|
Thoughts from a conference |
|
Posted Wednesday, May 30 2012 by Karen | 0 comments
|
I was able to attend the US Chamber/NAWBO/Latino Coalition small business summit in D.C. last week. A few thoughts from those couple of days:
*“Reception” food is definitely not dinner.
*Favorite quote: “He can’t hear and I’m not listening”, Mary Matalin, talking about husband James Carville.
*Favorite quote #2: “Social media makes us all the same size”, Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Brewery, talking about their focus on being their brand’s storytellers, and social media as the great equalizing forum to have those conversations.
*Favorite quote #3: “It’s now about context more than just content.” Gary Vaynerchuk, on how social media vehicles let our brands have the one-on-one conversations with each other that haven’t happened since we used to actually talk to our neighbors.
*Most emotional moment: Listening to Colonel Greg Gadson. This man was an inspiration in too many ways to list.
*Most shocking statistic: 1/2 of all workers in the U.S. are employed by small businesses, and 55% of our GDP comes from small businesses.
*Most shocking statement people raised their hand to: “My business isn’t going to “get involved” in social media.” Really? So you’re not going to get a cell phone either?
*Businesses to investigate and learn something from: The-Shirt.com, Dogfish Head Brewery, the Thank You Economy.
*Overall recurring theme: In one way or another each speaker returned to the idea that we can basically accomplish anything we want to, and be successful, by getting up off our as*es and making things happen. From starting a new business or creating a new product/service that responds to a need, to changing how Congress treats legislation which levies taxes on small businesses, it’s all in our hands.
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
Not even Don Draper owns your brand |
|
Posted Sunday, April 01 2012 by Karen | 0 comments
|
Last week’s issue of Newsweek paid homage to the 60s, in honor of Mad Men’s 5th season. For the most part, they did a wonderful job of covering the changes in politics, women in the workplace, and advertising. Advertisers even got to try their hand at retro Doyle Dane Bernbach-style print ads (although not even coming close to the great work of Helmut Krone and others of the day). Some of the images were fun, some disturbing; especially those reminding me how much differently my career might have gone had I started at DDB in the 60s instead of the 80s.
In one article, speaking on the new power social media gives the consumer to get engaged and react to brand messages, Nick Summers says, “If motivated, they can seize a brand and reshape its image at a pace that obliterates even the best-planned marketing strategy. For the first time, companies are no longer the sole owners of their own brands.”
I agree, up until the phrase, “for the first time.” I’d argue that by its very definition a ‘brand’ is something owned by your customers, shareholders, stakeholders, employees and vendors. The company falls way behind these audiences. We can help shape brands, and show them in their best possible light to connect with consumers, but anyone who ignores the consumer’s power is acting a little like the male characters on Mad Men: avoiding the inevitable.
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
Top 5 Reasons for a Fan Page |
|
Posted Monday, March 26 2012 by Karen | 0 comments
|
So you've been holding out. At this point you can safely assume Facebook isn't going away, so yes, it's time to think about a custom Fan Page for your business. A custom Fan Page is quickly becoming the weapon of choice to reach your customers, and here are Little Red Bird's top 5 reasons why it’s changing how businesses do business:
1. Your customers are here.
Facebook has 750 million users, more than the next five social media and search engine portals combined. Still think these numbers are too little? Then consider that 16% of all time spent online is spent on Facebook. Set, point, match.
2. Connection is king...and queen.
Customers you connect with on Facebook are some of the Internet’s most engaged users. Fans are 28% more likely than non-fans to continue using a specific brand. And, 68% say they are very likely to recommend a product.
3. Facebook = Sales.
On average, fans spend an extra $71.84 per year on that brand, that they would not otherwise spend. The average fan is worth $136.38. Those are real dollars, not Farmville coins BTW.
4. Hide and Seek. Without the hide.
Fan Page posts and 'likes' increase your chances of coming up at the top of search engine results, at no cost, directly leading prospects to your page. Plus, millions can find you on Facebook’s own internal search tool.
5. Proof.
From real estate developments lowering their lead acquisition costs by 80%, to schools increasing their enrollment numbers, custom Fan Pages on Facebook are simply the best way to get in front of your customers, all day, every day. We've seen it work, repeatedly.
For more reasons why, and tips on how to get the most from your Fan Page,
like us on Facebook. (You knew that was coming, right?)
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
So, no doubt you've heard of this clever little device called an iPad. Rather than hit us over the head with just how different it is, Apple has decided to remind us just how familiar it is. Smart, simple, human strategy, that makes an instant connection. At least it did for me.
http://www.apple.com/ipad/#we-will-always
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
Look good in a mini skirt |
|
Posted Thursday, July 07 2011 by Karen | 0 comments
|
I’ve never really understood the fickleness of fashion, especially when it comes to women’s hemlines. Economists try to tie the trends to whether the economy is rising or falling (pun intended). Perhaps to match the confusion over whether the recession is actually over or not, and we’re finally on the road to recovery, this year has been quite different, with maxi, mini and everywhere-in-between lengths in vogue. For those of us who’ve passed the age when wearing mini skirts is anything but gross, this is really refreshing - we can choose what actually fits who we are, instead of what the runway crews choose for us.
So what does this have to do with branding? A lot, actually - many follow the trends when it comes to brand personality and style, rather than following the personality that best fits their brand. Just because Red Bull embraces the mini skirt personality with fabulous style, doesn’t mean it would be consistent or believable coming from Dr. Brown’s; it wouldn’t, because that’s just not who they are. Your brand’s personality is core to how your customers see you, and when that changes frequently, they’re no longer sure of who they’re dealing with. Consistency goes a long way toward brand loyalty.
So whether you go mini, maxi, or play it safe just above the knee, stay true to who your brand is, regardless of the fashion winds of change.
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
Cleaning up the Dirty South one car at a time |
Let’s face it, everyone loves a clean car, but who has time to do it themselves? Unless you’re some OCD clean car freak or you’ve been shamed into cleaning your ride by a “Wash me’ scraped through the dirt on your windows, it seems we only clean our cars when necessary.
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
  Have you seen the A&E show ‘Hoarders’? It’s the captivating real life story of Hoarders and the events leading up to an intervention of sorts, that helps them clean their homes and resume a reasonably normal life. According to the show, ‘Compulsive hoarding is a mental disorder marked by an obsessive need to acquire and keep things, even if they are worthless, hazardous, or unsanitary.’ Now, I’m not talking about your garden variety messy home with a few odds and ends cluttering up an otherwise livable abode. The hoarders homes are unnavigable, stuffed to the hilt with rotting food, garbage, broken furniture, piles upon piles of clothing, you get the picture. It is compelling look at a very peculiar mental illness, in a ‘can’t-look-away-from-a-traffic-accident’ sort of way.
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
Free! It doesn't come cheap. |
|
Posted Monday, September 14 2009 by Thayer | 0 comments
|
 In this day and age where the economy has imploded and consumers are expecting more and more and more (let’s face it – it’s a buyer’s market in all facets) your brand had better think long and hard about getting on the free gift train. Once you leave the station there is NO coming back.
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
New logo helps Pepsi kill Coke |
|
 My friend Liz Doten tweeted this earlier today and it reminded me of just how often companies revert to 'refreshing' their brand image in hopes of reenergizing sales, clients or staff.
I find it hard to believe that these companies are convinced a logo revision is the silver bullet to flagging sales, a complacent corporate culture or a product that just isn't competitive enough.
The truth is that no logo or tagline by itself is able to prop up a brand that doesn't meet your customer's expectations. Whether it's personality, taste, price, color or fit, if your brand doesn't deliver, a new logo will not be able to close the gap for you.
If you've done your homework and your brand is authentic, genuine and meeting consumers demand at a price they're willing to pay, you may just have a chance at success regardless of how many times you
haven't changed your logo. Just ask Nike.
|
| Read more... |
|
|
|
Posted Wednesday, June 24 2009 by Katie Fisher | 0 comments
|
 As guest blogger here at Little Red Bird, I would like to take this opportunity to respond to Jason’s super dorky blog post with one of my own. I’ll be appearing here periodically to air my grievances about AP style guidelines, common grammar mistakes and hotly contested grammar issues. And, as you guffaw over the very idea that there’s even such a thing as a hotly contested grammar issue, I invite you to take a survey of those in favor of double spaces after periods and those who insist that there can only be one. Go ahead, ask around. Remember to respect other people’s views and opinions, even when they are dead wrong. This is not the time for violence. The correct answer (from my perspective, and since this is my blog post, it is the only perspective that matters) will be revealed in a post sometime in the future.
|
| Read more... |
|
|
| << Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>
| | Results 1 - 10 of 23 |
|
|
