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Brand

Beestings: Own and manage your unique identity

There can be more to a job than just hiring a contractor to do it – like creating a brand for you - and ticking it off your list. This week’s guaranteed-under-two-minute-read has tips and tricks to make sure you own and manage your own unique identity in a way that benefits your business as well as your customers.

Stand out from the crowd!

Determining what makes your business different is one of the most fundamental marketing decisions you need to make. Some people refer to this as your USP or Unique Selling Point. If you are unable to decide what it is that makes your business different, then you cannot expect your customers to know either! You will be leaving their purchase decision up to whatever takes their fancy at the time and you will be helping your competitors appear more attractive.

Who owns your brand? (Are you sure?)

Commissioning and paying for a brand design does not mean ownership. If a graphic designer has created your brand, it may well not be yours, warns Theodore Doucas.

It is almost Christmas, what can YOU do as a business?

Whatever your type of business, this time of year is all about Christmas, holidays, the end of one year and the beginning of a new year with a fresh start.

Nine benefits of using sponsorship marketing in your business

Sponsorship doesn't have to cost a small fortune. In fact it can be an excellent way to stretch your marketing dollars and reach a wider audience than you could afford to reach through more traditional forms of promotion. It can be an incredibly cost-effective and powerful marketing tool, providing benefits and achieving results that far outweigh the investment made in terms of sponsorship dollars.

Like a Virgin - is your marketing as fresh as Madonna's?

Few pop stars and fewer businesses have understood the intricacies of Madonna's genius of reinvention and the inevitable end of the business cycle. Sean D'Souza suggests we can all learn from the branding expert.

Small business advertising: The "branding myth"

Many small and home businesses spend money on advertising campaigns that don't result in sales - and it's all because of their determination to build their brand.
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Why and how to tell a great story

Marketing gurus agree telling a really good story helps to sell you and/or your product. Debbie Mayo-Smith give you some practical pointers to help you apply this in your business.

Why smart businesses care for candidates

Imagine having candidates queuing up, vying to work for your company, thereby future proofing yourself against skill shortages and strengthening your competitive position. There are many ways you can achieve this objective but there’s one thing that will stop you in your tracks – poor candidate care.

Kiwis finding little trademark protection on social media sites

When it comes to trademark protection on social media sites like Facebook, many New Zealand companies are finding there are only the quick, and the dead. Theodore Doucas explains how your trademark could be at riisk.

What's in a name?

The name you choose for your business is important - and it's not always easy to pick, or protect. Thoedore Doucas shares three tips.

Does your CMS website really deliver the goods?

So you have your shiny new Content-Managed website up and running. You're ready to present your company to the world and reap the rewards of an online presence. What happens now?
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Are you first, quicker, safer, or more expert than your competition?

Positioning is how your customer perceives the value you offer compared to your competitors. For example, are you first, better, quicker, more professional, safer, more expert or cheaper than your competition? How do you want to be perceived and how can you use your brand to communicate this to your target market?

How much attention do your customers and prospects pay to your brand?

How much attention do you pay to your brand? Or more importantly, how much attention do your customers and prospects pay to your brand? If you're not getting maximum mileage from your brand, then you may be missing sales opportunities and limiting your growth potential. Even the smallest of companies benefits from having a strong brand.

What does your signage say about your business?

The sign on your door, the poster in your window and the message on your vehicle all create an impression of your business in the eyes of your customers and prospects. If they are not accurate, in good condition or do not meet some of the criteria for a good sign, then you could be doing your business a disservice.

Can your business increase customer retention using TXT systems?

One of the most important aspects of your business is the capability to retain customers. Grant Collingwood looks at how TXT systems might work for your business. Use of a professional TXT System can help you do that, can save you money as well and does not have to present technical challenges.
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Are expectations damaging your reputation?

If you think the people you deal with have unrealistic expectations the chances are you're likely to be responsible in some way.
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The do's and don'ts of promotional seasonal gifts

With Christmas approaching, it's time to start thinking about giving your clients, suppliers and associates gifts - and whether to make your gift do double duty as a promotional tool.

Someone tell me, what actually is a trademark?

We all think we know what a brand or trademark is. We live with them everyday. We’re bombarded every time we open a magazine, or turn on the television. However, do you actually know what a trademark is, or what it’s supposed to do?

The 4'T's Of 'Business UN-usual'

Will 'business as usual' ever return? I doubt it. Although business owners and operators may yearn for the 'good old days' before the Global Financial Crisis, the chances of 'business as usual' ever returning are diminishing by the day, which in my opinion, is probably no bad thing.