Give yourself a branding overhaul

By Montrie Rucker AdamsMarch 11, 2013 Blog branding, email, slogan, social media, tagline, website

Do you need a branding overhaul? Does your branding really showcase who you are and what you offer? Now is the time to sit back and see how “visible” you are to yourself – you are the customer.

A lot of people think branding is just creating a logo, having business cards and a website. But what do these things really say about you.

Branding is a big package and in it should be all the things representative of you, your style, your products and services. So… if you are the customer, how do you feel about these things?

Business documents

How do you look on paper? If you are the customer, can you appreciate the materials you hand out? Is your logo and artwork aesthetically pleasing and visible on your business cards, stationery, envelopes, brochures, and other business documents? Are they well written and clearly defines who you are and the services you provide.

Will you communicate electronically? Do you have electronic versions of your paper products?

Your Email

Do you have an electronic business card you can place in your footer? If not, have you set up your Automatic Signature that appears after your email (i.e., your name, company name, address, telephone numbers, website and email address)?

Your Website

Review your website. Is your logo and artwork appropriately placed and visually pleasing? Other things to look for:

Do you have a tagline, slogan or catch-phrase that helps to reinforce your message?
Does it say who you are, what you do, what products and services you provide?
What about client testimonials…ones that can provide credibility to you and your business.
Do you have a way to share news, tips and other relevant information such as a blog?
Do you have a way for your visitors to share your information such as Share Buttons?
Do you have photos of past events, workshops, client projects?

Your Social Media Accounts

All of your social media accounts should have your logo, tagline and other relevant artwork, and color scheme. Different accounts give you different ways to customize your information.

Facebook Business Page – allows you to add a Logo and Cover Image.
Google+ – allows you to add a Logo and Cover Image
Twitter Business Account – allows you to add your logo, a header image, a custom background and use custom colors.
LinkedIn – allows you to add your company profile and use your logo.

Be consistent. Use the same images cross all social media accounts.

You should also be sure to create an account with a similar name as your business or tagline.

These are just a few of the important things to review during your branding overhaul. Make a weekend of it. Who knows… you may look one way on Friday and look a better way on Monday!

Should You Trademark Your Name, Logo or Tagline? [Video]

By Montrie Rucker AdamsNovember 14, 2012 Blog branding, copyright, logo, patent, registered trademark, tagline, trademark, uspto

I recently went through the process of trademarking our logo and tagline. It was a very tedious process! First we had to perform research to determine if there was already another company with our name and/or tagline. If so, there were several ways it could have been handled. One was to write a cease and desist letter. What ever the process, don’t consider trademarking unless you have legal counsel.

A trademark is a brand name. As defined by the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), a trademark or service mark includes any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used or intended to be used to identify and distinguish the goods/services of one seller or provider from those of others, and to indicate the source of the goods/services.

Although federal registration of a mark is not mandatory, it has several advantages. Three include: notice to the public of the registrant’s claim of ownership of the mark, legal presumption of ownership nationwide, and exclusive right to use the mark on or in connection with the goods/services listed in the registration.

The USPTO offers an online “Basic Facts” publication to assist the business owner in the registration process. It provides recommendations and step-by-step procedures on how to trademark your information. If you don’t know where to start, this is a great resource for download and review.

To get you started, the USPTO has developed several helpful videos.

Introduction to the USPTO and Trademark Basics

http://youtu.be/o4zwq6MEaKw

More videos listed here – http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/TMIN.jsp

Brand Your Company/Yourself

By Montrie Rucker AdamsNovember 5, 2012 Blog be more visible, branding, facebook, logo, tagline, twitter, website

A brand is who you are. It’s your statement. When you have a specific brand, it tells how you are different from your competitors. You could distinguish yourself by your low (or high) prices, impeccable service or the specialized products you offer. Your brand is your business at its core.

There are companies that specialize in helping other companies with branding. Following are a few ways you can begin to brand your company, however, do keep in mind that your brand is much more than a logo or tagline.

Design a creative logo. If you’re having a problem designing your own, consult a graphic designer. Short on cash? Try your local college or university’s art department. There are also websites that offer logos.
Create a memorable tagline. We created two – “making you more visible” and “never let them forget you.” Try to convey what your business does in seven or fewer words. Taglines create a simple and easy way to remember you. They also help to further explain what your company does – which you may not be able to do with just the name of your business.
Create your colors. Stick with them for a least a few years. Pepsi will always be red, white and blue. You know UPS because of their brown truck. They even have a commercial: “What can brown do for you?” It’s their brand. You know it when you see it. It’s universal around the world. Create your memorable brand so that you can be more visible.
Create a catchy outgoing phone message. Let them know all about you when they call. Instead of, “I’m away from my desk, please leave a message,” why not, “We’re the number one company in America that does what we do, and the winner of the 2010 We’re the Best Award.”
Create a website. You can create many sites without professional help. There are free templates and programs out there, so do your research. Ask other business associates how they developed their websites. If professional help is needed, seek a web designer. Every business needs a website. Start one now.
Design a business Facebook page and set up a Twitter account. Even if you have a website, a business Facebook page and Twitter can help keep your clients informed in real time. Many receive more views and can be more interactive and readily updateble than traditional websites. It’s OK to have all three.

If you need assistance in branding your business, call Visibility Marketing Inc. – we can certainly assist you on how to “be more visible.”