5 Signs It's Time for A New Branding and Marketing Strategy

If you are considering creating a new branding and marketing strategy for your company, but aren't sure if it is necessary to spend time and money on such a venture, explore these five signs. Your current marketing plan just might be in need of a make over.

1. Your plan lacks integration

A well designed plan should be integrated in every aspect of your business. If your logo, colors, and tagline all change depending on the platform they are in, there needs to be a change to your plan. The brand should be clearly and consistently placed across all platforms. That is the key to growing your bottom line with branding and marketing.

2. Visitors and sales are lagging

If your image has grown dusty, or doesn't come to your customer's mind, then visitors to your storefronts and websites could be lagging. You have lost touch with your target audience. That affects sales. Reinvigorate your brand with a redesign and wow customers into coming back for services and products and remind them why they love to do business with you.

3. Your plan has been in place for over a decade

While many tried and true branding and marketing methods are still good ways to promote business, there are too many new options that are being missed if your plan hasn't been updated in a few years. Customers now shop from mobile devices and the social networks are always changing. Your website and plan should be updated to reflect these changes.

4. Website and collateral is overly promotional

The previous attempt to get the attention of shoppers by plastering ads, websites, and marketing collateral with neon-colored callout boxes featuring a number of sales items and closeouts is a thing of the past. Know what your customer wants, but simply make the site easy for them to find it. Try not to shove it in their face.

5. You plan to grow

If you plan to introduce a new product or service line, or open in new markets, then it is a great time to update your branding and marketing strategy. The right brand redesign can inform customers of the changes to look for and prove that you are ready for the increased business.

If you would like to learn more about branding and marketing in the Dallas, Texas, area, click here!

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building an E-Commerce Site

There are many pitfalls to look out for when you build an e-commerce website. A site is a tool to make your goods known to customers and to encourage sales. If the site is poorly designed, doesn't work well, or hard to use, customers will go elsewhere with their business, even if you have better service, products, and prices. By avoiding a few mistakes in the design phase, you can be on your way to a harder working, and more profitable, site.

1. Awkward domain name

Some company names convert easily to a domain name. For those that don't, there are options. If your company is named Kalamazoo Outboard Motors, pass on the awkward www.kalamazoooutboardmotors.com option. Try a descriptive word about what business is performed there (www.motors.com) or use an acronym (www.kom.com).

2. Unprofessional appearance

For a company with a focus on Internet sales, the website is not the place to skimp on the budget. Do the research to find a good-fit agency to build an e-commerce website that is professional, attractive, and easy to use. The revenue received when the site is running will prove the worth of the expense.

3. Loading time that drags

For shoppers, Internet use is about ease. The site might be a work of art with rich graphics and video content, but if it takes too long to load, then it is no longer considered easy, and shoppers will go elsewhere. Remember that a growing number of shoppers search online from mobile devices, and your site should open and operate equally well for those formats.

4. Poor promotion

It may be true for baseball fields, but when you build an e-commerce website, just because you build it, doesn't mean they will come. Find where your customers go and create ads to draw them to your site, or better yet, utilize the help of a professional marketing agency that can help you create a solid marketing plan for your site.

5. No focus

Internet shoppers don't want to be bothered to sort through promotional pop-ups, myriads of drop-down lists, and general disorganization. Your site needs to be focused and user-friendly. With a clear plan of what you promote and where, your site can be a go-to tool for shoppers to find what they need.

If you would like to learn more about how to build an e-commerce website in the Dallas, Texas, area, click here!

What Does a Branding Agency Do?

A branding agency helps you create a cohesive image that is in step with your company's mission. They can then put that image, or brand identity, to work for you by applying it to all of your marketing initiatives.

A branding agency should first and foremost listen to you when creating your brand. Outline those characteristics that define your business. What is your industry? Your strengths? Who are your competitors? What values do you want to evoke? Do you want your look to be classic and formal, or edgy and modern? Branding isn't simply about a logo. It is who you are, summed up in a comprehensive image.

That image is then translated to your print and media in a branding campaign. Anything that leaves your company to be seen by a potential customer can be designed with your brand in mind. From your website, emails, ad layouts, letterhead, and business cards, to the boxes you use to ship products, everything is an opportunity.

The purpose of branding is recognition. When a customer is in need of your service, it is important that they are able to think of you first. A branding agency can help you create a look that can make you stand out against your competitors. Any business can benefit from a branding agency. From huge corporations, to local non-profits, a brand can make the difference of whether or not you come to mind when a potential customer is in need.

When you hire a branding agency, it's a good opportunity to review and asses the focus of your business. Define your market and your customer. Knowing those will help define your new branding image, as well as where and how to promote it. A well executed brand can be a powerful thing.

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5 Tips for Working with Your Media Planning Agency

In order for a digital media planning agency to be effective, they not only need the right experience, but also need the right information from you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to find an agency that meets your needs.

1. Express your goal

Is your reason for hiring a digital media planning agency specific or broad? Explain whether you want to increase general awareness about your business, or if there is a specific product or service you would like to promote. Especially let them know if need help navigating a sensitive industry.

2. Define your target

Take a moment to decide who your target audience is. It most likely isn't the general public, so make a description of the person or business that could benefit from your company. Decide where they are and what will get their attention.

3. They have negotiation power

Because digital media planning agencies represent multiple clients in various industries and often work with the same media outlets, they often have buying power. They can negotiate rates and value-added benefits better than you could on your own.

4. They know the latest technology

Not only will an agency know what new technology is available, but they will also know how to use it and how to measure the success rates. With an ever-expanding list of Internet outlet opportunities, it is easy to miss or misuse an option.

5. Choose your conduit wisely

When you hire a digital media planning agency, they become the link between you and your customer and between you and the media outlets. Be sure to hire someone you can trust, since the success of your marketing efforts and your customer's brand experience are in their hands.

For more information about digital media planning agencies, click here!