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Do you know your core values? They’re a big part of your brand.

.Situations where your core values most closely align with customers and their needs will always result in a higher level of success.  Small business owners and entrepreneurs often all into the trap of taking on any project or client that comes along.  Often this happens out of fear that something that is a better fit may not come their way.  So, they agree to do the project even if the new opportunity doesn't align with their core values.   What are core values? In a chaotic world where constant, rapid change is fast becoming the norm, it is important for companies, even solo-preneurs, to [...]

By |2016-12-29T01:36:58-05:00July 12th, 2011|Branding, Business Planning, Strategic Planning|
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Take on Challenges as Big as Mountains

Have you ever participated in leadership training?  I've attended several and been asked to identify the kind of car that best describes who I am.  "If you were a car, what brand would you be?"  Most pick some cool sports car because it defines them as being classy, sleek and fast moving. Or, maybe because it's well designed and draws a lot of attention.  Others related better to a Jeep or Hummer because they are solid, hardworking types who can battle through anything thrown in their path.  All I knew is that I liked to take on challenges, and that didn't relate to any [...]

By |2016-12-29T18:57:04-05:00May 15th, 2011|Branding|
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Branding: Protect Your Online Reputation

Our recent Designing Strategies newsletter issue covered guarding and protecting your company brand online. The need for protecting your online reputation assumes, of course, your company has a web site or other form of online presence.  In today's world, the Internet is where customers  look for you.  An active online presence is a major part of your branding efforts.  It may sound drastic, but you need to protect your online reputation at all costs. Far too many small businesses, especially those in the retail arena, still have not created a website.  Many don't have a blog to present their company either.  Their [...]

By |2016-12-29T19:23:40-05:00April 1st, 2011|Branding, Marketing|
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Protect Your Online Reputation and Company Brand

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter March - April 2011                      Volume 8 -- Issue 39  I know, I know, your mother told you that it's not nice to talk about people behind their backs. But, the truth is, people do it all the time. It would be nice if they only had nice, warm, glowing thoughts to convey about you, wouldn't it? Nice, of course, but there is no guarantee that will be the case. Too often, people are more anxious to share bad news than positive comments. It's up to you to [...]

By |2017-01-11T12:46:28-05:00March 18th, 2011|Branding, Marketing, Newsletter|
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Small Business Challenges and Barriers: What Holds You Back?

How many times have we all heard that booming, resonant voice of award-winning actor James Earl Jones in movies, on TV or in commercial voice-overs?  His is a voice you never forget. It commands attention, making everyone sit up and take notice.  You may not know it, but when he was a little boy, Ray stuttered badly and for eight years simply did not speak at all. Fortunately for all of us, Jones overcame his communication challenges to become one of the finest actors we know today.  Whether he is in character for a role, like Darth Vader in a Star Wars movie,  'the voice' [...]

By |2016-12-29T21:36:32-05:00January 27th, 2011|Branding, Strategic Planning|
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The Importance of Branding: Are You – Del Monte or Generic?

Do you remember when grocery stores stocked aisle after aisle of brand name products? We grew up with well-known products like Del Monte or Green Giant canned vegetables.  Campbell's soup was a standard in our home when I was growing up.  Branding was, and still is, an important part of successful marketing.  it is critical that you understand the importance of branding as the basis of your small business marketing plan. Then, one day 'generic' products packaged with boring, black and white labels showed up next to our favorites.  No pictures of fresh, enticing contents of the canned goods.  Just that plain black [...]

By |2016-12-29T22:05:46-05:00January 17th, 2011|Branding|
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Build a Community of Customers From Long-time, Loyal Customers

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter  July - August 2009            Volume 6 - Issue 29   An interesting article recently appeared on the business page of my local paper,  the Akron Beacon Journal.  The feature story was about the owner of a 92-year-old family hardware business. The company was started in 1917 by the current owner's great-grandmother. Yes, his great-grandmother. She was a Polish immigrant, and also a home builder, but that's a whole other story.  The most interesting part of the story about the West End Hardware store was how it had build a community of customers. Asked about the long [...]

By |2017-02-13T01:40:52-05:00July 20th, 2009|Branding, Customer Relationships, Newsletter|
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Changing Consumer Behaviors in Recessionary Times: Shopping, Buying and Spending

'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter  March - April l 2009               Volume 6 - Issue 27   Is everyone ready for a new ‘normal’?  Like it or not, recessionary times are affecting customer behaviors in major ways.  Changing consumer behaviors are certainly a big part of what will become our new Normal.  Now is the best time to focus on strategies to address these issues, as well as your marketing strategies.  According to a recent article by Marla Matzer Rose in The Columbus Dispatch, that is exactly what we can expect from this economy. And, it is likely [...]

By |2017-02-08T02:47:47-05:00March 15th, 2009|Branding, Customer Experience, Customer Relationships, Newsletter, Strategy|
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