Small Business Branding

What’s Your Definition of Success? Stepping Back & Re-Focusing

Vera Raposo — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:52:07 +0000

What’s your definition of success? What steps do you need to take to reach the pinnacle of success? Those answers will be different for everyone but the important thing is to revisit these answers every now and then. What we considered important or successful back in our 20’s will most likely be different now that [...]

Embrace The Limb

Ed Roach — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:00:29 +0000

Considering all the words I write on branding, essentially all I’m saying is that if you’re not playing, you’re losing. That’s not to say that you’re not successful, but that you’re not being the best you can be. I’m saying that marketing can be a little easier when you compete as a leader not a [...]

Pertinent Content and Popular Keywords

Karl Walinskas — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:36:16 +0000

As a small business owner or CEO trying to broaden your internet target and get noticed, I’m sure you’re aware of the significance of new, fresh, recurring content on your site of all kinds. When it comes to written material on page copy or blogs and articles, you need to have the ability to write [...]

Communicate the Write Way: 7 Tips for Written Communication

Karl Walinskas — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:03:23 +0000

In the fast-moving environment we live in today, those who jump to the top have fantastic communication skills, and that means better business writing than the competitors. You’ve heard the cliché, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” Well, in business, you’d better be able to flourish a pen or else you may just fall [...]

The Near-Sighted Brand

Ed Roach — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:17:11 +0000

Sometimes I think I should put an branding eye-chart on my website for companies who have a hard time seeing the truth about their brands. If they were only 20/20 they’d be able to take on the competition from a leadership position and have clarity in their actions. If these 5 observations leave you squinting [...]

Grow your small business with online appointment scheduling

Marc Woodward — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:04:19 +0000

There are more than 27 million small businesses in the U.S., and in this tough economy, the competition can be intense. As a result, online marketing is playing an increasingly crucial role for attracting and retaining customers. The first step to marketing your business online, of course, is to create a website. But then what? [...]

Welcome to the Cloud

Charlie Townsend — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:57:18 +0000

Your business needs to work everywhere. In this day and age of endless connection with others, it is becoming more imperative that businesses not be tied down to a physical business aspect that limits their capabilities. If you’re looking for more mobility, then welcome to the cloud. Cloud computing is delivering host services all over [...]

Me-Too Positioning gets you Nowhere in B2B Marketing

Kevin Levi — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:10:37 +0000

The other day I was speaking with a prospective B2B software client who needed to better differentiate itself in its market. When I asked the President of the company to tell me what makes his product more special than the next provider, he referenced the following: Our product is easy to install We provide incredible [...]

How To Build A Niche Audience.

Ed Roach — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:02:35 +0000

Does your brand have it’s own niche audience to speak to? I should probably start by explaining that a niche audience is a database of businesses that you market to. It is sometimes referred to as, “my list.” This is an important cross-section of people who have at some point in time asked for something [...]

Positioning Is King!

Ed Roach — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:05:06 +0000

Online and off, one the most important services I am often engaged to perform is the development of a positioning strategy for small to medium size businesses. A positioning strategy is not simply a cleaver slogan but a powerful and dynamic stand that your brand takes in your category. Right now as you read this, [...]

Are you pricing for 2012 or 2002?

Ken Chandler — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:15:16 +0000

Have you noticed how much more money you have to shell out for your groceries lately? If you’ve truly been paying attention to your bills, you’d know it’s been going on for a couple of years. It’s not just the price tag. Packaging has changed too. Sometimes you find less product for the same price. [...]

Is Social Santa coming down your chimney this year?

Ed Roach — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:45:57 +0000

Has SME’s (small to medium enterprises) taken up the social networking banner? I’m coming off one of my branding projects and as part of the research we asked the brand customers if they use Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter or None of the above. 100% of the respondents answered “none of the above.” 100% can you believe [...]

How To Release Your Brand

Ed Roach — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:47:08 +0000

So many businesses around us pay very little attention to their brands. Some are under the illusion that to have a brand is a question of choice. As some have said to me, “Ed, I’m not ready for a brand just yet. I’ll let you know when I am.” What they fail to understand is [...]

10 Confounding Branding Myths

Ed Roach — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:51:03 +0000

The logo is the brand This myth confounds me the most. If the brand was the logo, then there would be no brand problems. Got a problem, change the logo and presto! problem goes away. Not so much, because the brand goes right to the heart of your company’s existence. It is the entire essence [...]

Santa Brand!

Ed Roach — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:23:38 +0000

Another great brand move is acknowledging your customers and advocates at Christmas. Ending the year on a high note is very motivating while you’re moving into a new period. Looking back over the year appreciating those who saw fit to trust you and bring you business. Every year I put together something I think will [...]

Hard of Hearing Visionaries: The Best Kind.

Ed Roach — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:59:43 +0000

If you’re the sort of visionary who regularly doesn’t hear things like – “We can’t do that!” or “It’ll never work.” or “Right now’s not the time.” or “That’s beyond our scope.” – you’re just the sort of person who’s selective hearing makes you great! It’s not easy leading a company when you’re surrounded by [...]

Are You happy With Your Personal Brand?

Ed Roach — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:00:13 +0000

Generating leads is all about who knows you. Not only knowing who you are but what their perception of you is? That perception is reality on the street or online. The challenge in nurturing your personal brand is consistency. Online, the other person doesn’t have the opportunity to know you face-to-face. I’ll use myself as [...]

Claim It! Own It! now Promote It!

Ed Roach — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:02:13 +0000

It’s time your brand got out from behind that inspiring advertising slogan and actually stand for something. A large part (and I would argue) the most important part of your brand is your positioning. Where can your brand take the high ground? What is your brand leading in? Are you the only something? Positioning is [...]

Big, Big, Big, Big… Small!

Ken Chandler — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:26:09 +0000

There is a commercial for the Smart Car – a tiny two seater – that has all kinds of people proclaiming ‘Big’ from singers to politicians, business owners to children. At the end, one lone guy sees the Smart Car and says… Small! Implying Big is not the answer, Small is. While I didn’t think [...]

It’s Time To Step Up Your Game

Ed Roach — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:30:46 +0000

The passing of Steve Jobs this week got me thinking of another iconic American CEO who was also loved by consumers the world over. Before I reveal his identity, I have to say that Steve Jobs has been compared (this week) to Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, in their contributions to our modern lifestyle. Steve [...]