by Miriam Hara | Aug 28, 2025 | Advertising, Branding, Business Success, Marketing
The How
As marketing creatives it’s very easy for us to dream big… We talk a lot about ideas in marketing. Big ones. Bold ones. Ideas that get pinned to mood boards and pitched in boardrooms. But in branding, it’s not enough to ask what or why. The real turning point often comes when we ask: How will we achieve the KPI.
Regardless of the idea, or the dream… of the What If…moment, it takes consistency and clarity for those ideas to turn into achievement. The How matters.
The How? is the intersection of creative momentum meets operational reality. Answering The How, thrusts the vision into action…into reality.
The How transforms a strategic insight into an actual moment of connection with a customer.
Creative ambition grounded for the good
All creative concepts or campaigns start with a set intention or objective. Maybe it’s a needed shift in perception. Maybe it’s reach, or resonance, or renewal. Without asking how, achieving that specific objective often falls short… Regardless of the where, or when. The question of How matters: Consider these:
- How will this message live beyond the presentation deck?
- How will the audience interact with it?
- How will we maintain tone and consistency across touchpoints?
These are not secondary questions. They’re foundational. The brands that ask them early build better from the start.
Ideas need infrastructure
Some believe constraints limit creativity. But in practice, the opposite is usually true. Deadlines, budgets, and audience behaviours do not kill ideas. They sharpen them.
Asking How? provides focus. It gives structure to the concept without stripping it of power. It asks teams to think through the steps. From concept to execution. From message to moment.
It’s one thing to say your brand is inclusive. It’s another to reflect that promise in your visuals, language, website UX, and media strategy. What we say is one thing. How we show up is what the audience actually remembers.
Take Mastercard’s True Name campaign. The brand had a powerful insight: many transgender and non-binary individuals face challenges when using a name that doesn’t match their identity. Mastercard didn’t just craft a message around inclusion. It asked: How can we change the experience? The result was a product innovation that allowed customers to use their chosen name on their cards. Creative, strategy, legal, and operations worked together to bring the idea to life. And because they asked How? early, the campaign landed with authenticity and action behind the message.
How? protects the insight
There’s a moment in every creative process where good ideas risk getting lost in translation. Internal approval cycles. Channel limitations. Format tweaks. A watered-down campaign doesn’t happen all at once. It happens slowly through a series of small compromises.
“How?” helps safeguard against that. It prompts teams to stay focused on the intent behind the idea. To ask: How do we adapt without diluting? How do we scale without simplifying the soul of the message?
It’s where creativity and clarity meet
Too often, creative and strategy are treated as separate tracks. But asking How? invites both into the same conversation. It’s where marketing earns its edge not just in what it says, but in how seamlessly it brings that message to life.
When done right, How? creates alignment. Between teams. Between message and moment. Between what a brand promises and what the customer actually experiences.
Final word: Start strong. Follow through.
In branding, execution is the invisible ingredient. If the customer doesn’t feel the intention, it doesn’t matter how clever the idea was in the room. Asking How? makes sure the work moves not just creatively, but meaningfully.
It’s the question that brings the big picture into focus. And more importantly, into form.
by Miriam Hara | Aug 12, 2025 | Advertising, Agency, Branding, Business Success, Marketing
My Promise = My Positioning Statement
A positioning statement isn’t just for your website. It’s a filter, a promise, and a mantra. Every decision, campaign, and conversation is measured against that promise. When clients work with me, they know they’re not getting boilerplate thinking. They’re getting a partner who asks the hard questions, sees the potential, and pushes for the kind of results that matter.
The positioning statement tells every client: here’s what you can expect, every single time. At 3H Communications it’s summed up in a tagline “exceed beyond”. The positioning statement has derived this two word mantra.
The Brand Mandates I’ve Worked On.
I’ve worked with challenger brands fighting for recognition. Established players wanting to reinvent themselves. And purpose-driven companies searching for that ‘one-thing’ that sets them apart. They all share one thing: successful ambition and drive. When clients come to me, they want an agency who doesn’t just deliver creative. They want an agency that brings focus and courage to every move they make.
This isn’t just about standing out it’s about standing for something. For the mandates we are entrusted with, that means having a voice that’s unmistakably theirs and a market presence that’s both strategic and unforgettable.
After years of successfully shaping brands in regulated, competitive, and fast-moving markets, I found clarity in this single sentence:
“I help brands in complex, competitive spaces own their voice and their market, through strategic clarity, creative courage, and a drive for measurable results.”
Whether they are health care innovators trying to communicate with both heart and science, or legacy brands that need fresh relevance. Or start ups with limited resources, they can expect the same from me and my team. Clarity when everything is muddy and uncertain. Creativity that isn’t about pretty pictures, but purposeful. Measurable, undeniable outcomes that change the trajectory of their business and brands.
Nothing beats clarity. Clarity in purpose and in focus. Historically, when brands approach me (and my agency) it’s because they are either too frustrated with the status quo of the outputs of their current agency, or they are looking for off-the-shelf solutions. Clients come to 3H Communications because their market is crowded, their space is complex, or they’re ready to break out of the walls that confine their brand. My promise to every one of my clients, and the brands that they entrust me with, is my positioning statement.
That’s how I show up for the brands I serve….that’s my promise.
by Miriam Hara | Aug 8, 2025 | Advertising, Agency, Business Success, Creative, Design
Unmistakably Purple
If voice shapes how a brand sounds and represents, its visual identity is how it’s remembered. In a world crowded with choices, visuals are strategy, personality, and first impression all at once. For my business... my brand, that unforgettable visual identity begins with one unexpected colour: purple.
The Layering Approach
An unforgettable visual identity is never just about what looks good on a page. It’s about crafting patterns, moments, and details that make an impression before you’ve said a word. It embodies and propels forward the brand's logo while carrying the momentum to social media communications, and advertising.
When I considered what would signal my business to the world, I started with the simplicity of a my business' visual identity. I started with a colour that was unexpected 37 years ago. It was a colour that was rarely seen or utilized in the business world yet oddly traditional. It was a bold move in the seas of grey, blue and burgundy. Additionally, I wanted a colour that sparked curiosity, commanded attention, and reflected the kind of creative courage I bring to every project.
Why Purple?
Purple wasn’t chosen by accident. It’s the signature of my brand for a reason. Throughout history, purple has signalled creativity, originality, and even a little bit of rebellion. It’s confident, distinctive, and unapologetic just like the brands I love to build. And let's not forget...purple is often associated with courageousness...with braveness.
Albeit, purple is also personal for me. It reflects imagination, a bias toward bold ideas, and a commitment to standing for something unique, not just what’s expected. It’s the heartbeat of every piece of creative, every campaign, and every brand moment we deliver.
Consistency Creates Confidence
Of course, visual identity is about more than just one shade. It’s the patterns, rhythms, and small details that turn colour into memory. Purple is the visual thread that runs through our brand. It appears in the logo, the website, event booths, even the energy of the team.Consistency is a competitive advantage. I want people to feel the brand before they even know it’s us.
Purple invites a double take. It stands out in a sea of sameness and, in our world, that matters. Clients and potential clients alike, take note of our brand colour. Unbeknownst to them, from the very first hello, we are already having a brand conversation. One that enables us to really show what we can accomplish for their brands. The use of purple is very intentional.
Visuals That Speak Volumes For My Clients, Too
Many of the brands I work with are navigating complex, crowded spaces; health, innovation, food, lifestyle, and legacy industries that can feel overwhelming and even feel a little sterile. For them, standing out isn’t just a luxury; it’s survival.
When I and my team are given to develop an unforgettable visual identity... it isn't only about colour. It's about being unexpected...and whatever that form takes. We aim to make their message impossible to ignore and giving their brand sense of confidence and cohesion that transcends vehicle. Confidence in their communications, advertising and of course, confidence for their sales force to articulate what needs to be. The visual identity is the springboard for which all brand communications (digital, print, sales) take flight. Clients have told me that our creative choices, especially the signature visual elements, help their brands claim space, spark conversations, and signal that they’re not afraid to lead.
When someone is exposed to one of my businesses' campaigns or walks into our office, I want them to feel that spark. Purple makes sure they do. It’s a colour that opens doors, starts conversations, and makes the brand unforgettable not just for me, but for every client I have the privilege to work with.
by Miriam Hara | Jul 24, 2025 | Advertising, Branding, Marketing
Asking When? when it’s important
In our recent bi-monthly LinkedIn newsletter we received quite a lot of interest and comments. In that newsletter, we emphasized the importance in marketing and branding of asking the question Why?.
That got me thinking about a few other key questions… like When? You can have the right message. The right words. Even the most thoughtful campaign. But if the timing is off, everything can fall flat.
In branding and marketing, asking when matters. It’s not just about delivery. It’s about impact.
We often think of timing as something left to logistics. A calendar detail. A scheduling issue. But when you zoom out, timing is strategy. It shapes how the message is received and how a brand is remembered.
The truth is, asking When? has never been more important.
The world moves fast. Attention spans are shorter. Cultural noise is constant. Brands don’t just compete for relevance, they compete for space in a distracted mind. While Why helps uncover purpose, Why not? propels the creative, and How shapes the execution. However it’s When that ensures the message lands with meaning.
Timing isn’t just about the calendar
Too often, timing gets pushed to the backend of the plan. But when you consider its impact, it belongs at the very beginning. Timing influences perception. It decides whether your audience has the capacity or the interest to care.
Ask yourself: When is our audience most open to this conversation? When is the space too crowded to be heard? When is the brand truly ready to deliver on this promise?
These aren’t tactical questions. They’re strategic ones. They can prevent missteps, protect the message, and preserve brand equity.
Context makes the difference
Great campaigns don’t always win because they’re first. They win because they arrive at the right time.
Nike’s “You Can’t Stop Us” campaign hit when the world was still in lockdown. People weren’t just looking for shoes or sports. They were looking for reassurance. For unity. For a reason to believe in something. That’s what the campaign offered. Not just a product story, but a cultural moment.
Contrast that with campaigns that jump into trending conversations without pause. Even with the best intentions, the message can fall flat or worse, backfire. The timing may feel reactive, rushed, or tone-deaf.
Asking When? forces a necessary pause. It makes space to think, assess, and align before releasing anything into the world.
Sometimes, waiting is the strategy
In a world where everything feels urgent, holding back can feel counterintuitive. But restraint can often be the smarter move.Wait until the product is truly ready. Wait until internal teams are aligned. Wait until the audience has room to listen.
Speed isn’t always a strength. In some cases, it’s the reason campaigns fail. Strategic timing isn’t about delay, it’s a discipline about choosing the right time.
The best moments aren’t in your calendar
Effective marketers don’t just focus on launch dates. They pay attention to micro-moments. When does the customer start to seek out solutions? When are they most likely to engage? When are they most distracted?
You won’t find these answers in a traditional timeline. They show up in data, yes, but also in empathy. In listening. In observing behaviour without forcing your way into it. That’s the difference between internal timing and external relevance. One follows a schedule. The other follows the audience.
The right message needs the right moment
Creative brilliance isn’t enough. Relevance has a shelf life. A good idea, poorly timed, is still a missed opportunity. But when a message and moment meet? That’s when it resonates. It doesn’t feel forced. It feels right. And it works.
Asking When? speaks volumes. It isn’t just a tactical decision. It’s a brand decision. One that signals thoughtfulness, awareness, and a genuine understanding of who your audience is and when they’re ready to listen.
by Miriam Hara | Jul 8, 2025 | Advertising, Creative, Marketing
The importance of asking What If?
What if? It’s a small question, but one that has shaped some of the most memorable brand moments in recent history. It opens the door to creative freedom, to alternate outcomes, to ideas that move a message beyond expectation. Not every great idea begins with a plan. Sometimes, it begins with a possibility. A simple question asked at just the right moment. One that doesn’t look for confirmation, but for expansion.
In marketing and branding, asking What if? is about formulating vision. It invites us to imagine something just outside our usual frame and to explore how to bring it into view.
What if? invites us to challenge assumptions
Most briefs are built on a defined problem and a set of guardrails. They are written to sharpen focus. But sometimes, they also limit possibility.
Asking What if? allows a team to to imagine up to the fringe of those parameters and possibly step just beyond those edges. It offers a way to reframe the assignment. What if the product is not the hero? What if the audience is broader than we thought? What if the solution lies in the opposite direction?
These questions do not suggest that strategy gets thrown out. Instead, they keep it fluid long enough to explore the territory that often gets overlooked.
When asked early, What if? prevents ideas from settling too quickly. It keeps curiosity alive and creativity honest.
Imagination makes space for innovation
The best ideas rarely arrive fully formed. They begin with exploration. They need time to stretch before they take shape. What if? gives them that space.
Consider Apple’s early marketing shift. Rather than focusing on product specs, they asked a different question. What if we spoke to the creative spirit behind the user? That led to Think Different, a campaign that didn’t describe the product, but elevated the mindset of its audience. That shift in focus became a cornerstone of brand storytelling. It worked not because it followed the rules, but because it imagined something better.
What if? makes room for that kind of thinking.
Curiosity opens doors that research can’t
Strategy often begins with what we know. Research, insights, data are the tools that ground us. Imagination, however, is what helps us leap.
What if? lets us ask questions that the data may not suggest, but that the audience might feel. What if our brand stood for more than its category? What if we stopped trying to win attention and earned trust instead?
These are not ideas that come from spreadsheets. They come from creative confidence. They come from a willingness to explore before locking into the familiar.
What if? makes the process more collaborative
In a creative environment, What if? is one of the most inclusive questions you can ask. It lowers the pressure to be right and raises the potential to explore. Everyone gets to contribute. Everyone feels invited in.
It also softens the edges in feedback brainstorming sessions. Instead of saying no, teams say What if we tried another way? That shift changes the tone from evaluation to exploration. From critique to conversation.
In the long run, it builds better work. Because it builds better culture.
Asking What if? leads to stronger ideas
No brand finds its edge by repeating what already works. It finds it by testing the limits. That does not mean being reckless. It means being open.
When teams ask What if? they find room to pivot, to reimagine, and to reset. They create the conditions for breakthroughs, not by forcing them, but by staying curious long enough for new paths to emerge.
What if? does not ask for perfection. It asks for possibility. And possibility is where the best ideas begin.
Ready to start? Lets chat!
by Miriam Hara | Jul 3, 2025 | Advertising, Branding, Creative, Marketing
The Importance of Asking Why Not?
In our recent bi-monthly LinkedIn newsletter we received a lot of interest and feedback. In that newsletter, we emphasized the importance in marketing and branding of asking the question Why? That got me thinking about a few other key questions… like Why not?
Some of the best ideas don’t start with a pitch or a premise. They start with a pause, or a skeptical, raised eyebrow. The concept of ‘Why not?’ shouldn’t be taken as a rebuttal or a confrontation. In brainstorming sessions, it’s always meant as a thoughtful challenge to the status quo.
The simple question: Why not? is as important as it’s counterpart Why?
Unlike Why, which seeks to understand, Why not? seeks to expand. It allows us to open doors we didn’t know were closed or, dare I say, even existed. It pushes us to question the rules we take for granted. It helps brands go beyond expectation and bridge into relevancy. Now that’s exciting.
Challenging the norm is a good thing.
Whenever a new brand manager comes into a brand, I get excited. There’s nothing like a fresh pair of eyes and a new perspective on a brand that’s been worked on by the same team. A brand manager only has that fresh, almost naïve perspective once, and it’s during the first three months of taking over a brand.
Out of necessity, every brand develops unwritten rules and internal assumptions. These create creative boundaries. Add market conventions and conventional wisdom into the mix and the end result often becomes sameness. And while some of these assumptions are valid, many are simply habits. Habits that go unquestioned because “that’s how it’s always been done.”
Remember the terrible twos? Some of us don’t…but the Whys and Why nots were the only questions we asked!
Asking Why not? doesn’t just poke at norms. It forces us to examine whether they still serve the brand. Why not show vulnerability in a financial brand?
Why not bring humour to healthcare?
Why not simplify where everyone else over-explains?
Asking Why not? isn’t about disruption for disruption’s sake, it’s about staying relevant. And if the market has changed, and it has… then shouldn’t our assumptions change too?
Progress comes from pushback
I believe that the biggest creative breakthroughs come from challenging small constraints.
I always think about the Dove’s Real Beauty campaign. I like to assume that campaign was grounded in the question: Why not show women the way they actually are? That simple challenge reshaped an entire category. This wasn’t a small gesture to appease a certain demographic profile. It was a perspective shift. It moved the conversation away from what the product was, to what the product was meant for. In doing so, it reshaped the brand and its relevance.
Reframe the risk
In marketing, we often treat risk as something to minimize or avoid. But there’s another side to risk and it’s the risk of irrelevance. The risk of sounding like everyone else. Of being easily ignored.
We need to ask ourselves: What’s the risk of staying the same? Or worse, what’s the cost of playing it safe?
Ensure a fresh perspective
When used in brainstorms or strategy sessions, Why not? invites input even when we don’t have all the answers yet. It welcomes different viewpoints. It makes space for questions that don’t have immediate answers but just might lead to better ones.That doesn’t mean we’re tossing the strategy out the window. It means we’re holding it up to the light. True relevance isn’t about fitting in. It’s about showing up with clarity, confidence, and curiosity. Why not? is the first step in getting there.
