Branding

There are many opportunities to display your brand. On stationary, business cards, envelopes, brochures, web site, shopping carts, point of purchase and trade show displays, print advertising, signs, posters product labels, brochures and dozens of other specialty items like key chains, calendars etc.

On screen within a web site, shopping cart, video production, television commercial, etc.
In audio production as in radio commercial or pod cast.

Branding is something a business does constantly and in a consistent manner in order to be recognized to achieve the recognition of potential customers.

Steps in Creating Brand Recognition

• Create crisp memorable graphics as a part of your businesses visual identity.
• Incorporate that visual identity into a “Style Guide” that tells printers and vendors and your own staff how the logo can and cannot appear in print and on the screen.
• Train key staff in the reasons and use of the style guide.
  
• Supply vendors with access to the style guide at the time that a quote has been requested.
  
• Compare proofs against the style guide.
  
• Inspect the finished product against the proofs/style guide.

Picture This

I found this and several other "views" of the same project posted on the Ad Goddess .. Ad Goddess is one of a handful of excellent blogs on advertising. It delivers the creative, unusual, and often edgy ad design.

What caught my attention was the use of large format print to shape an alternate vision. In this case the Red Cross wants you to see of a “post disaster” situation to remind you that disasters happen and they will be there to help.

In reviewing the comments, the Red Cross message or motive bothers some.

To me the creative display technique was very valuable.

I started thinking of ways to use the same technique on a more positive project on a before and after of a street or building renovation for instance.

Cut Out Printed Shapes

We are rolling out a shapes promotion. http://bellagraphics.com/shapes.htm

Our thought is that cut out shapes draw more attention that print "inside a square or rectangle box" Having carried a cut-out of Miss Wyoming through the crowed auditorium at the Miss America Pageant I can tell you that shapes draw eyes.

Miss America Brand Roll Out

We reached 19 early adopters in our Miss America Brand roll out. I think that is outstanding! There are 52 contestants and our offer was to donate the design and first print of fan merchandise in support of their entry into the Miss America Pageant, Las Vegas, January 29th.

We support Miss America. Miss America more likely to appear in a business suit than a bathing suit. The difference between Miss America and the other's is that the grand ol lady of pageants puts a high value on confidence, intelligence and talent.

This campaign is an example of social marketing. We believe that the consumer is over saturated with tv, magazine, and Internet advertising. It is all spam because it interupts people.

Social marketing targets an audience that opts to be interested in what you are saying, doing, or offering. As long as you are offering useful things like information, opinion and product that solves a problem, satisfying a need or helps them achieve a goal ... then you are in good shape.

In other words, social marketing is building a fan base. It works for Miss America, for Bella Graphics and you. It is a lot more fun and the results are measurable for a change.

What is a good Digital Photo Image

I found a great answer to this question on "All About Digital Photos"

The article says that a good quality digital photo is one :

• taken with a good quality digital camera (good optics and digital sensor)
• a photo that has not been enlarged either in post-processing or by in-camera digital zoom (never (ever) use digital zoom).
• a photo that has been properly shot (good lighting, no blur)
• a photo shot within the camera's ideal ISO range (usually a low ISO such as ISO 100)
• a photo that has been stored in either a loss less format (i.e. TIF) or a very low compressed JPEG (highest camera JPEG quality setting).

In other words take the highest quality of photo that your digital camera allows and then provide a copy of the original photo .. right off the camera .. before it is opened in photoshop or any other software.

The quality of the printed image is directly related to the quality of the image.

Odd but remarkable

Do you think it is odd for me to provide commentary on a program roll out like Miss America Brand? Some might. Blame Seth Godin. Seth writes riffs (short thoughts) on marketing, respect, and the ways ideas spread.

He inspires me and affirms that not only is it ok to be different but it is absolutely necessary ... people are burnt out on "interuption marketing"

I have found that it is much more fun to be creative. We are just learning how to create a buzz and be remarkable.

That is how we are rolling out the Miss America Brand Project. .. we are creating a buzz over there and giving your the inside story over here. Buzz Buzz

Miss America Project

Things are really heating up on the Miss America Project. We are getting a terrific response. I draw your attention to it because we are quite proud to be able to roll out a promotion program before your eyes.

It is all an experiment. We are working with shapes .. by shapes I mean cut-outs ... cutting rigid print into shapes or silhouetting the image creates an interesting dimension to prints and displays. It is great technology and you I will be writing more about it soon. So stay tuned and subscribe so you don't miss anything.

Visit our Miss America Brand Site and follow the roll out of this promotion.