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Business ideas worth sharing

branding

The Big Idea: My Little Secret

The campaign was a knockout. Accolades pour in from all sides. People call to congratulate our marketing agency, rave about how intrigued they were by the theme, and of course ask the inevitable question I’ve heard so many times over the years: “So how’d you come up with the big idea?”

This ostensibly innocent little inquiry irks me to no end.

As if I pulled a furry pink Energizer Bunny out of a magician’s top hat. As if I snapped my fingers at the mustachioed maître d’ in a snobbish steakhouse and the big idea was ceremoniously carried in on a gleaming silver tray, resting neatly alongside a fresh mound of mashed potatoes and steamed artichoke. As if I sat down at my desk, gave my pneumatic chair two swift pumps, rolled up my shirtsleeves, and knocked out the idea in five minutes flat.

Wouldn’t that be sweet.

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Could your small business use a big brand strategy?

Here’s an idea to wrap your head around: Your entire company should be seen as your branding department.

That’s what Gerry O’Brion wants you to think about.

After spending his career developing killer marketing strategies for billion dollar brands like Proctor and Gamble and Coors Brewing Company, Gerry O’Brion realized something.

You might not have the same marketing mega-budget as the corporate big fish…but that doesn’t mean you can’t use their brand strategies to grow your business.

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My Promise: I Didn’t Write This Article While Driving

Do you know the difference between a Rolls Royce Phantom and a Maserati Quattroporte?

I do.

Show me a glimpse of the sleek, artfully sculpted flowing lines and evocative curves of an exotic automobile.

I will tell you the name, make and model instantly. And whether the engine under the hood is a 453 horsepower V8 or 460 horsepower V10. And that the seats are decorated with hand-stitched saddle tan leather trim. And how the interior door handles are made entirely from bamboo.

Allow me to confess: I’m a self-diagnosed car addict.

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Keeping Business Hot When It’s Cold

It’s been a very long winter season, right?

Snow. Rain. Wind. Ice. Followed by more snow. The United States has experienced one of the most coldest, harshest winters in recent memory. An intense cold front – which meteorologists are calling the “Polar Vortex” – has sent icy an Arctic air jet streaming downwards into Canada, the USA, and even Northeastern Mexico.

But just because the weather is freezing doesn’t mean your business has to go the same route. Stores need to stay open; companies must produce real work; and the business marketplace will go on as usual, snow or no snow.

The analogy here is very relevant. If your business experiences a cold snap, don’t close up shop and blame the weather. Here are some timely Ptex Pointers you can use to keep your business hot, regardless of what the economic forecast calls for that day.

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Forget UPS, Forget FedEx: You Need A USP

I like to ask lots of questions. Especially when meeting with new clients and learning about their business challenges. My inquiries are always direct, to the point and easy to understand.

Well, almost always.

There’s one particular question I ask that often confuses the client sitting across from me. Here it is: “Can you tell me your company’s USP?”

For those working in the marketing world it’s a simple inquiry. But to the unacquainted, it can sound downright perplexing. The client will generally stare at me for a few moments with a bewildered expression and finally respond: “Are you asking if we deliver with UPS?”

And that’s when the fun really begins.

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