Successful Branding–The Importance of Brand Strategy

February 26, 2015 DanaLeave a comment

Recently, I’ve run across many business owners who realize they need to update their Website, but they don’t understand the importance of having a brand strategy FIRST.

Here is a video to help you understand why it’s so important.

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Is this something you are struggling with? Would you like to learn more about how to create a wildly successful business that will last a lifetime? Please take my free mini course by clicking here.

Designing Brand Identity–5 Ways You Can Make Yours Stand Out!

May 8, 2013 DanaLeave a comment

You are designing your brand identity. You want your brand to stand out. As a matter of fact, your brand MUST stand out or you will be lost in the crowd!

So how do you that and where do you start?

Keep reading to find out more!

1) Make sure your branding is based on thorough analysis.

I see this mistake over and over again. A logo is chosen to represent a brand that has nothing to do with the company. It just looked good. Or perhaps it was cheap or just designed arbitrarily.

To make your logo and brand TRULY stand out, you need to do some research up front. This takes thorough analysis. You need to know what makes you unique from your competition, what your vision is for your company and brand, who your target market is and much, much more.

2) Make sure your brand image communicates a specific message.

After you have done thorough analysis, you need to synthesize what you want to communicate in one sentence. What is it that you want your audience to “get?” Will they understand your message in 10 seconds or less? If not, you will not get the attention you need!

For instance, awhile back I designed a logo for my husband’s new business that he is building. I had it made into a sweatshirt and one day he was wearing it in public. A person unfamiliar with Travis and his company looked at the logo and said, “Oh, you do… ”

This is what you want your prospects to understand immediately. Exactly why your company exists and what you can do for them.

3) Make sure your brand is authentic.

You need to present yourself as an original. After all, there is only one of you! Like a snowflake, we are all unique individuals. Your brand needs to reflect this.

When the perception of your target market equals reality, then you will have an effective brand. Think through this exercise: what are the five words that I want my target market to perceive me as? Now BE that perception and reflect it accurately in your brand image.

4) Use an appealing mix of fonts, color, and graphics.

You need to approach your brand image with a design concept. Don’t just use Helvetica for the fonts for your business name! Make it different with the use of typography.

And remember that color sells. Use it to your advantage. Graphics will make the appealing difference that can make your logo image stand out!

But be careful. Remember that logo images are above all symbolic. It’s easy to get carried away (don’t I know it!), but above all you want your logo image to be readable and recognizable.

5) Be consistent on all mediums.

From the moment your prospect sees your business card, signage, catalog, website, or however they encounter your brand, you need to guide them through an experience that builds trust and credibility. For instance, when you give them a business card, it should stand out with your unique brand image, which should lead them to your website with the same brand image, which should lead them to the next step, and on and on.

You want them to feel comfortable with you, create name recognition, and build an unconscious awareness that indeed they are doing business with a person they like, know, and trust.

So there you have it. Five ways you can make your brand stand out. When you follow these steps, you will have a brand that sizzles and a future that dazzles!

Do you want to learn more ways for your brand image to stand out and for your business to be successful? Take my free 5-day mini-course that will give you the foundation to build a wildly successful business!

Brand Image–The Best Components for Your Brand

April 24, 2013 DanaLeave a comment

You have decided to create a new brand image for your company. But what are the most important components of your brand?

Here are some ideas so that you will have an effective brand image that gets results:

1) Your company name

You want your name to mean something visually. Not just Helvetica in black type.

There is so much more to your name than your name! After all, as Shakespeare said, “What is in a name?”

Think visually. What word associations does your name bring up? If you have more than one word in your name, what does each individual name mean?

Designing your name into a work of art is going to set you apart from your competition. Don’t forget this very important component of your brand.

2) A logomark

Logomarks are symbols that communicate your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). They can be illustrations, photographs, paintings, computer art…

But make sure the symbol truly does incapsulate what you are about!

Also, a logo mark as a symbol is usually not detailed. Keep it simple!

3) A slogan

This is a short, pithy statement that gets people talking, that makes your audience want to hear more about what you do. The more memorable the better.

It also serves to show your prospects your USP.

There are many ways to come up with your slogan. Keyword research, a thesaurus, and condensing an elevator pitch are just some of the ways that come to mind.

Whatever components you choose to use, make sure they reflect who you are and what you do! That will mean you have a more effective brand image! And that will help you have the dazzling future you have been dreaming about!

Would you like more ideas on how to create an effective brand and build a wildly successful business in the process? Take my free 5-day mini course by clicking here!

How To Start Business Without Money – 4 Steps That Will Make Your Dream Into Reality

August 29, 2012 Dana8 comments

So you want to start a business and you have little or no money. How can you make your dream a reality?

In today’s Internet age, it is more than possible!

Watch the video below to find out more.

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Be sure to stay tuned for Part Two where I share the fourth tip! I will be posting it on Friday morning!

Want more help on how to start a business without money? Take my free mini-video course for free by clicking here now! Start today and you can get started immediately!

Build a Strong Brand–Get a Sneak Peek of My Brand Identity Course Materials!

August 17, 2012 Dana6 comments

How do you build a strong brand?

By discovering your brand! And that stars with discovering your passions! Then you build that into an image that reflects accurately who you are and what you do!

Why is this important? Because you create a compelling brand that will attract your customers to you!

Through my step by step Brand Identity Quest Tutorial Lesson Series, you can create your own unique sizzling brand! In the video below, I show a sneak peek of the materials you will get as a member of my course!

Get your sneak peek today! It will mean that not only will you have a brand that sizzles, you will have a dazzling future as well!

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To get a taste of what I offer for free, sign up for my mini video course at http://www.MakeYourBrandSizzle.com

To sign up for my Brand Identity Quest Tutorial Lesson Series, click here now!

Business Logos Design–3 Dangers to Avoid When Designing a Logo

August 4, 2012 DanaLeave a comment

Business logos design. It seems these days everyone is a graphic designer and cheap programs are widely accessible.

You can even hire a “designer” for less than $100!

But what are you really getting?

As a graphic artist for over 17 years, I have seen a lessening of standards in the industry and a huge desire for cheap and free services by business owners.

The problem is that you get what you pay for.

If you want cheap, you will come across as cheap. And you will be making mistakes in your logo image. This is going to cost you in the long run. Because a logo is more than just an image on a page. It is the representation of your brand.

A poorly constructed logo is going to confuse your prospects which will hurt your revenue in the long run. This is truly dangerous to you and your business!

Major corporations recognize that their brand is their most important asset. They pay tens of thousands of dollars to high dollar ad agencies. Business logos design is not something to be handled lightly or cheaply. It takes thought, tender loving care, and strategic implementation.

So what are the common mistakes in logo design to avoid?

Here are a few that come to my mind:

1) The symbol in the logo has nothing whatsoever to do with the message the brand is trying to communicate. Sometimes the logo owner will have an esoteric idea that he thinks his prospects should just “get.” This will lead to confusion.

Your goal: instant recognition. I know I have done a good job when a person looks at a logo I’ve designed and says, “Oh, so you do so and so…” and nail it without having to explain a thing! This happened recently involving a sweatshirt design I had made with a logo printed on it. A stranger saw it and immediately understood what that logo represented and what it meant the owner of that brand did as a business.

2) A name that is complicated and full of initials that mean nothing to an outsider. I have seen this one a lot lately. The brand identity, the business name, may mean something to the business owner, but it is a complete mystery to a prospect. This is not good. When naming a business or a product line, great care needs to be taken. Initials, abbreviations, and acronyms very rarely work for the small business. These are usually only successful with corporations that already have a lot of brand recognition. A name that is unclear is only going to confuse your prospects.

Before you go with that name you think is going to represent your brand, be sure to do some research. Ask for feedback. Share the name with trusted colleagues and ask them if they understand what the name is describing. If they don’t understand it, you need to go back to the drawing board!

3) Inferior typography. Okay, I admit it, I am a typography snob. I just can’t help it. In the beginning of my career, I learned what set apart a professional from an amateur design. And it is all about typography.

What is that? It is the art of using fonts to create a picture. But not only that, typography encompasses symbol design such as quote marks. When I see a design that has an inch mark or foot mark rather than a quote mark or bona fide apostrophe (called Smart Quotes in most software programs), I instantly know that the design is amateurish.

This makes your brand look amateur! People today are used to sophisticated brands. If your brand looks less than professional, than the perception will be that YOU are less than professional. If you don’t take your business seriously, no one will take you seriously. The opposite is true, too: If you take your business seriously, you will be taken seriously!

And this will ultimately lead to increased revenues! That’s why having a high quality business logos design is so important.

Want to learn more about how to create a well-constructed business logo design? Take my FREE mini video course today and get your FREE report on how to make your brand sizzle!

DANGER, KEEP OUT! © Photographer: Brett Rabideau | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Truett Cathy and Chick-Fil-A–A Branding Success Story!

August 3, 2012 DanaLeave a comment

Funny how life works! I had it in mind to write stories about founders of famous companies, and then the broo ha ha erupted about Chick-Fil-A!

And as an aside, yes, I support Truett Cathy, Dan Cathy, and Chick-Fil-A. They believe in traditional marriage as do I. In fact, that is all that Dan Cathy, the current CEO, apparently said for a Baptist publication interview which created this firestorm. He did not say he condemned gay marriage, he only said he upheld traditional marriage!

I stood for this company because the attempted censorship and discrimination by city leaders (that’s what started the whole thing, Mayor Rahm Emmanuel saying they weren’t welcome in Chicago, as well as the mayor of Boston), could happen to me, though of course I am a much smaller concern! Shut down because my beliefs are different than some other folks. My company is founded on biblical principles and Jesus is my CEO! Not everyone will like that, but that’s just part and parcel of who I am!

However, just because I disagree with another person’s viewpoint does not mean I hate anyone. It means I have a deeply held religious conviction that no one can take away from me! This issue is all about free speech whatever your beliefs are!

I am not the judge, Jesus is. I have to concentrate on overcoming my own struggles. As He said long ago, don’t try to take out the speck in someone’s eye when you have a log in your own! And I’m convinced if Jesus were here today, he’d be seeking out the hurting, the wounded, the unacceptable to society and loving on them. He would not condemn the heart who truly wants to know Him, but say, “Go and sin no more,” just as He said to the adulterer caught in the act. If you look at 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 there is a whole laundry list of behavior that can get us in trouble. I believe we better concentrate on our own struggles. In Jesus, we all can have a fresh start: “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV)

So all that to say, on Wednesday, August 1, I attended Chick-Fil-A appreciation day with my family!

As I stood in line, I was reading about the history of Chick-Fil-A and that reminded me about this blog topic! What a way to start!

Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant in 1946. It was called the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia. He is credited with creating the first chicken sandwich and started Chick-Fil-A in the 1960s.

The first stores were in malls. In fact, Truett Cathy pioneered the movement to create quick serve restaurants in malls. The business steadily grew and in 1986 after popular demand, the company opened their first stand-alone restaurant.

Today, there are over 1,615 Chick-Fil-A locations and their annual sales in 2011 were over $4.1 billion.

The mission of Chick-Fil-A is to “Be America’s Best Quick-Service Restaurant.”

After my experience on Wednesday, I can wholeheartedly say that’s true, even when they are completely overwhelmed by customers!

Chick-Fil-A is a model of superb branding. From its logo image of the chicken in the “Chick” part of the identity all the way to how employees serve customers, it is congruent.

Even with the deluge of customers, employees were cheerful and welcoming. The restaurant is a warm place to be and their food holds up to their promises.

And this friendliness of employees even held up under extreme pressure. I heard of a case where a customer purposefully harassed an employee because he was angry with Dan Cathy’s statement on marriage. She kept her cool and proved even in that circumstance how superior the Chick-Fil-A brand really is!

What I also love about this company is that it is family owned! To me, the Chick-Fil-A brand is a picture of the possibilities of creating a family economy. I looked at the board of the corporation and it is all family members! In fact, I noticed how involved the family was in the particular franchise we visited. A woman dressed in plain clothes was cleaning tables and helping in various ways, acting like a true hostess. I assume she was the owner’s wife.

No matter what you feel about Chick-Fil-A and Dan Cathy’s statement on marriage, the experience I had is an example of this: If you create a superior brand you will have a dazzling future!

How can you start on your dazzling future? Learn more today by taking my free course on how to create sizzling brands!

Source: http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Company/Highlights-Fact-Sheets

Brand Logo–A Show and Tell of My Logo Portfolio!

July 31, 2012 Dana4 comments

Brand logos and logo design seem to be a dime a dozen these days. But my passion is excellent graphic arts. I am passionate about helping people create effective brand images that get noticed.

But some of you may be asking, who is this gal anyway and what has she done?

Because just because one says she is an expert doesn’t make her one!

So since the proof is in the pudding, every week on my blog I am going to highlight some of the work I have done in graphic design.

This week I am going to emphasize logos.

What makes my logo design unique?

I approach the design with creativity
I always keep marketing objectives in mind
I thoroughly analyze branding issues
I always communicate a message through my logos that support the brand that is behind the logo
I use graphic design standards
I make sure the logos are workable across many mediums
I make words into images using typography

Now what I’m going to show you today is only a small representation of my work. My file drawers are full of items that I need to scan! Follow my blog and you will see a lot more!

So here are a few examples:

I designed this logo for a building designer:

I designed this for a contest in 2007 and I won!

I designed this for a greeting card and novelty art line:

I designed this for a greeting card line. I made the mountain image through a special process that I invented: shaping torn construction paper into a picture and scanning it. This is an example of my creative ability.

The logo “CloserWalk” was a rebranding project. It was the masthead for the Walk Thru the Bible magazine. I gave these magazines a fresh, updated look. The printer was very impressed when they saw the makeover I had achieved!

I did this logo for a school arts extravaganza event. The logo was used in programs, invitations, t-shirts, and more.

I created this logo for a Christmas craft show.

I designed this logo for an optical sciences company:

I designed this for a book series that is available in ebook format as well as on Amazon.

*All logos belong to their respective owners.

Not only am I logo designer, I also am experienced in teaching people how to design their own! Click here now to take my FREE mini course and download my FREE report that will teach you how to create a sizzling logo!

Invest Yourself–Why Investing in Yourself is the Wisest Investment You Can Make!

July 27, 2012 DanaLeave a comment

Invest yourself. This is the wisest investment you can make, better than the stock market, even wiser than real estate. When you invest your particular passion and channel it into a small business or career, you are safeguarding yourself in any economy. You will be thriving, not just surviving!

Watch the video to learn more about why investing in yourself is the wisest investment you can make!

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Want to know more about how you can invest in yourself by creating a sizzling brand? Click here now to take my FREE mini-video course!

Want a sparkling future? Join me in a FREE webinar tonight!

September 12, 2011 DanaLeave a comment

Do You Want a Dazzling Future?

I am holding two events that will make your future so bright you will have to wear shades! One is free and one has a limited offer that will knock your socks off! Keep reading for more info!

FREE Webinar: 3 Ways to Make Your Future Sizzle!
In these uncertain times, is a dazzling future possible? Absolutely!

Come to my FREE webinar tonight at 7 pm EST and be inspired to live an abundant life of joy and peace! This will give you hope and encouragement for your future as well as the future for your children.

Special Time-Limited Offer: Discount on My Brand Identity Webinar Workshop Programs!
One way to have a dazzling future is to create multiple streams of income. In my webinar training course starting on Wednesday, I will be sharing with you step by step guidance on how to start a business, build a brand, and design your own strategic marketing plan.

Whether you are interested for yourself or would like your high school student or college student to participate, this course will help you discover your unique God-given passions and build them into an authentic brand/logo image identity that will help your future to truly sparkle. Even if business isn’t your forte, this course will help job seekers, ministry leaders, musicians, artists, writers, and authors! At the end of the program, you will learn the graphic design skills necessary to create a one-of-a-kind logo!

My webinar training program starts Wednesday, September 14 at 2 pm EST. If you can’t make all the sessions, don’t worry; you will have access to the recordings.

And for a limited time, you can receive a 50% discount on your first month’s tuition fee! There are programs to fit all budgets, so reserve your seat today! Just enter coupon code SIZZLENOW upon checkout.

Your satisfaction is of utmost importance to me and it is a 100% guaranteed program. What do you have to lose? Get started right away! Your dazzling future awaits you!

Thank you so much for being a valued fan of Brand Identity Mentor! I look forward to seeing you on the webinar tonight!

Blessings,

Dana Susan Beasley
Publisher, AngelArts

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Tag: brand image