Branding – Marketing

The Benefits of Using Email Marketing to Cultivate Brand Loyalty

Email collage graphicFacebook. Twitter. Pinterest. Google+. The explosion of social media has changed marketing in ways we could never have imagined 10 years ago. But there is one tool that was effective then, and is still powerful today: Email marketing continues to be one of the best ways to reach clients and cultivate brand loyalty.
The biggest companies all have a presence on social media. Not to do so would be a big mistake. At the same time, they haven’t abandoned email in their campaign to keep their brands at the forefront of their customers’ awareness.
Though you may hear some people say that “email is dead,” we really haven’t seen any evidence that we should move all our communication to Twitter, etc. Here is why this oldest form of electronic communication is still king:

  • Email is everywhere

Everyone has email. It’s one of the most portable and reliable communication systems we have today. You can access it anywhere and anytime. You need email to keep in touch, to conduct business, and to be on any social media site. It’s the one tool that ties together everything you do online. Even if your customers are not on Twitter or Facebook, they most likely will have email.

  • Email marketing is low-cost

As a business owner, your company’s email newsletter is one of your best assets. You can use it to send communications about company news, sales, discounts, surveys, and more, all at a fraction of what it would cost you to send printed material.

  • Email is personal

When you email someone, you greet that person by name, and personalize your communication. The same is true for email marketing, even if the content is intended for a big audience. When clients sign up to receive your updates, they choose to let you inside their inboxes, and may provide both their first and last names. Addressing someone by their first name helps establish your brand’s familiarity and connection to your customers.

  • Email marketing is targeted

When people opt-in to your mailing list, they are telling you that they are interested in what you have to offer. Whether it’s information about your industry or offers for coupons, you already know that the emails you send are welcome in their inboxes. Email marketing is not a scattershot approach, where you send something out to the ether and hope something sticks. Your email subscribers are already part of a client base that you can count on to be interested in what you have to offer.
Email marketing also allows you to target specific communication pieces to subsets of your larger subscriber list. Some subscribers may only want to receive coupons or notification of upcoming events. Others may be interested in receiving both. You can manage your email list in such a way that subscribers get exactly the type of communication they want and are most likely to engage with.

  • Email marketing is measurable

One of the benefits of email marketing is that you are able to gauge your clients’ reactions to your emails. Whenever you send out a piece of communication, you’ll be able to measure certain metrics that tell you which promotions are most popular, and which ones get your customers to a purchasing decision. It’s also easier to tweak an email marketing campaign than one done through printed mailings.
Email marketing is a very effective and low-cost way of keeping your clients informed about what your company is doing. It’s a tool you can use to gather feedback and build brand loyalty. You essentially have a captive audience when you send out emails to your subscribers.
Email continues to be an indispensable component of inbound marketing for any company. Used properly, a healthy email list is one of the best ways to grow your business and turn casual clients into loyal customers. Contact us today to learn how our clients benefit from email marketing, and how your company can do the same.

An Effective Leave Behind Piece Increases Brand Awareness

Connection Grpahics Calendar sampleEven though a big portion of your efforts to build brand awareness happens online, you should not neglect what’s known as “leave-behind” pieces for your small business.
A leave-behind piece is printed material that can be left with a new contact or potential customer. There are many types of leave-behind pieces that you can use to make a lasting impression, keep your company in your client’s minds, and eventually lead to a sale. These materials should complement your online presence, and offer the additional advantage of visibility even when your contact isn’t online.

What makes an effective leave-behind piece that will increase brand awareness for your business?

One of the leave-behind pieces we produce each year is our quarterly calendars. These calendars are mailed or dropped off to our customers at the beginning of each new quarter. They are designed to fit in standard-size envelopes and mail with regular postage rates.  These small calendars are popular with our customers, in part because they fit on a desk or hang in a small space on the wall. This leave-behind piece increases brand awareness for Connection Group throughout the year and each time we mail it we are bound to get a call.
There are a few guidelines to keep in mind if you want to create pieces that effectively complement your online marketing efforts.

  1.  Your leave-behind piece should be consistent with your brand.
    Everything that has your company name on it must have a unified look and message. This includes your website, logo, business cards, brochures, and postcards.
    To increase brand awareness, your company logo must appear in all your branding materials. You must also ensure that the font, colors, and content are consistent with your message, and the industry in which you work. If you want to present an image that your customers can trust, your leave-behind pieces must not look homemade, sloppy, or cheap. That doesn’t mean they must be expensive; there are affordable solutions that you can use. But they need to be well-made and look professional.
  2. Make your pieces easy for clients to keep.
    You don’t want to give away material that your prospective clients will toss in the trash without a second thought. The most effective leave-behind pieces are those that recipients keep around and remember. Consider the size and quality of the material. Pieces that are too big become cumbersome and obtrusive. Those that are too small are at risk of being easily lost. A high-quality piece that’s unusual (in a good way) has a better chance of being kept than one that’s common and plain. Next, think about the content of your piece. Is the material informative (like a brochure with relevant information)? Is it useful (like a bookmark)? Pieces that simply sell something are much more easily discarded than materials that provide useful information, or otherwise, add something worthwhile to your contact’s work or life in general.
  3. Showcase your best work.
    A leave-behind piece works best when you include a picture of your best work, whether it’s a product or service. You don’t want to clutter the piece, so choose carefully. How can you serve your prospective client? What need do you meet? How can you make their life better? The best leave-behind pieces answer these questions in a way that makes a good impression on a prospective client.
  4. Make it easy to contact you.
    Always include your contact information in your leave-behind pieces. Add your website, email, phone and/or fax number, and Facebook page.
    Your leave-behind pieces should make it easier for clients to remember you and your company, and to know what you can do for them. Our goal at Connection Group is to help you increase brand awareness and strengthen your marketing efforts. We can help you create effective leave-behind pieces that complement your brand. Contact us!

A Simple Guide to Launching Your Small Business Website and Blog

websites-blog-samplesSetting up and launching a business website is a must if you are to succeed in marketing. Whether you’re hiring a website designer or doing everything yourself, having an online hub is vital. There’s simply no way around it, and today we’ll show you how to create and launch your small business website. We’ll focus primarily on setting up a self-hosted website using WordPress.
Before that, though, a number of folks may question why they need self-hosted websites for their small businesses, when there’s Facebook, Twitter, and so on. Setting up a business site involves a bit of time and financial investment, while Facebook, Twitter, and a host of other social media outlets are free. So what are the benefits to running your own website versus relying on third-party social media?

Facebook vs. Self-hosted Site

It’s true that a business website probably won’t be able to attract the gazillions of users that are on Facebook and Twitter combined. However, a small business owner should still build a strong online hub for the following reasons:
1. Ownership
As “king of your online castle,” you own not just the domain, but all the content in the site. By registering your own domain, you’re not just sitting on someone else’s property. Setting up your stand-alone website builds your authority in your niche, and adds to your legitimacy as a professional business owner.
2. Stability
The nature of social media means that its content changes rapidly by the day – or the hour! Updates that you’ve written yesterday may no longer be visible today. Not so with websites and blogs. Posted content is available on your site as long as it’s online. Such evergreen content will continue to help you build your brand and increase your search engine ranking.
3. Control
As the owner of your website, you control everything that your audience sees about your business. You decide what the content will be, and the action steps that will be available to your site’s visitors.
These are just three reasons why investing in a self-hosted website will bring you a greater return than spending all your online marketing efforts on social media.
That said, we’re not saying that you should concentrate solely on your website.
In fact, the opposite is true.
Being active on social media is essential for marketing your brand. If you’re building an audience online, you should be on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc. However, none of these sites should take the place of your website.
Your website should be the hub of all your online efforts. Social media should be outposts used to drive your desired audience to your website, where they can then make decisions to purchase your products or engage your services.

Setting Up a Self-Hosted Website and Blog

When we talk about setting up your online site, we also mean getting a blog up and running as part of your website. Having a blog offers advantages than a static website doesn’t have.
In terms of posting evergreen, useful content that will help you rank high in search engines, there’s nothing quite as easy to use as a blog. Posts and pages are what will give your website/blog depth in your niche topic. And blogs are inherently set up to make frequent posting quick and painless.
The steps below outline the process for setting up your blog from scratch:
1. Register your domain name
For maximum SEO benefits and brand recognition, your domain name should be www.yourbusiness.com. You register your domain through one of many domain registrars, such as HostGator, GoDaddy, NetworkSolutions, etc.
Registration must be renewed yearly. You can save money by registering domain for several years at a time.
2. Secure a hosting service
A webhost is the physical server where your website and data are kept. Many hosting companies also offer domain registration. You pay a fee for using the server space and bandwidth to run your website.
3. Install WordPress
WordPress is one of the best and easiest software to use for blogging. The software itself is free, and is available to download at WordPress.org. Some hosting companies offer a one-click installation to your domain.
4. Install a theme
While WordPress comes with a pre-installed theme (or blog design), you may want to install a different one that will better suit your business and your purposes. There are many free themes available for download. These may be accessed within the WordPress software or downloaded from WordPress.org.
For better functionality and a more professional look, you can also purchase a theme or get a website designer to create a custom look for your website that will grow with your content. Full disclosure, there are some restrictions with WordPress and other blogging software templates. Most small businesses will be well served with most of the templates but when you start to add more bells and whistles to your company website you may need a more robust custom template that will handle custom programming.
5. Start blogging
Once WordPress and the theme are installed, you can start creating content for your website. Login through www.yourbusiness.com/wp-admin/ to start posting pages and posts for your new online hub.
If you’re a DIYer, these first steps will help you launch your small business website and start building an audience online. However, if you’re not the type to dive into domain names and WordPress themes, you may want to look into having a web design or marketing company do these for you. The important thing is for you to get your brand in front of your audience, and establish yourself as an expert that they can trust with their business. And a well-designed small business website is the cornerstone of your online marketing strategy.

Print and Digital Solutions for Successful Event Promotion

One of the ways we can help you grow your business is by offering suggestions for products that will help you achieve your goals. This month, we are featuring digital and print solutions you can use for event promotions.

Checklist for Effective Event Promotions

 
wise website home page designBefore you begin, make sure that all details about the event are clear and consistent across all promotional efforts. Check that all materials have the correct event name, time, location, and other information.
Create some or all of the following items for use in your promotions:
1. Save the Date announcements
Create an early buzz for your event with Save the Date announcements for sharing on postcards, emails, blogs, and other communications.
2. Digital and Printed Invitations
Digital invitations can be sent through a e-vite site, on Facebook, and/or by email. Printed options include a traditional card (with envelope), a postcard, etc.
wise event registration button sample3. RSVP and Payment Options
For printed invitations, include a phone number and email, or use a separate card for clients to mail back to you. Always indicate a deadline for RSVPs. On digital invitations, make sure there is a way attendees can RSVP electronically, either through a link, or by replying to your email. It’s a good idea to include a phone number, even in digital invites. Keep track of the RSVPs you receive, and send out reminders as needed.
For events that require payment, create a website page with a secure payment portal and include the link in all invitations.
example of web banner for an event4. Web Banners and Pages
Post event details and updates on your website and social media outposts. Include links to the pages in all your event communications.
5.  Sponsor and Exhibit Packets
For large events, consider creating sponsor and exhibit packets both in print and for the web. The information should include the benefits of sponsorships, the cost and size of booths/sponsorships, a map of the exhibit area, and a map of the general location.  When hosting a multiple-day event, include information on hotels, area attractions, etc.
wise social media logos6. Social Media Announcements
Regularly share information and links on your social media outposts (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.). Spread the word through your company or organization website, and other groups you are involved in. Let your audiences know when you add new speakers, sponsors, etc. Ask them to share, like, re-tweet, etc.
WISE 2013 Save the date flyer7. Print and Digital Advertisements
Purchase advertisements to promote your event. Consider print and online publications in relevant industries and geographical areas.
8. Event Program
Create a printed program with the event agenda, workshop list, speaker bios, etc.
9. Giveaways
Purchase specialty advertising items — such as pens, name tags, and notepads — to give away.
10. Signage
WISE Enter to WIn SignKeep your event organized with printed signs with directions to the location, specific rooms, exhibit halls, etc.
11. Visual Displays for Trade Show Booth and Table Tops
If you are an exhibitor at an event, visual displays for full-size booths or table tops are a must. Make sure your display is at the same level of professionalism as others who will be attending. Don’t be the booth everyone avoids!
12. Awards and Certificates
End your event on a high note with awards and certificates for participants. Thank them for their attendance and encourage them to maintain contact with you for future events and promotions.
13. Specialty Advertising / Promotional Giveaways
wise specialy adveritising mirror graphicHave an item to send home with attendees. Find an item that can be used multiple times and one that ties into your company or industry. Choose an item you know your clientele and prospects will relate to. For WISE, Women in Successful Enterprises, professional business women are the target market. One of the give-aways WISE shares is a small purse mirror with the brand logo and website domain on the back of it. It is an item members use time and time again – plus they use it in public so others can see the branding on the back and make inquiries about the organization. Don’t break the bank on overly fancy and expensive give-aways especially when your event is a trade show that may have attendees who are not interested in doing business with but like to partake in your freebies.
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Use a combination of these digital and print solutions to successfully promote your event. You’ll find that a well-organized and memorable event will increase your audience and cement your brand. If you need help creating these solutions, contact us today.

On the Web: How to Manage Your Brand as a Small Business

As a small business owner, one of your jobs is to manage your brand online and off. In addition to reaching new customers and growing your company, you need to maintain an online presence and use it to achieve your goals.
logosWhile you’re good at what you do for your business and customers, you may not be quite as savvy when it comes to the internet. So, we put together this checklist for managing your website, and brand, as a small business owner. Putting these elements in action lets you take advantage of the opportunities that the web has to offer.

A. Have a Clear Message

Your business (and website) must have what is often called a unique value proposition (UVP), or unique selling point. What are you offering? Who is your audience?  What message do you want to send?
Before you start creating or revamping your website, you must be able to answer these questions.

  • Your offer is simply your roster of products or services and their corresponding prices.
  • Your ideal customer is the person whom you want to engage in your business. These are the people you want to attract to your website, and move to make a purchasing decision.
  • Your message is what you want to stand out in your prospects or customers mind. Are you the most economical, the best quality, the fastest, or the most experienced?

What comes next is a bit more complicated: Identifying and crafting your message. This is where the “unique” comes into your unique value proposition. What makes you uniquely qualified to offer these services? In other words, what makes your business different from the rest?
These are things you must think about before you set up your online hub. In order to have an effective website, you must identify what makes you different from all the others that are offering the same thing. If your business caters mainly to your local community, you would want to include that as part of what makes you stand out. You know your customers by name, you provide a personal touch to your services, and so on.
Once you know your message, you must present it in a clear, concise, and consistent way, which brings us to the next point.

B. Unify Your Brand

Everything that has your company’s name on it – whether it’s a business card, a logo, or a website – is part of your brand. They must all work together to get your unique message across to your ideal client.
Here are some practical tips that will help you with brand management in a way that supports your day-to-day work:
Your website must be self-hosted and be on a relevant domain name.
Self-hosted simply means it’s not a free service or platform, like Blogger or WordPress.com.
When your buy your domain name, it should be “yourbusiness.com” (example: connectiongraphics.com). Make it easy to remember, with no numbers or special characters except if it’s part of your company name.
A self-hosted site on a good domain name tells your customers that you’re an authority in your field. They can trust you with their business.
Create a unified look that reflects your company and mission.
The image your business presents must be consistent across all types of communications, whether it’s online or not.
The first place to start is your company logo. If you don’t have a logo, get a professional designer to make one for you. Use it on all your communications.
Pull colors and design elements out of your logo and use them in your website, e-newsletter, letterhead, promotional materials, etc. For example, if you use a clean sans-serif font on your business card, don’t go for swirly artsy types on your website.
Set-up online outposts.
Whether or not you like being on social media, it’s now practically a requirement for any business. You need to set up and maintain “online outposts.” These in turn will direct your ideal customer back to your website, and toward a decision to purchase.
These outposts include blogs, social media and newsletters.

C. Create Effective Content

Now that you have your self-hosted website and relevant online outposts, you need to turn your attention to the elements of your site that will turn your readers into customers.
Your business website must have the following:

  • About page (what your business is about, who you are, your qualifications, and other special attributes that will make the online reader want to do business with you)
  • Easy-to-navigate information about your services and/or products
  • Different ways to contact you (via contact form, address, email, twitter, Facebook, etc.)
  • Option to subscribe to an email newsletter or RSS feed
  • Secure product page and shopping cart, as needed
  • Regularly updated information about your services, products and related topics

The last item on the list above will help your clients know your business better, as well as help you get found in search engines. The best and easiest way to do this is to maintain a blog. High-quality and regularly-updated content will establish you as an authority in your niche.
As a small business owner, an effective online presence begins with and is established by a clear message, a unified look and effective content. If you’d like to learn more about how to manage your brand online and off, sign up for our newsletter, Connectivity.

Bring Good Energy to Your Business in 2013 – Feng Shui Your Brand!

feng-shui-your-brandA new year is bursting on the scene ushering in the promise of opportunities and change. This week, the year-end and a full moon energy moved me to clear clutter and rearrange rooms in my home and office. Considering elements, energy, color and flow in my personal space reminded me of how important incorporating the practice of Feng Shui is in business as well.
Feng shui is about creating and maintaining positive flowing energy. Special attention is paid to the five elements, the yin-yang balance of a structure, whether it be a brick and mortar building or a business structure.
Placement and balance of color, symbols, and the five elements of feng shui establish a flow that creates positive feelings and response. Brand messages need to exude positive feelings that resonate with the manager/owner, customers, prospects, employees, vendors and hopefully the general public. Utilizing some basic feng shui practices as it relates to your particular business can increase the positive image of your business and brand.
People respond to color and images much faster than they respond to words and it is wise to look at these guides while considering your business brand and imagery. Specific colors and elements are naturally associated with certain industries and can be incorporated into your office space, website and other elements of your company brand.
Here are the Five Feng Shui Elements applied to specific business industries:

  • FIRE: restaurants, cafes, retail, creative studios, sports related business, etc.
  • EARTH: real estate development, building/construction, agricultural, environmental
  • METAL: architect firms, technology, government, banking, accounting, all financial industries
  • WATER: employment agencies, massage and healing centers, cleaning services, beauty industry
  • WOOD: publishing agency, travel agencies, floral shops, clothing, schools, universities, day care centers, etc.

Each of the five feng shui elements are assigned shapes and colors that increase their energy. Depending on which element your industry belongs to, utilizing the corresponding shapes and colors in your branding will help strengthen the message and increase the positive energy.
Here are the shapes associated with each of the five feng shui elements:

  • WOOD: Rectangular
  • FIRE: Triangular
  • EARTH: Square
  • METAL: Round
  • WATER: Wavy

And here are the colors associated with each of the five feng shui elements:

  • WOOD: Green, Brown
  • FIRE: Red, Strong Yellow, Orange, Purple, Pink
  • EARTH: Light Yellow, Sandy/Earthy, Light Brown
  • METAL: White, Gray
  • WATER: Blue, Black

What do you do when your company offers services or products that incorporate multiple elements?
That’s when the feng shui magic begins!
You can make a determination on what element is the strongest for your company based on your brand focus. For instance, Connection Group provides graphic design and web design solutions for businesses. However, we also develop integrative marketing plans, plus offer marketing consultations, publishing services, and web hosting.
In review of the elements by industry, we could essentially choose all the elements. What is needed is a feng shui ‘cure’.
When you encounter this option, ask yourself which element choice feels and looks better? Since we do all of these services very well, thank you, we wanted to practice feng shui principles in our logo design and brand communication as much as possible. We also know that what our clients rave most about is how we infuse creative talent into every project. Delivering creative solutions is what we want our brand to communicate most. Hence we want Fire to be a strong element in our brand.
We also want to balance the fire by including some of the other elements associated with the services we provide. If you take a look at our logo, first, note the star symbol. A star is light and fire, the symbol itself is also made up of triangles, the shape associated with fire. The gold in the logo brings in the metal element for the technology solutions we develop. The overall circle shape is associated with metal also, but because we are incorporating the moon symbol the connection also relates to the earth element – and of course the circle shape is all about ‘flow’ right? The black interior is the water element that connects and grounds them all and relates to our business clientele.
As brand manager for small business owners, we study the five elements of feng shui and do our best to apply them to your business communications and promotions. However, feng shui should not be forced. It is a natural, organic flow that must feel right to reap the best energy. Balancing colors, shapes and placement to invite a positive relationship with everyone who interacts with your brand. Be mindful of the “feel-good” factor with images or symbols in your business communications.
Feng shui is a very in-depth practice and we have just skimmed the surface on how utilizing its practices can enhance your business. If you are interested in learning more about how to incorporate Feng Shui in your business branding, office or lifestyle, please contact us, we are always happy to build positive energy.
For self-study you may want to refer to a bagua map when relating feng shui to a home, office, building or landscaping to determine placement and generating positive flowing energy. Some of my favorite authors and resources on the subject include: Terah Kathryn Collins – Feng Shui for Prosperity and a most beautiful book by Rosalyn Dexter “Chinese Whispers.” On the web: http://www.amazon.com.
I wish you joy and luck in 2013. Stay connected!

What is the difference between Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising and Sales?

advertising, communication, pr, newspaper with mouseMany people confuse these terms and this sure makes for a difficult job for marketing firms. Connection Group is a brand marketing firm, our focus is considerably different than let’s say a Marketing Research firm. Connection Group assists with marketing plans, promotions, design, advertising and general public relations with a focus on development and promotion of your brand in print and web communication.  There are PR firms that outsource design and communication items to us and in turn, there are public relations and research items that are better suited for firms who specialize in those modalities.
Because many of our local Lansing marketing firms and design agencies handle a variety of task and because there are so many different elements that can be broken into niche areas (Marketing Research, Brand Marketing, Promotions, Event Marketing, etc.) it is clear why there is so much confusion. Let’s take a look at each category and attempt to clarify the main goals of each.

Marketing

Marketing is the umbrella term for the process of creating, communicating and delivering products or services to customers.  Target marketing is achieved through research studies that help determine buying habits or lifestyle practices of people and companies. Research ranges from such options as geo-targeting, surveys, focus groups, web analytics, phone tracking and many more in-depth and long-term studies. Contrary to popular belief by some specialist, marketing is not just about research and statistics. Research is one step in the marketing plan. Most people learn that marketing consists of four major considerations: product, price, place and promotion. To Connection Group, marketing is as much about the action taken upon review of data as the number crunching, and charts and graphs reviews. Brand Marketing, which we specialize in, starts with the background research, leads to the plan, and formulation of the promotional campaign. Depending on the size of the company, and the size of the marketing budget, the marketing plan will include an outline for Sales objectives, Advertising media, Communication materials, Public Relations projects and review suggestions.

Sales

Sales is a component of marketing but marketers are not sales staff. Sales is typically handled by a separate department that can include sales managers, sales representatives or account representatives depending on the company industry and size of the business. It is marketing’s job to provide tracking, statistics, materials and messages that support the company brand and give the sales force a sustainable strategic advantage to meet the customers needs. Do not expect your marketing department to plan sales strategy, create sales appointments or contact prospects or customers – hire a sales person for this.

Advertising and public relations are considered marketing promotions

Advertising

Advertising can involve a number of activities to communicate to a target audience. Most advertising is paid media such as radio, television, email, newspaper, magazine, the internet, and other print publications, etc.  Advertising focuses on communicating a message to the market and typically carries a theme that communicates the company brand. The chosen media is determined by the marketing  research which has identified the most successful way of reaching the target audience within the financial budget set for advertising.

Public Relations

Public Relations support the marketing effort and is often a component of the marketing plan. PR is a method companies use to convey a positive image to their market and the community. Press releases, speaking at public forums, and community involvement are methods used by businesses to establish the company name and communicate the brand image. Public Relations is considerably less cost than advertising, however the efforts can take time and may not attract the attention by media that is desired. Addressing the public on issues of importance can also be risky with any controversial subject that can be misconstrued by competition, the media or the public view.

Considerations when outsourcing these services

Some marketing departments and marketing firms may offer all of these services in house, some may outsource a portion of the services and some may supply only the data or the marketing plan recommended for your company and you will be responsible for identifying who will implement each task. Don’t assume every marketing firm is going to provide Public Relations services or media placement, and don’t expect your marketers to be graphic designers or sales people. Identify what your goals are and communicate this when interviewing firms. Knowing what items you will be handling in house; social media updates, e-newsletters, press releases, etc will help determine the level of services you desire. Some firms handle everything, some marketing firms hand you a plan and blow you a kiss good bye. Connection Group can work on a per project basis and also provides monthly marketing maintenance for companies. Give us a call today for a complimentary consultation, in person or an online marketing consultation. We can let you know if what your company needs is a newly designed website with more content to enhance SEO, a full blown PR campaign, or just a good sales representative with clear communication materials to reach your target audience.
 
Stay connected!

GM Billboards – A Tribute to Motown

Every year in August Detroit enjoys a popular Classic Car Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise. Car buffs from all over the country meet on Woodward Avenue in Detroit and show off their rides and relive their hot rod pasts.  This year GM shared a tribute to this popular event with the people of Detroit by posting vintage billboards throughout the Detroit area proclaiming the staying power of two leaders in the auto industry – GM and Detroit. These clever images and sayings are a respectful and nostalgic nod to both style and strength – characteristics Michigan is proud to be known to deliver.
This message is most influential in billboard design of course, right in the heart of the land that built them ,in front of the eyes who drive them. The creative agency who developed this billboard campaign knows their market and the GM brand. Michigan and GM does not believe a car is just a commodity – a car is a statement of who you are, your lifestyle, your personality, it’s designed for comfort and cruising – it was then and it is to this day.
If you are in the Detroit area, enjoy the 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise and smile when you see these Michigan billboard designs, take pride knowing why we earned the title, Automobile Capital of the World.

Raising a puppy and building a brand ain't what it use to be.

Photo of Bar-leigh (Barley) in the garden sticking out her tongue.Our family recently welcomed a new puppy into our home. It has been over 15 years since we have harkened down this path. I am quickly reminded of the dedication and attention puppies require, as well as the many items needed for entertainment and home protection.
Yesterday’s visit to the big box pet store displayed rows and rows of dog treats and toys to; stimulate minds, increase physical activity, encourage agility…, so many tools to ensure successful puppy raising. A quick Google search on ‘how to train puppies not to bite,’ resulted in a plethora of free videos and resource links for every activity imaginable for a dog or owner to explore.
All of this is underway while in the midst of developing an integrative marketing plan for a client’s expansion into a new geographic area. As with the puppy merchandise and training, tools and resources for brand marketing and graphic design continue to evolve. There is a large variety of options available that promise to achieve the same successful result.
Do I stick to the tried and true methods; discipline, attention, consistency? I know they worked, I have had well behaved dogs and successful customers throughout the years. Or do I bury the old school methods and invest time, faith, and money into the new approaches; gadgets, permission, rewards?
An appetite for the new with respect for the old could be an adage for all I do, from home decor, marketing, graphic design and puppy raising. I believe combining old with new is the true key to success in most every endeavor. As we travel the road together, our family and puppy, and Connection Group and our customers, the best solution is to recognize the individuality in each relationship. Each situation, each personality, each philosophy, is unique and requires personalized solutions that are adaptive to current times, trends, and budgets. We will continue to invest in the appropriate tools and disciplines each project requires to reap the most reward – happy, contented, successful clients and puppies.
Stay connected!