When you meet a new business prospect or a potential client who shows interest in your business/services, how do you react? Are you able to effectively give that prospect more information without overwhelming him/her with a sales-y lecture? After giving your simple elevator speech, let your website do the talking.

“Make sure your website is attention-getting, informational, and in line with your brand standards,” said Chelsea Janke, Social Media Administrator. “You shouldn’t have to click more than three times from your homepage to find desired information. Use your website as a snapshot or representation of your business and what it has to offer, while making sure that it is also user-friendly for your clients and prospects.”

What’s your elevator speech? No, it’s not actually about elevators. What I’m asking is if you were to sum up what you do or what your business is all about in just one to two sentences (roughly the time you share with another person on an elevator), what is your key message? It might not be easy to summarize, but it’s great to be prepared for those short encounters with other people – who might be prospective clients.

Having trouble formulating your key-message speech? Here’s a tip: don’t try to include every single aspect of what makes your business great – that would be far too in-depth and excessive for an elevator speech. Instead, try to include two or three of your most important goals, maybe part of your mission statement, or just a couple of your strengths that make your business unique and successful. Whatever it is, keep it simple.

If you’re a business owner thinking that you know exactly what your key message is, can you say the same for every member of your team/company? Remember that every employee is a reflection of the company as a whole, and clients often formulate their opinions of a company based on one experience or interaction with an employee of that company. Make sure each member of your team correctly and effectively represents your business and its solidified message.

photo credit: Debs (ò‿ó)♪

How far would you go to show your loyalty to your favorite brands? Many consumers will recommend brands to friends, wear clothing with obvious logos, or even put bumper stickers of logos on their cars. But is there any greater sign of brand loyalty than the willingness to have a logo permanently tattooed onto your skin? That’s commitment that speaks loudly for your company.

According to a Star Tribune article from last month titled “The new branding: company tattoos” by Kristin Tillotson, numerous staff members of Anytime Fitness have gotten the company’s purple logo of a running person tattooed on their skin. Not only is that strong brand loyalty, but it also shows the extreme devotion that Anytime Fitness employees have to their company.

So what do you think: Is there a brand logo that you would have tattooed on your skin? How about the company you work for? Or is this branding going too far?

To read the full Star Tribune article, click here.

It’s been almost a week since I experienced one of my greatest achievements…setting a new personal record at the Minneapolis Half Marathon. With the support from friends, family, and the C.E.L. team, and the passion I have for running, I finished at a sub 8 pace…a pace of 7:56 minutes per mile to be exact. To describe the emotions and thoughts that went through my head for 1 hour and 43 minutes would be impossible to share. But the run that encompassed adrenaline, nervousness, excitement and determination to accomplish my goal was a challenge. And I was up for the challenge. If you would like to check out the results from my Half Marathon, click here. (link: http://www.mtecresults.com/runner/show?rid=7657&race=34)

I believe the moments in life that challenge us are the moments in life that define us. If you have a fun story of how you were challenged or reached (or exceeded!) your goal, please share!

DEADLINE EXTENDED – Get your application in ASAP!

Applications due by December 21, 2009

Our organization is a service-oriented, entrepreneurial communications firm passionately committed to the betterment of business, family and the community. We offer an environment where you can push your creative limits, learn new skills, have your ideas heard, and work on a wide range of projects.

We are seeking a graphic designer to join our team who is comfortable working on a range of communication tools (print design & production, brand continuity / development, web site design, etc.).  A great sense of design, creativity and attention to detail are key. Being flexible, resourceful, a quick learner, and and the ability to accept criticism well is essential. You must know the typical design applications and have great production skills. Delivering creative projects on time and within budget is required.

Requirements:

Bachelor degree in Graphic Design or related field with some experience; proficient with Mac platform with an understanding of Windows compatibility; competent using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) with a basic knowledge of Dreamweaver and Microsoft Office. The ability to multi-task and be an effective team player is essential.

Contact:

cindy@celpr.com

763-559-6058
C.E.L.
15600 36^th Ave N, Suite 120
Plymouth, MN 55446

Our society is changing dramatically. So is the way people operate. More and more people have added the not-so-stylish “I can do everything myself” hat to their everyday attire.  But there are some things that should be left to professional expertise, and logo design is one of them. The perception of logo design has become underestimated and undervalued. I’m sharing an article that explains “Why logo design does not cost $5.00”.  Take a second and ask yourself this…Would you pay $5 for any other professional service…like your own?

The secret of success… brand longevity.  You’ve heard this a hundred times, but have you taken a step back and really thought about yours?  Who knows your service brand identity better than you? Nobody!

The only thing worse than not managing your service brand identity is letting your competitors manage it for you.  Brands have power and come with a long-term commitment.  Your brand objectives and marketing strategy have to be consistent throughout, including the creative. Your brand can’t just look cool… it has to be innovative, tangible and match your objectives.  If this does not happen, the commitment to your brand and the longevity will be short-lived.

Creativity has a purpose and so does your brand.