"Branding Your Image"!

Based in California, we are enduring another week of smoky skies, if you are inside, you'd think its a late October foggy day, not end-of-summer 95+ humid cooker. Driving around one needs daytime running lights in some areas, and you find you are looking for company lights to know whose open and to identify where you are, esp. later in the day and early evening. The question we face, "does your clients know you are still in business, still ready to step-up and serve them?" The easy way to try and gain attention is an email blast, but how many have you gotten today alone? I've already deleted over 50 and its not even 10:00 am, with an expected 250 more to come in (this is after all the rules and blocks on my account)- not very effective, though inexpensive. In the past we'd go see our clients, and we pray that day will be coming again soon, but a limited option-  Do we try to run a non-stop series of web conference calls? Doable but still we may face limited access...

"Can I come by and see you?" that phrase almost feels threating to many, you want to "see" me- like be in person, in contact, cross the invisable barrier we have now created?!  From working at home, to web meetings we have adjusted (pivoted :( to finding ways to stay connected. NDS has made the shift, doing all of the above and now offering our own virtual Branding Expo which you are invited to- BUT is this really the new norm?  We are social creatures, we need contact, a touch, a smile- a shared bond of real life experience. Novels and movies have been made around the punishment of isolation, being socially distanced, being put into solitaire. If you are like me the isolation touches you softly and dulls your energy and vibrancy.  Do I have the solution, not exactly- I do have my relationship with a living Lord who guards me and does bring comfort, have a loving family (that we are no longer isolating from 'cause that adds salt to the wound)- and friends to c...

Wow, finishing the month of July, NDS would have hosted our 2-day Branding Expo this month (one in the Bay area and one in Sacramento)- really a bummer as we miss our clients, vendors, and friends who make it an amazing event. We look forward to resuming a live event in 2021, over 100 companies represented. Like most companies we have had to make the change our format, we are hosting a virtual Branding Expo - Your are invited to join us online for great ideas in a quick to watch format at your convenience. Comment on five of your favorites and you will receive a special food gift box :) Wishing you a great Expo and to be well!

Bet you're as tired of this mess as I am- being relocked down is like needing a filling redone (lived through that in my youth, replaced a full mouth of poorly installed filling- another story), painful, a waste of emotion, energy and efforts. Now is a time to show love to our neighbors, support local businesses (buy gift certs even more takeout), tip heavier, smile more, share small glimpses of joy, hope and life! With the over abundance of social media, there are a number of funny posts that anyone can snap and share (just look at the " funnies " section on our PPE site, wwwppe4covid19.com), I am amazed the positive responses when I share with others. We launched the NO COVID19 symbol mid-March, it has become our stand to remind one another- the need to physically distance (stay emotionally and socially connected), to wash often, and now wear masks. Not hard, just needs to become second nature for all, by all, to support all. May you find new joy, new optimism even wi...

Regardless of our personal viewpoint, face coverings- masks or face shields are now a part of our daily fashion statement. For some, the utlitarian paper blue masks have become the go to, function over fashion. For some, sublimated full color masks allows for a wilder side to be presented, or for team or brand loyality to be announced. With the loss of almost 55% of the non-verbal communication that some experts say we lose when we can't see a persons lips, the advent of the windowed mask gives a partial view of a persons face and what they are communicating. The face shield offers full face visability and is now being seen as a strong safety contender With a goal to help you be successful, NDS can supply any and all of these styles- let us help you find a face covering that send the right message and keeps everyone as safe as possible.

Branding comes in all sorts of styles, images and colors- to be know immediately is the ultimate of any marketing plan. Speak of the "Red, White & Blue" or the "Stars and Stripes", you and most of the world knows immediately what country your talking about, the United States, a symbol or Brand of hope, opportunity and freedom readily identifiable- Regardless of world events, the United States brand is still strong and the beacon of better things, may we all take time to thank God for opportunities and even the challenges because in the midst of them we still have choices. Let us not forget the choices made by others so we can have the choice to celebrate or not, the sacrifice of blood, sweat, tears and possessions. Happy 4th of July to all!

Just Breathe~  I don't know about you, but I feel like I been in a marathon that keeps being extended mile by mile with no end in sight! Or as my brother-in-law called it, the "endless desert". Yesterday I realized we are 50% through the year and business is starting to come back. As hard as its been, take a breath- in through your nose and out the mouth (assume without a mask :) and relax... I know I need that message, that reminder to not let the journey rob me of the life I am blessed with. Business is coming back, reopening and smiles are returning. Let's just breath and take it all in!

In today's tough market place, you have to keep the proverbial neon sign flashing- "I am in business, I am in business, I am in business" Keeping your brand visible, strong, positive and focused will set you apart, maybe even be the key difference in being selected verses overlooked. Step back from your business, walk back in (mentally or physically) and review what you see with new eyes, the eyes of your prospective buyers. Does it make a statement of clean, fresh, edgy, top-of-the-line or seem raveled at the edges, sad or even desperate? Can you identify the "core value" which the business operates from- what is your primary focus and goal; does the client know it without a lot of words and explanations? How does your "brand" confirm or deny the message? Hard questions, harder answers which are required to send the most impactive message possible! Cutting through the clutter and showing value starts with the first impression- your signature...

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