Stretch Brand

Raise your hand if you’ve ever “fixed” something important with duct tape. Come on, you know who you are.

I’ll admit it?I know I’m guilty. In college, during a particularly low-income quarter, I fixed my broken backpack with duct tape because I couldn’t afford to buy a new one right away. More recently, I fixed a tent with duct tape while I was camping, because there was simply nothing else around to repair it with. In both cases, these repairs were…

You hear the word “branding” bandied about quite a bit in the modern business world. However, how does an entrepreneur increase their branding efforts and effectiveness? What does branding have to do with the success or failure of a small business? What is branding, anyway? Actually, quite a few small businesses lack a firm understanding of the importance that branding plays in increasing their sales.

So, what is branding, anyway? Branding is something somewhat different from traditional marketing methods. It differs…

Many small business owners have a great product idea and are running full speed ahead to launch their business. However, more important than a single product idea is the actual brand for your business. Branding will help a business focus on their target market, branch out on compatible products and extend their business effectively. A unique brand strategy will help to set your product and ultimately your business apart from your competitors.

What Builds a Brand

A brand is really the identity…

If you’re asking yourself if your small business can afford a logo, ask yourself this question…

What identifies your business better than a well-designed logo?

Branding your business is one of the most important things that a small business owner can do to increase awareness that they are on the map.

How many big companies don’t have a logo? I can’t think of any. Big business makes sure they have exactly the right logo. A lot of time, money and effort went into…

I lived in the dormitories for the first two years I was in college. Life on campus tended to be a bit boring, though. But there was one building down the hill that was known for providing entertainment. The inhabitants tended to throw parties for pretty much any reason?not just end-of-finals parties, but the-power’s-gone-out parties, and even the-cafeteria-served-something-gross parties. Any excuse was enough of an excuse to party.

Redesigning your business brand is a big to-do. You have to do a…

Branding is a unique thing that can create business longevity for you. I am not saying that that is going to happen initially, those that have bad business practices, after a year or two, or even six months, they will soon become like that, they will wonder where their next sale is going to be. So hopefully they could even turn it around, if you are like that you are branding yourself that way, you can turn it around. It…

Where I live, there are 4 traffic lights between my house and the main road. So, before I can really get on my way in any journey, I usually have to stop, no matter where I’m going. Some days, I even have to stop and wait at all 4 lights. All this stopping and waiting gets tiresome?but it pays off by getting me safely to my destination.

Branding your business can be a lot like these traffic lights. There are certain…

Naming a small business or small business product depends on a few key factors. If you know these you’re far ahead of the game.

Naming a small business or small business product depends on a few key factors:

1. The guiding philosophies of the business.
2. The goals of the business.
3. The business landscape and climate (the market, competition, etc.)
4. The sales process and expected growth strategies.

If you’re trying to name the business and/or products in house, work with a…

“Does a brand identity matter when you are a start-up?” Sleepless nights, a staff of three to do the work of 20, and the doubters will test your stamina to survive the start-up game.  I suppose if it were easy, every person with an idea would be doing it. Start-ups require lots more than possession of an idea. They require an uncanny drive to succeed, a fearless spirit, a sense of humor and thick skin.

 

Your company brand may be a…

Seven tips for small business branding

Big companies know how to launch, build, and maintain their brands. Small businesses? Not so much. Small business owners know they need to grow their business, but without an in-house “Global Brand Management and International Marketing Communications Department” they tend to be iffy on the details of how to actually do it.

The following tips have been compiled after several years of literally repeating the same things over and over again to the small and mid-sized…