Blog > Branding

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Branding gives your audience a consistent experience across every touchpoint. Here we share insights and tips on how to ensure your brand resonates.

Group Therapy E5

Group Therapy E5- The power of your brand story

In this episode of Group Therapy, Katie Krongard, Associate Creative Director at Marq, sits down with Brett Barlow, CEO of Everee and former Chief Brand Officer at Pluralsight. They discuss why creatives need to build stronger partnerships with cross-functional teams by investing time into sharing brand initiatives internally while learning how to support their entire […]
Group Therapy E4

Group Therapy E4-Trends in Video Marketing

In this episode of Group Therapy, hosted by Marq, Chris Knudsen, former CMO at Purple, and Cole Parker, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Marq, discuss the state of video marketing and the obvious trends many brands are ignoring.
Collaboration Expand

How Does Collaboration Expand the Creative Process? 4 Tips on Practicing Creative Collaboration

Have you heard of the ‘lone genius’ myth? It’s the idea that the world’s greatest creatives – think Michelangelo, Einstein, or Steve Jobs – accomplished their artistic and technological feats by themselves. It can be an attractive myth, especially for creative and artistic types, but it doesn’t tell the full story behind these world-changing ideas. […]
Group Therapy E3

Group Therapy E3- How to keep your brand relevant when your business is constantly changing

In this chat with Adam Gunn, SVP of Brand at Pluralsight, and Cole Parker, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Marq, they discuss the dreaded “C” word… change. Adam shares his thoughts about how brand teams can stay ahead of the curve when businesses are always changing their strategy along with some other nuggets on brand […]
5 min

8 Software Training Tips for Introducing New Software to Your Team

It can be intimidating for a team leader to introduce new software to their team. You may understand the benefits, but they may be hesitant to abandon legacy software with which they are intimately familiar.  However, with the right training, you can create an effective learning environment that encourages software adoption and equips employees to […]
5 Tips for Mapping Your Creative Process

5 Tips for Mapping Your Creative Process

Creativity is a necessary component of any successful branding effort, but it is too often regarded as an elusive and intangible quality that is difficult to quantify and manage. But you don’t have to buy into the myth of the solitary genius working in mysterious ways. You can map and analyze creative processes to identify […]
6 Creative Processes You Can Template to Save Time
5 min

6 Creative Processes You Can Template to Save Time

As a creative marketing professional, you know how complicated and time-consuming creating and managing dozens of pieces of marketing content can be—especially when each one has custom details, brand design, and language standards, and often compliance requirements that must be implemented correctly. Making mistakes can hurt your client’s brand, not to mention your career. Templates […]
Unlocking Seamless
5 min

Unlocking Seamless Collaborations with Brand Guidelines

Collaboration is key for marketers and creative professionals. Whether it’s your internal team, contractors, or outside influencers you’re engaging with, a shared understanding of your brand ensures that everyone is on the same page. That’s why creating comprehensive branding guidelines with a clear brand style guide is so important for effective collaboration. Brand guidelines are […]
how to build a brand style guide
7 min

How to Build a Brand Style Guide + 7 Examples of What to Include | Marq

When you’re taking the first steps to build your brand, it can feel like a whole world of possibilities is at your fingertips. At the same time, trying to carve out a unique identity and space for your company can feel overwhelming. Trying to maintain consistency within your brand identity, stylistic choices, and big-picture vision […]
creative KPIs
6 min

10 Essential KPIs for Creative Teams and How to Track Them

“Art for art’s sake” was once a popular motto in the art and literature worlds. Creators wanted to make beautiful and meaningful work; whether anyone saw or appreciated it was a secondary concern.  In the marketing world, we’re also driven to create, but we have to be aware of our work’s cost and impact and […]
brand-strategy
6 min

How to build a brand marketing strategy from the ground up 

Sometimes, getting back to the basics can re-energize your team and help your organization find alignment across every initiative. As foundational as it may seem, even the savviest of businesses re-visit their brand marketing strategy often to ensure it is serving their products, customers, and long-term goals. In this article, you will learn the basics […]
Important and How to Achieve It
8 min

Brand Consistency : Why It’s Important and How to Achieve It | Marq

What Is Brand Consistency? Brand consistency is the practice of aligning your organization’s messaging, voice, and visual identity across all its channels. We know it matters, and we’d like to dive into just how much. Built atop a foundation of brand values and clever messaging, consistent branding makes you more recognizable to both new and existing […]
what is a brand template
5 min

What is a Brand Template?

The landscape for marketing and brands is constantly evolving, with market shifts that require your teams to operate with agility. The ecosystem for design and creative requests has stayed relatively consistent, resulting in more work for design teams in desperate need of a straightforward way to scale easily. The term “brand template” has been kicked around a […]
Most Common Creative Assets and Templates
6 min

Most Common Creative Assets and Templates

Become a creative enabler and powerhouse cross-functional partner that empowers your organization to run quickly, efficiently, and creatively. From foundational brand assets to creative templates everyone can use, we broke down the most common creative assets you should build for your organization. It’s important to focus on brand strategy templates, assets, and resources your organization […]
10 Brand Metrics To Evaluate Your Brand Marketing Strategy
9 min

10 Brand Metrics To Evaluate Your Brand Marketing Strategy

What about these words makes them unique: Coca-Cola, Apple, McDonald’s, Gucci, and Ikea? There’s nothing particularly striking about the words themselves. What makes them special is the associations they evoke and how we feel about them. We see a brand name and instantly associate it with colors, logos, flavors, products, reputations, memories, positive (or negative) […]
Brand Enablement Strategy
8 min

Why a Brand Enablement Strategy is Crucial to Your Brand Strategy | Marq

We’ve been kicking around the term “brand enablement,” and the lightning-bolt level of excitement we have about it is unmatched. We can’t help but think about the teams who often feel handicapped by their own brand. We consider the number of times content is produced that doesn’t align with brand initiatives, guidelines, or even strategy. […]
brand templating
17 min

How to Use Templates to Streamline Brand Management

Marketing and brand leaders everywhere obsess over the question: how can I most effectively manage my brand? Yet, most brand management solutions fail to provide business leaders with the answer to that question. Why? Because they don’t utilize the most precious resource, a company has to offer: its people.  In this article, we’ll walk through how brand templating […]
why is branding important
6 min

What is branding, and why is branding important?

If you Google “brand definition” you’ll find forty-three different attempts on just the first page of search results alone. There are so many competing misconceptions about what a brand is that it might be simpler to say what a brand is not: A brand is not a logo. A brand is not a name. A brand […]
does your product packaging tell your brand story
4 min

How does your product packaging tell your brand story?

Why did you start your business? We’re pretty sure it wasn’t because you wanted to sell one product every blue moon, or because you don’t care about the services you provide. Let’s be honest: We all want to make a difference, and we want to be recognized for delivering exceptional experiences. Without a positive reputation […]
a minimalist's guide to brand identity
5 min

The minimalist guide to brand identity

Like many things worth learning about these days, brand identity is a topic that sometimes gets so misconstrued and complex that the whole thing turns into a big meaningless fugazi. For some reason, a lot of designers seem to think that making their ideas about brand identity sound more complicated will in turn make them sound like they […]
7 tips to coordinate local & national franchise marketing
5 min

7 tips to coordinate local & national franchise marketing

As a franchisor or franchisee, you understand how important marketing is for your business. However, with marketing happening on both sides of the franchise, there can a fair amount of confusion that results in marketing that cannibalizes itself. Related: 4 keys to successful local marketing There are many methods to handle franchise marketing. Sometimes, the […]
5 brand personality examples and what you can learn from them
4 min

5 brand personality examples and what you can learn from them

Sometimes the best idea is the simplest one. That was certainly the case for the founder of J Dawgs, a Utah-based hot dog restaurant that recently opened its fifth location. One day, Jayson “J” Edwards, then an unfulfilled Asian Studies major, walked past an abandoned red shack in Provo, Utah, and decided that it would […]
How to create a business slogan
4 min

Business slogans 101: How to create a business slogan

With the right slogan, you can make people giggle at a pun, ponder the mysteries of the universe, or even experience a powerful craving. A poor slogan, on the other hand, risks making customers cringe. And forking over cash is usually the last thing someone wants to do after cringing. This post will give you […]
Apple build their brands with storytelling marketing
7 min

How Airbnb and Apple build their brands with storytelling marketing

We love stories. We use them to understand our world, to make connections with others, and to find meaning in our lives. Ever notice how, at a party with a lot of loud conversations, when someone starts getting into a great story, the conversation dies down and everyone turns to listen? That’s the power of […]
What is corporate branding, and are you ignoring it?
4 min

What is corporate branding, and are you ignoring it?

Put simply, the difference between corporate branding and product branding is that corporate branding represents an entire company and its complete portfolio of products, while product branding focuses on a single product. Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn is a product brand. ConAgra Foods is a corporate brand. Related: What is branding, and why is branding important? Let’s take a […]
The 8 best free magazines online for brand marketers
4 min

The 8 best free magazines online for brand marketers

Magazines have found new life on the web, where old brands have undergone a digital transformation to stay relevant and compete with myriad newcomers both fragile and nimble. A look at the newsstand might make one wonder where all the magazines have gone—but often, a simple Google search reveals the answer. Related: How to make […]
Why you should use mobile to build brand loyalty
4 min

Why you should use mobile to build brand loyalty

First it was smartphones, quickly followed by tablets and now smartwatches. The move towards mobile devices is quickening, and marketers are following suit. In 2016, they spent $101 billion on mobile internet ads worldwide, $40 billion in the U.S. alone. From 2013 to 2019, there will be an estimated tenfold increase in mobile advertising spending. Related: 10 […]
Rebranding questionnaire
4 min

Rebranding questionnaire: 19 questions to ask before you start [Webinar recap]

Physics is to Albert Einstein as branding is to David Brier. A walking, talking brand himself, David Brier graced our screens three weeks ago for a webinar that divulged the 19 questions every organization should ask before rebranding. I have to admit, I expected all the cliché questions: Who is our audience? What is our […]
7 branding mistakes your company should avoid
7 min

7 branding mistakes your company should avoid

Your brand is your promise, and it’s important that you build it thoughtfully and deliberately. A brand has never been successfully established by simply uploading a good-looking logo and writing a few lines on social platforms. To create a real identity, brands have to invest a lot of time and effort. There’s research to be […]
An 8-step brand development strategy
5 min

Brand building 101: An 8-step brand development strategy

Building a brand is easy to do. Building a strong, sucessful brand that stands the test of time, people, and competitors? Now that’s a different story. Here is an 8-step guide to building a brand development strategy. Your brand comprises essential elements like positioning, personality, logo design, color scheme, tagline, etc. All components are crucial to thoughtfully […]
5 office design tips to make your brand stand out
3 min

5 office design tips to make your brand stand out

Branding your office can have a positive impact both on employees and on clients who visit, so it is well worth the time and effort to do it right. Yet, many businesses fail to do so, leaving their employees to work in uninspiring office buildings. Here, we present five office design tips to ensure your […]
How brand positioning improves your page titles
3 min

How brand positioning improves your page titles

I’ve been writing page titles incorrectly my entire career. Google has provided best practices for constructing page titles, including: These are all great practices to follow on every page of your site. But I’ve recently learned that there’s something else just as important as the best practices Google provides: Don’t just optimize titles. Optimize thought sequences. […]
Building brand awareness: The power of anticipation as a startup
4 min

Planning your business launch: The power of anticipation as a startup

Whether you’re a recently funded startup or a business that has been operating for years, building brand awareness will always be a top priority. According to one recent study, 89% of B2B manufacturing marketers said increasing brand awareness was a primary goal for their content marketing tactics—edging out both sales and lead generation. In startup marketing, in […]
Top 4 ways to build brand affinity with Facebook
3 min

Top 4 ways to increase brand awareness with Facebook

When used correctly, Facebook advertising can be an incredibly effective tool to boost sales. But before you can expect people to whip out their credit cards and buy out your inventory, you need to establish brand affinity. In this post, we’ll go over just a few of the best ways you can maintain your current […]
5 essential things to know
5 min

Local branding: 5 essential things to know

Building a local brand is tough. Even if your business is in an area with significant foot traffic, developing your brand within the community is critical if you want to be successful in the long term. Usually, when people talk about branding, they’re often referring to large companies with a proportional budget for their marketing […]
Tips from marketing & design experts
8 min

Tech company branding: Tips from marketing & design experts

Studies show that the average consumer is exposed to up to 10,000 brand messages a day. To break through the noise, your brand image should be powerful and to the point, like an elevator pitch—an quick and accurate expression of your key values, unique benefits and mission. Delivering it successfully has never been easy, especially if […]
4 easy tips for effective online brand management
4 min

4 easy tips for effective online brand management

The internet has made brand management much more involved now that there are so many digital channels for customers to communicate through. Customers now have the ability to voice their opinions—and they really want to be heard. In essence, brand management is about managing those conversations while nurturing a positive perception at the same time. […]
Why do local service brands need graphic design?
4 min

Why do local small businesses need graphic design?

Some businesses naturally lend themselves to sharp design. Walk down any street in a hip neighborhood and you’ll see fashion boutiques, cafes and gastropubs displaying beautiful branding. Stylish typography, trendy color palettes—the kind of design that creates an enviable brand image. Related: Building a local brand—5 essential things to know When it comes to the […]
Is your brand outdated? When to complete a brand refresh
5 min

Is your brand outdated? When to complete a brand refresh

Sometimes, change is a good thing. A fresh lick of paint can revive a dull living room, a new haircut can boost self-esteem, and a rejuvenated image can bring life back to an outdated brand. The catch is that, unlike changing your hairstyle, a brand refresh isn’t something to do on a whim because you’re […]
How to boost your brand identity with influencer marketing
3 min

How to boost your brand identity with influencer marketing

Jeff Bezos once said, “Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.” Your brand identity is the essence of your brand. It’s who you are, what you do, and how people describe your brand, based on the way you make them feel. Related: 5 content tactics to ignite brand engagement with millennials […]
Standing out in the busy world of wellness brands
5 min

Standing out in the busy world of wellness brands

In a stressful world, it’s no wonder that people are drawn to the idea of “wellness.” According to The Global Wellness Institute, the wellness industry grew by 10% to $3.7 trillion between 2013 and 2015-while the global economy shrank by 3.6%. It’s one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, and as we move through 2018, it’s […]
How to maintain brand consistency in a sales organization
4 min

How to maintain brand consistency in a sales organization

For brands, few objectives matter more than creating an impactful, positive impression. Because, if you can make a favorable first impression, it’s inevitable that good conversation — about your brand — will follow. Now, keeping that conversation in your favor can be tricky. Ultimately, you want to maintain a consistent brand message and voice across […]
How to maintain brand consistency in your real estate business
4 min

How to maintain brand consistency in your real estate business

In real estate, it matters a lot what people think about your agency. We can all agree that, as businesses, we crave trust and loyalty from our customers. If these two traits are absent, success becomes much harder (if not impossible) to achieve. Related: Real estate marketing guide & ideas The consistency of your brand has a […]
5 situations that can damage your brand—and how to respond
5 min

5 situations that can damage your brand—and how to respond

Brand management is one of the most important parts of marketing. It can take a long time and a lot of work to create a brand image that people like and trust, but in an instant, all that work can be completely undone. There are certain situations businesses have to deal with that, if not handled […]
7 brand consistency mistakes that large companies make
4 min

7 brand consistency mistakes that large companies make

Perception determines reality with branding. The impression you make with customers and potential customers ultimately influences the overall strength of your brand. That’s why even simple mistakes with brand consistency can create costly headaches. Branding mistakes aren’t simply a concern affecting novice entrepreneurs taking their first steps into the marketplace. Businesses of all shapes and sizes can […]
8 ways to build brand trust online
6 min

8 ways to build brand trust online

At one point in time, a recognizable brand was all that was needed for a business to thrive. But now, that brand must be accompanied by trust because modern consumers are different than they were several decades ago. Today, there’s the internet and consumers can easily conduct research on a brand before they make a […]
How voice search will impact brand voice
5 min

How voice search will impact brand voice

Three years ago, Gartner predicted that 30% of our interactions with technology today would happen via conversations with smart machines—and mainstream adoption would be just around the corner. Related: 10 digital trends that are transforming marketing in 2018 We can see the evidence of this change all around us, from Siri and Cortana to Alexa and Google […]
How to ensure brand compliance
4 min

How to ensure brand compliance

Protecting your brand—not only how it looks but also how it’s perceived—is essential. Your brand is everything that makes up how your customers see you, and if you’re not presenting a consistent message across the board, you run the risk of confusing, alienating or even frustrating your customers. On top of that, you’re missing out […]
A Complete Guide to Building Brand Awareness
7 min

A complete guide to building brand awareness

Newcomers to the world of brand awareness marketing often feel overwhelmed or utterly lost. There’s a veritable plethora of channels, tactics & tools to explore. To make things even more difficult, some make much more sense for your business than others, depending on a matrix of circumstances. Related: 7 things to consider before your next […]
How to build a brand as an e-commerce business
6 min

How to build your e-commerce brand

In 2014, Marketing Sherpa published a report on customer acquisition costs (CAC) in e-commerce. According to this report, the median CAC is somewhere between $12 to $25. These costs add a lot of overhead to your business. If you’re a low-margin business, like most e-commerce stores, high customer acquisition costs can sink you fast. Related: 8 killer […]
How creative consistency across touchpoints improves brand perception
4 min

How creative consistency across touchpoints improves brand perception

Think of some of the most iconic brands all time. What comes to mind? Nike? Apple? Disney? Most likely you think about a logo, a slogan, or a general aesthetic that is unique to the brand. Whether sleek, futuristic or full of princesses, you should be able to conjure up some visual. Related: How to […]
How chatbots benefit brands
3 min

How chatbots benefit brands

When we consider brand-customer relationships and interactions, many of us instantly think of viral examples of “brands behaving badly”—like a tweet about a lost online order or a post about terrible airline service. And then there’s the aftermath of such an interaction, where the brand scrambles to do damage control by pledging to do better […]
How to maintain brand consistency as your business grows
4 min

How to maintain brand consistency as your business grows

Every business owners’ hope is that their business will grow. Whether it’s a small, medium or large business, there’s always room for growth. It’s an exciting process, but it might be short-lived if you’re unable to manage your brand consistently. Related: Brand consistency—the competitive advantage and how to achieve it As you add more people […]
Branding? Follow this template for creating a brand platform
4 min

Branding? Follow this template for creating a brand platform

When you’re fine-tuning your brand, it’s important for everyone in your company to be on-board. Let’s face it: Keeping your brand consistent is a tricky task—but it’s one that’s almost impossible if your staff aren’t fully educated about the strong brand you’re trying to create. Related—Brand building 101: An 8-step brand development strategy But, how […]
5 tips for building & maintaining brand integrity
4 min

5 tips for building & maintaining brand integrity

Customer loyalty separates historically successful brands from the rest. Why do people consistently drink Coca-Cola or wear Nike sneakers? The answer is a simple one: Those brands have earned trust from their customers. Their products are of high quality, and their brand messaging has remained consistent, making it easy to cultivate brand integrity with customers. […]
The complete guide to digital brand management
9 min

The complete guide to digital brand management

Do you want to learn how you can make your company stand out from the crowd? Or how to position your company so a prospect sees you as the only viable option when choosing between you and a competitor? And finally, do you want to learn some little-known tricks that some of the biggest companies […]
How to create a voice for your brand
5 min

How to create a voice for your brand

It’s something you’ve been told to do for years, as far back as your high school English classes: Define your voice. Voice is sometimes talked about as some ineffable je ne sais quoi. It’s something that’s felt more than defined. Related: Branding? Follow this template for creating a brand platform But in reality, voice—the elements of personality that make […]
A guide for building your brand with packaging design
6 min

A guide for building your brand with packaging design

Why did you start your business? We’re pretty sure it wasn’t because you wanted to sell one product every blue moon, or because you don’t care about the services you provide. Let’s be honest: We all want to make a difference, and we want to be recognized for delivering exceptional experiences. Without a positive reputation […]
How to build a brand around sustainability
7 min

How to build a brand around sustainability

Why talk about sustainability? You’re probably fed up with the terms “millennial” and “Generation Y,” but they’re still helpful when describing that particular group of consumers. For example, one trend that keeps popping up is their desire to buy from brands brave enough to set standards of behavior and live by a set of principles. […]
Using emotional branding to reach the distracted consumer
6 min

Using emotional branding to reach the distracted consumer

In the digital age, we are constantly surrounded by bleeping phones and notification alerts. The onslaught of incoming communications can seem incessant and unceasing. Most modern consumers are surrounded by distractions, and marketers have a tough job helping their brands catch the attention of prospects. Related: Create strong emotional connections with your brand story Often, […]
6 important branding tips to keep in mind when going global
5 min

6 important branding tips to keep in mind when going global

Taking your brand global is an exciting prospect but also a significant challenge. Establishing and growing your brand in your own country is challenging enough, but expanding it into other parts of the world will present hurdles different from any you’ve experienced before. Related: The brand manager’s guide to brand extension One of the principal […]
9 ways to make people fall in love with your brand
4 min

9 ways to make people fall in love with your brand

To get people interested in your brand and have them become loyal customers, it’s no longer enough to simply produce a good product or provide a great service. Related: 4 easy tips for effective online brand management What buyers are looking for today is an impeccable user experience—one that really makes them feel like they’re […]
Guide to creating a brand book
6 min

Branding essentials: Guide to creating a brand book

At the onset of building a business, branding might not seem like the first thing to conceptualize. Establishing the foundations of your brand by creating a brand book could be a tedious process, but its long-term benefits are well worth the effort. Related: Branding? Follow this template for creating a brand platform To help you […]
Branding essentials: How to write a welcome email
5 min

Branding essentials: Welcome email best practices

If you’re among those who think email marketing is too old-school to be effective these days, you’ve got the wrong idea. Email marketing is still a powerful tool that can help your brand shine. Related: 8 tips to get more responses to your email marketing What makes email so effective is the fact that it’s a permission-based […]
How to achieve brand consistency in your franchise
5 min

How to achieve brand consistency in your franchise

Running a business, in any capacity, takes hard work and perseverance. Specifically, though, for a franchise, there’s a whole different set of unique challenges for both franchisors and franchisees. The primary challenge comes down to providing a consistent experience. It’s simple: A franchise must provide a consistent brand experience across each of its locations. Related: Franchise […]
How to increase brand awareness through your social media strategy
4 min

How to increase brand awareness through your social media strategy

Today, over half of the world (4.89 billion people) use social media. A pretty staggering number, right? What’s more, a typical social media user spends an average of 151 minutes per day scrolling through their feeds. Given all of this, it’s easy to understand why most brands are active on social media today. There’s a […]
How to build brand authenticity: Learning from Top 100 global brands
3 min

How to build brand authenticity: Learning from Top 100 global brands

What is brand authenticity? Well, generally speaking, it’s when brands act, illustrate and feel (or be) genuine to their customers.  The byproduct of brand authenticity is more important than brand authenticity itself — i.e., brand loyalty. Brand loyalty is the emotional affirmation of your brand’s authenticity. And brand loyalty is what drives your revenue.  Related: […]
7 elements of brand identity
10 min

The 7 key elements of brand identity design

There’s more to crafting a memorable brand than putting together a quick logo and color palette. Instead of calling it a day there, successful brands take the time to design a well rounded brand identity – one that combines a strong purpose with intentional visual and written elements.  Here, you’ll learn the seven key elements […]
How to incorporate color into your branding
7 min

Branding colors: Selecting you color palette based on color psychology

Color is a big part of our world. The colors we surround ourselves with can impact our mood, change our energy levels, invoke memories, and even influence our decisions. As you can imagine, color is a powerful player in people’s perceptions of your brand as well. A blog post on Elle & Co. says 60% of people decide whether […]
Guide to the caregiver brand archetype
6 min

Guide to the caregiver brand archetype

Someone who cares. When it comes down to life essentials, that’s all us humans need besides food, water, and shelter. Our need for connection is wired into our brain because our own survival depends on it. As a result, we respond to and connect with other people who satisfy this fundamental need of ours. Related: Brand archetypes […]
Guide to the magician brand archetype
4 min

Guide to the magician brand archetype

The main goal of your brand, as it is of any brand, is to make a profit and perhaps change some lives in the process. But what if we said that every brand – whether intentional or not – has an underlying brand personality? And that this personality, sometimes referred to as a brand archetype, […]
The brand manager's guide to brand extension
4 min

The brand manager’s guide to brand extension

Your brand is one of your company’s most powerful assets. It encapsulates everything you want people to know about the business—what you value, what you stand for, and what you’re trying to do. Related: 6 important branding tips to keep in mind when going global Which is why brand extension can be such a stressful […]
Elements of an effective brand promise
11 min

Elements of an effective brand promise

Here’s a promise: by the end of this article you’ll know exactly what a brand promise is and you’ll have plenty of examples that will help you have your own in a matter of minutes. And there’s something more. Related: An 8-step brand development strategy Are you ever a bit confused about some of the […]
How to Build a Luxury Brand
3 min

How to Build a Luxury Brand

According to Bain and Company, the luxury goods market is set to double in size from 2020 to 2030, reaching over $617 billion by 2030. From watches to condos, business is booming. Even discount retailers like Target partner with designers like RHODE to attract customers shopping for high fashion at affordable prices. But what does […]
brand positioning statement
6 min

How to write a brand positioning statement

Making sure every touchpoint — from content to sales — remains on-brand is essential. But when you have seemingly limitless decisions to make regarding a new product, marketing campaign, or anything else related to your business, it can be difficult to keep all the moving parts properly aligned. Related: Elements of an effective brand promise […]
The best cold-calling script to beat your sales team’s quota
7 min

The best cold-calling script to beat your sales team’s quota

What’s the best way for businesses to generate leads even with an empty pipeline? You guessed it: cold calls.  That said, cold calls aren’t what they used to be. Today’s reps often rely on cold-calling scripts to do the conversational heavy lifting for them. Not only does this ensure that reps respect their prospect’s time, but it […]
Brand consistency—the competitive advantage and how to achieve it
6 min

Brand consistency—the competitive advantage and how to achieve it

_ Originally published in 2018 and 2019 and updated in 2021 to reflect updated data. _ Brand consistency is the key to earning customer trust and elevating your ROI. And alternatively, inconsistent branding dampens brand status and creates confusion in the marketplace. In an effort to better understand how exactly brand consistency drives revenue and […]
How to build a brand that drives enrollment
4 min

University branding: How to build a brand that drives enrollment

Not too long ago, universities didn’t have much need for a strong brand. But as the market for funding, recognition, academic talent and even student recruitment has started to heat up, the need has become critical. A survey by Inside Higher Ed and Gallup showed that in 2017, only 34% of schools polled had met their enrollment targets for […]
Nonprofit marketing: Strategies to grow your organization’s impact
6 min

Nonprofit marketing: Strategies to grow your organization’s impact

When it comes to marketing, every team has its challenges. Amongst non-profit organizations, however, those challenges can be vast.  Bound to a tight budget, small teams and few resources to draw from, it may seem near impossible to create a successful marketing strategy to help your organization grow. For some, it may not be clear […]
How to level-up your customer experience in banking
6 min

How to level-up your customer experience in banking

Financial institutions face their fair share of challenges when it comes to growing and retaining a happy, loyal customer base. People have any number of choices of where to bank, and to consumers it can feel like there’s not much difference between banks and other companies offering financial services. Plus, financial institutions all comply with […]
How to build your non-profit brand
5 min

How to build your non-profit brand

As a non-profit organization, your brand isn’t just a logo or text. It’s a symbol and a feeling — one that resembles hope, inspiration or kindness. For your program participants, non-profit branding is often associated with the experiences they have while enrolled in your program. For your volunteers and donors, your brand is deeply connected […]
Advertising tips for growing your brand
10 min

Advertising tips for growing your brand

Advertising is more than just a brand function—it’s a valuable skill. Not all people have the talent, timing and savvy to speak to people in a way that influences their lifestyle. Fortunately, the knack for advertising and marketing can be learned. There are many different forms of advertising that brands can use to reach their […]
Brand storytelling examples: Lessons from brands large and small
8 min

Brand storytelling examples: Lessons from brands large and small

We love a good yarn — and it turns out, consumers do too. The popularity of brands telling their stories continues to grow and grow. It’s a win-win marketing strategy when you can give your audience engaging content and tell the story of your brand’s history, vision, values and goals. The bar for good content […]
How to get your rebranding strategy right
11 min

How to get your rebranding strategy right

When you think about Coca-Cola, what pops into your head — is it the taste? The fizziness? The dark caramel color? Maybe you think of a classic ad. If you’re like me, it’s the vivid red-and-white logo adorning the label. Related: Is your brand outdated? When to do a brand refresh When you think of […]
Words of wisdom from some of the best storytellers we know
8 min

Words of wisdom from some of the best storytellers we know

The best storytellers know that a good story is more than telling romanticized tales about a life lived. Good storytelling knits together polarity — people, spaces, emotions, conflict and impact — and transforms it into something visible and tangible. While there is a time and a space for waxing poetic, truly compelling storytelling is defined […]
How to pick a great brand name
3 min

How to pick a great brand name

So you finally made the decision to turn that brilliant idea into a legitimate business—congratulations! You’ve probably got a whole to-do list in your mind right now, including how to market your product, how to determine who your target market is, and how much capital you need to actually get things going.  Of course, all […]
How to write a marketing brief
4 min

How to write a marketing brief

A marketing brief is the blueprint that keeps your team aligned from the start of any marketing campaign, big or small. Unfortunately, these briefs don’t always feel like the superhero that makes your life easier, rather, they tend to feel like a complicated task that takes too long to put together. But hey! It doesn’t […]
How to tell a brand story that drives emotional connection
4 min

How to tell a brand story that drives emotional connection

Storytelling has the incredible ability to connect people on a deep, emotional level. It brings us together as we feel empathy for one another, laugh together and relate to someone else. Figures and stats aren’t emotionally charged and interesting. People want to hear stories that are relatable and trigger feelings within them. And, in the […]
The best storytelling podcasts
4 min

The best storytelling podcasts

Telling the right story for your brand can connect you with customers and help your brand grow. But good storytelling, like any other skill, is something you have to work at. So, we asked around and got storytelling podcast recommendations from fellow marketers who love a good yarn. Here are the top 12 picks, including […]
How to build a great employee experience
5 min

How to build a great employee experience

You’ve probably heard of the term “employee engagement” by now, but have you heard of employee experience? As more and more companies shift towards customer-centric goals and healthy work environments, we’re seeing an overall prioritization of the employee experience. And for a good reason too.  A great employee experience can lead to some pretty stellar […]
How to successfully use storytelling in business
6 min

How to successfully use storytelling in business

We tell stories every day. Whether it’s a quick ditty to a friend or a long anecdote to your grandchildren, storytelling is ingrained in us. In our professional lives, we also tell stories. We tell stories to persuade someone to support a project, inspire a team, or explain a complex problem. Storytelling is an essential […]
How to build a strong brand image
3 min

How to build a strong brand image

A strong brand image is crucial to your success. If you’re asking yourself, “What is brand image?”, strap in. We’re going to help you understand what brand image is, why it’s important, and how you can get the best brand image for your organization. What is brand image? Brand image is what customers think about […]
marketing collateral
5 min

19 types of marketing collateral and how to use them

With most marketing conducted online, it shouldn’t surprise you the amount of content — also known as marketing collateral — your business is producing each week. Each of those pieces could be considered essential to your efforts in growing your business, but how do you know if you’re utilizing them in the best ways possible? […]
Real estate recruiting: How to capitalize on the bounceback
5 min

Real estate recruiting: How to better attract and retain agents

No matter the circumstances, real estate brokerages should never stop or press pause on recruiting real estate agents. You simply need to improve and reorient your brokerage’s recruiting strategy to reflect the current climate. Now, more than ever, brokerages must create long-term plans for growth, sustainability and resiliency. Well, that’s all fine and dandy but […]
Real estate branding a comprehensive guide
13 min

Real estate branding: a comprehensive guide

Advancements in technology and the power of the internet have leveled the playing field for most, so the need for a creative & effective real estate branding strategy is more important than ever if you want to stand out from the crowd. Related: The complete guide to real estate marketing Consumers today are market-savvy, and […]
guide-to-relationship-marketing
7 min

Guide to relationship marketing

Looking for a quick guide to relationship marketing? You’ve come to the right place. If you’ve landed here, you’re most likely hoping for a little extra info on what is relationship marketing and how it can help you start to either generate more leads or get customers coming back. Below, you’ll find a nifty guide […]
Breaking down the college enrollment decline
4 min

Breaking down the college enrollment decline

If you’re in higher education, you’ve probably noticed things are getting tough out there for community colleges, public universities and private institutions alike. A recent decline in college enrollment has some experts concerned, but the reasoning behind the choices students are making about their enrollment in colleges is increasingly complicated.  While it’s tempting to blame […]
The future of higher education
6 min

The future of higher education

While the world faces unprecedented challenges and rapidly evolving technology, the future of higher education, in particular, appears to be headed for a precipice. The culmination of widespread online learning, significant enrollment decline, and increasing concerns about student loan debt have disrupted traditional models of learning and raised important questions about the future of education. […]
Developing a seamless nonprofit communications strategy
3 min

Developing a seamless nonprofit communications strategy

An effective communications strategy is crucial for any business, but it’s especially important for nonprofit organizations. There are a lot of worthy charities, advocacy groups, and community projects competing for attention and dollars.  In the U.S., there are approximately 1.5 million nonprofit organizations that include social advocacy groups, private charitable foundations, and even civic leagues and corporate […]
Guide to healthcare branding
6 min

Guide to healthcare branding

As patients become more knowledgeable about their own health thanks to the internet and modern medicine, they’re also becoming more savvy healthcare consumers. This evolution means branding in healthcare marketing is taking center stage. A healthcare brand’s digital presence and online reputation are quickly displacing word-of-mouth and local referrals. In fact, research shows that 84% of […]

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