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Differentiators…Let me count the ways

August 11th, 2009

Brands communicate attributes that in and of themselves aren’t really unique or all that different…after all…What’s so unusual about having values or a training program? The differentiation is in the combination of characteristics, the ‘believability’ of the promotions and the sense that can be made of a story that relates […]

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Stifle… oops, Style… Guide

August 18th, 2009

Just Plain Backwards…. that is the only way to look at how most organizations understand brand. A brand is a guide, a way forward, the point man holding the torch, the organization following bravely on the path ahead.  A Driven Brand has a forward looking vision and a destination to […]

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19 Components of a Brand Strategy

August 27th, 2009

Admit it…. you thought developing a strategic brand was crafting a mission statement, a logo and a tag line.  50 years ago that may have been all that was necessary.  Today it is a complex task that touches and should be touched by all parts of your company.   When we work with an […]

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Brand Success – Just a Marketing Plan?

September 17th, 2009

One hot topic…. Brand.  In the blogosphere, in magazines, newspapers, books.  Turn around find another voice… brand, Brand, BRAND, Brand, BRAND!  Trouble is, with all of these voices shouting about the importance of brand (it goes without saying, we believe it is uber critical), the truth of the message, the […]

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“Emotional” Abuse

September 30th, 2009

Emotions- we don’t believe that “emotion” can or should be woven into every brand story in the hopes of “snagging” more customers. We don’t believe that “emotions” should be, nor do we believe that they can be exploited at brand will. We don’t believe that an emotional connection to a brand will […]

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Membership Requirements

October 14th, 2009

Professional associations are a critical component in the US business ecology.  The ASAE Center for Association Leadership reports that:  There are 147,000 incorporated associations in the US 1,000 new associations are being formed each year 9 out of 10 US adults belong to one association 1 out 4 US adults […]

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Energizing Utilities

March 17th, 2010

The philosophy and relevance behind brand development has proven to have utility across a wide and diverse range of interests. Brands distinguish organizations, churches, teams, industries, destinations, associations, events, museums, causes, institutions, politics, clusters, professions, movements, buildings, and the arts, one from another, when services offered don’t. It should come […]

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An Oath To Do No Harm

April 19th, 2010

All children’s brands should be guided by an internalized dictum to “first, do no harm” that aligns organizational purpose, business strategy, brand management, and the optimal development of children. This sworn commitment requires a guiding philosophy that holds collective ability and judgment accountable, demands respect for scientific discovery, and vows […]

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Brand’s Overprotective Mother

April 28th, 2010

I can’t tell if what I am seeing is a gross over simplification or just a lackluster attempt to ‘spin’ a brand, get on with the show or turn a buck. What I do know is that the inherent power of brand to tell a vibrant story, capture the essence of […]

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Relevant Brands Protect Girls

April 28th, 2010

View the 2010 Threats to Girlhood Report Threats to Girlhood include all of the issues, mindsets, factors, trends, and circumstances that impact girls’ lifelong health, wellness, happiness, and ability to succeed. Identifying current Threats to Girlhood is an important step towards advancing the well being of girls, the possibilities for women, […]

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