http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/branding-with-promotional-products.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/branding-with-promotional-products.html Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500
What is branding anyway? Simply put, branding is setting your products or service apart from others within the industry. It’s the way you create certain thoughts and feelings in a consumer when you say your company name. For example, McDonald’s has been branded to be a happy place catering to families. Recently, they’ve also begun branding McDonald’s to have healthier fast food options, especially for children. With their various ad campaigns, product choices, etc., McDonald’s hopes to be the first place brought to mind when someone wants fast food. Branding also means a recognizable logo (the arches) and even colors (red and yellow).

Of course, not everyone can spend millions of dollars branding their business like McDonald’s does! Promotional products and promotional items are a great way to help this branding because they are affordable and fun. If you want to brand your company in a way in which to show consumers that you are fun-loving, you might use promotional products that make noise, contain lights, and change colors. On the other hand, if you want to convey an image of being practical, promotional mugs, promotional pens, and other such products can help you.

No matter what specific products you choose, remember that uniformity is key in branding. In other words, take your logo and past use it on everything. This is not the time to be creative. If your company headquarters has a purple sign, make purple key rings. If you use the slogan “Your one-stop shop” in your radio advertisements, print this same logo on your pencils.

After all, there are probably at least 10 other businesses competing with yours. You want certain colors, logos, fonts, slogans, and so forth to be unique to your company—and you want consumers to identify these things with you. That’s what branding is all about. By using promotional products to reinforce your design choices, you can build your branding efforts.

Also note the promotional products and business gifts can go where you cannot. You can’t always travel the country with your products, but you can send an employee armed with promotional products to conventions and fairs around the world. Customers who normally would not think about your business will soon be calling your for shipments, simply because the promotional products you’ve released have reached them. Branding is so powerful that you may find people begin simply to refer to you by your branding techniques. For example, if I said I was looking for some golden arches, you would probably assume I meant McDonald’s! Use promotional products to have the same effect in your community. Branding is an important aspect of any business marketing and promotional products and corporate gifts can help.

For additional information on adverting promotional products, promotional items and business gifts check out the leading promotional gift suppliers online today!




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Gareth Parkin is the co-founder of Ideasbynet, the UK's leading online promotional products and promotional items company based in the north of England. Established in 2001, he has taken the UK gift market by storm by the application of modern business thinking.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/is-your-website-portable.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/is-your-website-portable.html Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Companies are putting a lot of energy and expense into their website. Experts say that an effective website must be searchable, should keep the viewer on the page as long as possible, and provide content and interactivity to encourage repeat visits. The most successful websites maintain fresh content, provide ways of interacting with visitors, and allow visitors to interact with each other. Still, after all of the effort to create a look and feel to hold visitors, statistics show that users visit a website for an average of sixty seconds before moving on.

When customers are not on your website, where are they? They are conducting social networking, downloading and watching video, chatting, blogging, shopping, and, um, visiting your competitor’s site.

Web activity is never static. So, coming up with a way to engage audiences beyond the sixty seconds they are on your site is a far-reaching challenge. The trick is to keep your business in the corner of your customer’s eye, no matter where he or she goes.

Advertisers are constantly coming up with new ways of holding the attention of their audience. Vista Gadgets, Apple Widgets, RSS feeds and Yahoo’s Konfabulator are great ways to re-purpose your content and gain presence on the user’s desktop. The Web2.0 phenomenon has brought us tools like Netvibes Pageflakes and Widgetbox… all with the goal of presenting your message in a new, engaging medium. You used to give away pens and coffee cups. Pens and coffee cups were effective because the customer would use them as tools in the course of their day. While doing other things, the pen in your customer’s hand would whisper your company’s logo and colors.

I’ve been designing web pages for a long time and have spent hours talking with talented marketing experts about ways of keeping an audience engaged beyond the short time it visits a given web page. During the course of these discussions, we realized that a web user has one constant while surfing the web. Surfing the web requires a tool. The web browser enables viewing, searching, bookmarking, and embedding RSS feeds. But the browser is a benign tool. It doesn’t help the user decide where to go or look. What if it did, though? What if the browser could display a company’s logo, look and feel, content and brand voice? If the browser could be customized in such a way, then you wouldn’t have to draw the customer to your business. Your business would be present wherever the customer goes.

By branding the browser with your company’s look and feel, the goal subtly shifts to gain a new advantage for the business. The goal is no longer to keep the viewer at your company’s site. By branding the browser, you have attained a method to maintain a communication channel with customers wherever their browser takes them. The browser, itself, can be morphed into a branded, engaging and dynamic experience. Now, even while your customer is networking through MySpace or LinkedIn, chatting, shopping or visiting your competitor, your company and your message will be persistent.

The investment to build a dynamic web presence will not be wasted. The website you have put so much effort and expense into will always be the ultimate destination but your content and messaging can be wrapped in different packages (widgets, modules, feeds and the browser) and taken along on the viewer’s journey. The browser can be customized around subjects, products, concepts and events involving your company. The possibilities for a branded browser environment will grow as new ideas and technology are born.

By accompanying your customers on their web experience, you will build familiarity with your customers and gain their loyalty. They will always be aware of your emerging products, special offerings and evolving business model purely through the daily use of their browser. The efforts you put into your web presence can now experience a more solid ROI, and your customers can enjoy a web tool that enriches their web experience through your company’s colors, look and feel.

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Patrick Murphy is CEO of Brand Thunder (http://www.brandthunder.com); a company specializing in online branded experiences. His marketing channel development experience spans several well-recognized brands including Netscape, Verizon, Swiss Re, Conseco and JP Morgan Chase / Bank One.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/lithography-in-practice.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/lithography-in-practice.html Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Artists have been using lithography as an expression of their creativity since the 19th century. All artistic tools of the trade, such as pencils, pens, crayons and oils can be used to equally good effect. Two of the most famous artists to use lithography in expressing their work are Goya and Delacroix, who used the process to create magnificent artistic posters.

The artist’s creativity isn’t the only element that can be brought to the creation of the piece. The printing process itself can be used to add new, unexplored dimensions. A famous example of this is a work by Robert Rauschenberg, called “Accident”. His stone broke while he was working through the litho printing process. He painstakingly recreated the image only to have the second stone also break during the process. Instead of recreating another image he decided to use the broken stone while making the prints, and so the apt name of “Accident” came about. The breaks are clearly visible and add an unexpected depth to the work, enhancing its value, rather than detracting from it.

On a commercial level, traditional lithography has made way for photolithography. This process involves the use of a photographic negative in conjunction with gelatine covered paper, which transfers images to a stone or metal plate. These days a metal plate is used more often than a stone one. The conversion from stone to metal plates has resulted in them being easier to attach to rotary litho presses, which in turn led to an increase in the speed and quantity of production. Photolithography has eliminated the time consuming method of drawing the image onto the stone, saving effort and allowing for more complex designs.

We see examples of litho printing every day in many of the things that make up our lives, such as magazines, brochures, photographs, post cards and promotional material. The range of colours available is virtually limitless, with delicate shades and hints of highlights. The process can simulate the effect of any artistic effect from sketching to broad-brush strokes to the precision of photography.

Lithography has worked very well as a medium for a number of well-known and critically acclaimed artists, including Manet and Whistler. Some artists have even proved that the process needn’t turn out perfectly for a work of art to be considered exceptionally creative and timeless. The process also has several commercial applications, examples of which can be seen on almost anything that requires a logo, text or diagram printed on it. It’s fast, efficient and produces quality prints hundreds of times over. When looking for creative and innovative ways to take your business’s branding to new dimensions, and to add an extra element to your business cards, litho printing is a surefire method to attract attention.

Recommended site:

http://www.whatislithoprinting.com/



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Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Circle Brochure Printing colour brochure printing one of the leading printing companies in the UK

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/what-is-human-skin-branding.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/what-is-human-skin-branding.html Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:39:55 -0500
Human skin branding was also prevalently used as a form of physical punishment for criminal offenders. With the aid of a hot iron, a permanent mark is made by burning the skin that would result to a visible scar usually on the forehead of a person. The burn is not only painful it is also an effective tool for public humiliation, a mark that an offender will carry for the rest of their lives, along with the social stigma that comes with it. However, for offenders and prisoners who have high ranks in the society, the cold branding was used instead of the hot iron. This inflicted a lesser degree of pain but still capable of making a permanent mark.

It might be surprising for some people to know that human skin branding still persists even until today, albeit voluntarily rather than a form of punishment. This is usually done under extreme social pressure, and as a form of test or a rite of passage. Some gangs and fraternities use human skin branding to test their member's mettle and also as a mark of exclusivity and membership a certain group. It was even reported in BBC news that even US president George W. Bush, while he was the presiding officer of the Delta Kappa Epsilon introduced the branding on buttocks. This later became a very popular practice among many youths from affluent families who attend school in an Ivy League College.

There are also some people in organized crime syndicates who use human skin branding to mark the number of crimes they have committed. A few unique and creative people who have no qualms of voluntarily branding themselves are part of the body decoration, much like tattoos. A fraction of sadomasochistic people in the society who use human skin branding to mutilate their body and actually find some enjoyment in inflicting physical pain.

It would seem that branding on human skin became a persistently prevailing practice even in modern times. Whether it is an extreme act of self-expression or for any other reason, it still doesn't discount the fact that it is highly inhuman and cruel.

Please check out MarketingArticles.com for useful tips and info about Marketing and Internet Marketing.

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Lucile Taylor writes for MarketingArticles.com, a site full of helpful insight about Marketing and Internet Marketing.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/what-does-your-store-say-about-you.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/what-does-your-store-say-about-you.html Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Learning how to make a lasting impression can be a process of trial and error. First and foremost, you’ve got to offer the products that your target audience is interested in. Then, you need to brand your image so that it is definite, and stays ingrained in their minds. Third, you need to show the quality and appeal through presentation, marketing concepts and promotion.

Once you’ve chosen the products that your store will offer, you’ve really got to push them. Your goal should be to make a product something that your customer not only notices, but suddenly feels that they need. Making something into a need instead of a want can be a tricky task, but well worth the effort. One example is selling accessories. If your goal is to make someone feel that they need a certain purse, shoes or jewelry, then you have to promote it as something that they need. Dress your mannequins in full outfits that go great with the accessories that you want to promote. Make it good enough so that people don’t just want the dress or shirt that they see. Make it so that they think the outfit as a whole looks so good, that they’ve just got to have every piece of it.

The second step is branding your image. If you’re offering business attire, then you really need the highest quality clothes hangers and clothing racks. The same goes for junior’s clothing. Kids today want to have the best that’s out there. They take the brands that they sport as a personal reflection on their budding personalities. They may look young, but they’ve grown up in a world that has been teaching them their whole lives what to look for. Something as simple as switching from clear plastic hangers to high-quality wooden hangers can change their impression of your entire store and engrain your store image into their impressionable brains.

Use your promotions as opportunities to attract customers, new and old. Have them often and keep a calendar year-round of the data that you collect. Keep track of how much you spend on signs, flyers and special products. Pay attention to people’s reactions. Do they walk right past your store, or are you getting way more attention than normal? Something as simple as putting a sign outside of the door signals people that something great is going on. Feature new products near the front of the store. Use lighting and flyers to generate a buzz. Compare each promotion to the last and you can fine tune what your customers react to.

Just remember that every little detail counts. Don’t skimp out on anything that could make a difference. Don’t underestimate how a seemingly small decision, such as selecting wooden hangers, could affect your store’s reputation and brand image.



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About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of The Hanger Depot, a leading provider of high quality hangers,including wooden hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.thehangerdepot.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/candle-home-business--your-scented-way-to-financial-freedom-from-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/candle-home-business--your-scented-way-to-financial-freedom-from-home.html Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:57:20 -0600
Wanting to liberate themselves from the ticking of the Bundy clock in the office, they declared their independence by getting into any kind of work-from-home business, only to end up as messed-up as they first set out. Joining just any MLM or work from home opportunities for residual income just to bust your 9 to 5 routine and cast your hopes like a starry-eyed teenager on the financial freedom that most business opportunities lure you in, may be fraught with risks.

Thanks, there’s the candle home business – a scented pathway to real financial success, without the hassles of ordinary business.

Why Candle Home Biz is Making a Lot of Buzz

Not all businesses afford you the chance to witness a milestone in your child’s life like his walking the first time or your daughter’s school dance. In your disbelief, business can be a tough master when you let it suck you in. It can rob you of time to enjoy your children or share intimate moments with your “significant other.” Worst, it can drill your pocket with overhead costs and drain your energies managing your staff and your clients. Lori Moreno should know; she had been there.

With a burgeoning business in corporate America not too long ago, Lori Moreno had money, but no freedom to do the things she loved most like spending time with her family, being with herself or to give in to her passion, which was to travel extensively. Her management duties seemed always biting at her heels; she was always running on full-gear. Even the financial rewards she thought her business gave her did not provide the sense of financial independence she wanted because the cost of running her business grew in proportion to its size. Sadly, she realized she was like an employee on Bundy clock – on even longer hours. She was stuck.

The candle home business set her free.

Not Just Any Candle Home Business.

As Lori Moreno searched for other streams of income that can provide her with freedom to manage her time around her priorities while earning big, she was introduced to a home business that gave her another crack at success she thought was never possible. Her candle home biz gave her the spark she needed.

Fast-forward to 2008, Lori Moreno has not showed signs of slowing down; instead she’s bent on achieving bigger things for herself, her family and to the company she owes her success to.

Lori Moreno still remembers her reluctance to join a leading candle home business as she used to be no fan of candles. She dislikes the soot that most candles emit however gourmet natural wax candles proved her wrong. Not all candles emit soot; as what Lori Moreno has discovered - some emit good fortune and Lori Moreno’s brand of candles tops the candle home business industry with its unique gourmet natural wax candles and very generous compensation plan.

The Product

Lori Moreno explains that gourmet natural wax candles dominate the candle home business because they are non-toxic, soot-free and bio-degradable. Made entirely from recyclable materials that are gathered from farmlands throughout the United States, gourmet natural wax candles emit good health with their sweet scents.

The Compensation Plan

The candle home business industry with its multi-layered compensation plan that not only allows a member to enjoy commissions based on his sales volume, but also income from his efforts in sponsoring other people into the program, and residual income based on the total sales volume of his team pays one of the highest commissions among home businesses and Lori Moreno attests that in her years as entrepreneur, this is the most generous compensation package she has encountered.

The Opportunity

Lori Moreno believes that her joining the candle home business is her wisest career move as it realizes for her Gerber’s mantra for successful entrepreneurship: to be ON it, rather than IN it.

Now, Lori Moreno does not need to come home late at night and still struggle with a few phone calls. There is no need for her to spend days away from home, unless she’s on vacation. She owns her time and she runs her life – mostly to the bank! And all it takes is just to show another person her gourmet natural wax candles and the business takes care of itself!

Joining Lori Moreno’s team can be your own sweet-scented ride to fortune. You’ll never know until you make the move.

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Lori Moreno wants to share her
Gourmet Natural Candle business with housewives, entrepreneurs and anyone who wishes to achieve the dream of creating true financial freedom for himself. A 25K Double Diamond Leader, Lori offers support, live and recorded training calls, online groups, websites, autoresponders, literally everything for the person who is really looking to become a leader in their lives.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/steak-branding-iron-knowing-the-facts.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/steak-branding-iron-knowing-the-facts.html Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:11:01 -0600
If you are shopping for a steak branding iron, you will find two types – regular steel and stainless steel. Obviously, stainless steel is the better choice because the regular ones will rust after several uses unlike a stainless steel steak branding iron, which is corrosion and rust proof. These tools have heat-resistant paint finishes and often have grips made of hardwood.

The size of the brand differs as well as the orientation, which can be straight or diagonal. When it comes to the actual design of the steak brand, you will find so many wonderful choices. Designs can be as simple as two to three letters or as decorative as designs with outdoor elements such as the sun or animal designs like buffalo, eagle, butterfly, horseshoe, moose, even a wolf or a trout.

You can use a steak branding iron on other kinds of meat besides steaks. It is also great for grilled burgers, potatoes, chicken breasts, piecrusts, tortillas, grilled sandwiches and others so you can personalize more of your party food.

Steak branding irons are available in stores selling barbecue grill accessories. They are also available online. Many sites offer customized hand-forged steak branding irons, which are perfect gifts for dads, husbands, and any steak or barbecue lover. You can also give them away as wedding presents or if you are the one throwing a backyard wedding with a barbecue or western theme, branding your steaks adds unique touch to your wedding feast.

To use a steak branding iron, place it over hot coals, on top of your grill or gas range. When you are ready to serve your grilled steak, take the heated branding iron using a padded glove and press it onto the meat from top to bottom and then side to side for even branding. Now, you are ready to serve your branded steaks.

With proper care, your branding iron should last for a long time. Do not leave your steak branding irons outdoors and always clean them after use with a wire brush, steel wool or sandpaper. You may also apply some oil on the iron to protect it before storing.

Get more information about Trade Show Marketing and Event Marketing at MarketingArticles.com.

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Lucile Taylor is a contributor for MarketingArticles.com. She is an expert in Trade Show Marketing and Event Marketing advice.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/how-to-start-a-jewelry-business.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/how-to-start-a-jewelry-business.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Everyone loves sterling silver jewelry because they make lovely gifts that are appropriate at any time, so starting a sterling-silver jewelry business is an ideal business venture. Here are some tips to get started.

First of all, learn something about jewelry before you get started. Learn the difference between sterling silver and stainless steel. Find out exactly what 925 sterling silver is. Customers appreciate buying from a company that knows its products inside and out. Community colleges, local school districts, the internet and the local library are excellent places to start learning.

Second, learn about running a business. There are many things to learn: taxes, employee relations, advertising, marketing and bookkeeping are just some of the important things to learn. It may be best to get a part-time job with a jeweler before starting a new venture.

Third, establish good relationships. Jewelry store owners need to develop a relationship with a wholesaler that is passionate about their product. For example, a wholesaler should recognize that its customers are trying to earn a living and strive to help them be successful. A good wholesaler should have a clear return policy and work to offer unique items that are not available anywhere else.

When looking for a wholesaler, it is essential to find one that offers high quality at reasonable prices. The success of a jewelry store depends on the quality of its merchandise. Opt for genuine 925 sterling silver and genuine Swarovski crystals and other fine components.

Fourth, it is important to plan company growth. A new jeweler may be content with opening a stand at a local craft show or antique mall at first as a part-time venture. However, there should be a plan in place to help the company grow. To do this, set a goal: plan to sell a certain amount of jewelry per month, then break it down as to how much to sell each week, then each day. Then figure out how to meet those goals.

Fifth, advertise. There is an old adage that says it takes seven contacts to get a potential customer to pay attention to a message. It really does pay to advertise as much as possible, especially in the beginning.

Sixth, be productive. As most people know, the holiday season is the make-or-break season for most businesses, especially jewelers. It is important to learn how to spread the business throughout the year. Many sterling silver jewelers host classes in how to care and select for their jewelry or offer special pricing around other holidays, such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or Sweetest Day.

Seventh, be patient. It takes time to grow a business. By starting small, a business owner can learn each part of the business slowly and add to it as time and budgets allow. Local business associations and government agencies can offer a great deal of help and advice to new small business owners.

Starting a jewelry business is a great challenge. However, by taking the time to learn about the product and how to run a business, entrepreneurs will soon find that sterling silver jewelry sales are a great opportunity.


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925SILVER4U.com is an online silver jewelry wholesale store. They have a large range of sterling silver jewelery available at reasonable and economical prices. Their collection includes Sterling Silver Rings, Pendants, Earrings, Chains, Bracelets, and more.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/expert-logo-designing-guide-for-noobs.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/expert-logo-designing-guide-for-noobs.html Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Besides, a logo is used as identification of company, with it’s shapes, designs, fonts etc. It’s images will inspire people and certainly give a better understanding of a company or organization.

In the ancient ages before people recognize the word ‘logo’, they used symbol to identify their group, they used drawing, color, shapes etc. They believe that it could inspire and give a spirit for people belonged to the group.

Then in the thirteenth century, logo used to trademarks for traders and merchants. Today there are many corporations, products, services, agencies and other entities using a logo for represent their vision and value ingredient.

From my experience as a logo designer, I have conclusion there are 3 kind of logo type:
1. The logo represent for your vision mission.
2. The logo represent for your branding name.
3. The logo represent for your product.
If there any logo has represent the all of them, that is the perfectly logo.

The emergence of the information age changed the face of logos and logo design. Today, the general public has become increasingly aware of visual symbols, especially those used as trademarks. It is important that the company logo look professional. Company logos are the face of the business, not only to the public, but to its employees and the company itself. Logos have become the front line of the company, the corporate identity



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Thomas Joseph, The Owner of www.wiselogo.com. For further recommended resources on how to designing a logo click here to grab your logo guide.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/maintaining-branding-and-corporate-personality.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/branding/maintaining-branding-and-corporate-personality.html Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:07:09 -0500
Marketing is said to be the lifeblood of any company. This is the main reason why every company or organization would not hesitate to invest exorbitant amount of money to develop their unique branding and corporate personality. To some people to clearly ignorant of the dynamics if the corporate arena, it would probably seem like a total waste of resources. This is certainly not the case.

Creating a strong branding and corporate personality is one of the tried and tested ways to generate more awareness to consumers. It is not just solely the brand name, a powerful corporate identity can come from a number of forms. For example, Burberry is quite known for its distinctive signature plaid and Marlboro is associated for male models with five o’clock shadows, sporting a cowboy hat. It is quite incredible how people in advertising never seems to run out of creative ideas just to sell a particular product or service.

Over the decades, companies have definitely placed more focus and importance on branding and corporate personality like never before. This is mainly because people actually associated the quality and reliability of the products based solely on their perception. This is why advertising people are always trying to come up with marketing strategies to feed people information that would cast the certain product or entity an image that they ultimately want to product.

Unknown to many, the development of branding and corporate personality is an extremely grueling task. It’s not something that one can simply decide on like a spur of the moment idea. It would take a lot of deliberation and research just to some up with a powerful marketing strategy. It a painstaking process since a brand name or logo will be the identity of the company for the rest of its lifetime. It is almost considered a corporate blunder to change a brand name or identity since it would only alienate consumers and ultimately affect the sales.

Aside from increasing product identification and recognition to consumers, branding and corporate identity are perfect ingredients for product positioning, identifying the company’s target market and an effective way to differentiate product from the rest of the competitors.

Get more information about Trade Show Marketing and Event Marketing at MarketingArticles.com.

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Lucile Taylor is a contributor for MarketingArticles.com. She is an expert in Trade Show Marketing and Event Marketing advice.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>