by Stephanie Fasulo | May 3, 2013 | Advertising, Branding, Business Success, Creative, Interactive, Latest, Social Media
So you have an idea for a social media campaign, and you’re thinking of all the millions of people you’re going to attract using Twitter, a blog or Facebook – it’s so exciting! But hold on one second, you have to ask yourself the easy questions first to be guarantee long-term success. Product vs. store branding online have obvious similarities but need to be managed differently.
Product branding online and store branding online are similar because both need to reach a specific audience, tailored especially to the individual needs and wants of the company and/or client. A product can have a fan base and followers who will support a social media presence just the same as a store ( i.e. grocery stores, furniture stores, hair salons, or retail outlets ). Product and Store branding have the same goals when trying to target specific audiences.
Content
The content for products and stores, obviously tailored to the social media strategy, can fall under similar categories and actually intertwine between lifestyle, health and beauty, healthy eating, environmental facts or fashion tips.
Ex. Ikea Canada Stores vs. Organic Make-Up Brushes.
Environmental ideas (gardening DIY idea above) on Ikea Canada’s Facebook page and the organic makeup brush products both can share similar content because they are targeting people who support the ideas, beliefs and culture of the brand they’re promoting online. With this said, both products and stores need to keep a pulse and a keen eye for the market, what’s current and trending. Both will pull in great results with these similar online branding strategies.
Products go out; customers come in.
But there are some differences between product and store branding and they’re worth remembering. The first, and most important, is a store online presence should come from the location itself. The store is a place where clients can see what’s going on, learn about in-store promotions and, with luck, be enticed enough to visit through social media efforts.
Products can be sent out, given to customers through a blog. This way online visitors can get what you’re selling right in their hands. However, with store branding you need followers and supporters to come in and see your store, see the products on your shelves and experience the service you provide. That should be taken into consideration when branding online for the greatest success. Do it right and reap the rewards!
by Devorah Abrams Farmer | May 1, 2013 | Advertising, Branding, Creative, Design, Latest, Social Media
Will your logos die a slow painful death, or will it stay vibrant and alive for a long time?
The old adage if your product is in demand, your logos could be timeless, proves to be true with such brands like Windsor Salt or Maple Leaf Foods. Products that are fortunate enough to get near what those products have achieved is the goal of every advertisers and no doubt their dream.
If your product has a simple recognizable logo such as Apple with a bite taken out of it, is recognizable anywhere in the world. It is not a complex, unobtainable symbol. It even provokes thought as to what the bite out of the Apple means. One meaning could be the bite Eve took out of the apple in the Garden of Eden, and gave it to Adam.
One of the most widely held interpretations says that the logo memorializes Alan Turing, the mathematician and scientist who laid the foundations for computer science with his pioneering research into artificial intelligence and unlocking German codes during the World War II. Turing committed suicide in 1954 by biting an apple laced with cyanide.1
Internet-Geeks and other Apple users like this interpretation. And yes, this simple logo is so thought provoking that the rumors to its meaning is debated to this day. There is no doubt this is part of the appeal of Apple’s logo.
Apple didn’t always have this logo Apple has changed the logo in color, theme and texture over the years. It has used the logo with a rainbow theme, an aqua theme and, since 2003, with a glass theme.2 It has adapted and has changed with the times.
When it comes to political candidates logos go a long way. A candidate cannot be in many places at once, but his logo can be everywhere. The logo even has to be simple enough to fit on a button. Having simple and bold ideas, and the adage that “less is more”, advertisers can make strong and empowering messages.
In order to proceed with determining what your logo will be you must research to see if a logo already exists; does it mean something strange or offensive in any other language; will consumers and companies be able to find you on the Internet.
Lindsay Sleightholm of 3H Communications Inc., of Oakville, Ontario says “when developing a logo, type-faces, graphics, colour, size, balance, print or digital applications, and mobile items are all important considerations. Another issue to consider is whether or not your logo will survive going from colour, to black and white. With a logo, you have to have a succinct visual, in order to communicate the brand essence. Your logo has to be easily recognizable, and stand apart within its market segment.” Logos, branding, and advertising methods have to change with the times as well; even from day to day in order to stay competitive.
by Miriam Hara | Apr 30, 2013 | Advertising, Latest, Social Media
Most people know about social media and its distinct ability to help advertisers get out their messages. Unfortunately, as the rapid pace of the social media technology keeps evolving, it’s no wonder that advertisers can’t keep up on the latest and greatest… and how best to get these messages across. Keeping up with the speed of change is all consuming, but a necessity. You only have to look to Facebook and LinkedIn, and how they are constantly evolving their presentation, adding features, removing features, monetizing their applications. It is obvious that computers help get advertisers messages out to people, but when, where and how people receive this information is vital to the success of a brand and product.
The Smartphone gives advertisers the ability to operate in real-time and in niche marketing. This is key on so many levels when launching campaigns, opening a retail outlet and getting brand attention when it matters most… when consumers want or need to make the purchase. The generation of technology that is being launched today is user-friendly technology, all geared toward making the consumer aware of their entire surroundings. Consumers are given information on their favorite coffee shop, new products, like unique electronics, as well as restaurants, and nightclubs…and advertisers need and want to tap into this.
Kindles, iPads, notebooks, and other hand-held devices can display amazing graphics, and play outstanding videos that make content jump off the web and into the thoughts and minds of the consumer when they are looking for it… and therein lies the beauty of technology!
With up-to-date technology advertisers can adopt marketing – tech platforms, target multiple consumers across many technologies, being able to harness real-time data. Using various technologies one can measure growth and performance of your product.
The Internet itself is an ever-changing format for advertisers to promote their products. The downside to this is consumers can compare prices even as they shop. A store may lose a customer’s entire shopping purchase because the store does not stock a particular item. A brand may lose a consumer at any time in the buying cycle. People purchase new products and services together via technology, with their set critera whether it be a lower price, or a new feature… or colour!
Imagine for a moment that we are back in the days of MadMan, where ideas have to be written or typed. That pictures can only be created by hand, and presentations were not given by means of PowerPoint. And, the only way to get out your content was by the television, newspaper, magazines, or an insurmountable amount of flyers. Not to mention the gift we have given back to Mother-Earth by not using nearly as many paper products. Technology has made it a game changer for advertising.
Since one can use advertising in real-time, compared to how it was done in the past the targeting demographics as well as psychographic has not only become accessible but has become a science.
Technology, with the use of PVRs has allowed us to skip commercials on television, so that advertisements are obscured. Amazingly enough, a study posted in The Economist shows that the Brand name does get observed.
Hitting the key audience is paramount for launching your advertising campaign. Information gathered by using social media, researching and gauging the public reaction could be make or break a product. By using technology one can track one’s product, to see where, it was bought, how it was bought, when it was bought, and who bought it. Advertisers can go as far as understanding what made them purchase… through the use of AB testing, and multiple targeted offers.
Advertisers Beware: Technology has allowed marketing and advertising to have limitless applications. It has pushed the envelope, and it will no doubt keep pushing it with newer and newer technology… are you ready?
by Daniel | Apr 29, 2013 | Advertising, Creative, Design, Latest
Flyers, brochures and catalogs are used globally and on a massive scale. They are a very cost-effective way to market your product, service, brand or event, and they produce some amazing results if they’re done well. The only problem is that with so many flyers out there already (literally millions), and so many more being produced and distributed each week, it can be very hard to produce something which stands out from the crowd, grabs the attention of the reader and makes an imprint on their memory.
In order to make something like this, which produces the results you’re looking for, you need to make sure your design is different. It needs to be fresh, original and unique – the more different from everything else it is, the better it will perform. In this post I have rounded up some awesome flyer designs to help you in your design project. Try to pinpoint which elements of the designs are consistent throughout and then incorporate that into your design. What is it about each design that draws your attention, are any more memorable than others for you? If so, why. It’s thinking and designing like this which will make the difference between a successful flyer and a complete disappointment.
On to the inspiration:
These flyers should have given you plenty of inspiration, ideas and pointers to take away and incorporate into your own flyer design. If you have any amazing examples of flyers, catalogs or brochures, then please feel free to share them in the comments section!
Once you’re finished with your design and you’re looking for a company to print a catalog, flyer or brochure for you, make sure you select one who provide a manual quality check process every order. Companies that offer this will check your order by hand to make sure it looks exactly as it should, and just as good as it looks on the computer screen. After putting so much work into your design, you don’t want it to fail at the last hurdle, so go with a reputable company.
Stay creative, and good luck with your flyer design!
Author Bio:Daniel has worked in design and marketing for the past 10 years. He enjoys keeping up to date on everything to do with design, print, technology and creativity, and you can find him blogging about these things regularly here and at other top blogs around the web
by Stephanie Fasulo | Apr 26, 2013 | Latest, Social Media
The sharing of “the visual” over the internet is now widespread. When developing an internet campaign on Facebook or Twitter, there is one thing that media savvy writers take for granted and it is usually the visual effects. Twitter has proven you can lock interest and develop followers on good, solid content. But is that all it really takes? The internet landscape with the introduction of social media has evolved throughout the years and increasingly the importance of clear, crisp visuals paired with engaging content is vital. Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr, Pinterest and Flikr are all platforms purely based on sharing videos and photos personally and business wide.
Nike’s business platform has a strong visual internet platform on Instagram.
Although Instagram was developed and still primarily used as an app on a mobile device, after Facebook purchased Instagram last year, they have integrated a more web-friendly site. Here you can see the heading of Nike’s Social Media Site with over 570 pictures being shared worldwide.
A photo from Nike’s Instagram account featuring its line of baseball equipment and apparel. Comments and Likes show that Nike’s decision to focus on artistic advertising – like images works very well and is widely becoming the new normal. With over 1 million followers already, Nike has developed an Instagram space that solely shares its product, defines its target audience and successfully incorporates artistic photography, its current fashion appeal and its promise to be the best fitness apparel out there. So why does this matter? It matters because while you’re writing, someone else is writing and sharing a picture. It’s all about being up to date and keeping engaged with what people want to see, learn about and connect with. Visuals on a social media campaign can increase followers, likes, quality, authenticity, and generally attract more people and interest to your online brand. So start building those high-quality visuals and pair it up with your message. On many social platforms it is a must and sometimes you won’t have a choice.
