Archive for the ‘Branding’ Category

Are you already an expert?

nerd-expertIf you’re like most people, you’ve probably put off creating your own informational products to sell because you don’t think you qualify as an “expert.” You might have your doubts about whether anyone would be willing to part with their hard-earned money in exchange for your knowledge. Or maybe you just think there are already enough “experts” in your industry and you won’t be able to differentiate yourself. It’s time to put your doubts and fears behind you because I’m going to let you in on a little secret – you don’t need to be the top authority on a subject. You just need to know more than the other people who want to learn about it. The problem is that you underestimate what you know because you already know it. What may seem basic...

Stock logos: Be unique, just like everyone else

stock-logosGone are the days when a career in graphic design meant years of formal education, followed by what seemed like an eternity of grunt work using techniques that most “designers” today have never even heard of, much less, used. Today, anyone with a copy of Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator can claim to be a designer. If you are a designer, when a client comes to you for a logo, are you the type who’s first reaction is to fire up Illustrator and start churning out logo concepts? Or are you the type who takes the time to learn about your client’s company, mission, goals, USP and a litany of other information that’s critical to design an effective logo that will not only accurately convey the image they need, but also stand the test of time? Sadly,...

10 simple, yet effective logos

target_logoThese days, it seems like everyone with a computer and a pirated copy of Adobe Photoshop claims to be a logo designer. The sad truth is that software, no matter how powerful it may be, doesn’t make someone a logo designer any more than a copy of TurboTax makes someone an accountant. Just ask Timothy Geithner. As more of these self-proclaimed logo designers have flooded the market over the last few years, more people have become confused about what they are paying for when they hire a logo designer. People see intricate 3D logos full of flourish and flair and think that’s what they need. They don’t realize that a busy, complex logo is less effective than a simple one. Many business owners, considering the design of their business identity, forget that they need to put...

BING – A lesson in weak branding

bing-vs-googleMicrosoft has recently launched BING, replacing Live Search, in their latest attempt to win back some of the market share they’ve lost to Google. Microsoft is more than willing to invest the money needed for a successful product launch, with an estimated 80-100 million dollar budget planned. But will it be enough? Probably not, because BING has been launched on a shaky foundation. Something that few people outside the search engine industry know is that BING is actually an acronym for But It’s Not Google. It’s pretty weak from a branding perspective to tell people what you aren’t instead of telling them what you are. The bigger flaw, however, is that the brand comes off whiny like a kid who feels their sibling gets more attention than they do. A powerful brand tells people what a company is all about deep...

Why is branding so important? (hint – it’s about life and death)

brandingThese days everyone is preaching about branding, and rightfully so. From advertising gurus touting the importance of establishing a powerful and consistent brand image, to the SEO gods educating the masses about how branding can affect their search engine optimization campaign, it’s clear that branding carries more weight than ever before. But where did branding come from and why is it so important? The truth is that it’s been around a lot longer than advertising because in a way, it has been critical to the survival of mankind. Our earliest ancestors didn’t have the plush lives that we enjoy today. They had to know what plants were safe to eat and what animals were dangerous or they would live a very short life. They didn’t have time to wait and see if that furry brown creature running...