strategy Category

Ibuzz

For the past month or so it seems like almost everyone I know was either pre-ordering or standing in line for the new Iphone4. The new phone claims to be a vast improvement from the old one. New features include a better battery life, thinner phone, not 1 but 2 cameras, and the ability to record HD videos. Sure some of these features are impressive but at the end of the day it’s only a cell phone.

Being that I’m a PC user and that I have a Droid phone any devoted Apple fan reading this is probably saying “She just doesn’t get it.” Perhaps it is the age old PC versus Mac battle that prohibits me from running to Apple’s website every time they drop a new product. Despite my tech preferences, working at a company that focuses on strategy & communications means I definitely have noticed that Apple does a fantastic job at creating buzz for their brand. I think a huge part of the company’s success is their clean design and sleek communications. Everything from their website, to their television ads, down to their packaging is always consistent and simple. Like I stated before the Iphone4 is just a cell phone but Apple makes us feel like it is a part of life as we know it. It doesn’t just have longer battery life; it has longer battery life so we can talk to our grandmothers longer. The phone doesn’t just shoot HD movies; it vividly captures your child’s first steps.

You don’t have to be selling an expensive high tech gadget to get people talking about your brand. Take into consideration banks.  They all do the same thing and give or take, offer the same services.  With campaigns geared towards the convenience of having the most ATMs available across the U.S. or telling us how savings accounts are how dreams start, banks are also selling us lifestyle versus financial services.

Whether it’s a new product or service you are launching just remember using strategic marketing geared towards your targets lifestyle and pairing it with beautiful design will always get you good buzz.

Social Service

The presence of social media in modern marketing is no secret these days.  Almost every major brand you can think of can be found on Facebook or Twitter.  As I mentioned many times before I truly feel social media yields the best results when you actually interact with your audience instead of simply posting updates and links.

As a business person reading this I’m sure you are thinking ‘That’s great in theory but I don’t have the time or money to sit online and chat with everyone in my network.”  Interacting on social networking sites does not always mean mindless chit chatter. Take a page from companies like Dell and Comcast who both use Twitter for customer service.  Twitters search options makes it easy for any company to type in their name or product names and see what people in the twittersphere are saying about them.  If you happen to run across a customer who is complaining about your products or services you can @ reply them instantly and take care of the situation.  Most likely other people in the customers’ network will see this interaction and appreciate your company taking the time to resolve the matter.

Good customer service is an essential component of any successful business.  Using social media as a way to provide customer service will not only help you keep existing costumers happy it will also prove to potential customers that you are a company that cares about its clients.

Launching a New Brand – 5 Keys to Doing it Right

Everyday I see a new sign going up for a new store or an online ad for a new product. Before I can even settle down on my laptop to Google these new brands it seems they have already closed up shop. Many people have a great idea but fail to take the time to strategically plan a successful launch. Before you let a good idea turn into a waste of time take these steps into consideration.

Hire Professionals! – Probably the number one step people feel they can bypass is hiring professionals to help them launch their brand. Most people avoid this step because they want to keep cost low. At first consultant fees may seem like a pretty penny but in actuality the money you will spend hiring experts is nothing compared to the money you could potentially lose by blindly going into a new venture. I recommend you seek out someone who can help you with the strategy of your launch as well as someone who can help with the look of your brand. In fact save yourself the hassle and hire a company that can do both!

Know your competition- Almost every wonderful idea you can think of belonged to someone else 5 minutes ago.  Competition is everywhere and it’s important to know whether you stand a chance in your market or not.  Research is critical in order to create a smart plan that stands out.

Strategic planning is your friend – Take your time to develop a thorough strategic plan. Most launches fail because the people behind them never bothered to create a plan. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a great idea which can sometimes lead to off-the-cuff decisions. Just remember all buried treasures require a map to get to them.

Baby steps- If your idea or product is as good as you think it is what’s the rush? There is no need to make a full investment right out the gate. A soft launch or test run to see how your new brand fares in low stakes situation will save you and your wallet from any unexpected curve balls.

Time to assess – Once you have taken all the above mentioned steps take a step back and assess what you have learned. If people are raving about your soft launch it’s a good time to start making a significant investment into your brand. Did your test run fizzle? Perhaps it’s time to tweak a few things and go for a round two.

Launching a brand can seem a little overwhelming but a good idea paired with a good plan is always a success.