Blogging is a trend on the rise. It was just a few years ago that people started to post their opinions on the web about anything and everything by writing a personal blog. Now, more and more companies and their CEO’s are posting blogs, exciting consumers about new products, services, events, or just getting them caught up on industry related news.
Here at Brand Iron, we too keep a weekly blog, written by everyone from the president to the interns to help keep our customers informed. Recently, we came across this story on NBC Nightly News-hear what the “experts” say about blogging and how you can utilize blogging to help promote your company.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Survival of the Fittest
As gas prices hit over $4.00 nationally and the economy continues to fall, it is inevitable that people and companies are struggling. That said, it is even more vital to measure yourself against your competition, ensuring your current efforts are properly focused to set yourself and your company up for a strong second half of the year. Unfortunately, we are currently in an arduous game of survival of the fittest, and it is time to focus your marketing efforts.
While this conversation is a continuous topic internally, I was pleasantly surprised to find a new client that had the same ideas. I was in a planning session the other day and our client communicated that their industry was experiencing a slow-down given the economy and being that we are in the middle of the summer. They realized that it was the perfect time to position and brand themselves against their competition in order to separate themselves from the herd. This client wanted to take advantage of the current situation in which, a fair amount of companies are pulling back their spending. Our client wants to step it up and set themselves up for a strong fall and second half of the year, as well as prepare for 2009. Needless to say, I agreed with this client, and was refreshed at their goals and strategy to step up their game.
We are halfway through the year, an excellent time to review your yearly goals and objectives. See what is working, what’s not, and what needs to be adjusted in order for you to keep things going strong, maintain, or try to catch up. Going strong is the key phrase, while playing the game of catch up seems to be the reality for too many companies today.
A perfect example of the “catch up game,” was when American Airlines and United announced they were going to charge $15 and $25 respectively, for checking bags. While these airlines are trying to play catch-up, Southwest is focusing its efforts on marketing, sales and operations to boost sales and keep customers happy. They are responding directly to the competition and the consumer by announcing that they aren't charging premiums for extra baggage and rising fuel costs.
The summer is a slower period and many people take time off, thus creating a great opportunity to not only look at your goals, but figure out how you can position yourself against the competition. Take advantage of the tough times and really separate your company from the herd by communicating your key differences and why you are a better choice than the competition.
Now is the time to evaluate, focus, and take advantage to be the fittest. If your company wants to be around when the economy turns around, call Brand Iron today.
written by Michael Doyle, President of Brand Iron
While this conversation is a continuous topic internally, I was pleasantly surprised to find a new client that had the same ideas. I was in a planning session the other day and our client communicated that their industry was experiencing a slow-down given the economy and being that we are in the middle of the summer. They realized that it was the perfect time to position and brand themselves against their competition in order to separate themselves from the herd. This client wanted to take advantage of the current situation in which, a fair amount of companies are pulling back their spending. Our client wants to step it up and set themselves up for a strong fall and second half of the year, as well as prepare for 2009. Needless to say, I agreed with this client, and was refreshed at their goals and strategy to step up their game.
We are halfway through the year, an excellent time to review your yearly goals and objectives. See what is working, what’s not, and what needs to be adjusted in order for you to keep things going strong, maintain, or try to catch up. Going strong is the key phrase, while playing the game of catch up seems to be the reality for too many companies today.
A perfect example of the “catch up game,” was when American Airlines and United announced they were going to charge $15 and $25 respectively, for checking bags. While these airlines are trying to play catch-up, Southwest is focusing its efforts on marketing, sales and operations to boost sales and keep customers happy. They are responding directly to the competition and the consumer by announcing that they aren't charging premiums for extra baggage and rising fuel costs.
The summer is a slower period and many people take time off, thus creating a great opportunity to not only look at your goals, but figure out how you can position yourself against the competition. Take advantage of the tough times and really separate your company from the herd by communicating your key differences and why you are a better choice than the competition.
Now is the time to evaluate, focus, and take advantage to be the fittest. If your company wants to be around when the economy turns around, call Brand Iron today.
written by Michael Doyle, President of Brand Iron
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Using the Web to Get Ahead
"Gee, I really think this whole 'internet' and 'world wide web' thing is going to be huge someday." - Josh Barker, Brand Wrangler, Brand Iron, July 2008
Of course this may be the understatement of the century. Currently, we are evaluating web presence for nearly 75% of our client base. There are many different ways in today’s economy to create web presence without stretching your budget thinner than it already is. Brand Iron suggests four simple and cost-effective ways to create an online strategy for your company.
1. Social Networking
Many of you notice your kids using social networks such as Facebook and MySpace, but did you know that industry professionals are utilizing those sites for marketing purposes? These sites are free of charge and are a great tool to leverage when trying to expand your partner network or get some buzz surrounding your business. For the more business-savvy professional, Linked In is a site devoted completely to the business world and your immediate connection to thousands of like-minded professionals in various industries.
2. Blogging
Keeping a blog tied to your company’s website is an easy way to make a larger presence on the web which will in turn boost organic search results of your company. When it comes to searches, the more words that you have “tagged” to your blog, the more it comes up in search engine results. By keeping your blog consistently updated with fresh articles and topics, you will in turn draw more traffic to your site.
3. Interactive Web Applications
Using interactive web applications is a hassle-free way to keep in front of prospects and current clients. For example, a WOWget (by Madden Media) is an application that Brand Iron is set to utilize in the near future. The WOWget allows the user to post video to his/her website and then link it to a MySpace, Facebook, or a Blog page. This is an interactive video that users can view through many different mediums.
4. Google AdWords
When on a tight budget, why not use advertising that will adhere to the guidelines you set? Google AdWords allows the advertiser to set a limit on how much is spent daily on their advertising. When a key word is searched through Google, ads appear on the right hand side of the screen. These advertisers specifically chose their ad to display when that key word is searched. Google keeps track of all of the click throughs to your sight each day, and when the budget number is met that day, say $10, Google does not post your ad on the right hand side of the screen. Each click through is cost dependent on the key word.
Here’s how it works…
- User searches a key word
- Ad is displayed on the right side of the screen
- User clicks through the ad
- Advertiser is charged for the click through
- Once the click through limit is reached ($10), Google no longer places the advertiser’s ad on the side bar
These are just a few ways to stay under budget and in the face of your prospects and customers in a tight economy. Contact us to learn about all of the cost effective ways to market and advertise while on a strict budget.
written by Nicole Salerno, Junior Brand Wrangler, Brand Iron
Of course this may be the understatement of the century. Currently, we are evaluating web presence for nearly 75% of our client base. There are many different ways in today’s economy to create web presence without stretching your budget thinner than it already is. Brand Iron suggests four simple and cost-effective ways to create an online strategy for your company.
1. Social Networking
Many of you notice your kids using social networks such as Facebook and MySpace, but did you know that industry professionals are utilizing those sites for marketing purposes? These sites are free of charge and are a great tool to leverage when trying to expand your partner network or get some buzz surrounding your business. For the more business-savvy professional, Linked In is a site devoted completely to the business world and your immediate connection to thousands of like-minded professionals in various industries.
2. Blogging
Keeping a blog tied to your company’s website is an easy way to make a larger presence on the web which will in turn boost organic search results of your company. When it comes to searches, the more words that you have “tagged” to your blog, the more it comes up in search engine results. By keeping your blog consistently updated with fresh articles and topics, you will in turn draw more traffic to your site.
3. Interactive Web Applications
Using interactive web applications is a hassle-free way to keep in front of prospects and current clients. For example, a WOWget (by Madden Media) is an application that Brand Iron is set to utilize in the near future. The WOWget allows the user to post video to his/her website and then link it to a MySpace, Facebook, or a Blog page. This is an interactive video that users can view through many different mediums.
4. Google AdWords
When on a tight budget, why not use advertising that will adhere to the guidelines you set? Google AdWords allows the advertiser to set a limit on how much is spent daily on their advertising. When a key word is searched through Google, ads appear on the right hand side of the screen. These advertisers specifically chose their ad to display when that key word is searched. Google keeps track of all of the click throughs to your sight each day, and when the budget number is met that day, say $10, Google does not post your ad on the right hand side of the screen. Each click through is cost dependent on the key word.
Here’s how it works…
- User searches a key word
- Ad is displayed on the right side of the screen
- User clicks through the ad
- Advertiser is charged for the click through
- Once the click through limit is reached ($10), Google no longer places the advertiser’s ad on the side bar
These are just a few ways to stay under budget and in the face of your prospects and customers in a tight economy. Contact us to learn about all of the cost effective ways to market and advertise while on a strict budget.
written by Nicole Salerno, Junior Brand Wrangler, Brand Iron
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
