For strategic advantage and breakthrough innovation, build diverse teams that take an empathetic view of the customer experience. Apple’s iPad, Nike’s Flyknit sneakers, Hint Water. Creative design delivered the breakthrough success of all of these products. Instead of starting with an existing formula already in the market, the designers focused on an unmet need: to […]
Each day, consumers are bombarded with a cacophony of brands. Taglines and slogans shout from TV, radio and the Internet; they vie for attention on store shelves and billboards. It can be difficult for consumers to make sense of the noise, and it can be even more difficult for brands to be heard. Brands with […]
The power of a good story All entrepreneurs have, or should have, an elevator pitch or quick five-minute speech about their company or idea; that pitch is ready to go should they find themselves in front of a potential investor or business partner. These pitches are well-rehearsed, honed and delivered hundreds of times in different social settings and […]
Consider, for a moment, your local coffee shop. It doesn’t serve frappuccinos like the Starbucks on the next block. It may not boast an extensive menu of pastries and sandwiches. What this local shop does offer is a certain level of intimacy and connection. Each server knows your usual order by heart and even the owner […]
Why it’s so much more than updating a logo and design elements. Any marketer that has been through a brand refresh has likely imagined the same nightmare scenario. After a lot of hard work, sweat and tears, you launch your new and improved brand, but it misses the mark. The brand upgrade gets reviewed as just a […]
What’s in a name? Everything: A vibrant brand is what keeps a prospective customer interested long enough to view your offerings. “Know thyself.” It’s an old saying, but one more business owners would do well to heed. There are many brand-related mistakes an entrepreneur can make, like overdoing an ad campaign or not being transparent about your products, but […]
Customers are primarily concerned about two things: your product quality and good communication. What are you doing to up your game? Smart brands know that customers are the lifeblood of their business. Customers, in fact, are the core reason you can open up shop (whether that means online or brick and mortar) every day and […]
The right technology will create a database that helps you personalize each customer interaction. The concept of shopping has changed dramatically over the decades, with one survey revealing that customers now make 51 percent of their purchases online. For retailers, this has created a push toward a greater online presence, even among businesses specializing in local products. However, […]
Grow your business with these simple tips. Do you have a favorite lunch spot? Maybe a cafe that once made a great impression on you? If so, that’s the power of branding at work. Your brand image is often the difference between having a lifelong relationship with loyal customers and never being discovered at all. […]
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