Make your brand memorable

Posts in Category: branding

Authentic Brands: If You Have to Say You Are, You’re Not

If you have to say you are, you’re not. I was a young marketer working at a membership association when a salesman came in selling swag. He was trying to provide giveaway items for our members – branded coffee mugs, sunglasses, that sort of thing. He also had a business card carrier we could engrave

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Branding That’s Clear, Consistent, Uncomplicated: The True Story Behind My Orange

People ask on a semi-regular basis about my visual branding. As much as I love my logo, it’s a conversation I usually try to skim over. Because the truth is, it’s complicated. Take the orange. Long ago, when my business was still a side hustle, I was experimenting with the concept of comparing apples to

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Mind the Gap: Aim for a Market Position No One Has Claimed

It’s hard to get into a seat that’s already filled. I mean, sure, you could grab the person sitting there by the collar, wrestle them to their feet, throw their coat on the floor and take their place. But, you know, they might put up a fight. And then you might end up on the floor. It’s

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The One Where You Figure Out Which One You Are

If you’re a “Friends” fan like me, you know the titles of the show’s episodes followed a template. Every episode is named “The One With…” followed by the thing it’s about. Maybe it’s not the actual most important thing in the episode, but it’s the thing people would be talking about later. Because that’s how

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Brand Voice: When is a Swear Word Not a Swear Word?

Is swearing on-brand for your business? Maybe it is. There are definitely more than a few businesses these days who use the words George Carlin said you “couldn’t say on television” in their everyday brand messaging. (If you’re offended by foul language, do us both a favor and don’t click that link. 👆 If you’re not, you

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Content Marketing, Simplified: The Brand Story [VIDEO]

In this wide-ranging interview, Dana Herra and Steve Gilman of The Gravity Group talk all things content – misperceptions, pitfalls, and why brand voice matters more than you think.

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How to Position Your Brand (Even if You’re a Tiny Fish in a Big Pond)

The first client I ever helped through their brand positioning had all the elements of a brand. They had a visual identity, a tagline, a values statement – the whole shebang. But they still struggled to stand out from their competitors. Some of the client’s messaging talked about their years of experience, some talked about

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Is ‘Start With Why’ a Good Marketing Strategy? (Was It Ever?)

It’s been more than a decade since Simon Sinek inspired us all to “start with why.” Today, those three words are the cornerstone of many a marketing mantra. The question is – should they be? “Start with why” is a great tagline. It’s short, catchy, and broad enough to apply to far more scenarios than

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