More Than Just A Logo

Your brand means so much more than that cool little swoosh logo the graphic designer developed for you. Remember the dot com boom? Every new company seemed to have some variation of a little ellipse logo and a bold font; it became very difficult to tell them apart.

This was a result of rushing the market. There was so much insanity surrounding any company that could put a ".com" at the end of their name, that companies rushed to take advantage of the investment market. The logos were simply byproducts of incomplete branding. Your brand is more than the symbol you put on paper. Your brand is a larger, more compelling idea that is communicated in many ways.

If your company were a person, its brand would be its personality. Your company's personality, just like that of an individual, can be a complex set of beliefs and tendencies. It's the things we do, the things we want, and the things we stand for, that all make up our personality. It is no different for your brand.

Successful branding leverages those things about your company's "personality" that are unique, motivating, and memorable. The brand should communicate the differences in your company and how they translate into benefits for your customers.

A well-managed brand is a very powerful asset that helps to focus your company's internal thinking, aligns communication efforts, and builds customer loyalty.

It's A Presentation Not A Mystery Novel

In March 2002, the comic strip Beetle Bailey contained a valuable lesson for business presenters. As General Halftrack walked into his office, his secretary asked, "How was Lt. Fuzz's presentation?"

The General replied, "Like the Washington Monument." Puzzled, the secretary asked, "The Washington Monument?” General Halftrack responded, "Yeah, it took a long time to get to the point."

How often have you felt the General Halftrack’s frustration because the speaker didn't "get to the point?" Worse, have the people listening to your presentations become exasperated because they didn't know where you were taking them or the point you were making?

An audience, whether it be one person or many, wants speakers to provide maximum relevant information, delivered in the minimum amount of time, and in the clearest possible terms.

Time is the defining aspect of any presentation. Few audiences have the time for a full explanation of a subject. Presenters must reduce and translate the salient data into an easily and quickly understood message.
The 3-1-2 Method, enables presenters to organize their thoughts in the optimum manner, in order to implant their message in the collective mind of the audience, and to “get to the point.“

Most people prepare their presentations by using the 1-2-3 Method: (1) Opening, (2) Body and (3) Conclusion. This is the method that we have been taught and have used since elementary school.
Unfortunately, this system most often leads to various false starts, as the presenter attempts to place the ten gallons of his/her knowledge on the subject into the eight-ounce glass of the presentation.

The traditional system is definitely not flexible, and forces the presenter to make changes on the fly. This results in time-pressed presentations that lack coherence. The old system of organizing our thoughts is simply not geared to 21st century presentations.

Let's see how the 3-1-2 Method can help you "get to the point."
Place your 30-60-second objective on a 3x5 card. Mark it with a #3. This phrase should be at the core of  the of the audience's needs. .

Insert in front of this phrase the words that signal the close of your presentation, such as: "So, in conclusion" or "Let me leave you with this thought." You can now close with "punch."
This is your closing argument, to borrow a trial lawyer's technique. This phrase can also provide you with a mini-presentation, if you find that the allotted time for your presentation has been sharply reduced at the last minute.

Next, take another 3x5 card and mark it with a #1. Write an opening phrase that will make the audience listen, because you have hit a psychological "hot button" that sends the signal, "This will benefit you," or "This will keep you out of trouble." A startling statistic or an apt quotation from a well-known (to the audience) figure could also be included in this opening as an attention-grabber.
You might also wish to include your "#3 card" conclusion in your opening statement, and then inform the audience that you will now proceed to prove the validity of your conclusion.
The audience now knows where you are going, and can, in effect, open "files" on their mental desktops in order to absorb this information. Audience members will know on the outset just what your point is; they won't have to wait.

Remember, a business presentation is not a mystery novel. You want your audience to know right away "who shot John.",  You can then proceed to show them the evidence. Above all, you want your audience to be alerted to the fact that you know what their material or psychological needs/problems are, and are prepared to provide information that addresses these concerns.

Relocation Insurance Group is currently providing webinars to train our affiliates on the benefits of our products, how to get the most from our online system, and how to minimize your risk.  If you or members of your staff are interested in attending a webinar, click here.

New Year, New Storage Insurance Customers

Let’s welcome in 2011, the year we finally keep to our New Year’s resolutions. As we begin the new year, a top priority for many of us is to get organized.

 

The first step in the organizational process is to create more space. Mobile and self-storage facilities have a first-of-the-year marketing opportunity to offer discounted rates to those wishing to unclutter their daily lives. Consider offering your customers a month free to show them the benefits of your facility.

 

Doing “regular uncluttering” is an important key to stress-free living, according to minimalist-living expert Leo Babauta, who blogs at zenhabits.net. This can mean either throwing away or donating items you no longer use. Some things are worthy of storage because they are important, but are used infrequently or are purely sentimental. These items are perfect candidates for storage, where they will be kept clean, safe, and most important, out of your way until such time that you need to retrieve them.

 

Marketing ideas to bring in new customers

 

Promote the ease of use of your facility

 

• Can a consumer reserve a specific unit online?
• Advertise the time savings and ease of paperwork completion.  
• Is your facility open 24 hours? Encourage easy access to the customer’s belongings.

 

A new customer may be confused with all the options available for storage

 

•  Promote the features of your facility, setting yours apart from the competitors’.
• Do you offer insurance protection at a discounted rate?
• Does your facility offer new customers perks (free boxes, a discounted rate, and the use of a company truck)?

 Happy New Year from all of us at Relocation Insurance Group. We look forward to working with you and your customers in 2011. Share how your company takes advantage of the New Year organization trend on our blog.

 

 

 

Salvador Dali Museum Opens to Florida Fanfare

Economic Recovery Includes Warhol


The US has been experiencing signs of financial recovery in the past few quarters, including positive employment gains and increased consumer confidence. There is still a long way to go until full recovery, but it is encouraging news.

Another economic recovery sign can be seen in rising prices in the art world. Reuters News Service reported that the famous Andy Warhol painting of Mao Zedong, through which actor Dennis Hopper shot two bullets, sold at Christie’s on Tuesday for $302,500. The selling price was greater than ten times the original estimate.

The Warhol was included in an auction in California of Hopper’s personal effects and pieces of his art collection. The estimated value for the portrait was between $20,000 and $30,000.



Salvador Dali Museum Opens to Florida Fanfare

In other art industry recovery news, the new Salvador Dali Museum opened its doors in St. Petersburg, Florida. The $36 million building features over 100 priceless pieces by the eclectic artist.

The museum took 14 years to come together from idea to ribbon cutting. Touted as a prime new tourist attraction for the Tampa Bay area, the museum hopes to attract a diverse audience in the unique space. "We overcame the difficulty of the economic times," said former St. Petersburg Mayor Bob Ulrich. "What you see before you today is the symbol of a resolute will of this community to create a world class art museum for a world class art collection."