Category: Local Branding

Tips on Choosing The Right Pens for The Right Occasion

Steven on February 16, 2019

Gifting a pen can indeed be a task. There are so many factors that you have to consider. Should you go for a ball pen or an ink pen? What color should you opt for? Would your gift match the personal style of the receiver? Likewise, there are so many things that you need to take care of. Here are some tips which you can find helpful while choosing the right pen.

Whom are you gifting?

The type of pen you choose depends upon the person you are gifting it to. Your male friends would prefer a chunky pen that is easy to hold. A heavy pen also gives a sense of control. If you are not directly related to them then opt for something that has a classic design as well as finish. Go for materials like sterling silver. On the other hand, if you are buying a pen for a woman then go for stylish and elegant options. Lightweight pens that are sleek would really appeal to a woman. You may choose the color if you know her preference. Otherwise go for a golden, silver or even black colored pen. Many companies keep the color of their promotional pens neutral so that both men and women can use them.

How old is the person?

If you are buying a pen for a child then we recommend opting for an ergonomic design. This will help the little one is holding the pen properly. Go for a robust design that can last longer. The same goes for people that are too old. Ergonomic pens are your answer! Although if you are gifting someone who is middle-aged then there is scope for experimenting.

The profession of the giftee

A pen is mostly used in the corporate setting. The job role of the giftee will help you find the perfect fit for their ambiance. A classic pen with a minimalistic design is ideal for a professional setting. The traditional corporate jobs usually prefer pens that are formal. You may gift a fountain pen if the person has a profession of a lawyer, doctor, director or any authoritative figure. Parker pens are also a great option for such people.

Similarly, students and teachers use the pen for a really long time which is why you should opt for comfort. See if the brand you have chosen is popular for its comfortable grip and durability. Those who are designers and artists would appreciate luxury pen brands. You can easily gift them with pens that are designer and full of detail. They are sure to appreciate your efforts. For those who are frequent travelers, a pocket-sized pen would work wonderfully. Opt for a type that does not leak like a ballpoint pen.

Personal Style

The type of pen you gift also depends on the personal style of your giftee. Your recipient could be fashionable, classy, reserved, serious, or gadget-obsessed. You must find the right type of pen for your giftee. While studying the personality of the giftee just try to look for gifts that would match their personal style. Look at the way they dress and the things they use. This will give you a fair idea of what to gift.

What is the occasion?

What you choose also depends on the occasion. If it is a wedding then gift feather quill pens. Silver or golden fountain pen would be great for an anniversary. If you are gifting a colleague or associate then go for a traditional gift. Fountain pens are perfect when you want to emphasize luxury.

Thus, with the help of the above tips, you can choose the right pen to gift. You may also consider engraving the pen for your brand merchandise. Engraving the name of your company is a great way of brand promotion.

Local Branding

What to Consider When Designing Your Business Card

Steven on February 13, 2019

The Design

This is the most obvious factor and possibly the most important. It should grab attention, make an impression, and communicate who you are — all without being overwhelming. There are multiple important factors which will set you apart from the rest. Who Is Your Audience? This is an important consideration. A writer’s business card may have a white background with minimalistic design and information while hairdressers tend to favor black backgrounds and vibrant colors. Think about your target audience and optimize your design for them. What do you want them to think and feel when holding your card? What action should they take?

No Clutter

A customer confused is a customer lost. Focus your attention on the information you want to get across and don’t include unnecessary things — rather include a link to your website where the client can gain more information. Keep in mind that less is more and make it easy on your prospects.

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An Effective Logo

We mentioned that less is more but if you have a unique and eye-catching logo, it may be a good idea to incorporate it into your design. That said, “unique” doesn’t mean a ton of extravagant colors and a complicated design. The only people who could possibly get away with that are artists and graphic designers.

The Back

A card has two sides and using both is advisable. This will give you a chance to put a logo or name with your business description on one side, while developing contact information etc. on the other. In addition, it will help to keep your card clean, uncluttered, and simple to navigate. On the other hand, if you leave your prospect with a blank side, they may be tempted to take useful notes on your product or service for future reference.

The card itself

The physical card will make as much of an impression as what you put on it. There are a few options to consider before taking your design to a printer. And, if you’re in need of a printing company, JoinPrint Printing offers some great business card advice and solutions.

Paper thickness

Thicker paper speaks of quality and generally leaves a better impression than a flimsy little thing. Leaving a potential customer with a bit of weight in their hands may just make them look twice. How thick you go however, will depend on the kind of work you do (if you’re in construction or engineering, thicker is better, but don’t leave your prospects with a brick in their pockets).

Size and shape

If you’re in the real estate industry, you may be tempted to give clients a little house-shaped piece of cardboard to consider. While this will leave them with something unique, it may not communicate professionalism. A card that’s too small will be easily missed or lost. In contrast, a card that is too large might be impractical to handle and end up in the trash. In general, sticking with standard business card shape is effective but there are some exceptions. The mere act of presenting someone with an unconventionally shaped card could leave them with a lasting impression.

Finish to gloss or not to gloss?

Glossing will give most cards a sleek, finished look. However, it works best on darker colors. Bright colors may benefit more from a matte finish and gain some extra edge. Other finish options you may want to consider includes varnish, spot UV, and embossing. In the end, your card should communicate who you are in an effective and professional way and convince prospects to take action.

Local Branding

What Is The Significance Of Promotional Products in Today’s Market?

Steven on February 11, 2019

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All big cities have thousands of brands competing with each other for gaining the attention of potential customers. Traditional marketing and digital marketing are no longer enough to secure the market. People need to see more than glittery signboards and flashy TV commercials. They need a taste of the “real deal.”

In the world of digital marketing, every company faces one significant disadvantage – the lack of tangibility. Customers may enjoy the advantage of shopping from the comforts of their home or taking a quick shopping break during their office lunch hours, but they miss the good old practice of judging the quality of products through touch and feel. Many brands are now thinking about giving away promotional products to increase their market presence and boost their tangibility.

Answer this question honestly – are you using a branded promotional pen in office? If not, do you have branded coasters, journals and promotional t-shirts at home? Every 21^st-century shopper has a myriad of branded promotional products in their wardrobes and cabinets. Promotional products boost the visibility of a brand. According to a Forbes study, the brand recollection rate for promotional products in New York City is almost 85%. It is incredibly higher than the recollection rate of banner ads and print ads. Print ads are everywhere in NYC, and that contributes to the significantly low brand recall. Promotional products in NYC help in planting the seeds of curiosity and interest that prompt the recipient to search the brand later. When a person wears or uses a promotional product, the average passersby and the co-workers take notice. It prompts the other people to search the brand as well.

What are the advantages of promotional products?

In a world of online stores and service websites, personal touch has become crucial for almost every customer. Promotional products can help you reach out to your consumer groups better than any online campaign and paid advertisement campaigns your competitors have launched –

Improved market reach – Most importantly, these promotional products empower a brand by creating the perception of high value among the recipients. When a business buys promotional products in bulk, they invest a nominal amount. However, the recipients are not aware of this small investment.
Building dedicated groups of customers – When the consumers receive a complementary product with a touch of personalization, they are likely to believe that the products are expensive.
Improved brand reputation – Research shows that giving away promotional products of standard quality and a touch of personalization boosts the reputation of a brand.
Increases the credibility – Customers are likely to view the brand and its products with improved reliability. The small touch of tangibility can go a long way to establish a mark of quality for any new brand operating online or launching a new storefront in New York.

Why is working with experienced marketing professionals imperative for promotional marketing campaigns?

If you step into any doctor’s office in NYC or visit the average middle-class home, you will notice tens of different branded promotional products. The chances are that you have been using a promotional product like that for weeks without even realizing it. It can be a coffee mug, coaster, pen, notepad or mouse pad. Why is it that some promotional products blend right in with the rest, but only a few stand out amidst the clutter? The answer is customization. The key to drawing the right kind of attention to your promotional products is by customizing them adequately. Anyone can stand on the corner of the road and give out pens and coasters, but the brand that can leverage the products to establish their identity have chances of reaching their target demographic.

The right colors, logos and identifiers play significant roles in reaching the target market. If you are thinking about launching your promotional campaign, you need to visit the best promotional product design company in NYC for guidance. Consumer psychology plays an integral role in the selection of product types, colors and logo typefaces. Thus, always ensure that you have a strong marketing team by your side while beginning the initial phases of planning.

Promotional products boost the “aided” recall value of a brand. This principle of marketing leverages a simple trait of customer psychology. When a consumer receives a free product, he or she will use it for a few days. For example – you receive a complimentary pen or umbrella from your go-to stationary brand or outdoor accessories brand. You are likely to use these articles till they last and if you enjoy the product quality, you are highly likely to seek out the same brands when you are in the store the next time. By using promotional products, any brand can increase their impact on their target consumer groups. They can improve their aided and subsequent unaided recall, as well as improve their market presence over time.

Local Branding

Top 5 Tips to Be a Successful Contractor Entrepreneur

Steven on February 8, 2019

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If you are a general contractor or you are a small contractor business owner and want to be a successful entrepreneur on your business line, here are some tips you can follow to help you achieve the success you want for your business.

Like what you do

Like any other job, it is better to do something you like, if you love fixing things, building things, remodeling, if you enjoy working with your hands and you can look with pride at the result of your work, you will not dread going to work every day.

Enjoying what you do comes across to your clients, they will notice how happy you are doing your job, which will give them confidence in you, if you follow this and the rest of the tips on this list, you will probably have a client for life, and that client will generate more clients for you, as the client will recommend you to friends and family, even co-workers. Of course, you should not only rely on referrals for getting more clients, investing in publicity, marketing in your area, social media ads, is always good. Have cards printed with your name, your business name, phone number, email and business hours, so the client can know when you are available and when and where they can reach you

Have good customer service

Having excellent customer service can mean a lot for your business, it will mean you will have a happy customer, if you have given your client your card, they will know when and how to reach you, but what happens when you are unreachable? Always have an extra person that can answer your clients questions, or if they cannot answer their questions they can reply to their email or call and let them know their email has been received and you will be getting back to them soon with an answer, or you will be getting the message that they called with questions and you will call them back as quickly as possible to solve any issues or questions they could have and your staff if not ready to answer.

As long as your client feels they are being taken care of, that they matter to you, and they are not left in limbo if they have a question, request or just need to reach you, your client should be happy and that should always be your aim, having satisfied customers, that will hire you again for any work they might need in the future.

Use good materials

When you want to do an excellent job like an artist you will not get a cheap paintbrush, bad quality paint, a lousy canvas, if you’re going to do a good job, one you can be proud of and that will make your clients happy, you need to invest in getting good materials. What is the point in fixing a pipe if you know in 2 days it will be leaking again? Do the best job you can do and with the best materials available to you, if the pipe has a leak that requires you to replace a length of pipe do so, do not just patch up a whole and hope for the best, replace that piece of faulty pipe with a good quality pipe, use the best adhesive for the job, fix the hole you made on the wall to get to that pipe so that the fix is unnoticeable. Be a perfectionist with what you do and with the materials you use. That will guarantee your job will hold and last, and your client will notice you are professional and responsible and that your work stands the test of time.

Have insurance

Even if you have years of experience in this branch but have just decided to start to your own business, or if this is a new venture in which you are not that experienced, no one is free of unexpected situations, so to save your company from potential bankruptcy from an accident caused to the client or another third party, a mistake while doing your job, a lawsuit resulting from a dissatisfied customer, or what they may feel was misleading advertisement. You may think you only need contractor’s general liability insurance, but you may benefit from having a commercial auto insurance policy as well, as your auto policy will not cover you if you use your car to go to work sites, or transport materials or tools, or has any sort of logo for your business on it. You could also benefit from inland marine insurance coverage that covers your tools and equipment, and it is always a wise investment to have workers compensation insurance coverage for your most valuable assets, your workers.

Keep your Schedule and Budget

Another way to be a successful contractor entrepreneur is to give your clients strict schedules of when the work will be completed and a Budget as an accurate as possible as well. Contractor has the unfortunate name of always being behind on their Schedule and delivery dates, if you want to set your business apart and then make yourself known for being on time with your Schedule, we all know there are unforeseen delays that may happen, but when you are planning for a project make sure to have the materials you are going to need to be ordered as ahead as possible, make sure you will have enough or a little extra in case some mistakes are made you won´t need to reorder the product. If your specialist in drywall calls in sick unexpectedly make sure you have someone that can do the job as well, and the right way, as it will take you longer to have it taken down and redone. Always make sure you have the right tools on site, all the materials needed, a place to store them safely and reliable workers. Being on time and the schedule will earn you a good name and reputation with your clients and good reviews from them.

Digital Branding Local Branding

Email Marketing Errors That You Should Avoid

Steven on February 4, 2019

If you are going to send an email, make sure you are not making these mistakes.

You are likely convinced of the advantages of email marketing. You may even have launched several email campaigns, but the results have not been what you expected. It is true that email marketing is a very effective technique, but to obtain benefits, you must avoid the mistakes that will lead you to failure.

Email marketing is a communication technique that uses email to increase sales, maintain regular contact with potential or current customers and improve their loyalty level. Email marketing uses email as a communication channel to send commercial (or non-commercial) information in bulk to the target audience, using tools such as MailChimp or Doppler. Email marketing campaigns have excellent results in terms of increased traffic, positive response from potential and real customers and, most importantly, the number of conversions. But, of course, it’s not just about sending emails, but there’s a lot of work behind it. By avoiding the errors listed in this article, you will improve your email campaigns. So if you are convinced that the time has come to increase sales of your business thanks to email marketing, these are the errors that you should avoid when sending an email:

1. Not having a strategy

If you have already started sending emails and you do not have a strategy, you are making a serious mistake. The first thing to do first is to plan a strategy that is integrated into the overall Digital Marketing strategy. When making this strategy, you must be clear about who you are targeting and what your objectives are. Once you have defined your target and defined a clear objective, which can be to increase traffic to your website, sell a service or increase your leads, it is time to plan the rest of the strategy. This is the only path that leads to success if you are going to do email marketing.

2. Sending the emailing to everyone

You should not send a mail to contact that is not a value lead or corresponds to your target. This is possible if you buy a database, an illegal practice and also very ineffective. It is better to write to 100 people that are interested in your service than 1000 strangers who you do not know anything about them. You should not forget that you cannot send commercial emails to anyone who has not explicitly given your permission. Not only is it illegal, but you will only get to the spam mailbox and scare away customers. The reality is that you must earn every contact and although it is an arduous job, it has a great reward, because each new subscriber has real possibilities of becoming a client. To attract quality leads, you can launch several actions such as offering exclusive content, a webinar, giving away an ebook or whitepaper, etc.

3. Not segmenting the database before sending the emails

Once you have managed to create your own database, it is time to segment. Do not forget that your subscribers do not have the same interests and therefore you should not treat them all the same. If you do not do a good segmentation your emails will reach the wrong people, waste time and resources and get a bad reputation that will negatively influence your brand image. This is why segmentation is one of the keys to the success of an email campaign. Imagine that you have a clothing store and you are going to make an email announcing that women’s clothing is 50% during that week. It is best to segment your database to address women between 15 and 50 years old. If this same e-mail arrives, for example, to a 23-year-old man, he will most likely ignore it or even mark it as spam.

4. Not having an attractive subject

Most experts agree that when making an email, the subject is even more important than the email itself. It is the first thing that is seen and most likely decides whether or not to open the email. For this reason, it is important to work it thoroughly. The subject should reflect the main benefit that the recipients will get and should also arouse curiosity enough to want to open the email. It is advisable to use direct, attractive and creative phrases.

5. Lack of regard for your subscribers

At first, it is easy to think of subscribers as numbers and not as people, but this is a mistake that you can easily avoid. Always keep in mind that one of those subscribers could be you and treat them as you would like them to treat you. Do not forget to keep frequent communication with them, but do not overwhelm them with too many emails. If your subscribers are too long without knowing about you, they will forget your existence and by the time you write them again, they will have looked for others to cover their needs. The ideal is an email a week or every 15 days.

6. Sending only promotional content

Do not spam your contacts. It should be a digital marketing mantra. You are convinced that your product or service is the best and it is logical that you want to share your promotions with all your potential clients, but first, you must earn their trust. Your emails should not be all promotional, as this will only push customers away. Email marketing is a powerful sales tool, but only if you use it correctly. When implementing email marketing strategy, it is vital to be very clear that it is necessary to give before receiving and, for this reason, I recommend that most of your emails (about 80%) are not commercial, but they add value to the potential client. There are many things you can offer: discounts, gifts, courses, an ebook, valuable content. This way you will gain credibility and when you send a commercial email, your potential clients will be much more receptive.

These are some of the email marketing strategy errors that you should avoid achieving success in your campaign.

Author Bio

Harnil Oza is a CEO of Hyperlink InfoSystem, a mobile app development company based in USA & India having a team of best app developers who deliver best mobile solutions mainly on Android and iOS platform. He regularly contributes his knowledge on the leading blogging sites.

Local Branding

The Top 10 PC Displays – Everything You Need to Know

Steven on January 31, 2019

These days there are various brands available in the market which provide different types of computers and all its related to components like monitors, CPUs, displays and many more. So, the main thing is that which is the best brand the deals in computers and all other PC related process. Users need to select the best and appropriate brand out of all brands that are present. It is because making use of the best quality product or you can say branded product provide the users with the best and valuable experience.

As you know that there are thousands of sites present online that deals with computers and all other computer related components or accessories. These computers and all other parts related to computers are available in the market and are also on many online sources. So, people free to buy them according to their choice and comfort level. Not only is this, the sites which deal in computers and computer-related parts include all brands like Samsung, Asus, Lenovo, and L.G.

So, all the people and users need to do is they have to do a little research and then find out the best brand of which they want to buy the computer parts or even a computer also. People can buy Pcandparts LG, according to their choice. These four are the top-most brand and reputed brands, so one must only pay more attention to these brands if they want to buy the quality computer or all other PC related parts and components.

Go through the top best PC displays

Well, there are some best and quality PC displays present, and also people require the vision to know which brand’s PC display they require. Knowing everything properly about the needs before going to buy the PC display help people in buying the best quality and appropriate PC display under reasonable rates.

Mentioned below are some main and top PC displays, and about them, people also know each and every single thing properly –

BenQ PD3200U
Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
LG 34UC79G-B
Acer Predator X34
AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition
Dell UltraSharp UP3218K
BenQ EX3203R
Alienware 25
BenQ Zowie XL2540
HP Omen X 35

So, these the top 10 most used and branded PC displays. One should pay more attention to these brands and PC displays. There are also some other brands like Samsung and Acer, etc. So, people should consider the brand properly before going to buy the quality PC display and also when they buy any other part related to computer.

Final words

In a nutshell, it is essential for people to do more focus on the things which are mentioned above. The more and more people make use of these things the easier they get the best quality and appropriate PC display and also an affordable price. Individuals also need to get assistance from the reviews which are provided by various sites online. These reviews help people in getting all the essential information regarding the best brands that deal with computers and its accessories.

Local Branding

5 Simple Tweaks to Make Your Next Conference More Attractive

Steven on January 28, 2019

Ticket sales are down and you’re scratching your head to figures out what needs to change to improve the situation…sound familiar?

Well in reality it could be a whole number of things and to truly find the source you need to monitor the various aspects, i.e. what is your reach? If you’re getting in front of the right people in the right volumes and you’re still struggling to sell tickets, then you could definitely benefit from making some tweaks to your conference package.

Moreover, if your conference has been running for some years and you’re not seeing a good percentage of returning delegates, there is definitely a problem here to address.

Understanding Audience

Before you go about revamping your conference, its worth spending some time taking stock and working out the areas which are contributing to your current situation.

Above all else, it’s vital to know what your audience needs, how they operate, how the conference would significantly benefit them and where to reach them.

A great question to ask yourself is – why would anyone want to make the financial investment to attend this conference? What will they gain specifically?

Increased Choice

The more flexibility you can offer potential attendees, the more likely they are to attend your event. This is because people are innately different, meaning one offering will only be attractive to some. Therefore, broadening your options for attendance with greatly improve the chances of someone deciding to attend or not.

For example, you could offer a range of access options, so delegates can pay for tickets to attend certain ‘zones’ or ‘sections’ of your conference rather than just a single ticket to attend the whole event. Now, if you’re thinking this sounds like a logistical nightmare – with the support of ID card software, you can easily track and manage your delegates whereabouts, without draining your resources.

In order to decide which ticket options, you should offer, its worth first spending some time researching why some of your audience haven’t attended your conference and also look at any competitors and what they offer – this will help inform your decisions.

Unique Aspects

Thinking outside the box can pay dividends when it comes to event ticket sales, having unique elements as part of your conference package will help set you apart from the rest.

Get creative and really go to town on the possibilities. For example, just because its not a wellness event, it doesn’t mean you couldn’t a relaxation corner where attendees can get massages and other treatments.

Ultimately, if you can provide a valuable and memorable experience, where people leave having gained something, they will return and they will tell others. In time, you won’t need to spend much time on reaching out to your potential customers as they will be coming to find you! How good would that be?

Freebies

People love a freebee! Offer as many as possible, from free Wi-Fi, to free food and alcohol all will go down extremely well with your attendees. After all, who wants to pay for a ticket only to have to pay even more once you’re through the door.

However, don’t go overboard, remember you still need to make a profit! Instead focus on areas which will add the most value and be most sort after.

Reduce Negatives

Another aspect which could significantly improve the attractiveness of your conference is to avoid doing the classic things that put people off.

What puts people off most?… Excessive spammy’ emails!

When it comes to communications, a less is more approach is advisable. Aim each to be engaging and achieve a purpose. Keep them succinct and purposeful.

Local Branding SaaS Branding

4 Brick and Mortar Stores That Prove Physical Retail Isn’t Dead

Steven on January 23, 2019

Many people nowadays believe that retail is dead or dying. Since most consumers shop online, there’s really no need for brick and mortar stores, is there? That’s quite wrong actually. Sure, shopping online is more convenient and oftentimes cheaper but there are factors online shopping simply cannot provide. For instance, you’d want to try on the clothes or the shoes to make sure they fit and look good on you before you actually buy them.

What’s more, you’d want to see and try out a product to make sure it suits your needs before you order it. People tend to take things for granted. Just because people prefer to shop from home doesn’t mean there’s no need for retail. As a matter of fact, the retail industry is still pretty much alive and kicking with no signs of going out of business any time soon. In addition, people still prefer to visit brick and mortar stores whenever they can. That being said, here are a few brick and mortar stores that prove physical retail isn’t dead.

T.J. Maxx speed to market

T.J. Maxx or TJX is an American retail store that specializes in selling products at generally lower prices than other competitors. That alone is a unique selling proposition but that’s not the key feature TJX has to offer. What is it that makes TJX retail stores so appealing? It’s speed to market and empowering consumer decisions. As a matter of fact, TJX allows customers to cut deals on the spot.

What’s more, TJX renews its inventory as often as every 24 hours, meaning they constantly have a new assortment in the stores every day. TJX has well-over 3,800 physical stores in place with a goal of reaching 5,600 stores worldwide. Furthermore, their profits and revenue have been on the rise for the past 33 quarters in a row. The key takeaway here is that customers know that if they find something good in the store, it won’t be there tomorrow, so they buy on the spot.

A unique experience from Apple

Apple’s takeaway on consumers experiencing the product before buying it has led this company to open more and more retail stores. As a matter of fact, two-thirds of Apple’s revenue comes from its retail stores with the highest sales-per-square-foot in the retail industry. If you visit various Apple store locations, you’ll quickly realize as to why this company is betting big on retail.

That being said, Apple designed its in-store experience and trained their staff to provide mobile check-out with a focus on building relationships with customers and adding value to their lives instead of just sell them a product. Apple has over 500 stores worldwide but they also continue to innovate. Apple plans on improving its in-store experience by improving the hardware, software and architecture of its stores. Some stores now include a boardroom for the community and even a town square for bigger stores. Apple also plans on replacing around 35 stores with new ones each year.

Kuwaii’s strong values

Kuwaii is a fashion retailer based in Melbourne, Australia. They are focused on developing and designing top quality attire and footwear that’s made to last, which is the opposite of today’s fast fashion trends. Kuwaii’s first location opened in Brunswick, Melbourne in 2012 and the company doubled its size. They later opened yet another store in 2014 and doubled their business once again. How did they do it exactly? According to the Kuwaii’s owner, Kristy Barber, the secret lies in strong values and the local community.

Kuwaii’s key takeaway is that their items are created by hard-to-find artists and creators. Kuwaii supports and collaborates with artists and other brands by hosting sales and other events for them. Kuwaii also prefers to tell stories behind individual pieces of clothing and how they came to be. The fact of the matter is that you can attract consumers who relate to your values but only if you stick to your values at all times.

Books@One’s sense of community

If anyone can prove physical retail isn’t dead then it’s a retail bookstore. With the rise of digital formats, such as eBooks, people would think that hard-copy books will soon die out. However, every true book fan knows that nothing can replace paper when it comes to books, no matter how convenient eBooks might be. Books@One, a brick and mortar bookstore based in Ireland, is very well aware of how important books are.

Their goal is to not just sell books but create a sense of community where people can participate in events or simply sit down and enjoy a book while they sip coffee and chat with others. Their community-based initiative has the potential to change Ireland according to The Irish Times. For their takeaway on customer experience, Books@One owners Brid Conroy and Neil Paul said: “We’re creating an atmosphere where people engage with books in a communal way again.”

People are social beings, which means they need human interactions every now and then. Retail stores are there for when you want an experience you simply cannot have in the online world. That reason alone proves that brick and mortar stores aren’t going to die anytime soon.

Local Branding

Why Is 360 Degree Appraisal Tool Important?

Steven on January 17, 2019

Many people talk about the round 360 degrees appraisal these days, but if one looks back, this very concept began much earlier in the 1940s. This particular method is mainly used so that each and every employee of a particular company can get the equal opportunity to get a good performance feedback from the staff members, managers, supervisors and colleagues.

This is also a kind of multi-source feedback process and it is used as a proper assessment tool which is completely based on the performance of an individual. It can thus easily gather up all the feedback from the ones who are affected the performance of an individual in a particular job. So, it is very much essential to do this round about thing every year.

There are many companies which try to avoid this 360 degree employee evolution because this tool and process has a lot of complexity. There are a few chances that in case of 360 degree feedbacks there can be some misunderstandings. If that happens, then it is not a good thing. But at the same time, this 360 degree performance appraisal is a very powerful tool which can be used by a company so that the employees who work there can enhance their performances depending on the feedback they get.

There are some practical ways to do this thing so that the company or a business can benefit from this particular 360 degree feedback.

The primary thing is that, it easily opens the channel for more communication. When a company goes for an annual practice of using 360 degree feedback program on their employees, it also opens the passage of some rich communication problems and as a result of it, the problems that have been questioned and addresses can be easily resolved. As a result, the companies end up communicating effectively with the employees and bring out the best in them.
Also the employees can get some major feedbacks from their managers, supervisors, fellow colleagues and even from the subordinates by which they can rectify themselves. As a result of getting this peer feedback every year they try to better themselves which in turn brings profit and good to the organization.
Due to this feedback process, the team members can easily talk about each other and give their personal feedbacks and so in turn it creates a sense of accountability. This brings in some honest and open communications which clears up a lot of misunderstandings and the team can work as a transparent group which is very important for a company to flourish.
The company can also look after the feedback results and then decide how and on which field an employee needs to work more so that they can become more efficient. The company can introduce some training sessions as well if they see they need some in particular areas so that it can do more good to the company.

Why this is very powerful?

This entire feedback thing might sound complicated, but it is actually a very powerful process as it helps the leader of any team to get aligned with their subordinates. It caters in authentic team work and keeps the process going of continuous learning. It also develops the personal and company awareness at many levels. It helps one in continuous learning and the company discovers some truths in this process and can have a clear idea on where they stand in the market as an organization.

Find the right tool

This particular tool is very easy to fill and one requires very minimal technical skills in order to fill this up. The company can very easily set up the survey in the employees computers and from there one can fill up the things that ate needed to be filled up. But just like any other tools, this particular thing also has to be installed with the help of some trained professionals in order to stay away from any kind of technical glitch and complexities.

Once all the appraisals have been submitted, the company can easily get out the printed reports. These detailed reports are the thing that the company needs every year to bring improvements in the organization.

Many people may think that this appraisal process is a kind of performance review but that is not the fact. This particular thing has to be done mainly for the benefit of the company. This 360 degree performance appraisal is definitely not a way to measure the objectives and performances. It is also not a way to determine whether the employees are doing their hob correctly or whether they are meeting the basic requirements. This is not a tool which is focused on some job specific skills and basic technicalities. If this can be carefully implemented then this process can give the company and very proper and refreshing lift. It also adds to the advantage of the company’s competitive mode in the market. But the company has to be very clear when they are implementing this tool so that the experience remains hassle free and so that they can get all the proper feedback accurately.

When a company is thinking of implementing this 360 degree feedback process then they have to make sure that they have a proper and a very strong management system. A proper 360 degree performance reviews can also be used as a conjunction with one another for a powerful development of the company.

This is a much-tested tool and when a company is thinking of installing this particular tool, they need to go for the ones which are tried and tested. There are many formats available when it comes to these kinds of round appraisal things and one needs to pick the right one for their company. If the tool is not tested well then it can create much complications and problems which will not be good for the sake of the company. So one needs to do proper research before installing the right tool and use it.

Digital Branding Local Branding

Importance of Protecting Your Brand

Steven on January 15, 2019

As a business owner, nothing is as important as protecting your identity. In a world where competition can be fierce, you can’t afford to let your guard down. Businesses spend a lot of time and money on developing their brand that they’re willing to fight tooth and nail when they see their branding being used without their consent.

Like any business asset, your brand is something that needs protecting, too. Here are the reasons why it’s important for you to protect your brand:

Increases Your Value

A brand that’s treated with importance will reflect in its value. If you fail to protect your brand, it loses its value, and any entrepreneur knows that a brand with a low value is perceived to be cheap and unreliable. For example, when another business uses your brand identity such as your logo on a subpar product, customers will eventually associate that product to you. If you didn’t secure your brand such as trademarking your logo, you could potentially lose your business because you don’t have any legal standing over that logo.

Here’s how you can protect your brand and its value:

Trademarking – One of the best ways to protect your intellectual property assets is by trademarking them. You can trademark your logo, slogan, designs, and even words associated with your brand as this will give you legal backing. It will also enable you to use the trademark symbol “®” in your assets.
File a patent for your products – If you’re in the US, you can file for a trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The application will take a few months and will be examined by a lawyer for compliance. Before submitting your documents, be sure to check the USPTO database if you have similarities with other applicants. Different countries have different copyright laws; register where your company is located. If you’re operating internationally, prioritize which territory you want to register in.
Include an intellectual property clause on your website agreement – This clause is essential if your business operates mainly on the web or if you have a mobile application. A provision on your Terms and Condition Agreement (T&C) protects your brand from users who are looking to copy your brand or use your content elsewhere. Always remember to add a copyright notice and use the copyright symbol too.

Increases Brand Awareness

With millions of companies vying for consumers’ attention, your brand needs to stand out. Advertisements are everywhere from search engines and social media and even while playing games. Consumers are bombarded with promotions on a daily basis, which is why it’s crucial for your business to stand out. However, when you don’t take care of your brand, how can you expect other people to care about it?

Here is how you increase brand awareness while still protecting your brand:

When partnering with influencers or other businesses, make sure they have a stellar reputation. Someone with a bad reputation will tarnish your brand, and it may be difficult for you to recover.
Be vigilant on where your branding materials are being used by using intellectual property management software.
If you can afford it, hire intellectual property lawyers who can effectively draft contracts and policies for you.
Know when to walk away when an existing partner no longer shares the same brand principles as yours as this can lower awareness in the long run.
Be sure to put your branding in every piece of content or product you produce.

Sets You Apart

More than having increased brand recognition, protecting your brand can help set you apart from competitors. Moreover, it will help consumers attach a specific feeling or experience with your brand. In essence, your brand is the personality of your business.

Take, for example, luxury brands. These brands intentionally make their slogans and promotional materials seem exclusive because that’s how they want people to see them. They are always careful with how they present their brand and they offer a distinct experience. The mere possession of these luxury brands can let people know the product owner’s social status. This is the reason why the knockoff business is a billion-dollar industry.

If you protect your brand, people will intentionally associate a certain level of distinction with your business. Although, in some cases, the association can be unintentional, such as the case of online customer reviews on blogs and other websites. However, if you’re always on top of your branding and you treat your brand as a valuable asset, you can remedy any negative association with it.

Conclusion

Your brand is your image to your customers, and establishing a recognizable brand is a road that’s long and full of challenges. The best way to ensure your business succeeds is by protecting your brand from infringement and thieves looking to capitalize on your reputation. Legal battles should always be your last option as these things can drag on for years. Being proactive in protecting your brand and understanding its importance to your business is the best way to secure your success.