of your ideal customers, over and over again)!

Brand Operations

Accounting – FreshBooks
Try FreshBooks for your accounting software to reduce paperwork and get paid faster. It’s so simple to use—you’ll be able to generate invoices, organize expenses and track time. They offer a free trial and affordable pricing models. Organizing and recording financials is super important right now. It’s a good time to level up on your accounting.

Email, Calendar, Documents – Google Workspace
You need a properly branded email address, for more recognition when you land in people’s inbox. No more Yahoo, Hotmail, or [email protected]! Google provides businesses with a full suite of software products called Google Workspace. It will allow you to create a customized Gmail email address with your domain name (see below for more info on domain registration). In addition, you get the Google Calendar features AND a bunch of storage on Google Drive with access to docs, sheets, presentations and forms. Well worth it, check out the plans!

Office Supplies & Equipment – Amazon Business
You may shop on Amazon already or have a Prime account. But did you know you can shop for your brand through Amazon Business? I like keeping all business purchases together in this account area. They also offer big discounts, free shipping and a tax exemption program.

Brand Identity

Print Materials – Moo
This online printing company offers beautiful business cards, stationary and promotional collateral for reasonable prices. And, Moo products look very high-end. You want the first impression for your brand to be spectacular, so order your printed materials here. You can even order sample packs delivered to you for free.

Free Design Tool – Canva
Thousands of design templates, millions of photos. Whether you have design skills or not, Canva is our choice for asset creation and management of brand graphics. This tool is especially great for creating consistently branded social media graphics. Try a free 30-day trial of Canva Pro, which has so many more features you’ll want over the basic version (like one-click image resize, background remover and brand kits)!

Stock Photography – Shutterstock
If you really want your branding to stand out, it’s better to dig through a paid stock photo site to find visual assets. You’ll have less of a chance of looking like someone else who used photos from a free site. Shutterstock offers millions of good quality photos, illustrations, videos, and music, without paying a ton.

Writing Assistant – Grammarly
The impression of your brand through copy and messaging is ultra-important for a strong identity. And you will have to be pumping out content consistently for your brand. Grammarly has been a game-changer for producing the best quality written content. It not only checks spelling as you write, but also major grammar issues. Don’t compromise your reputation with bad writing. Get this free tool!

Brand Website

Domain Registration – GoDaddy
The first step in creating a website for your brand is registering the domain (the .com, .net etc.). You can search available domains to find the best match for your brand name, and then secure it with the GoDaddy domain registration service. Even if you are in the early stages of planning your brand, invest in this if you have a brand name. Domain names are getting snatched up by the minute.

Website Hosting and WordPress Support – Site Spark by FreshSparks
We build the majority of all client brand websites on WordPress. When you have a content management system with databases and plugins, it’s best to have web hosting that specifically caters to the platform. Site Spark specifically provides managed WordPress hosting, with amazing customer support. With Site Spark, you don’t have to worry about backups, upgrades, monitoring, or technical support for your WordPress website. We do that all for you behind the scenes while we sip our coffee and tea around the clock.

Sources:

https://www.oktopost.com/blog/the-essential-brand-strategy-template/

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Meta Description – 2020 SEO Best Practices

SEO practices are ruling the cyber world through their approachable nature. Every SEO analyst is using these practices to gear up their business. The concept of Meta description is one of such SEO practices that are used by all adept online marketers. It is one of the powerful tools of marketing that enhances the business of the enterprise.

The giant company Google maintains all Meta description best practices for its marketing moves. Google also helps other enterprises to work on Meta description best practices through its SEO course. However, Google doesn’t help with the rankings of the website.

If you are also curious about the best Meta Description practices then this post will unfold it to you comprehensively. However, first thing first, let us start with what actually meta description is-

3 Reasons Why You Should Still Use Meta Descriptions

Most SEO’s might find themselves asking “If meta descriptions don’t count into the rankings algorithm, why should I use them?” The answer to that is simple. Stop thinking about them as a ranking factor, and start thinking about them as a conversion factor. Here are some great reasons to still keep your meta description in mind on your website including your homepage, internal pages, blog posts, and so on.

Even if the keyword you use in the meta description doesn’t help in search rankings, it still might help in getting a searchers attention. When someone searches for a particular keyword or phrase, it will be bolded in search results where ever it appears. So if you are targeting that keyword, you will want it to stand out. In this set of results for search engine, which results jump out to you?

It goes to show why your top keyword phrase should be in your SEO title and meta description! You wouldn’t want to be the one result in this list that had no bolded keywords for that search. So be sure your meta description uses the keywords you are targeting and is written in a way that will encourage searchers to click on that result.

Whenever you share a page on social networks like Facebook, Google+, or LinkedIn, each site will pull either the meta description or the first sentence or two of the post as the description to show in the share. The meta description will usually be shown in its entirety, while the first sentence or two of your post will end up cut off with ellipsis […]. While you can edit the description for Facebook and LinkedIn, not everyone sharing your page will do so.

This means that if your first sentence or two on the page doesn’t sum it up well, people who see the share might miss the point. Hence, if you want your page’s shares to get the most clicks on social media, consider creating a strong meta description that will encourage clicks, just like you would for search results.

A few examples of networks that do include meta descriptions are: Digg, BizSugar, and My SEO Community. Just about any social bookmarking / voting network built on the Pligg CMS system will also use the meta description first. While you can edit the descriptions on these networks, you can’t count on whether others who submit your pages will. Plus, if you don’t have to edit the descriptions, then you save a little work for yourself if you are submitting your own pages.

Good examples of meta descriptions

Although the keywords are further down the description than perhaps they ought to be, the reason why this result is so appealing is the way the copy draws you in with emotive (and mouth-watering) language.

Things really are getting too meta. Here Moz has managed to exactly describe what a meta description is, within its own meta description, which is terribly helpful. Although do note that the snippet is a lot longer than normally allowed by Google.

Bad examples of meta descriptions

I’m not really interested in the history of rubbish burgers in London, I want to know where to get a tasty burger now! This meta description also fails to include the ‘best’ keyword from its own title tag.

I’m not sure if there’s something blocking Google’s ability to crawl the webpage properly, but a website called ‘High Rankings’ should really know better than this…

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Resources

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Sources:

https://www.digitalvidya.com/blog/meta-description-2020-seo-best-practices/
https://neilpatel.com/blog/meta-description-magic/
https://www.searchenginewatch.com/2016/05/26/how-to-write-meta-descriptions-for-seo-with-good-and-bad-examples/

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How to choose a unique and effective brand name?

1. Explore themes to get the creative juices flowing

If you have no clue where to begin, exploring various themes such as descriptive, experiential, and made-up names can help spark a wave of ideas and facilitate the brainstorming process.

Descriptive names are those that already convey the particular product or service you are offering and more literal; what you see is what you get. Examples of descriptive brand names include Tan Construction, Smith Design, and Smile Dental.

Instead of being blatantly direct about the product or service, experiential names are more creative and can have more of an impact and connection with the customer. Businesses with such names include Coffee Bean, PayPal, Best Buy and Instagram.

Some key examples of global brands in today’s market that are a product of made-up names are Google, Skype, Nike, Ikea, Pepsi, and many more others. Sometimes picking a brand name doesn’t have to be that deep; you just tap into your creative self and see where it takes you.

2. Keep it short and simple

This one’s pretty straightforward. As much as possible, you would want something easy to remember. Brands with long names tend to be forgettable among customers, and can even be annoying for an individual if they constantly can’t get it right due to its complicated nature.

Pick a name that’s easy to spell and pronounce, and stick to simple words. While creativity is celebrated in business, sometimes being too creative and bold can backfire in the end.

3. Pick a name that will grow with your business

Whether you’re just getting started in your entrepreneurial journey or ready for international expansion, you want to choose a name that’s scalable for your business at any stage imaginable.

Avoid picking names that are too narrow that may limit your business in the long run or those that are likely to be outdated quickly. For example, if you’re thinking of just selling books, you might consider adding stationery products and art supplies to your product range. If your service is based on just a specific area, you might extend your services to other cities in the future.

4. Don’t copy your competitors

5. Consider getting feedback from your peers

A little feedback won’t hurt anybody. Come up with a shortlist of at least 5 names and run them by your family members, close friends, and even trusted colleagues. If you know anyone who currently runs a business or has the previous experience it would help to receive their input as well.

What Makes a Good Brand Name?

There are plenty of theories and a few studies on what makes a good name. For example, a 2010 University of Alberta study found that consumers have a more positive reaction to brands with repetitively structured names, such as Coca-Cola, Kit Kat, and Jelly Belly.

• Meaningful: It communicates your brand essence, conjures an image, and cultivates a positive emotional connection.
• Distinctive: It is unique, memorable, and stands out from your competitors.
• Accessible: People can easily interpret it, say it, spell it, or Google it. (Even if you have an unusual or bizarre name, it must be understandable.)
• Protectable: You can trademark it, get the domain, and “own” it, both legally and in the general consciousness.
• Future-proof: It can grow with the company and maintain relevance—and be adapted for different products and brand extensions.
• Visual: You can translate/communicate it through design, including icons, logos, colors, etc.

This is useful criteria to help you vet names, but there is really one question to determine whether a name is successful (note that we didn’t say “good” or “bad”). All that matters is this: Does it resonate with people?

Sources:

https://aspireapp.com/blog/tips-on-how-to-choose-the-right-brand-name-for-your-business
https://www.columnfivemedia.com/how-to-choose-a-brand-name/
https://foundr.com/articles/marketing/how-to-choose-a-brand-name

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How to Run a Successful One-Person Business

Entrepreneurs often say they “wear a lot of hats.” This is true for most people starting their own business, and many business advisers suggest delegating certain tasks when possible. Entrusting employees with work reduces a founder’s busyness and allows them to work on their business, rather than in the business.

The advice makes sense, but what happens if you’re the only person within your business? If you’re running a one-person business, you don’t have to hire a team of employees and delegate to find success. Depending on the industry, you can create successful and long-lasting one-person businesses.

Building a one-person business that finds sustained success can be challenging, though. There are countless obstacles you must face alone, which makes the process of developing a solid business harder. These obstacles can be overcome, however. To understand how to make it as a one-person business, we reached out to entrepreneurs across the country. They shared tips on how to run a one-person business from their experiences.

How to start a one-person business

Before we dive into the tips we got from entrepreneurs about how to launch a one-person business, it’s important to note that none of these pointers are absolute facts. Every situation is different, and not every rule applies perfectly to your business. We have found, however, that most people we spoke to about starting and developing a one-person business normally follow a similar trajectory. This doesn’t mean you have to follow that plan, but this framework tends to lead to success.

1. Start your business on the side.

An overwhelming majority of people we spoke to mentioned starting their one-person business as a side venture, at least at first. They recommended doing this primarily for financial reasons. Instead of quitting your job and losing a major income source, try to start your business on the side until it gains traction. Use a few hours before or after work to build the business and gain clients or customers. If you do decide to quit your job, you’ll want a good bit of money saved up to grow your business. It’s going to take time to build a one-person business and quitting your job can make finances a challenge.

Starting on the side also sets you up for success when you decide to leave your current situation. If you develop a client base over a year or two while also working a full-time job, you’ll bring in money on the side and be ready to grow an already established brand once you take the venture on full time. For financial security, starting your one-person business as a side hustle is often the way to go.

Beginning as a side project also gives you time to iron out the flaws in your business plan and work through struggles without it drastically altering your income. Starting your business on the side reduces some of the stress that comes with running a one-person business full-time.

You may even find that starting a business brings unexpected challenges that you aren’t interested in overcoming. A few months of pursuing a business idea might cause you to re-evaluate your career path or develop new business ideas in different sectors. The main benefit of starting your business on the side is the flexibility to make mistakes and fail without losing your only source of income.

2. Find the right business structure.

The seemingly obvious choice for a one-person business is a sole proprietorship, which are the simplest forms of business available. There’s a solid amount of flexibility with a sole proprietorship, as you can be an independent contractor or operate a small business in a more traditional sense. Hypothetically, if your side business consists of you writing marketing copy for businesses on a freelance basis, a sole proprietorship is the logical choice.

On the other hand, sole proprietors are responsible for all the company’s profit and debt. This can become an issue as your business expands. If you get into a lawsuit, your assets are on the line and can be held responsible, rather than the business entity. Potential lawsuits become more relevant the more customers you serve. You’ll also want to keep an eye on what self-employment taxes you might have to pay.

“I would advise forming an LLC or incorporating the business,” said Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation. “Many entrepreneurs often elect to form a sole proprietorship for their small business. This entity is perfectly fine, but it does not provide the owner with liability protection like a limited liability company (LLC) would. If an entrepreneur decides to start a one-person business as a sole proprietor, they must know they will be held responsible for everything – foreseen and unforeseen alike – that could impact the business.”

Different business ideas lend themselves to different business structures as well. If you think your business might find itself facing lawsuits, it might behoove you to incorporate the business, like Sweeney suggests. For example, if you form a one-person company that helps other businesses collect debts, you might be more likely to face legal ramifications than an e-commerce business selling art.

One-person businesses may eventually add team members and change from a sole proprietorship or any other legal structure to a general partnership, limited partnership or an LLC. Starting as a sole proprietorship doesn’t mean you’re locked into that structure throughout your entrepreneurial journey. Being a successful one-person business doesn’t mean you can’t eventually become a multiperson organization.

Whatever you decide, it’s important to at least consider the type of legal entity you want your business to be. For more information on the different types of business structures, visit our guide on choosing the best legal structure for your business.

3. Prioritize your tasks.

Time management is arguably the most important aspect of running a one-person business. Without the ability to delegate tasks to employees, it’s critical that one-person businesses don’t waste time. If you waste time, nothing gets done.

Give Everyone a Role

Establish Ground Rules

Ask yourself, “What is the role of the meeting participants?” The more clarity you can provide about what you want to get out of them, the better; people are more likely to contribute if they know what role they’re supposed to play. Is the point of the meeting to give out orders? To brainstorm? To discuss a plan of action?To help you clarify the type of meeting you are running, try one of the strategies from these leaders or use them as inspiration to develop one of your own:

Be clear whether your thoughts are an idea or a command. Dawn Lepore, the former chief of Drugstore.com, sometimes used this framework as lighthearted shorthand for the goal of her meetings: “People don’t always know if you mean something as just an idea, or you want them to go do it. A light bulb means this is just an idea I had, so think about it. A gun is, I want you to do this.”

Who gets to make the final decision on an issue? Sheila Lirio Marcelo, chief executive of Care.com, a company that helps people find caregivers, developed this system to signal who’s responsible:“Type 1 decisions are the decision-maker’s sole decision — dictatorial. Type 2: People can provide input, and then the person can still make the decision. Type 3: It’s consensus. It’s a great way to efficiently solve a problem.”

Not all decisions are made by consensus. One of a leader’s main responsibilities is to get as many opinions as possible on the table. But you have to be clear when you’re just soliciting input.Carl Bass, the former chief executive of Autodesk, said there is often a built-in tension in encouraging people to share their opinions, as it may lead them to believe a decision will come down to a democratic vote. Here’s how he addresses it up front:“We’re very clear at the beginning of every meeting whether it’s one person’s decision, or whether it’s more of a discussion to reach consensus,” he said. “I think it’s a really valuable thing to understand because otherwise people can feel frustrated that they gave out their opinions but they don’t understand the broader context for the final decision.”

Related Guide

How to Hire the Right Person

Learn the strategies that chief executives have developed through trial and error to help you go beyond the polished résumés, pre-screened references and scripted answers, to hire more creative and effective members for your team.

Sources:

https://www.business.com/articles/running-a-one-person-business/
https://www.nytimes.com/guides/business/how-to-run-an-effective-meeting
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-make-your-small-business-more-successful-4060804

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20 tips to improve your customer service skills: for representatives and managers

16 min read
Whether you’re working in a customer-facing role, managing a team in a contact center or looking to improve customer experience on a company-wide level, use these customer service tips and skills to make sure you’re at the top of your game.

Excellent customer service isn’t just down to your frontline staff, but a customer might be won or lost there. That’s why it’s so important every employee works together to resolve issues and create memorable moments – and empower your frontline agents to be as valuable to the customer as possible. It could be the difference between the customer coming back again, or going elsewhere.

The following tips are designed to help both customer service representatives, customer service management, and operations staff to work together to make experiences that matter. Developing customer service skills is important for the whole team to thrive – and to ensure customers keep coming back.

Prioritize each customer.

Every customer deserves to be treated as the important part of your business that they are. Set this standard from the beginning to ensure your team knows that customer satisfaction is the No. 1 priority. The future of your business depends on your customers, so your team must treat everyone well at every touchpoint.

It’s vital to hang on to your customers. Talk is cheap – you have to treat each one of them like royalty at every opportunity. Your customers are the reason you are in business; it’s your job to ensure they are happy and want to come back for more. So the next time you are overwhelmed and frustrated, remember never to take it out on the customers. Retention is where the money is – customer service is more important than pricing. Your customers want to know they are valued. Provide the best service possible every time you can and hold on to your customers for dear life.

Strive for a great reputation.

No one wants to do business with a company that everyone is complaining about. If your business offers poor customer service and low-quality products, word will travel quickly and your customers will take their business elsewhere.

Make sure everyone in your company strives to do their best to give your customers an unforgettable experience. Your customers should have such good experiences with your business they want to share them. Customer service is where the magic happens – each interaction gives you the chance to prove to your customers how much you care. Focus on ways to create relationships that matter by giving your customers the chance to talk with people who care and don’t just give them a generic response. Your team must embrace the philosophy that your brand’s reputation is of utmost importance.

Conclusion

While great customer service can help you become a market leader – to the level that companies are now using customer service as a way to stand out against the competition. Are you ready to do the same?

The 3 important qualities of customer service revolve around professionalism, patience, and having a “people-first” attitude. Customer service will vary from customer to customer, but as long as you’re following these 3 qualities, you will be able to support them.

You can make your customer shappy by aligning with their needs and making sure that your business is committed to helping them achieve their long-term goals. Any business that puts the customer first can make its customers happier.

Yes, it’s OK to disagree with a customer. Customers want to feel that you are listening to them, and when they know that you are, it has a calming effect on them – and it shows you are taking their problem seriously.

KEEP TABS ON YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE METRICS

#19 Monitor Performance Metrics For Your Team

Don’t rely on “It feels like we spend a lot of time addressing this issue” when customer data can easily eliminate the guesswork. All you need to do is to track the frequency of issues as well as the average handle time and it will give you the insights you need to improve your business.

#20 Solve Problems the First Time Around

One of the best ways to keep customers happy and be seen as a company that provides outstanding service is to practice first contact resolution . In other words, solve your customers’ problems the first time they call in / contact you . There’s nothing your customers will appreciate more than getting their issues addressed the first time around.

#21 Make Sure Your Customer Service Team is Happy

Your customers’ happiness and your customer service team’s happiness are equally important. Make sure you keep tabs on how your customer service team feels about their working conditions, compensation, opportunities for career advancement, training, available tools, resources, and their peers. Normalize collecting and receiving feedback for your employees so that you can set benchmarks, revise goals, and track performance metrics .

PERSONALIZE YOUR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

#22 Revisit Your Customer Experience Strategy

Bad customer service at any point in the customer journey can hamper your relationship. We suggest that you pay critical attention to key touchpoints: customer trial periods, customer sign-ups, customer onboarding, etc. Your support team needs to have a complete view of the customer journey, or you risk bad experiences getting in the way of your business. If they discover a lapse in services, they need to escalate such issues with the management team so they can be fixed.

#23 Be Accessible

When your support team works day in and day out to add a personal touch to customer interactions, you should understand that 50% of this effort refers to being available. You have to make it easy for your customers to reach you when in need. You might be part of a digital-first business but you should try to meet your customers in person or offer a video call for face-to-face interactions. Remember, the more ways you are accessible via a phone call, a chat, text message, or email, the more trust you’ll build.

#24 Be Where Your Customers Are

Make sure your support team has the requisite customer data to craft a personalized customer journey. Be present wherever your customers are. Respond to customer concerns and posts on social media (LinkedIn/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Reviews). Don’t forget to showcase your support team pictures and bios on your website. Show your customers that your company has real people working to cater to their needs.

#25 Create a Customer Community

A great way to make your customers feel valued is to invite them to a community based around your product/ services. You r customer service team can initiate this by bringing your customers together for webinars, interactive sessions , social media forums , trade shows, and conventions. Even though your customers visit these forums to learn from you, it’s a great opportunity for you to learn from them.

#26 Add Personal Touch to Show You’re Human

We are sure that your support agents are doing their best to resolve customer issues quickly and efficiently. However, you should encourage them to identify common grounds and shared interests with the customers. They can leverage insights from a real-time dashboard of the right CRM Software and personalize the customer journey. Not only would this help them resolve conflicts more easily but promote customer loyalty.

#27 Self-Service: Help Customers Help Themselves

Good customer support should always be available, even if you aren’t. Chatbots, FAQs, and Knowledge Bases are a great way to make resources available to your customers without getting involved personally. However, your customers want to be personally catered to. Make sure you are offering a self-service helpdesk with screenshots, videos, formatted layouts, so that your customers can choose from these resources at their convenience and avail your services better.

#28 Appreciate Your Customers

Take the time to thank your customers for their faith in you and your services. This is the kind of gesture that builds rock-solid customer relationships. Customer appreciation goes a long way. Special discounts and a preview to new features for your loyal customers will continue to be a win-win strategy, helping you to improve customer retention and promote customer loyalty.

#29 Remember that Customer Service is Everyone’s Job

Everyone in your company should understand the customers’ pain points. When your whole company is encouraged to be involved in ensuring a great customer service experience, each team finds a faster way to make amends and drive your business forward. It’s simple, yet often overlooked. For companies that are just getting started, we recommend you just talk to your customers. Here’s a quick guide that might help.

Sources:

https://www.qualtrics.com/experience-management/customer/service-tips-skills/
https://www.business.com/articles/megan-totka-components-of-excellent-customer-service/
https://www.superoffice.com/blog/five-ways-to-deliver-excellent-customer-service/
https://freshdesk.com/customer-service-skills/customer-service-tips-blog/

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Define your brand identity
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Branding is more than just a logo you slap on your website. Your branding is who you are as a company; it’s your values and your mission, it’s the way you treat your customers, it’s the look and feel of your visual assets. So, before you can move forward with the more tactical steps in your branding strategy (like designing your logo), you need to take the time to get really clear on who you are as a company—or, in other words, your brand identity.

Figure out who you are

The more clarity you get on who you are and what you’re about, the more you can infuse that identity into your branding—and the more your brand will stand out and grab customers’ attention as a result.

Figure out who your target customers are

It might sound obvious, but there are tons of small businesses who put so much focus on figuring out who they are and what kinds of products or services they want to deliver that they completely neglect figuring out who they’re trying to sell those products or services to—and their branding suffers as a result.

Take some time to define your ideal customer. Who are they? How old are they? What kind of income and education do they have? Are they predominantly one gender? What are they looking for in the companies they do business with? What matters to them? When would they use your product or service—and why would they need it?

When you know who your target market is, you can use it to guide your branding strategy—and the end result will be a brand that truly connects with the customers you want to work with most.

Establish your POD (or brand “special sauce”)…

No matter what your business does, chances are, there are already other companies doing the same thing. So, if you want your business to stand out, you need to figure out what makes it stand out.

The thing that makes your business different from your competitors is called your point of difference (or POD). Your POD is what makes you special; it’s what makes a customer choose your company to do business with over your competitors—and it should be infused into every part of your branding strategy.

Your POD doesn’t have to be something earth-shattering. Think of it this way: if your company is a Big Mac, your POD is your “special sauce;” it’s what makes your company uniquely you. Do you only use ethically sourced ingredients in your products? Do you have the best customer service in the biz? Has your family business been serving the community for multiple generations? Whatever it is, figure out what makes your business stand out—and build that POD directly into your brand identity.

But also get clear on what’s working in your industry

You want your branding to stand out and be different. But if you want to have the most effective branding strategy, you also need to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s working (and what’s not working) in your industry).

Take stock of your competitors and what they’re doing. Do you notice any trends? For example, let’s say you’re launching a new financial consulting company—and when you check out your competitors, you notice they all have neutral color palettes in their logo design or they all focus their marketing efforts on Facebook instead of Instagram. While you (obviously) don’t want to steal or rip off your competitors’ branding, taking stock of industry trends can give you a sense of what’s connecting with your ideal market (and, just as importantly, what’s not)—and you can build out your brand identity accordingly.

Spring Health Notches A $190 Million Series C At A 5000 Billion Valuation, Making CEO April Koh The Youngest Woman To Run A Unicorn

The numbers back up the importance of company culture quite clearly. In fact, a study by Deloitte found that 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct company culture is important to the success of a business. Another study found that companies with strong work cultures saw a significant increase in revenue growth when compared to companies without performance-enhancing cultures. As you approach branding, keep in mind how much of an impact it has on different aspects of a business and your bottom line.

The race to the bottom when it comes to pricing might not be something your company needs to participate in at all – especially if you target millennial buyers. Whether it’s in the form of a superior customer experience or higher quality materials, younger customers are willing to pay more. In fact, according to PwC, 42% of consumers said they would pay more for a friendly, welcoming customer experience and 52% would pay more for a quick, efficient customer experience. On top of that, Nielsen found that nearly 3 out of 4 millennials are willing to spend more for sustainable products.

“The main goal is to create a consistent customer experience across all touchpoints to exceed your standards and your customer’s expectations. By keeping an eye on the entire customer journey, you’re making sure that the promise of a positive experience is kept and that you’re offering a superior service. Creating an experience really impresses purchasers and ensures that they will keep doing business with you in the future. A superior experience becomes a valued and unique asset for any type of business,” says Shahin Safai, CEO of Royal Personal Training, a fitness startup focusing on personalized coaching and an elite workout experience.

The fitness company has seen success – despite being in a highly crowded space peppered with low cost alternatives like Planet Fitness and LA Fitness – by offering patrons a premiere customer experience, partnering with luxury hotels and top-tier Instagram influencers like Sommer Ray.

Consumers today are pummeled with advertisements at nearly every touchpoint humanly possible: while scrolling through Instagram, on the subway during their morning commutes, while listening to their favorite podcasts, while driving along the freeway, when watching TV, and more – the list goes on and on. During each of these interactions, consumers are told over and over again how important or life-changing every one of these brands are. As a result of this excessive exposure, consumers are becoming desensitized to the idea of trusting anything a faceless logo on a billboard is telling them.

This overexposure to traditional advertising might be a direct link to the rise in popularity of an alternative form of marketing for companies: the personal branding of CEOs as thought leaders in their respective spaces – given how it’s much easier to trust a human being than a logo. This approach has become much easier with the proliferation of social media and other digital platforms, where ideas can spread like wildfire. With public figures like Gary Vaynerchuk and Grant Cardone helping forge the path as influencer CEOs, one click over to LinkedIn or Instagram will highlight how popular this approach has become for entrepreneurs as a method for generating brand awareness.

By publishing shareable, valuable content, whether that’s in the form of blog posts, Instagram Stories, YouTube videos, LinkedIn posts or something else entirely, you just might create unmatched reach and awareness for your business while also positioning yourself as a though leader in your industry.

Omnicom found that 70% of millennials are willing to spend more for brands that support charitable causes relative to those that don’t. If the success of companies like TOMS, Warby Parker, Bombas and more have taught us anything, it’s that modern-day customers care and support mission-driven brands. Oftentimes, it isn’t enough for a business to solely provide top-grade products or services – you also may need to care about causes larger than your offerings and put your money where your mouth is to support those initiatives.

Take American Eagle for example – the company is donating 100% of profits from a collection they designed with a team of teen advisers. Each piece of the collection is designed with an embedded QR code which allows anyone with a smartphone to scan the code and donate to the nonprofit Delivering Good, helping the homeless and underprivileged young people. Not only are they supporting a good cause with the initial sale, but continue to do so with future donations made through the QR code technology.

The good news is that “giving back” can take a variety of forms, such as donating a portion of your products to charity, allocating a percentage of your profits to related nonprofits, giving out helpful content for free, or allowing your employees to volunteer a certain number of hours.

4 Simple Branding Strategies for Startups

Building a brand is hard enough when you have an abundance of resources (people, time, and money). So, startups and small businesses need to put in that extra effort to overcome these shortcomings.

1. Get your basic brand elements in place.

Branding is more than just your name, logo, colour, etc. However, these form an integral part of your branding strategy. They are what will help bring your brand alive and communicate its personality and purpose.

Name – Choose a name that will resonate with your target audience, one that is easy to remember, spell and pronounce. Consider cultural implications of the name you have chosen.

Visual Elements (logo, imagery, colours etc.) – It is best to use the services of a professional designer to help you select the right colour palette and visuals to represent your brand.

Purpose/Story – Your purpose is your reason for existence. It is the why behind everything you do, so make you have articulated it well. You might also have an interesting story to tell about how you decided to follow this purpose.

Value Proposition/Promise – These are the functional, rational, and emotional benefits customers can receive when they associate with you. You need to clear right from the start so that you are able to attract the right type of customer.

Positioning – This will help your brand get associated with a particular space in the market and in the minds of your consumer. You will need to research the market and your competitors to be able to do this well.

2. Focus on Emotions.

Most often in your enthusiasm to communicate quickly, you might forget that you are ultimately speaking with human beings. And, all human beings are governed by emotions. When you speak to the heart (emotion), you are able to tap into parts of the brain that help in recall and memory.

Tell a Story – Remember Aesop’s fables, 1001 Arabian Nights, Panchatantra? These short stories helped us connect to the characters and remember valuable life lessons. Use your motivations, challenges, and life experiences to evoke emotions in your audience. These aspects are what make you and your brand interesting.

Be Yourself – People connect with other people who are real and authentic. There are things that will make you and your brand unique, no one is perfect, let your quirks show. Be real.

3. Build an online presence.

There are more than 4.6 billion people with access to the internet and over 3.6 billion social media accounts today. It is hence safe to say that if your brand is not visible online, it may as well not exist. Creating a website or social media account does not cost anything.

Consumers are increasingly turning to official social media accounts to research new brands, learn more about them, get the opinions of others, and interact with the brands themselves.

Know your audience – This is probably the most important tip. Create buyer personas to help you create real-life examples of who they are. Understand their preferences, needs, and places you are likely to find them.

Engage and Respond – Find relatable ways to engage with your audience on the platforms you choose to be on. Also, make sure that you are being responsive when someone gets in touch or interacts with you.

4. Be Consistent and Cohesive.

Imagine meeting a person who constantly changes their look, sounds different all the time, and is inconsistent with their reactions. We either don’t think too highly of them or don’t seem to recognize them when we see them. Being consistent helps in recall and reinforces the brand’s personality.

It is important that your brand maintains consistency of tonality, visual elements, and style across platforms. Consistency may become more and more difficult as your team grows and the ‘brand touchpoints’ increase over time.

Create a repository – Consider creating a space keep all your brand assets so that it is easily accessible to your team. Make sure this repository is regularly updated.

Consider regular audits – A internal brand audit once in a year helps you keep track of how consistently your brand comes across, how well it aligns with the way you do business, and how it’s perceived by your customers.

Go on, Build Your Brand Strategy.

It is never too early or too late for a startup to consider building a branding strategy. When you are able to differentiate yourself and create a unique personality for your brand, it puts you in a very different league.

Consider creating a branding strategy as an investment that is going to give you returns several times over. You might even consider using the services of a professional brand development company to help you build your strategy.

Developing Visual Identity and Packaging Your Brand

Your visual identity is another crucial aspect of your overall branding strategy. Your voice should be on point, your tone and messaging are key, but overall, people are looking first. They identify your brand when they see elements they know to be part of who you are. Some of the visual pieces to your brand strategy puzzle include:

Company logo

This is really in many ways the centerpiece of your brand. Make sure it reflects your personality while still conveying that brand essence. The logo is almost always, without fail, the first thing a consumer will associate with your brand. Make sure it is one you can be proud of.

Brand Colors

Generally speaking, there will be a consistent color palette associated with any good branding strategy. Again, this goes toward helping make your product/company that much more recognizable to the consumer.

Graphics and Images

Certain design elements will play a large role when it comes to how you brand. You may opt to incorporate images and photos as part of your brand scheme. This helps create a more compelling visual identity.

Typography

The style of lettering is also something to keep in mind. This is where a Brand Toolkit comes in handy, as it helps you more easily align all relevant elements as you set about crafting that brand.

Establish your brand presence

It’s time to put that brand essence to good use. From the company logo to the color scheme, and brand messaging, what is the best way to go about ensuring you get the maximum value from your various brand components and marketing collateral?

Your Website and Social Media

Here is perhaps where you’re going to get the biggest bang for your brand buck. All social media efforts should somehow tie back into that brand. Be it a YouTube channel with your logo prominent or a Facebook post that incorporates key brand messaging, make sure that you are always thinking back to the brand. And of course, website design should definitely align with all brand components. When a user hits your site, start to finish that consumer journey should highlight your brand heart.

Signage

Any and all types of signs and banners that you might use—be it printed or digital—should also bear the characteristics of your brand strategy. When it comes to signage, logos will especially be one of the more significant elements to pay attention to. Think of McDonald’s for example—there is certainly no mistaking that brand when glancing up at those golden arches.

Business Cards

An affordable and easy way to expand that brand reach even more. Business cards of course are handed out. And while a bit old school, time and time again they prove an effective way to circulate a smaller representation of that brand.

Packaging

There’s nothing that says your product and its package cannot be a great brand ambassador of sorts. Packaging should absolutely include the colors, logo, and typography associated with your brand essence. Product packaging is often prominently displayed—a great marketing tool to this end.

Company Apparel

Nothing is safe from your brand design—even your clothes! Having a little branding fun with ball caps, t-shirts, sweatshirts even accessories like sunglasses is a highly useful way to put those brand components to work. You get a little more exposure, increase brand awareness, and your team gets some free stuff—win-win.

Vehicles

Company cars get around. And this is exactly why wrapping your company vehicles in the colors of your brand and utilizing the logo to this end can be a great brand strategy. You could also invest in highly affordable magnetic signage for company cars and convey your message that way.

Offer greater clarity . And this goes not only for what your company/business is all about but also in terms of how your brand relates to people’s lives. In other words, how does your brand benefit them?

Support your marketing and social media campaigns. Without a definitive brand in place, your marketing and advertising as well as social media efforts are basically directionless. The brand is what brings everything together and helps solidify your identity within that target market.

Helps build a customer base. Brands attract customers, good brands that is. And once you get that customer it is all about ensuring a satisfactory consumer journey, start to finish. Again, brand messaging and brand voce will come into play here.

Reveals your company’s DNA. Using your brand toolkit, you want to show every facet of who you are, on all relevant channels, materials, and signs. This is the company stripped down to the important components. Social media, Facebook, website, printed materials, trade show requirements , business cards , your logo, when taken all together these are what you represent.

Brand Consistency

So you have what you think is the ideal branding strategy. You’ve defined your brand and worked hard on constructing a brand identity that you and your team are happy with. From here on, ensure you stay on-brand, and maintain consistency across all platforms. Then, you will have a truly powerful brand.

Anne is a former English professor turned content writer. Holding a PhD in Literature, she spent almost a decade in academia putting that degree to use, until finally realizing it wasn’t exactly the best fit. A full-time writer now for the past seven years, she’s learned a great deal about the numerous subjects she’s gotten to tackle, everything from real estate investing to the scarier side of online dating—sometimes more than she actually wants to learn. A mom of five (two teenagers and three dogs) she has her hands full on any given day…and would have it no other way.

Sources:

https://99designs.com/blog/business/cheap-branding-strategies-small-business/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jiawertz/2019/12/13/4-branding-strategies-2020/
https://www.ratocommunications.com/post/4-branding-strategies-for-startups-small-businesses
https://designwizard.com/blog/branding/building-a-brand-strategy/

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