"Branding Your Image"!

I live in a neighborhood with a local coffee shop down-the-street. The proprietor signals he is ready to do business with an OPEN sign and he is done for the day when it says SHUT. For years I had been driving by and just recently questioned the difference between being SHUT or CLOSED as most companies signal they are done for the day. In today's market, there is a lot of difference- CLOSED seems so much more ominous and final, a signal that there is no more tomorrows to face. SHUT seems to say, not now, but check us out, we are coming back in the morning. It maybe a little thing, but how often are we sending mixed messages about how badly we want to do business, to be the service or products provider, to be the solution to a need? A quote attributed to Henry Ford says, “Stopping advertising to save money is like stopping a clock to save time." Maybe another way to say it is, "Stopping advertising is like saying you are CLOSED and expect business to continue." Look f...

Although personal branding is not a new concept it has become of such importance that by the end of 2010 all companies would have to have built a strategy of defining and defending their image. Your brand is your face and your competitive advantage. To Read More

The following article offers some practical and needed reminders as to how to keep your brand alive in today's marketplace- There's no question about it. Times are tough. The economy is taking its toll on businesses large and small, which means it's time to redouble your marketing efforts to stay competitive in your industry. In an effort to help, we're presenting eight marketing truisms from past issues of inSights to help you navigate these difficult economic times — or spur some ideas of your own. To Read More

Recently I caught an article that simply outlined 10 ideas to keep your business infront of your clients- check it out below. If you have a quality product or services, it is easier than you think to get your business noticed... And all for FREE! To Read More

One impact of the burst bubble of our economy seems to be, "what the bottomline" thinking or ""is that the best you can do?!" So one has to ask, does the brand, logo or company matter any more? YOU BET YA! The old adage is still true, "fast, cheap, quality- pick two and call me." You can't have it all, and when the dust settles quality still reigns supreme. Just watch the new GM ads, they understand brand is important and are trying to reintroduce themselves into a jaded market. Regardless of the economy, which will respond soon enough, don't lose your focus, your Company pride- tout your brand, the history and future goals- it still sells!

A simple message to help you break the noise in today's market- "With so many ads and messages bombarding consumers everyday, it’s no surprise that a lot of business owners and marketers get frustrated that they’re marketing collaterals such as their door hangers don’t get the results they expect. Breaking through all that clutter is very hard to do indeed, especially if you don’t have a strong message to offer your target clients." To Read More

There is a debate as to who said the following, either Henry Ford or Thomas Jefferson- regardless the truth remains. "The man who stops advertising to save money, is like the man who stops the clock to save time." If the pundits are correct, that the recession ended last month and things should get brighter, means branding IS A MUST TODAY! Refreshing your brand, getting it in front of clients can mean life or death to many companies. Image crossing the Sahara desert and getting within a mile from the start of the green hills and mountains, but dying of thirst- to have traveled so far and still lose is a travesty. Many businesses are holding back, or even stopping the marketing which maybe the needed trickle which will enable them to reach their goals. It doesn't have to be expensive, in fact the Advertising Industry did a study and found a logo'd pen has more value and visibilty than any other item. Inexpensive pens may gain dollars! We at NDS value each relationship ...

Branding keeps evolving and the impact of social networking is making its mark- checkout this great article. With Facebook’s more than 55 million active users, it would be a tragic oversight for a company not to have a public presence on the site in some capacity. Facebook offers more than a way to keep up with friends – it has the ability to keep you in touch with your clients, gain attention for your brand and provide a more personal face for your business. To Read More

Wow, the 2009 wave of electronic communication has hit with a BANG! Just watching the nightly news one sees the impact of Twitter as images out of Iran cross the screen. Who hasn't been hit with a "friend request" from Facebook!? It seems if you want to show-up as a healthly and vibrant company or individual you have to be electronically connected on the Net. As they say, "perception is reality"- so to that end you can follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ndslogoman or visit on Facebook at NDS-Solutions.

Check out this great article from the Small Business Administration: Every successful company uses some sort of promotion to influence certain audiences -usually customers or prospects - by informing or persuading them. Reasons for promoting a business include: increasing visibility, adding credibility to you or your company, enhancing or improving your image, and bringing in new business. To Read More

Building a strong and positive brand image is vital to business success in any economic climate. During an economic downturn, a good brand reputation could be a matter of your company survival. When times are hard, people prefer to do business with others whom they know and trust, even more than when the economy is strong. What people think of your brand and its promise are essential to that trust. To Read More

What makes a great brand? You know it when you see it; you think, Now there is a company that has its act together. You know it when you have a sense that this is the kind of company you’d like to own or do business with. Every company has a brand. Interestingly the best corporate brands don’t always come from the largest companies. Sometimes the smallest company can make the biggest impression. Understanding that your brand can be managed is the first big step in turning your brand into cash. By James R. Gregory To Read More

It's all about getting noticed. No matter how good your product or service, if no one knows about it, no one will be buying it. So it's worth putting some extra effort into those things that carry the image of your company out into the wider world and say "this is who we are" to potential customers. For many businesses, that means taking a new look at their brand. "You need to focus on those places where most people are going to first encounter your brand -- not in paid ads, but on business cards, your brochures, and your Web site," To Read More

To create a truly powerful brand, you need to establish a sense of belonging, friendship, and dependability between product and customers. To Read More

Branding Research: Which Strategy Will Ensure Success? How much value does your existing brand lend to the future of your company? The answer to this question is vital to business success, and fortunately—the answer can be found through research. Determining your current brand equity and improving brand value is the ultimate goal. Even if you already have a strong brand, it is important to maintain its qualities. To Read More

It's a new brand world. That cross-trainer you're wearing -- one look at the distinctive swoosh on the side tells everyone who's got you branded. That coffee travel mug you're carrying -- ah, you're a Starbucks woman! Your T-shirt with the distinctive Champion "C" on the sleeve, the blue jeans with the prominent Levi's rivets, the watch with the hey-this-certifies-I-made-it icon on the face, your fountain pen with the maker's symbol crafted into the end ... You're branded, branded, branded, branded. To Read More

Branding is more than just a business buzzword. It has become the crux of selling in the new economy. If the old marketing mantra was," Nothing happens until somebody sells something," the new philosophy could be" Nothing happens until somebody brands something." In its simplest form, a brand is a noun. It is the name attached to a product or service. However, upon close inspection, a brand represents many more intangible aspects of a product or service: a collection of feelings and perceptions about quality, image, lifestyle and status. It creates in the mind of customers and prospects the perception that there is no product or service on the market that is quite like yours. In short, a brand offers the customer a guarantee and then delivers on it. To Read More

By Joanna L. Krotz It's everywhere you want to be. Business gets easier when you have a recognizable brand. Think about BMW or Burger King, for example. All you need do is mention the names and millions of people throughout the world have an immediate perception and expectation of what that company stands for. There's an emotional connection between the customer and the company name. With a strong brand, you don't have to sell nearly as long or as hard. Customers know what you stand for before the pitch or proposal. To Read More

Big companies understand the importance of brands. Today, in the Age of the Individual, you have to be your own brand. Here's what it takes to be the CEO of Me Inc. Today brands are everything, and all kinds of products and services -- from accounting firms to sneaker makers to restaurants -- are figuring out how to transcend the narrow boundaries of their categories and become a brand surrounded by a Tommy Hilfiger-like buzz. To Read More