INBOUND ACCELERATOR

We’ve talked in the past about setting goals and “doing the math” — you can’t know if you are succeeding, if you don’t know how to define success — but there is another step to take that has a similar ring to it:

You can’t sell if you don’t know who you are selling to.

When introducing a business blog, don’t just jump in and start writing, or try to imitate another blog that you love to read or that you’ve heard has had great success. Instead, take a step back and remember that — like any marketing content you create — your business blog is a reflection of your brand.

As I write this final blog post of 2017, here at JONES we are preparing to take a couple of days at the end of the year for an intense huddle to review our 2017 efforts and flesh out the final details of our content and campaign plans for 2018. 

By setting aside the day-to-day of blog writing and emails, we can focus fully on what is coming next.

Creating a new brand, or developing a new positioning approach for an existing brand, should never be done in a vacuum. It is essential to understand not only your own strengths and weaknesses, but those of your competition as well.

I know we’ve said it many times: A logo is not a brand. And neither is a combination of colors and typography the same as a brand.

Creating, or recreating, a brand position is a big undertaking, requiring internal and external research, data analysis, and concept development of everything from messaging to visual components. It is something only the largest marketing departments are equipped to tackle alone.

What makes a service or a product or even an idea a winner?

Have you ever had a great big idea, but didn’t know how to make it a reality? Have you let opportunities slip by where you could have offered a perspective and input that would have made a difference?

There are a lot of moving parts to keep track of when creating a new brand identity.

In the last few weeks, I’ve gone over a few important things to keep in mind when choosing a marketing agency with which to partner, particularly when you are tackling a branding project.

Choosing a Branding Agency: Know What You Need

Choosing a Branding Agency: Are You Asking the Right Questions

Sometimes, even if you already have a relationship established with a marketing agency partner, you need to watch for red flags that may signal something is wrong or missing. When you pick up on one of these signals, it’s time to take a look at whether you are really getting what you need.