Blog Feed: BrandStyle Design: Learn How To Create A Small Business Brand With Style and Strategy

Are your pages Pinnable? I just tried to share a colleague’s free call via Pinterest… and when I clicked the “Pin It” button, it came back with no Pinnable content. Pinterest is one of the fastest-growing social networking sites out there. And if you include a banner, badge or info-graphic on your page that looks beautiful and has a bit of info about your program, it will make your info easy to pin. How to do it: 1. Create a swanky graphic. Make it cool-looking and hooky [..] > read more

How Many Clicks?

Published on 2012-05-25 13:21:38

How many clicks do you ask your website visitor to click before they get to whatever it is that you want them to do on your site? With every button and every tab that you offer them, there’s always a distinct chance that they’ll choose not to click. Perhaps your copy won’t inspire them enough. Or they could be feeling lazy that day. They could even get distracted by a phone call or one of those shiny things that’s so good at stealing our attention away. Which means that t [..] > read more

Affili-ick?

Published on 2012-05-23 19:56:06

Brainstorming ways to take the ICK out of my next affiliate campaign… for the summit. The challenge: How to give my champions enough info so they can spread the word easily – but not write one of those canned, droning, blah messages that you see so often. What have you seen that works, that adds personality and individuality? The lay of the land: I’ve got both speaker-affiliates and my regular champions to be thinking about. Summit’s sneaking up soon-ish so the easier, [..] > read more

On Failing

Published on 2012-05-23 15:02:39

I’m launching my very first summit and my brain’s yammering at me with thoughts about failure (of course). Do you ever get that? What if it fails? What if it flops? What if no one comes? What if no one likes it? What if I mess it up? And, of course, in times like these, the answers always start sneaking in. Here’s the advice that I’ve found about failing just today, and I hope that if you’re anxious or worried about your next big leap fizzling out: > read more

Blast from the Past: The Four Red Light Factors For Your Business Brand

Published on 2012-05-18 12:07:30

Where I live, there are 4 traffic lights between my house and the main road. So, before I can really get on my way in any journey, I usually have to stop, no matter where I’m going. Some days, I even have to stop and wait at all 4 lights. All this stopping and waiting [...] > read more

The Unbelieveable Promise

Published on 2012-05-15 18:01:19

Every brand starts with a promise. What you’ll do. What they’ll get. How you’ll help them. What they’ll feel like. And, as we’ve all learned from campaigning politicians, it’s easy to make a promise. Harder to get people to believe your promise. Here are a few ways to make better promises in your brand: 1. [...] > read more

Business Card Giveaway – Win Free Card Printing!

Published on 2012-05-14 20:18:39

You know how very much I dig giving away presents… and today’s a happy day on that front. The very nice people at PrintRunner have offered to give away a set of brand-spanking-new business cards to one of my readers! All you’ve got to do is to post a comment below and tell me… whether or not you’d put your free gift on the back of your business card and why. Check out this post about putting your gift on the back. The big winner will be announced on May 29, 2012. > read more

Do You Give It Away On Your Business Card?

Published on 2012-05-13 18:14:25

If you don’t, then why not? The back side of your card is the perfect place to offer a free gift. Offering a free gift on your card lets you: Start your new relationship with generosity Give your new contact an easy way to experience your business Give your new client a better understanding of what you do Grow your list (if you want to… otherwise, you can give it away without asking for people to opt-in) How to do it elegantly: Create a gift that is truly a gift (not just a thinly-ve [..] > read more

Your “Brand” Isn’t What You Think It Is…

Published on 2012-05-07 16:40:08

I’d love to set the record straight, once and for all. Your brand is not: Your logo Your website That fancy thing you say when people ask “what do you do”? Your company name Your color palette Your social media profiles Your tagline Your domain name Your headshot The way you dress + present yourself [...] > read more

Blast from the Past: Why Entrepreneurs Divorce Their Logos (And Why It’s a Bad Idea)

Published on 2012-05-04 12:43:32

Remember how excited you were when you first designed your logo? How beautiful you thought it was, and how you couldn’t wait to get your first batch of business cards printed so you could show it off? How you excitedly described its meaning and subtleties to your mom (and your clients?) And the rush to [...] > read more

The Early Adoption Curve

Published on 2012-05-03 18:16:10

Are your ideal clients early adopters, or are they slower to jump on new things? As shown by this graphic, early adopters tend to be more enthusiastic, and motivated by technology, features and design. How can you encourage your clients to move towards the enthusiastic end of the scale – either through making it safe to [...] > read more

Blast from the Past: Versions of your Logo Files You Should Own

Published on 2012-04-20 12:40:25

Your logo is the most important graphic element in which you will invest for your business. You should own the logo in many file formats. Having a library of logo files will enable you to send vendors the types of files they need (for example, other designers, printers, or other service providers). There are two [...] > read more

On Beauty…

Published on 2012-04-12 15:16:44

What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful picture courtesy of peaceloveandhippos36 > read more

Blast from the Past: Your Logo Isn’t a Tatoo!

Published on 2012-04-06 12:36:39

Why Your Personal Tastes Have Nothing To Do With Your Logo As a business owner, one of the most important business decisions you’ll make is choosing the design of your logo. Whether you design the logo yourself or hire a designer, you’ll have to make some decisions during the design process. But you want to [...] > read more

Blast From the Past: Is Your Business Ready For A Logo?

Published on 2012-03-23 12:31:03

You’re just starting your business. Opening a bank account, getting a business license, and setting up your office are top priorities. And, of course, the question of stationery and marketing comes up. If you’re starting a business, you need business cards. And probably stationery. And a website. All this means you need to design a [...] > read more

7 Proven Strategies For Going Viral

Published on 2012-03-21 10:43:38

Do you want your message to spread far and wide – without a whole lot of marketing effort on your part? It sounds like a dream come true – the dream of going viral. Getting hundreds and thousands of clicks and opt-ins for your “thing” and having other people pass it along for you! When [...] > read more

3 Secret Strategies for Designing a Profitable Event Brand

Published on 2012-03-15 11:37:43

You’re throwing your event to do all sorts of very exciting things for your business, right? You want to increase your credibility, raise your visibility, get some industry attention, grow your list, position yourself as an expert, create a memorable and fabulous experience for your clients, attract new clients, build buzz, and oh-so-very-much more. Oh, [...] > read more

How to Monetize Your Creativity: 4 Tips for Entrepreneurs

Published on 2012-03-13 12:00:11

By Nancy Marmolejo, Guest Blogger By nature, entrepreneurs are highly creative thinkers. Every aspect of a business from filling a need, to solving a problem, to marketing, to selling, to serving customers – is an expression of creativity. But for every great idea that gets launched, millions more go the wayside because entrepreneurs simply don’t [...] > read more

Are you ready for your new Facebook Business Page layout?

Published on 2012-03-09 17:18:11

I’ve been designing lots and lots of new Facebook banners for the changeover that’s happening on March 30th – is your fan page ready? If you’re not ready, then here’s your chance to get ready: I’m offering brand-new, Facebook Fan Page designs for the timeline format for $150. These will be custom-designed with your (existing) [...] > read more

Blast from the Past: The Balancing Act of Making Everyone Happy with your Website

Published on 2012-03-09 12:26:53

When you create a website, you’re trying to make several different audiences happy. You’ve got searchers coming in from the search engines, you want those search engines to rank you well, and you’ve got past and prospective clients. Referral partners are also out there looking at your site and sending business your way. Each different [...] > read more

Do you want to know my Little Known Secrets For Building Your Big List?

Published on 2012-03-08 17:51:10

The recording’s all ready for you to download and listen to right away. No waiting! http://www.brandstyledesign.com/biglist The name of the course I’m offering that you’ll hear at the end of the call has changed, but the information in this class is still quite relevant… this is the process and technology I used to take my [...] > read more

Going viral: 4 quick tips!

Published on 2012-03-08 16:24:45

Last month, I accidentally went viral with my new free gift! Woohoo! I know a lot of people say that if you’re going to go viral, it’s most likely going to be by accident… but there are a couple of ingredients that make it more likely that people will pass it on: Generosity: You want [...] > read more

thumbs-down on boring ebooks and blah-blah gifts

Published on 2012-03-08 16:21:02

I’m taking a stand. With a big, bold thumbs-down on boring ebooks and blah-blah gifts. You know the ones I’m talking about… The ebook that you open, take one look at and sigh. You were so excited to download this free “amazing” thing and then when you got it, you felt let-down. Deflated! Because this [...] > read more

Guest Post: Beauty vs the Beast — who wins? by Michele PW

Published on 2012-03-08 14:35:24

A Note From Erin: I’ve been saying that beautiful sales pages are the way to go for some time… and Michele PW, sales converting copywriter extraordinaire – is saying the same thing! I think people are getting spoiled by gorgeousness online and expectations have been raised! Get pretty! The same goes for your free gift opt-in [...] > read more

why on earth would you want to offer a free eBook?

Published on 2012-03-02 13:20:48

Inquiring minds want to know: why would you want to create a free eBook as a gift now? After all, there are so many hot, new formats… like video. Why not just make some videos and ride that wave? Because videos alone aren’t enough. The short of it is that there are a lot of [...] > read more

Q&A: what if your competition is giving expensive gifts?

Published on 2012-03-02 12:36:24

I had a question from a client who has big competitors who are giving flashy, expensive gifts (gift cards, trips to Disneyland, etc.) She’s a small business who can’t give big gifts without raising her prices. Small businesses can have trouble competing with big-company gifts, especially when those big companies come with big budgets. But [...] > read more

where two roads converge…

Published on 2012-03-01 13:11:32

A few days ago, I wrote about being a gemini and how that twin-fluence has me moving in two directions at once… talking about inviting (not icky) branding and ways to build your big list with interactive eBooks. Like a big fork in the road. (don’t you LOVE that photo?) At least, that’s how looked at [...] > read more

why on earth would you want to offer a free eBook?

Published on 2012-02-29 20:20:44

Inquiring minds want to know: why would you want to create a free eBook as a gift now? After all, there are so many hot, new formats… like video. Why not just make some videos and ride that wave? we’re entering the eBook renaissance… The stars are aligning for ebooks in several lovely and practical [...] > read more

revolutionary, moi?

Published on 2012-02-28 02:10:12

Danielle LaPorte asks – what do you want to revolutionize? Specificially, quoting: And than this occurs to me: I want to LIVE a revolutionary life. I want the speck my planetary me-ness to be fully charged. Me, leading…me. That’s the only dominion I truly have. And it’s enormous. How you live is how you lead. Bleed. [...] > read more

revolutionary, moi?

Published on 2012-02-28 02:10:12

the cutting-edge ‘moment’ + bunnies

Published on 2012-02-27 04:38:03

“I’ll do that soon.” “Later, when I have time.” “I’ll put that on the to-do list.” These are all the kiss of death for leaping on a cutting-edge brand-new trend. Because, the instant a new idea is born, it starts getting older. There’s a magic-full moment when a trend or technology is first discovered. When it’s [...] > read more

the cutting-edge ‘moment’ + bunnies

Published on 2012-02-27 04:38:03

surprise-inspection on your free report!

Published on 2012-02-25 15:23:34

Spot-check: on your ebook! Your gift is often one of the first interactions a client will have with you – you want to make sure that it’s good! How old is your free report? When was the last time you opened and read it? Has it been a little while? Is it “dusty”? I know [...] > read more

surprise-inspection on your free report!

Published on 2012-02-25 15:23:34

Quote of the day

Published on 2012-02-24 18:53:28

Sometimes I see a quote so gorgeous that I have to create a design around it. Here’s today’s. > read more

Quote of the day

Published on 2012-02-24 18:53:28

Sometimes I see a quote so gorgeous that I have to create a design around it. Here’s today’s. > read more

why I can’t stand “mistakes” marketing

Published on 2012-02-24 03:03:44

I spent a big honking chunklet of time the other lovely day trying to write an article for my newsletter. Trying, trying, trying. And flailing! (I’ve decided that flailing is the new word for failing… More on that later, in another post) I was going to write a “3 Mistakes You’re Making With Your Free [...] > read more

why I can’t stand “mistakes” marketing

Published on 2012-02-24 03:03:44

I spent a big honking chunklet of time the other lovely day trying to write an article for my newsletter. Trying, trying, trying. And flailing! (I’ve decided that flailing is the new word for failing… More on that here) I was going to write a “3 Mistakes You’re Making With Your Free Gift” article. An [...] > read more

what big lists + bright blue hair have in common

Published on 2012-02-22 20:15:23

Did you know I used to have blue hair? Back in college, I dyed my hair all sorts of bright colors – fire engine red, bright blue, hot pink. And this was way before dying your hair was really socially acceptable. What happened to that cutting-edge streak (and that hair streak)? Well, when I started [...] > read more

what big lists + bright blue hair have in common

Published on 2012-02-22 20:15:23

FLAILING is the new failing

Published on 2012-02-22 16:54:58

I’ve decided. FLAILING is my new word for failing. And here’s why. I used to run about, saying I failed at this, failed at that. Until I realized how discouraging that was – chalking up all these failures all the time. That’s no fun. I’m starting up a “be-my-own-cheerleader” initiative. Where I’m letting the rah-rah [...] > read more

FLAILING is the new failing

Published on 2012-02-22 16:54:58

Gemini moves in two directions at once: film at 11!

Published on 2012-02-21 22:05:19

I’m a gemini. (June 11, in case you’re curious.) And I don’t fully understand into the whole astrology shebang. Right now, though, I can really feel the twin-fluence + twin-spiration in my day-to-day life. I bring this up here and now because, as you’ll see, I’m moving in two directions at once again. And I [...] > read more

Gemini moves in two directions at once: film at 11!

Published on 2012-02-21 22:05:19

I’m a gemini. (June 11, in case you’re curious.) And I don’t fully understand the whole astrology shebang. Right now, though, I can really feel the twin-fluence + twin-spiration in my day-to-day life. I bring this up here and now because, as you’ll see, I’m moving in two directions at once again. And I thought [...] > read more

What does your “already subscribed” page look like for your newsletter?

Published on 2012-02-20 19:26:09

Does it just say, “whoops, you’re already subscribed” and leave it at that? Think about it… your loyal subscriber who’s already subscribed is signing up again because they want something. Then, they get that message and it’s like they’re having the door slammed in their face. Probably another copy of your awesome free gift, right? [...] > read more

Designing Your Very First Brand

Published on 2012-02-16 20:41:16

We had a great conversation and some interesting questions on the streaming ezine yesterday… We had some spectacularly fabulous questions this time around: Barb Cotta asks, “How do I get started? I know I need a brand but I’m not sure what I need to do when? how?” Karen L Keeney wants to know: “What’s [...] > read more

Blast from the Past: 15 Reasons Small Businesses Need a Brand Identity System

Published on 2012-02-10 14:07:34

Business and marketing experts urge small business owners to “brand” their businesses with a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials — a brand identity system. But they rarely explain the reasons behind this advice. A logo and consistent marketing materials can increase your sales and revenue, because they convey the following impressions: To [...] > read more

Let’s Talk About Designing Your Very First Inviting Brand

Published on 2012-02-09 15:00:52

After all, this is where all my experience comes from… I started out as a graphic designer, helping very-first-timers design their first business brands. Along the way, I learned many, many valuable lessons about designing your first brand… so I thought I should share. Many first-time entrepreneurs consider designing their brand a “first order of [...] > read more

going deeper than “what you do”

Published on 2012-02-08 13:42:20

So many small business owners want to talk about what they do. That’s “the facts” behind your business. Facts are good – they answer all sorts of basic questions. And, when you want to take things deeper and increase engagement and connection in your brand… Look beyond facts to feelings. Feelings create richer, more meaningful [...] > read more

Blast from the Past: Logo Types ~ Text, Symbol & Combo

Published on 2012-01-27 14:02:04

There are three basic types of logos: text, symbol, and combination logos. The type of logo that will work best for your company depends on a number of considerations, such as the size of your company, the uniqueness of your name, and a variety of other factors. Text logo A text logo (also sometimes called [...] > read more

flop less with rapid prototyping

Published on 2012-01-20 13:10:10

Playing lately with the idea of “rapid prototyping” in my brand… getting things put together quickly and loosely and then out into the world. Seeing what sticks and what doesn’t before going deep into the development trenches. Where could you use this approach in your brand? Here’s some food for thought (follow the link if [...] > read more

lessons from a flopped launch

Published on 2012-01-18 14:49:21

I flopped a program launch last year. There, I said it. I did the whole launch sequence and had absolutely no one sign up for the class. No one. It was a big, sloppy, belly-flop… and it stung! And, recently, a colleague who shall remain nameless had the same experience… so I know I’m not [...] > read more

Fresh Ideas For Your Brand (That Won’t Freak Your Clients Out)

Published on 2012-01-12 15:32:15

Now, that sounds just like exactly what you need to get your business fired up and moving along! But then reality creeps in… There’s the pressure of creating a fresh, interesting and new idea. You can’t just reach into a magic hat and pull that perfect idea out. Sitting and waiting around for that genius [...] > read more

I should know better….

Published on 2012-01-11 19:55:42

I just crafted a long, gorgeous post for you. Delicious concepts, thoughtful phrasing. And then my internet connection hiccupped on me. Inspired post… gone forever. I’d try to reconstruct it, put it back together from scraps of memory. But I know that the second take would pale in comparison to the masterpiece I was just [...] > read more

ease… the five freedoms

Published on 2012-01-04 01:29:40

I’m working on my theme for 2012. As inspired by Michael Bungay-Stanier’s mention of Chris Brogan: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/my-3-words-for-2011/ So far, only one word keeps coming to me consistently: ease. Curious, I looked it up in the handy-dandy online dictionary and this is what I found: 1. freedom from labor, pain, or physical annoyance; tranquil rest; comfort: to [...] > read more

A Basic Brand Plan: Making Your Website Sell For You

Published on 2011-06-29 05:20:20

First, determine the “path to working with you” that you want your visitor to experience. For example: 1. Sign up for my newsletter. 2. Get started w/ my intro product. 3. Learn more in a strategy session. 4. Then tell them to hire you fo > read more

Repetition Lets Your Clients Learn

Published on 2011-06-27 15:54:28

Your brand challenge for the week: repetition. It’s critical to repeat your message and your visuals so your ideal client sees them over and over again. This lets your ideal client learn about you. If you only say or show something once in your > read more

Please, Don’t Test Your Own Stuff.

Published on 2011-06-27 02:31:03

Seriously. Just don’t do it. I just spent 9 months wondering why no one ever commented on my blog. And today I realized that I hadn’t actually turned on the ability to comment in my blog template. I’d been looking at my own designs > read more

“Is My Logo Good?”

Published on 2011-06-14 19:12:13

“Is My Logo Good?” This is the most common question I get at networking events. And, I always try to play nice, and find something positive to say about it – I’m a generally nice person, and don’t want to be mean to peop > read more

What I Did Last Week At Speak To Sell

Published on 2011-06-13 15:21:06

I got an opportunity to speak from the stage and tell a bit of my story. I launched the “Discover Your Brand Plan” series by sponsoring the event. You can find out more about it by signing up for a free call at: http://www.discoveryourbra > read more

Cracking The Midlife Code Telesummit Page

Published on 2011-06-04 06:13:35

This week I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the “Cracking The Midlife Code” Telesummit website. This exciting new telesummit from Nina Price of Midlife Without Crisis will reveal the secrets to having a hot, healthy, energetic > read more

Brand Planning Makes Your Marketing Easy

Published on 2011-06-03 08:04:55

A brand plan makes developing your brand easy. You know exactly what your brand is all about, so you can talk and write about it with ease. Imagine – no more grueling copywriting sessions, because the words just flow from your brand plan. Your desi > read more

Brand Planning For Consistency

Published on 2011-06-02 07:03:26

Without a cohesive look and feel, and a consistent message, you don’t really have a brand – you have a bunch of stuff that you’ve wasted time and money designing, writing and putting together. Consistency means that all of your materials look a > read more

How Creating A Brand Plan Will Make You Proud

Published on 2011-05-31 13:59:12

Does your brand ever feel like your stuff’s all over the place? Do you have design shame, because you know your brand doesn’t look good or make sense to the people reading it? Do you apologize for your business card as you hand it out? Are you ho > read more

My Story, part 1

Published on 2011-05-27 13:41:10

The birth of my great work took a really long time, and involved a lot of painful work. No epidural in the world could have done the job. And here’s how it all happened. Years ago, on a college campus not so far from where I live now, I was a graph > read more

A Contest! WIN a ticket to Speak to Sell and my new Profitable Brand Strategy Homestudy Course!

Published on 2011-05-16 12:30:12

Do you want to be seen and get huge visibilty? Do you want to make a fabulous first impression? Are You Ready To “Step Into The Spotlight”? If you’re ready to stop struggling and hiding, and to step out and rock it… then check > read more

Are You Hiding or Holding Back?

Published on 2011-05-09 12:39:47

Are you hesitating in your brand? Are you playing it safe or being polite? Hiding behind “professionalism”? � Your brand is the place to stand tall and declare what your business is all about. To own your space and your difference > read more

She grasps the essence of your business and tells you more than you knew about it within 10 minutes

Published on 2011-04-25 10:46:14

“I want to tell you that this woman is a genius! Not only does she have design skills, but she writes copy and she grasps the essence of your business and tells you more than you knew about it within 10 minutes. Not only did my investment in he > read more

How Your BrandStyle Takes Your Clients Down The Rabbit Hole With You

Published on 2011-04-24 18:03:10

Happy Bunny Day! > read more

Harness the Depth of Power In Your Brand

Published on 2011-04-22 09:28:38

There’s a common misconception in the small business world that looks like this: Brand = Logo That’s simply not the case–a brand is so much more! If you think your brand is the same thing as your logo, then you’re missing out > read more

Naming Your Newsletter

Published on 2011-04-19 12:37:50

Question: “I’ve always called my newsletter by my business name. Should it have a name of its’ own? Answer: “Naming your ezine something different gives you a chance to expand your brand family – to add another individualize > read more

Video Training: Connecting With Your Ideal Clients Through Your Brand

Published on 2011-04-18 18:23:30

Your brand is made up of meaning and emotion, wrapped in the experience of doing business with you. This video explains how to create a connection with your ideal clients by presenting your brand’s meaning, emotion and experience to them in an > read more

How To Name Your Business, Website and/or Brand

Published on 2011-04-12 06:50:48

Decide what you want your brand’s message to be – and then fit the words to that. You’d have to think about: The message of what your brand’s all about The emotion you want your brand to convey Who your ideal clients are and what > read more

Renaming Your Brand

Published on 2011-04-10 06:34:47

Renaming is a big decision for your brand, and not one to be made lightly. How do you know if you should rename your company, your brand or your website? You should really do an in-depth assessment and analysis of your brand’s traction and equi > read more

Symbolism: From what you say to what clients see

Published on 2011-04-02 04:35:33

Symbols are incredibly powerful and can instantly convey your message – at a glance. I’ve been working with highly symbolic graphic design for the last 10 years. And, I’ve designed over 450 symbolic brands that visually translate my > read more

Today, just a simple statement for you…

Published on 2011-04-01 20:35:19

A brand strategy is made up of the why, what and how behind your brand – why you do it, what you’re doing and how you show people that, tell people that and get the word out. > read more

Why Did I Start My Design Business?

Published on 2011-03-29 18:45:54

I used to work in a design agency (fresh out of college). In the design agency world, they play an extremely irritating game that I refer to as “The Terrible Telephone”. Here’s what I mean: The client talks to the account manager, > read more

Types of Brands For Service Businesses: Teaching Video

Published on 2011-03-26 15:54:23

Do you wonder whether your business’s name should be your name or a company name? Learn about the two major types of brands for service businesses. > read more

5 Steps to Designing a Strategic Brand

Published on 2011-03-25 00:34:11

When you think about designing – or redesigning – your business’s identity, you think about finding a designer and hiring them to design a logo, right? That’s where many small businesses go wrong. There’s a 5-step proces > read more

Win A Spot In The Profitable Brand Strategy Virtual Intensive

Published on 2011-03-24 18:46:29

Do you have a brand that’s not working? Are you tired of spending money on your brand instead of making money? Have you been afraid to design your first brand because you don’t want to do it wrong? Here’s Your Chance To Take Charge > read more

Building Your Email Subscriber List

Published on 2011-03-24 14:03:31

I’ve been attending the List Building Telesummit that Vrinda Normand is hosting and wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned from the experts: “List building & building a fan base makes you a hero. Are you ready to be a > read more

Does Brand Strategy Take The Freedom Out Of Running Your Business?

Published on 2011-03-23 14:32:02

This is a question I’ve been getting a lot lately. Entrepreneurs are really concerned whether this whole “brand strategy” thing will take away their freedom to run their business the way they want to, to have the life they want to h > read more

Is Your Brand IN or OUT? Find out now!

Published on 2011-03-23 14:10:24

I admit it, I’m a huge Project Runway fan. I love it when Heidi Klum, the host of the show, says, “In fashion, one day you’re in, and the next you’re out.” Because that’s true for branding! Your brand is like fashi > read more

The Brand Profitability Cycle: Part 3

Published on 2011-03-18 05:51:43

Your schedule profits because you gain more time. Focusing, clarifying and strategically planning your brand simply makes your marketing easier. Imagine… always knowing your next step. No more wasting time, searching for what to say or do for your > read more

The Brand Profitability Cycle: Part 2

Published on 2011-03-17 05:47:07

Does your brand contribute to your reputation’s bottom line? Is your brand and image making you look good? Are your materials engaging and impeccable? Are you developing a good reputation by being real and authentic in your brand? Does your brand c > read more

The Brand Profitability Cycle: How Your Brand Can Help You Make More Money and So Much More!

Published on 2011-03-16 13:47:01

When I say “profit”, do you think about money? Most people do! Entrepreneurs are no different, and one of the most common ways to measure business success is by financial profitability… how much did you make last year versus how much you spent. > read more

What Do I Know About Having An OUT Brand?

Published on 2011-03-01 20:23:56

Plenty, unfortunately. Here’s my story… and some details on my upcoming class, “Is Your Brand IN or OUT”. You can sign up for the class here! http://www.brandstyledesign.com/inorout/ > read more

The Personality In Pacing Your Brand

Published on 2011-02-28 04:40:42

The pacing of your brand can show different personality traits for your business as well. Here’s what I mean: You know how some people are speed-along, action-oriented, getting-it-done people? And others are more thoughtful, methodical, and tak > read more

The Pitfalls of Professionalism In Small Business Branding

Published on 2011-02-24 04:48:06

I always ask the entrepreneurs I’m working with to give me 5 adjectives that they would like their clients to use when describing their businesses. 90% of the time, one of the adjectives I get back is “Professional”. Wanting to be s > read more

3 Signs That Your Brand Is OUT: Special Report

Published on 2011-02-23 04:30:01

Do you ever wonder if your brand is out? Or why it’s just not working to bring in clients? Your business’s brand can really make or break your business’s image. It’s just like the actress who wears that out-of-date and unflatt > read more

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall… Will My Brand Help Me Rise Or Fall?

Published on 2011-02-22 00:44:25

Is your brand an accurate reflection of what it’s like to do business with you? Does it help your business rise to the top? Or, does it trip you up, miss the mark with your clients and make you fall flat? Your brand has to reflect you – i > read more

Don’t Act Suspicious With Your Brand

Published on 2011-02-17 02:07:15

Clients can tell the moment they start talking to you whether your brand is real or if it’s not. This feeling typically crops up in the form of suspicion – which you really don’t want to instill in your clients and prospects. You do > read more

Do You Ever Wonder If Your Brand Is IN or OUT?

Published on 2011-02-15 03:21:05

Are you embarrassed to hand out your business card? Afraid that someone might actually see your outdated website? Are you frustrated because your clients don’t “get” you? Does your brand feel disorganized and like it’s inconsistent and always > read more

An Example of A Brand Strategy – Part 3

Published on 2011-02-14 04:40:23

We’re talking about a real-world example of a brand strategy. A new coaching company, launching to entrepreneurial women with families who crave more work/ personal/ family balance in their lives. Here’s a link to Part 1: An Example of a > read more

An Example of A Brand Strategy – Part 2

Published on 2011-02-11 04:14:23

An Example of a Brand Strategy – Part 1

Published on 2011-02-10 04:52:34

Last time, we talked about how to make your brand effective instead of “just pretty”. Here’s the article for reference: Is Your Brand Effective, Or Just Pretty To Look At? I thought an example might be helpful. Here’s a sampl > read more

Is Your Brand Effective, Or Just Pretty To Look At?

Published on 2011-02-08 12:25:49

Do you want your brand to be a work of art? If so, stop right there. This is where small business owners get mixed up in the branding process. They mistake brand design for art. It’s an easy mistake – you’re paying someone to draw > read more

Brand Authenticity and Your Reputation

Published on 2011-01-28 14:34:15

It’s your responsibility as a business owner to make sure that your brand accurately, authentically shows what your business is all about. The last thing you want is to create a sensational brand, or one that gives your customers the wrong idea of > read more

Designing A Strong Strategic Brand

Published on 2011-01-27 11:41:56

If you want a brand that goes beyond being “just pretty” into having some real substance and strength so that it can be successful for your business, just follow these 7 rules: It's strategic. It's meaningful. It helps your business grow. It > read more

An Interview For You

Published on 2011-01-21 06:32:58

I was interviewed by Laura Cross of Expert Entrepreneur on her Rock Your Expertise telesummit. I thought you might want to listen in. During the interview I talk about the top 3 ways to create a perfect-fitting brand, and there’s a special offe > read more

Setting Your Brand Up To Show Up The Right Way

Published on 2011-01-12 21:04:56

Small business branding is all about creating materials that make sure that others see your business the way you want to show up. You need to set your clients up to see your business the way you want to be seen. But, how do you do that? What do you > read more

What Does Brand Clarity Feel Like?

Published on 2011-01-12 16:30:48

How do you know when you’ve FINALLY got brand clarity? After all, your business vision has always made total sense – in your head. And then you tell people about it… you’re very excited… but then the craziness starts. > read more

How You Can Have A Brand Even If You’ve Never Designed Anything

Published on 2011-01-07 21:02:06

Did you know that if you’re in business, you already have a brand – even if you haven’t designed a logo or any marketing materials. How can that be? You have a brand even if you haven’t designed anything at all because a brand isn’t just ab > read more

Happy 2011!

Published on 2011-01-01 13:46:57

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Assess Your Brand’s Performance in 2010

Published on 2010-12-28 19:19:24

Hi! Happy Midwinter Holiday Time! (How’s that for political correctness?) I’m just back from Bakersfield, where I celebrated the holiday with my little nephew. We “watched” him unwrap his presents (which was more like helping > read more

A Joyful Brand

Published on 2010-12-13 19:34:13

A perfect brand brings joy into your business. When you create a brand that shows who you really are, attracts your ideal clients and brings you perfect projects, and makes you unforgettable, it opens the path to joy. You can find joy in your busines > read more

A Very Special Message From Stanley

Published on 2010-11-24 05:51:49

Stanley is my dog, and he sits in my office all day, doing things like this: In case you’re wondering, the cardboard box is his, too – he dragged it in this morning. I think he’s trying to hint that I should finish setting up my new > read more

The 7 Secrets To Creating A Fashionable Brand!

Published on 2010-11-22 14:26:36

If you’ve ever been confused about branding your small business, here’s a simple way to think about it: Branding Is Your Business’s Fashion Statement. Here’s how branding is like fashion: When you’re picking out a fashio > read more

Want Brand Clarity? Discover Your BrandStyle.

Published on 2010-11-18 19:30:44

Are you a small business owner, struggling to find clarity for your brand message and design? Do you wonder how you can really communicate all of the fabulousness that is your business and your brand to your ideal clients? Do you just want some clari > read more

Why You Have To Know Your Ideal Client

Published on 2010-11-18 18:50:54

Your brand carries your message out into the world. But, in order for it to do that effectively, you need to know and really understand who it is in the world that your message is being carried to – your ideal clients. The reason for this is simple > read more

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